The fragmented message ultimately ignited anger deep inside Erend. Not simple frustration or just panic. It had become pure anger.

The storm winds howled violently around the canyon while Erend stood motionless near the remains of the communication spirit. His fists slowly tightened until his hands creaked beneath the pressure.

Inside his mind, the image of the kingdoms immediately surfaced. Leonora under attack. Portals appearing inside the capitals. Creatures flooding into the cities. Civilians trapped while the defenders fought desperately.

"Damn you..." Erend muttered quietly beneath his breath.

The Void Architect truly was despicable. It was not enough for that entity to spread corruption across the world or interfere with the Sky Anchors. Now he had started using entire kingdoms as hostages while forcing the expeditions into despair and helplessness.

But more than anger toward the enemy, Erend felt anger toward himself.

He should have expected this. He should have known the Void Architect would never simply allow them to gather the fragments peacefully. An entity capable of manipulating corruption on this scale would never hesitate to attack the kingdoms directly. However, Erend still believed the capitals could remain stable for at least a little longer while the expeditions completed their mission. That assumption now felt unbearably naive.

Around him, the expedition members had also fallen into clear panic.

Some of the soldiers lowered their heads while other soldiers stared blankly into the distance. The mages looked pale. Several knights immediately thought about their families still living inside the capitals. Parents, children, friends, entire districts now facing the horrifying creatures from the portals.

"What if Drakenmere already fell..."

"My brother is still in the eastern district..."

"Spirits protect them..."

The worried murmurs quietly spread throughout the expedition. Eventually, many of them slowly looked toward Erend. But the Dragonborn remained silent.

His brows stayed deeply furrowed while his gaze lowered toward the canyon floor beneath him. The pressure surrounding him felt heavy that nobody wanted to interrupt his thoughts right now.

Even the leader remained quiet beside him. They could all tell Erend was thinking through everything with extreme intensity.

The storm continued raging for several long moments before finally Erend slowly lifted his head again. The hesitation inside his eyes was gone now.

"We continue moving," he said firmly.

The expedition members immediately focused on him again.

"We get the fragments as quickly as possible," Erend continued. "Then we return to the kingdoms immediately afterward."

One of the knights stepped forward nervously and asked, "But... what if there is nothing left when we return?"

"What if the capitals fall before we get back?" Another expedition mage asked while clenched his fists tightly.

"What if our families—"

"Enough."

Erend’s voice cut through the growing panic instantly. The Dragonborn’s sharp gaze swept across all of them.

"Believe in your kings," he said heavily. His eyes hardened further. "Believe in the warriors defending the kingdoms right now. They are still fighting."

Silence immediately followed.

Erend slowly turned toward the dark canyon ahead while red Dragon Magic flickered faintly around his body.

"If we waste time panicking here," he continued, "then their fighting will mean nothing."

Nobody argued after that.

The expedition members slowly steadied themselves while tightening their grips around weapons and staffs once more. Fear still remained inside them. So did grief and helplessness. But now there was also more urgency than before.

Then finally, Erend launched himself back into the skies again while violent winds exploded around his body.

"Move!" he roared.

The expeditions immediately resumed their advance through the canyon with far greater speed than before. Boots thundered against stone. Magic formations glowed brighter beneath the rushing soldiers. With every step they took toward the fragments, the burden inside their hearts only grew heavier.

While flying through the violent storm above the canyon, Erend immediately attempted to contact the others through their Dragonborn telepathy.

The four of them had split apart earlier alongside their own expedition forces to pursue the remaining fragments through different routes across the corrupted regions. Only his clone remained nearby escorting the fifth expedition group, and because they shared the same mind and thoughts, Erend already knew the clone understood the situation completely.

But the moment Erend attempted the connection, intense interference immediately struck him. The telepathic link that usually felt smooth and natural now appeared fragmented and unstable. Strange pressure constantly interrupted the connection while waves of corruption repeatedly attempted to block his thoughts from reaching the others.

The Void Architect’s interference was obvious even here.

Erend grimaced while continuing to fly through the storm. Fire Dragon Magic immediately surged more violently around his body while lightning crackled across the skies nearby.

He pushed harder. The pressure inside his mind immediately intensified. The interference resisted him constantly like invisible walls trying to crush apart the telepathic connection itself. But Erend refused to stop.

Then finally, the fragmented link connected.

At first, only distorted sensations and broken thoughts reached him. After that, the familiar presences of the other Dragonborns slowly became clearer inside his mind.

All three had successfully connected. Erend wasted no time.

"The capital kingdom of Leonora is under attack," Erend immediately transmitted through the unstable connection. "Did you receive Velrion’s message?"

The telepathic link flickered violently for a moment before responses finally returned one after another.

"We received it." Eccar confirmed first. His thoughts carried clear tension and anger.

Then Aesa answered next. "The communication was fragmented but yes. We heard enough."

"Our expedition received the same message." Sylven’s voice eventually followed afterward through the unstable mental connection.

Even through telepathy, Erend could feel the pressure and urgency inside the minds of the other Dragonborns. They all understood the same thing that the kingdoms were already fighting for survival.

Erend immediately continued.

"We advance as fast as possible from now on," he said firmly. "Once we secure the fragments, we return to the kingdoms immediately."

This time, the replies came without hesitation.

"Agreed," Eccar answered instantly.

"We don’t have another choice," Aesa transmitted heavily.

Sylven’s thoughts hardened as well. "We’ll push our expedition harder." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The telepathic connection distorted violently again. Fragments of static pressure spread across their minds while the interference from the Void Architect attempted to sever the connection once more.

But before the link fully collapsed, Erend transmitted one final thought toward them all.

"Don’t stop moving!"

Then the telepathic connection shattered apart into silence. Only the roaring storm remained around Erend while he continued flying.

—