On one of the crystal feeds, Kaito saw three streaks of orbs, dark energy erupt from the clouds, slamming into the winged beasts overhead. One creature exploded in a shower of black gore, another spiraled down trailing smoke, and the third veered off sharply, screeching. Kaito leaned closer, zooming the feed towards the origin point high in the sky.
A rasp came from the receiver crystal. Raven-Two, positioned for aerial observation:
"Master Lian. Unidentified aerial entity detected above the cloud layer. Large, avian... emitting significant magical energy. It appears to be engaging the enemy flyers."
The feed shifted, showing a blurry, distant image of Kagari – a huge, fiery bird shape barely visible through the rain and clouds.
"Perhaps, we are not the only observers, Master."
Kaito stared at the image, then at the feed showing the dark magic impacting the script.
"Mizano..."
"Her intervention wasn't supposed to happen either". The book described Aelric fighting Goblins, nothing this complex. Everyone seems to be gathering except the protagonist himself. He ran a hand through his hair, a rare sign of agitation.
"I don't know how the story goes from here. Am I still following the script, or has it completely shattered?" He forced himself back to analysis.
The book... pages 1-20 covered the Oakhaven raid. Ten pages detailed Aelric's desperate fight against the leader... a powerful Hobgoblin Chieftain. The leader was the key element described in the text. Locating that specific entity would confirm if that part of the script remained intact, even amidst this chaos.
"Ravens," Kaito ordered, his voice sharp, addressing the receiver crystal. "Disregard other anomalies for now. Prioritize locating the command element of this assault. A single, powerful leader operating from the sky, likely mounted and magically concealed. Focus scans upwards. Search for concentrated command signals, abnormal mana signatures, or auditory clues inconsistent with the chaos – like the wing beats of a large, hidden mount."
A moment of silence, then Raven-One's rasp:
"Acknowledged. Shifting scan priority skyward... Wait. Master Lian... thermal and auditory sensors detect a large, airborne anomaly circling high above the western forest edge, masked by illusion... I think I have found it."