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The Charred unexpectedly abandon direct combat and scatter across the Beacon formation to plant cinderheart bombs. Zellion spots primed devices on a captured ship and hurls Elegy to safety moments before it explodes, killing those aboard and detonating again as it hits the mud below. He orders Elegy to protect Zeal’s ship and to throw any bombs overboard.

Leaping to another gunship, Zellion interrupts a Charred priming a bomb, injures several attackers by targeting their legs, and signals the pilot to roll the ship, dumping foes into the mud. Elegy holds Zeal’s deck with Auxiliary, kicking two inert bombs overboard, but another gunship explodes and a fourth—piloted by Jeffrey Jeffrey—bleeds fire with more bombs being attached.

Zellion jumps aboard the failing gunship, loses his spear, and rushes the cab. He uses Auxiliary as a Shardblade to cut open the cockpit, frees Jeffrey Jeffrey from his restraints, and then turns Aux into a shield over a live bomb as it detonates. The blast throws them skyward; Zellion catches the Dawnchaser’s hull with Auxiliary formed as claws and hauls Jeffrey Jeffrey aboard, battered but alive.

As Zellion arms Elegy by tossing Auxiliary to her in a throwable form, she resumes cutting down remaining Charred. Jeffrey Jeffrey, dazed, notices light fracturing around Zellion—remnants of other bonds—while the Charred abruptly fall back. Zellion spots the Cinder King’s entourage landing and setting sharpshooters, suggesting a strategic shift.

Rebeke dives the Dawnchaser to scan the site despite rifle fire pinging harmlessly off the armor. The prospector sensors confirm a powerful energy source underground. Zellion recognizes it as the Refuge’s signature and resolves to investigate what lies within.