7

Nomad faces an ember-chested enforcer, his Torment increasingly blocking even minor violence. He briefly overcomes a strike by catching the baton and shoving the warrior back, shocking onlookers. When a second ember man attacks, Nomad’s body locks again, and he is beaten, manacled, and fixed to a ring among prisoners.

Blinding heat and light surge from the horizon, with plants withering and flames likely racing ahead of the advancing sun. Nomad and Auxiliary speculate the light is Invested and vastly too intense to safely absorb. Realizing the oncoming front will kill him, Nomad rejects surrender and desperately struggles against his restraints as officers and ember men board six-seat hovercycles.

With the last vehicle delayed, Nomad pleads for a Blade, but Auxiliary reminds him weapons are forbidden. Nomad pivots: tools aren’t restricted. He manifests Auxiliary as a crowbar, snaps the ring free, then as a hook-and-chain that locks onto the last rising hovercycle while the other end clamps to his manacles.

The Invested sunlight reaches the prisoners, who burst into flame. As Nomad’s skin and clothes ignite, the taut chain yanks him clear, dragging him behind the airborne machine. He escapes certain death, scorched and uncertain of what awaits.