The crystal glowed. A crackling ball of what looked to Nina like heat haze erupted from the strange object’s end—

Both soldiers exploded.

One instant they were there – the next they burst apart in a red mist. Only extremities remained intact – a forearm, a lower leg, the top of one man’s skull. Their rifles spun from the eruption of gore, the stock of one split and mangled as if a small bomb had detonated inside it.

Gadreel still held his weapon, but part of his hand was gone, his first two fingers and a chunk of the palm blown away. But even with his face twisted in agony, he rushed towards the grisly remains of the dead soldiers.

Nina stared in horror at the carnage – then fear and adrenalin took control, sending her diving behind the nearest altar. Her action snapped Colonel Wu out of his shock. He snatched for his holstered pistol—

The Nephilim scooped up the undamaged rifle with his right hand. It looked almost toy-like in his grip – but was still deadly. Gadreel jammed his forefinger’s tip into the trigger guard as he whipped around, a blaze of fire cutting down the two military technicians.

The colonel’s gun was only halfway clear. He threw himself behind another altar as Gadreel rounded on him. Bullets shrilled off metal in his wake. Then the gun ran dry, bolt clacking on an empty chamber. The Nephilim looked at the empty weapon in confusion.

Colonel Wu jumped up, automatic in hand—

Another shot struck his cover, forcing him back down.

Zan had recovered the damaged rifle, gingerly holding the blood-splattered weapon as if it were dripping in acid. The spy sent two more rounds at Wu’s cover.

The Nephilim dropped his useless rifle and shouted to Zan. The translator looked at him – and the colonel used his distraction to race for the nearest stairwell. Zan spun back, but hesitated, unable to fire on a live target.

Gadreel had no such qualms. He ran to the translator and snatched the rifle from him – but Wu had reached the stairs. He dived down them as bullets tore past.

The giant shouted in anger, then returned the gun to Zan, giving an order that Nina guessed was an instruction to guard the chamber. He came to her, putting down the damaged Nephilim artefact. A strained breath at the pain from his ruined hand, then he spoke. ‘You will help me if you want to stay alive,’ Zan translated.

She eyed Gadreel’s left hand. Blood dripped from the wound, as red as any human’s. ‘You’ll need help yourself if you don’t want to bleed to death.’

‘I will live. I will endure any pain for my people’s freedom.’ He looked towards the mausoleum’s entrance. ‘Bring the resurrection key. It is time to wake them!’