Black cities stretched under twin crimson moons as the first tear opened above the capital. Korrath stepped through first, void-forged armor catching the light of the mana reactors far below. Galaxies swirled inside the cracks of his plating. Selene followed, her starlight body drifting, black-void eyes already scanning for the hybrid signature they had locked onto.
Alarms did not sound. The realm had been ready for this.
Damaris stood on the highest balcony of the Origin Palace, golden eyes fixed on the sky. Lucian waited at the base of the palace steps, black hair stirring in the rising wind, crimson eyes cold and focused. He was no simple copy. Years of absorbing residual authority, refining every technique left behind, and standing in the dark had pushed him past the level of most living Progenitors. When he moved, the night itself seemed to lean toward him.
Beside the palace gates stood Heron.
