The war room settled into a low glow as the map hollowed into view—seven Oblivion Gates pulsing like open wounds over the continents, red rings thudding in time with distant alarms. No one spoke. Lucian stood at the edge of the table, hands loose at his sides, eyes on the biggest ring drifting over the western badlands.
"We're done playing defense," he said. "I'm taking a strike team through. Before that, we set this world up to live without me."
That last line landed. Evelyn's mouth tightened. Silas looked away. Reia tapped her pen once, then stilled it.
Vyn broke the quiet. "Without you?"
Lucian nodded. "If I'm gone a day, a month, or forever, everything we've built keeps moving. You four will run it."
Silas folded his arms. "Run what, exactly?"
"Three pillars," Lucian said. "Shield, signal, sword."
