Right after Ayato's counter broadcast shook the city, ZEAL and their allies, the Dusk Hounds, the Vultures, and the Black Lotus, began moving at once. Preparations for war spread like wildfire across Aetherpolis.
Everywhere, the city shifted into two sides. Gangs sharpening their blades and fueling their cores, and civilians rushing to find safety, either by hiding in shelters or fleeing the city altogether. The streets were uneasy, whispers of fear and determination mixing in the air.
At Ward 1, Ayato wasted no time. He called an urgent meeting, demanding the presence of all Wardens at HQ. Ren and Shin were also summoned, though the rest of the squads were ordered to stay spread across Ward 11, Ward 1, and the allied wards, ready to guard their territories.
That night, Aetherpolis was quiet, eerily so. But everyone knew it was the kind of silence that came right before the storm. Tomorrow, the city will burn.
