The Council chambers were ancient beyond description, carved from living rock deep beneath the Academy. Floating crystals provided eerie light, and the air thrummed with accumulated magical power from centuries of supernatural politics.
Twelve Council members sat in a semicircle around a central platform where the eight of us stood. Each Councilor represented a different supernatural faction—vampire, fae, elemental, shifter, demon, angel, and others I couldn't identify.
"Spirit Elementals," Councilor Aurelius announced formally, "you stand before this Council to demonstrate that your powers pose no threat to supernatural society."
"No pressure," Isabella muttered under her breath, golden butterflies flickering nervously around her shoulders.
"The test is simple," another Councilor continued—this one clearly draconic, with scales along her cheekbones and vertical pupils. "Show us your individual abilities, then demonstrate your network connection."
Yuki went first, her opal magic creating beautiful illusions that danced through the air like living dreams. The Council watched impassively, making notes on glowing tablets.
Arabella followed with a display of her silver flames, weaving complex patterns of light and heat that made the crystals overhead chime in harmony. Still no reaction from our judges.
Isabella's golden butterflies filled the chamber, each one carrying a different magical signature—healing, protection, growth. Beautiful and clearly beneficial, but the Council remained unmoved.
Then it was my turn.
I closed my eyes and let spirit magic flow freely, not trying to impress or intimidate, just showing them what I truly was. Golden light filled the chamber, warm and welcoming, connecting briefly with every supernatural present.
For a moment, I felt their thoughts, their emotions, their fundamental natures. The vampire Councilor's ancient hunger, tempered by centuries of control. The dragon's fierce protective instincts. The angel's desire for harmony and peace.
They weren't evil or malicious. They were just afraid.
"Now," Aurelius said when my light faded, "demonstrate the network."
The four of us joined hands in the center of the platform. Power flowed between us immediately—gold and opal and silver and more gold, weaving together into something greater than the sum of its parts.
"Beautiful," one of the Council members breathed.
But then something went wrong.
The power didn't stop growing. It kept building, pulling energy from everything around us—the crystals, the wards, even the Council members themselves.
"Break the connection," Aurelius ordered sharply.
We tried, but the network had become self-sustaining, a magical feedback loop that was rapidly spiraling beyond our control.
Through the chaos, I felt my pentad bonds like lifelines. But this time, my bondmates' power wasn't enough to stabilize the network.
The chamber began to shake. Cracks appeared in the ancient stone walls.
"This is what we feared," the dragon Councilor hissed. "They're going to bring down the Academy."
"No," I said, desperation giving me clarity. "There's another way."
Instead of trying to contain the network's power, I opened myself to it completely. Let it flow through me and out into the world beyond the chamber, beyond the Academy, connecting with every living thing it touched.
For a moment, I felt everything. Every supernatural being in the city, every human going about their daily lives, every animal and plant and grain of sand. All of it connected, all of it part of the same vast web of existence.
The power settled into perfect harmony, and the chamber stopped shaking.
When I opened my eyes, every Council member was staring at us with expressions ranging from awe to terror.
"She connected to everything," the angel whispered. "The entire city."
"The entire region," Aurelius corrected, his golden eyes wide with shock. "I've never felt anything like it."
"Neither have we," said a new voice from the shadows.
Void Hunters materialized in the chamber, moving faster than thought. But these weren't the primitive creatures we'd fought before. These were their leaders—ancient beings that radiated intelligence and cruel hunger.
"Thank you," the lead Hunter said to the Council with mocking politeness, "for gathering our prey so conveniently."
"The wards—" one Councilor started.
"Were designed to keep out ordinary threats," the Hunter replied. "We are anything but ordinary."
They moved toward us with predatory grace, but my bondmates were faster. Kai stepped in front of me, shadows erupting around him like living armor. Magnus created walls of ice between us and the Hunters, while Asher's solar power blazed like a miniature sun.
"You cannot have them," Zephyr snarled, electricity turning