The cold on the coast of Anadyer was not the same as before.
It was not just the wind or the temperature. It was an absence. A void that seeped into the chest of every survivor, as if the air itself knew that something had changed forever.
Irina walked among the bodies lying in the snow without saying a word.
Her boots left deep marks as she moved forward, but she did not feel the weight of her legs. Only the pressure in her chest. The blood on her hands had already dried… but she could still see it.
Thirty-two.
She counted again.
Thirty-two survivors.
Faces burned by the cold. Empty stares. Some still trembled, not only from hypothermia, but from something deeper: the terror of what they had faced.
The flames in the sea were still burning. Hundreds of their comrades' bodies floated in the water.
Fragments of metal could be seen where, just minutes ago, that fierce battle had taken place.
They drifted over the waters where the Zimniy Tuman had been moments before. Now only scattered remains were left, slowly sinking among fractured sheets of ice.
The roar of the Tiger had faded.
And Mikhail's magic… was gone.
A soldier approached, staggering.
—Miss Irina… the communication systems… are detecting movement.
Irina did not respond immediately. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they glowed blue.
She extended her perception.
Unstable. Interfered.
The battlefield was still vibrating.
—Who is it? —one of the survivors asked.
—I don't know —Irina replied—. Three signatures… I can see three heat signatures approaching.
Irina narrowed her eyes again.
—They're helicopters —she murmured—. Could it be a rescue team?
Irina did not answer.
Her gaze dimmed.
—I hope so… —she said in a broken voice—. Stay ready for anything.
The survivors regrouped in silence.
Some held weapons. Others could barely remain standing.
Irina stepped forward and took position at the front.
A low hum turned into a vibration in her chest.
Then, silhouettes.
Three aircraft descending over the ice.
The sound of engines, the wind… and then they touched down.
The doors opened.
Several figures stepped out.
Black uniforms.
Irina raised her weapon.
—Hold fire on my command!
The figures raised their hands.
They did not move forward.
—We are Atlas, Eastern Division —one of them said—. Lower your weapons.
Irina took a deep breath.
—Everyone, lower your weapons.
The wind blew between both groups.
—Who sent you?
—Central command lost contact with your fleet about thirty minutes ago, so we were ordered to sweep the area with medical units. And… excuse me, what the hell happened here? Where is your fleet?
—We were annihilated. They overwhelmed us… and Mikhail is dead.
The agent lowered his gaze for a moment and continued:
—We need to evacuate. Are there more survivors?
Irina looked around.
—It's just us… thirty-two.
Nothing more.
She clenched her teeth, and tears ran down her face as she remembered Mikhail's last words.
The helicopters took off shortly after.
Irina sat beside two wounded soldiers.
She looked out the window.
The coast was fading away.
The sea was still distorted.
She closed her eyes.
The scene returned.
The rift.
The Claimoors emerging from ruptures in space.
Appearing inside the ships.
Impossible to anticipate.
—Fall back —he had ordered.
—I won't leave you.
—Yes, you will…
And with his magic… he threw her away.
Irina clenched her fists.
And she could no longer hold back the tears.
Atlas Central Base — Germany
The report arrived under maximum alert.
The head of communications read it in silence.
—Notify all families that the north has fallen… and that Mikhail is dead.
Orleans Mansion — France
While everyone was in the command room, trying to regain control after the attack, Étienne's intercom activated.
—Sir, we received a message from Germany. It's about the battle in Anadyer.
Noah and Eleonor looked at each other.
Étienne stood in front of them.
—What happened?
—We've been informed they were devastated… and that Mikhail is dead.
Everything fell silent.
Eleonor did not react immediately.
Then, the glass windows began to frost over.
—That's not true… that's not true. My grandfather can't be dead.
—The report is clear. There are only thirty-two survivors.
Eleonor clenched her fists and collapsed to her knees.
—He can't be dead!
A layer of ice began to spread across the room…
Then she felt something on her back.
—Please, calm down…
Noah was holding her.
—You need to calm down.
Eleonor looked into his eyes…
And for the first time in her life, she embraced him… and broke down crying.
—Take her to the infirmary so she can rest —Étienne ordered.
Noah nodded and helped her stand.
He took her away.
—Who reported that the Sevianko base was destroyed? —Étienne asked through the intercom.
—An Atlas emergency team rescued the survivors. Irina is among them, second in command. They are being transferred to an emergency base.
—As soon as they are safe, inform me immediately. I want to speak with her.
—So she can tell us what happened.