The entire artificial sky above the Zenith Gate shattered without warning.
Rifts tore open across the fabric of reality, stretching from one end of the horizon all the way to the far side.
Deep violet light and seething black energy surged forth with unimaginable force.
A heavy downpour of dark energy particles rained down, sweeping across the ground and every structure in its path.
Every grain corroded whatever it touched eating through metal and snuffing out every source of light.
Beneath the gaping wound in space, millions of pinpricks of light slowly gathered, forming a massive formation.
They solidified into a vast, endless army of shadows, moving as one.
Every Ancient Guardian who had been advancing dropped to their knees at once, trembling in pure terror.
Absolute reverence and submission radiated from every rigid movement they made.
Alpha stood motionless before the wide‑open gate.
Winds of raw energy whipped against his cloak.
