The Sovereign Gate was secured. The massive runic archway hummed with the stabilized, localized energy of Vahn's Architect permissions.
The Syndicate army had routed, fleeing into the ash choked ruins of the city. They left their broken weapons and shattered pride behind on the wet asphalt.
Vahn Ryker stood at the base of the gate. His internal interface rapidly processed the billions of data points he had just forcefully disconnected from Pierce's siphoning crystal.
Beside him, Sia was meticulously wiping a nonexistent speck of dust from her obsidian shield. Aria was scolding Kora for attempting to eat a discarded Platinum tier helmet.
It was a clean victory. The logistical flow of Earth's data had been protected.
But as Vahn closed his interface, a sharp, agonizing spike of pressure hammered against the base of his skull.
His Verdant Chronos Sight violently engaged without his permission.
