The world had entered a new era.
Not declared.
Not announced.
But understood.
War was coming.
Astra Prime no longer slept.
Even in the dead of night, lights burned across every district. Hunters moved constantly. Security doubled. Surveillance tripled.
Because now, everyone knew.
The enemy wasn't coming from gates anymore.
It was coming directly.
Deep within the reinforced core of the Blood Ascendants headquarters, a war room had been activated.
A massive circular chamber. Walls lined with projection arrays. Energy maps floating mid-air.
At the center stood Kael Varyn.
Calm. Focused. Changed.
Around him stood Zarek Voidborn, Ragnar Kain, Lyra Frost, Darius Stone, and Eren Shade.
Selene was absent.
And her absence weighed on all of them.
A projection activated, displaying the fractured sky.
The crack.
Zarek's voice broke the silence.
"…This is not a natural phenomenon."
His tone was measured, serious.
"…It's a stabilized breach."
Another projection appeared, showing layered dimensions overlapping reality.
"…On the other side is a realm."
Kael spoke quietly.
"…Umbraxis."
Zarek nodded.
"…A sovereign domain."
Ragnar crossed his arms.
"…So we just go in and kill everything?"
"No," Lyra said immediately. "We don't even know if we can survive there."
Darius added, "…The environment alone could kill us."
Eren's voice followed from the shadows.
"…Or worse."
Silence settled again.
Then Kael stepped forward.
"…We don't have time."
Everyone looked at him.
"…Selene doesn't have time."
The truth hung heavily in the room.
A new projection appeared—complex, layered, unstable.
"…We're calling this the Descent Protocol," Zarek said.
"…A controlled entry into Umbraxis."
Kael's gaze sharpened.
"…How?"
Zarek raised his hand. Void energy formed, stabilizing into a dimensional model.
"…We anchor reality around a single entry point."
"…Using your power as the core."
The room went still.
Ragnar frowned.
"…That sounds like a terrible idea."
Zarek didn't argue.
"…It is."
Lyra spoke quietly.
"…If it fails, the breach expands."
Darius finished grimly.
"…And Umbraxis spills into our world."
Silence followed.
Heavy. Unavoidable.
Then Kael spoke.
"…Then it won't fail."
Zarek stepped closer.
"…Before we attempt this, you need control."
Kael didn't respond, but his aura flickered faintly.
"…What you used against the Echo…" Zarek continued. "…That wasn't stable."
"…I know."
Zarek's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…If you lose control inside Umbraxis, you won't just die."
"…You'll become something worse."
A pause.
Then Kael nodded.
"…Then train me."
Far beyond Astra Prime, the strongest had begun to move.
The ones at the peak.
The untouchables.
In a frozen wasteland, a lone figure opened their eyes—Aurelius Frostbane.
"…So it's begun."
In a desert filled with endless storms, lightning struck violently around a man standing at its center—Raizen Volkar.
"…About time."
Within a silent monastery, a woman exhaled slowly as energy rippled around her—Seraphine Vale.
"…The balance is breaking."
In the depths of a ruined city, shadows gathered unnaturally as a figure stepped forward—Noctis Drael.
"…Interesting prey."
Across the world, others watched.
Waiting.
Because something had finally appeared—
Worth their attention.
Back in Astra Prime, Kael stood inside a reinforced training chamber.
Alone.
The walls were designed to withstand S-rank impact.
But even now, they trembled.
He closed his eyes.
Focused.
The power within him stirred—heavy, ancient, unstable.
"…Control," he muttered.
He raised his hand.
Crimson energy gathered—
Then exploded.
BOOM!
The chamber shook violently as cracks spread across the walls.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Again."
Deep beneath the headquarters, hidden far from sight, the unknown figure returned.
Standing before something sealed.
Ancient.
Waiting.
They placed a hand against it.
Dark energy spread outward like veins.
"…Soon," they whispered.
"…The gate will open fully."
Their eyes glowed faintly.
"…And when it does…"
A slow smile formed.
"…everything will fall into place."
In the medical wing, Selene's body suddenly reacted.
Her energy spiked violently.
Dark veins spread briefly across her skin—
Then disappeared.
Her eyes flickered open.
For just a second.
And in that moment—
They weren't hers.