Mag-log inThe Sovereign's HuntThe battlefield erupted.The moment Vaelith gave the order, the Six Vessels moved.Kaelen charged first.Jae barely raised Elyndra in time.CLANG!The impact shook his entire arm.He slid backward across the broken stone.Kaelen didn't give him time to recover.Another strike.Jae blocked.Another.He twisted away.Another.He ducked beneath the blade.Kaelen's weapon slammed into the ground where Jae's head had been.The stone exploded.Jae jumped backward.He looked toward Hazel.She was surrounded.Nyra stood to her left.Darius to her right.Veyra and Orien had positioned themselves behind her.Soren remained near the Gate.None of them were trying to kill her.They were containing her.Separating her.Exactly as Vaelith had ordered.Jae tightened his grip."I'll get to her."Kaelen stepped between them."No."Jae looked at him."You'll have to kill me."Kaelen raised his weapon."That isn't my order."Jae frowned."What?"Kaelen's eyes remained fixed on him.
The Breaking PointThe crack in the Seventh Seal remained suspended across the distant sky.It wasn't large.Not yet.But everyone could see it.A thin line of darkness running through the light beyond the Six Gates.And something was looking through it.Jae stood beneath Hazel.His sword was raised.His eyes never left her."Hazel."She didn't answer.Her body remained suspended several feet above the ground.Light flowed around her like a storm.The markings from the Six Gates covered her arms, spreading slowly toward her shoulders.Jae took another step forward."Hazel, look at me."Her eyes moved.For one brief second—they were hers."Jae...""I'm here."Her lips trembled."I can't...""You can.""I can't control it.""Then don't control it."Hazel stared at him."What?"Jae lowered Elyndra."Fight it."The energy around her violently surged.Jae was thrown backward.He crashed against a ruined wall."JAE!"Hazel screamed.The moment she heard herself scream his name, the energy
The Sovereign's EscalationThe first Gate opened.The sky split apart.A column of light erupted from the eastern horizon and punched through the clouds.The shockwave arrived seconds later.BOOOOOOM!Jae grabbed Hazel.The ground disappeared beneath them.They were thrown backward.Concrete shattered.Windows exploded.A wave of heat swept through the ruined streets.Jae rolled across the ground and immediately pushed himself upright."Hazel!"He found her several meters away.She was on her hands and knees."I'm okay."Jae ran toward her."Are you hurt?""No."She looked toward the Gate."But something changed."Jae turned.The eastern Gate was no longer dormant.Its enormous structure had awakened.Energy spiraled around it.Symbols appeared across its surface.The same symbols they had found carved into the ground.Jae's expression hardened."This is what they wanted."~Elias's voice came through the communicator."Jae!""Go.""The other Gates are activating!"Jae looked at the m
The PatternThe eastern battlefield had gone quiet.Not peaceful.Quiet.There was a difference.Smoke drifted through the ruined streets, carrying the smell of scorched stone and metal. Broken vehicles lay abandoned along the road. Pieces of the buildings had collapsed into the streets, leaving jagged walls reaching toward the darkening sky.Jae stood in the middle of it all.Elyndra remained in his hand.The sword was still glowing.Hazel stood several steps away, staring at the place where the Vessels had disappeared."They're gone."Jae didn't lower his sword."They didn't run."Hazel looked at him."Then what did they do?"Jae slowly turned toward the eastern Gate."They left when they got what they came for."Hazel's expression tightened."What did they get?""I don't know yet."A burst of static came through the communicator.Then Elias's voice."Jae?"Jae touched the device."I'm here.""Are you both alive?""Yes."A pause."Good."Elias exhaled."Because I have a problem."Ja
First ClashWARNING.VESSEL SIGNATURE DETECTED.VAELITH CONFIRMED.The alarm continued screaming through the command center.Jae didn't wait.He turned toward the eastern exit."Hazel.""I'm coming."The doors opened.They ran.Behind them, the King shouted orders."Miyan, take the western sector!"Miyan nodded."Elias, keep the communication network alive!""I'm on it!""Seraphina—"But she was already gone.The King stared at the empty doorway."Of course."~The eastern sector was burning.Buildings had collapsed along the main road. Smoke rolled between the ruins, turning the afternoon sky black.Jae slowed.Hazel stopped beside him."Do you feel that?"Jae nodded."Yes."Something was approaching.Not one presence.Several.Jae drew Elyndra.The blade immediately responded.A pale light traveled along its edge.Hazel looked at the sword."It knows they're coming."Jae tightened his grip."Or they know it's here."A figure appeared through the smoke.Then another.Then four more.
The Vessel InsideTHUMP.Hazel's hand tightened against her chest.Another heartbeat.THUMP.The command center remained completely dark.No emergency lights.No monitors.No communication systems.Nothing.Jae stood motionless.His sword glowed faintly in his hand."Everyone stay where you are."The King's voice came through the darkness.Miyan immediately raised her weapon.Elias backed away from the console.Claire's empty position beside them suddenly felt painfully obvious.Hazel slowly turned her head."I can feel it."Jae looked at her."Where?"She closed her eyes."Close."The heartbeat came again.THUMP.Hazel opened her eyes."Very close."Then—a voice came from behind them."You've become stronger."Everyone spun around.A figure stood at the far end of the command center.A woman.Completely motionless.Her silhouette was barely visible in the darkness.Jae immediately stepped in front of Hazel."Identify yourself."The woman smiled."You already know."Jae's sword brigh







