The fall of the two hidden factions did not end the West by itself.
It did something better.
It made the West start falling in the correct direction.
When Lucien returned to the public channel and announced that the two hidden faction cores had been broken, the five continents heard it almost at the same time.
The two fragments had been recovered.
The rituals had been stopped.
The western rhythm had failed a full cycle.
For one breath, the world did not know how to respond.
Then the West erupted.
Cheers rose from broken streets, shattered mountain passes, bloodied formation lines, and cities that had spent the last several days watching old fears become visible enemies.
People who had doubted Lootwell's warnings now understood that the enemy could bleed.
The Keepers could lose.
That mattered.
Fear did not vanish. But it changed shape.
The remaining three western fragment points felt the change immediately.
Their defenders were still powerful.
