The poison clouds shifted like a living storm.
Sebastian stood alone at the center of the ruined district.
Across from him—
Miasma.
Ancient.
Calm.
Waiting.
Sebastian didn't look back as he spoke.
"Asher."
Asher stepped forward instinctively.
"You and the others return to WHU headquarters."
Asher's eyes hardened. "No."
"That's not a request," Sebastian said quietly.
"You'll provide support from there. Surveillance. Tactical feed. I need eyes."
A pause.
Then softer—
"I need you safe."
Their eyes met.
Asher understood what that really meant.
Reluctantly, he nodded.
Within minutes, the remaining heroes retreated toward headquarters.
Sebastian remained behind.
Alone.
Facing his ancestor.
WHU Headquarters
The doors sealed behind them as Asher entered.
The building was tense.
Monitors flickered.
Emergency protocols activated across multiple floors.
Asher stepped into the central operations hall—
And froze.
Julia stood near the wall.
She looked smaller somehow.
Collapsed inward.
Her eyes were swollen from crying.
When she looked up and saw him—
The air between them tightened.
Neither spoke at first.
Asher walked toward her slowly.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
Julia's voice was fragile.
"He was all I had."
Asher swallowed.
"I know what it feels like to lose someone and think it's your fault."
She looked at him.
"You think this is your fault too?"
He nodded faintly.
"I keep surviving."
"Vincent."
"Julian."
"Everyone pays."
His voice shook—but he didn't let it break.
"But if we stop now… then their deaths mean nothing."
Julia's eyes filled again.
Asher stepped closer.
"You don't have to be strong right now."
"But you don't have to fall either."
She clenched her fists.
"He was brave."
"Yes," Asher said.
"And so are you."
Silence.
Then—
He extended his hand.
"We need to help Sebastian."
Julia hesitated.
Then she took his hand.
"…Okay."
They moved to the main control deck.
From there, the battlefield was visible through massive external screens and aerial drone feeds.
The entire hall went silent.
On screen—
Sebastian and Miasma stood facing one another.
The distance between them felt like history itself.
Miasma raised his hand slowly.
The poison around him thickened—
Then split open.
Figures began emerging from the mist.
Dozens.
Then hundreds.
Controlled bodies.
Transformed soldiers.
Approximately five hundred of them.
An army born from the city itself.
Gasps filled the command hall.
"Five hundred confirmed hostiles," an operator reported.
"Asher—patching live feed to Sebastian!"
Transmission established.
"Sebastian," a voice echoed through his comm device, "multiple hostile units inbound. Estimated five hundred."
On screen, Sebastian did not move.
He simply exhaled.
"I see them."
Behind him, the poisoned army advanced.
Miasma spoke calmly.
"Evolution requires numbers."
In headquarters—
No one breathed.
They were watching history unfold.
Waiting for the first strike.
Then—
A sharp metallic sound echoed.
CHAAAT.
The entire building trembled.
Lights flickered violently.
"What was that?!" someone shouted.
Suddenly—
Heavy steel barriers slammed down over every exit.
Reinforced seal systems activated automatically.
Emergency lockdown engaged.
"Who triggered the lockdown?!" Oliver yelled.
"No one from our side!" a technician shouted back.
"External override detected!"
The windows darkened—
Then partially cleared.
People rushed toward them.
From the outside—
A massive energy barrier surrounded the entire headquarters complex.
They were sealed in.
"No way out…" someone whispered.
Panic began rising.
They pressed against the glass.
And then—
They saw him.
High above the battlefield.
Hovering.
Wings spread wide.
Not mechanical.
Not energy constructs.
Real.
Dark, enormous wings.
His face remained hidden in shadow.
But the aura—
Was suffocating.
Oliver's voice went quiet.
"…Lord."
Silence swallowed the room.
"He's here."
On the battlefield—
Miasma slightly turned his head upward.
Sebastian felt it.
A new presence.
He looked toward the sky.
The air itself seemed to bow.
The winged figure slowly descended.
Not rushing.
Not dramatic.
Controlled.
Dominant.
And the war—
Just escalated beyond calculation.