Chapter 354 - 353: A Thousand Steps
Location:Seven Peaks — Command Center, Various / Continental Reports
Date/Time:TC1854.02.04-08
Kael brought the news on the fourth day.
He found Thorne in the command center at the seventh hour — the security chief was reviewing patrol reports from the eastern perimeter, cross-referencing Skulker sighting locations with Serenyx’s aerial intelligence. The Aeralith Felis had pressed updated route maps into Raven’s mind the previous evening, and Thorne was methodical enough to integrate every data point before the morning briefing.
"The Emperor sent envoys to the Sanctum compound," Kael said without preamble. He set a relay crystal on the table — Imperial seal, priority encoding. "Three days ago. Fifty soldiers, two formation specialists, and a senior advisor."
Thorne didn’t look up from the patrol map. "And?"
"The city is exposed but locked. Every building is warded from the inside — autonomous defense arrays keyed to the internal formation network. When the soldiers tried to force entry through the main gate, the wards activated." Kael’s voice carried the particular flatness of someone delivering a report he’d rather not. "Dozens injured. Formation burns, spiritual disruption, two soldiers in critical condition. The wards aren’t passive barriers — they’re aggressive. Designed to hurt anyone who touches them."
"The survivors underground still control the internal systems."
"Everything inside the walls. The buildings, the vaults, the research facilities. The phase-shift collapsed, but the internal architecture is intact and defended." Kael paused. "That’s not the worst part."
Thorne looked up.
"The celestial families are trying to get in."
***