Novels by Manuel Sterling

The press conference was a masterclass in corporate theater. Zen stood on the podium at the future site of Skyline, the skeletal framework of the unfinished building rising behind him like the bones of a slumbering giant. Construction equipment gleamed in the afternoon sun, workers in Mega-branded safety gear positioned strategically in the background.Camera flashes punctuated his arrival as journalists frantically took notes. The city's most prominent business reporters had rushed to the site following Mega's cryptic announcement of "significant developments regarding the Skyline project."Zen adjusted the microphone, his expression betraying nothing of the calculated vengeance driving his actions. Sinclair stood to the side, scanning the crowd with practiced vigilance, while Keisha managed the press at the perimeter."Good afternoon," Zen began, his voice carrying across the assembled media with commanding precision. "Thank you for joining us on such short notice. Today marks a sig

Night had fallen across the city as Zen sat alone in his office, the only illumination coming from his desk lamp and the soft glow of his computer screen. The Rossi loan documents were spread before him, each page meticulously annotated with his observations. The evidence was damning—predatory terms, hidden clauses, and what appeared to be deliberate manipulation of financial projections to ensure default.Mrs. Rossi had overplayed her hand, and now Zen had everything he needed to take control of the Skyline project.A soft ping from his security system alerted him to movement in the outer office. Zen glanced at his watch—11:47 PM. The cleaning staff had already finished hours ago, and his assistant had left shortly after six.He wasn't expecting anyone.With calmness, Zen closed the folder containing the loan documents and slid it into his desk drawer. He then pressed a concealed button beneath his desk, activating the silent recording system he'd installed for exactly this type of s

The Skyline project dominated the horizon, its partially completed towers rising like monoliths against the afternoon sky. Construction cranes swung in choreographed precision, while teams of workers navigated the massive structure with efficiency. Despite being 15 percent complete, the development already commanded attention—a testament to Tom's architectural vision and business ambition.Zen stood at the edge of the site, ostensibly reviewing progress reports while actually conducting a far more strategic assessment. Following Wilson's revelations about the underground infrastructure connections, a personal inspection had become necessary."The north tower foundation is proceeding ahead of schedule," James Wilson explained as they walked the perimeter. "Structural integrity tests exceeded specifications by twelve percent.""And the sublevel excavation?" Zen asked, his attention focused on the massive pit that would eventually become the project's underground parking and service are

Back in Zen’s Home country, after the whole heat has died down.Evelyn Rossi's office occupied the entire top floor of the Rossi Enterprises headquarters, a testament to both her inflated sense of importance and desperate need for the appearance of power. Floor-to-ceiling windows provided a 360-degree view of the city, including—Zen noted with satisfaction—a perfect sightline to the Skyline project rising in the distance. A project she'd foolishly leveraged her company to infiltrate."Mr. Diel," she greeted as he was ushered in by her assistant. Her voice carried the brittle warmth of someone trying to mask anxiety behind social pleasantries. "What an unexpected pleasure. I was beginning to think you were avoiding me."Zen moved into the spacious office with confident strides, each step calculated to remind her who truly held power in this room. He didn't wait for her invitation before settling comfortably in the chair opposite her desk."Avoiding you, Evelyn? Quite the contrary. I've

The yacht cut through darkening waters, its engines humming at three-quarter power as it navigated away from Saint-Malo's harbor. Security personnel had settled into cruising positions—two on the aft deck, one on the forward observation point, and two inside the main cabin with Zharkov and Nia. The remaining guards were likely positioned on the bridge and in the engine room, maintaining operational security throughout the vessel.Zen and Henri remained concealed near the outer deck storage compartments, using the shadows cast by the yacht's exterior lighting to avoid detection. The increasing distance from shore worked in their favor—intervention from harbor authorities becoming less likely with each passing minute."Approaching optimal position," Henri noted quietly, checking the GPS coordinates on his tactical device. "Five minutes to designated extraction point."Zen nodded. They had identified a stretch of water approximately three nautical miles from shore—far enough to avoid imm

Saint-Malo's ancient granite walls rose against the darkening sky, silhouetted by the setting sun as it dipped into the English Channel. The medieval fortifications had withstood centuries of sieges and storms, but now they served as mere backdrop to a far more immediate conflict. NiaZen studied the waterfront property through high-powered binoculars, his position on a neighboring rooftop offering optimal surveillance while maintaining adequate distance. The target—a modernist villa constructed with obvious disregard for the historic surroundings—sat directly on the water, complete with private dock where a sleek yacht waited, engines idling."Preparations for immediate departure," he noted, observing increased activity around the vessel. "Security detail?"Beside him, Henri adjusted his own observation equipment. "Eight visible. Professionally positioned. Two on the main approach, two patrolling the perimeter, four on the property itself.""Armed?""Concealed, but evident from their

That night, Miko couldn't sleep.The camp was quiet. Guards patrolled the perimeter. Soldiers rested in their tents. Everything looked calm.But his mind wouldn't stop. The paladin's words kept repeating. Hundreds of Apex creatures. Thousands maybe. All waiting in the deep Abyss.He got up. Walked through the camp. Just moving. Thinking.Near the edge of camp, he saw someone sitting alone. One of the paladins who'd fought the Apex insect. The same one who'd talked to him earlier."Can't sleep either?" the paladin asked."Too much to think about.""Sit. I'll keep you company."Miko sat on a rock nearby. They watched the perimeter together in silence for a while."You have questions," the paladin said. Not asking. Stating."Yeah.""Ask. I'll answer what I can.""How did the Church get so strong? Your techniques. Your coordination. That's beyond anything the AAU teaches.""The Church has been training to fight the Abyss for centuries. Long before your Academy existed. We know things that

They'd been marching for three hours when the sensors went crazy."Contact!" Liam yelled, checking his equipment. "Massive energy signature approaching fast!""From where?" Miko asked."Above!"Everyone looked up.The sky was already wrong colors. Purple and gray mixed together. But now something was moving through it. Fast. Creating sonic booms that cracked the air."Defensive positions!" Galok commanded. "Aerial threat incoming!"The expedition scattered. Breaking formation. Finding cover behind rocks and ruins.The creature descended.It was massive. Insect-like body maybe hundred and fifty feet long. Wings that buzzed at frequencies that made stone crack. Armored carapace covered in dimensional energy that shimmered like oil."Apex creature!" someone yelled. "Subject Four from the western mountains!"But this was nowhere near the western mountains. Subject Four shouldn't be here.Unless someone moved it. Or it escaped.The creature circled overhead. All its eyes focused on the exp

Dawn came different in the deep Abyss.The sky shifted from dark colors to lighter dark colors. Not real daylight. Just less darkness. The sun didn't exist here. Just dimensional energy that provided enough light to see."All units prepare to march!" officers yelled.The camp came alive. Soldiers packing equipment. Checking weapons. Eating quick rations before departure.Miko's element marriage had been active all night. Never turned off. Couldn't turn off in this place. The dimensional pressure was too strong.He felt different. Stronger somehow. The deep Abyss energy was doing something to his element marriage. Enhancing it. Making ash and fire integrate more completely."You look wired," Akiya said, walking over. "Sleep at all?""A little. You?""Not really. This place makes weird sounds at night."They packed their gear together. Around them, Unit Seven did the same. Anna checking medical supplies. Aria testing her ice element. Liam studying maps. The champions preparing their own

The portal site loomed ahead.They'd marched through the city. Through the crowds. Through the cheering and crying and desperate hope. Now they stood at the gates of the secured area.The portal was already active. Fifty feet tall. Thirty feet wide. Pulsing with energy that made Miko's teeth hurt."All units inside!" an officer yelled.The expedition filed through the security gates. Into the restricted zone. Behind them, the crowd pressed against the barriers. Thousands of people watching. Praying. Hoping.Inside, technicians ran final checks. Church priests performed last blessings. Engineers monitored equipment that hummed with dimensional power."First wave form up!" Galok commanded.Church paladins moved to the front. Fifty of them in perfect formation. White armor gleaming. Blessed weapons ready.Miko stood with Unit Seven in the staging area. They'd go in the second wave with the other elite units."Portal stable," an engineer called out. "Ready for transit."Galok stepped forw

Morning came too fast.Miko woke to the sound of the base coming alive. Soldiers moving equipment. Vehicles being loaded. The organized chaos of an army preparing for war.He got dressed. Put on his combat gear. Checked his dimensional blade. Everything ready.Outside his quarters, the base looked different. Bigger somehow. More people than normal. Then he realized why.The expedition force was assembling. Four hundred people spread across the training grounds. Church paladins in white armor. AAU operatives in black. Elite units in specialized gear.All of them preparing for the same mission.Miko walked through the base. Just watching. Taking it all in.Families had come to say goodbye. Wives holding husbands. Parents hugging children. Kids crying because they understood enough to be scared.One soldier knelt in front of his daughter. Maybe five years old. He was telling her to be brave. That daddy would come home. The lie was kind but obvious.Miko kept walking.He found a spot on t

The next morning, Miko was summoned to a briefing room he'd never been in before. Smaller than the main one. More private. "Just you," the messenger said. "Your team waits outside." That was strange. But he went anyway. He opened the door and stopped. Three people stood inside. People he recognized. People he hadn't seen in months. Blaze. Cabin. Samson. The championship competitors who'd toured the Abyss with him on that first mission. "Miko!" Blaze grinned. His fire element flickered around his hands in excitement. "Thought we'd never see you again after you went all legend on us." Cabin was quieter. Just nodded. His earth element made him solid. Unmovable. The kind of guy who said more with silence than words. Samson stood apart from the others. His holy sword strapped to his back. The blade hummed with blessed energy even while sheathed. Seventy percent blessed according to Church standards. Powerful enough to cut through most Abyssal threats. "You're all here," Miko said