Meanwhile, back in Ironvale City, the atmosphere inside Rift Corporation remained as busy as ever. Employees hurried through the hallways carrying stacks of documents, executives moved from one meeting room to another, and countless phones rang without pause. As one of the fastest-growing corporations in the city, every passing hour generated millions in transactions, making every decision a crucial one. At the very top floor, inside the president’s office, Selena sat quietly behind her large mahogany desk, surrounded by towering piles of files that seemed to multiply no matter how many she finished.She gently rubbed the bridge of her nose before letting out a long sigh. Another contract had just been reviewed, yet five more still waited for her signature. Several financial reports remained untouched on the opposite side of the desk, while her laptop continued receiving emails every few seconds. Only now did she truly realize how much work Jaden had silently been handling behind the

The drive to the hospital was unusually quiet. Morganna stole several glances at Selena from the driver’s seat, unable to shake the strange feeling that had settled over her ever since her sister asked to come here. At first, she had only been joking about the possibility of pregnancy, but Selena’s reaction had been far too serious for it to be brushed aside as mere embarrassment. The normally composed president of Rift Corporation sat in the passenger seat with her hands resting on her lap, staring absentmindedly through the car window as countless thoughts raced through her mind. Every now and then, she unconsciously placed a hand over her lower abdomen before quickly pulling it away, almost as though she were afraid of what that simple gesture might mean. Unable to bear the silence any longer, Morganna finally spoke. “Sis… why are we really going to the hospital?” she asked cautiously. “Don’t tell me you’re actually taking what I said seriously. I was only teasing you. You don’t h

The soldiers maintained their formation without lowering their weapons for even a second. More personnel continued pouring out from nearby watchtowers and security posts until nearly every angle around the entrance was covered by assault rifles. Red laser sights danced across Ares’ body, locking onto his head, chest, and limbs. Despite being completely surrounded, the towering warlord remained as calm as ever, his expression carrying more boredom than concern.He let out a long sigh and scratched the side of his head.“I literally just got here…”His deep voice echoed across the checkpoint.“…and we’re already about to fight.”He slowly turned to face the dozens of armed guards before speaking in a surprisingly polite tone.“So let me ask you something.”“Is there any way I can get inside without us beating each other up?”For a brief moment…Silence.The guards stared at him as though they had just encountered the strangest man alive.The captain narrowed his eyes.“Did you not hear

Ares remained perfectly still behind the massive boulder overlooking the winding valley road, his enormous frame blending unnaturally well with the rocky terrain despite his size. Below him, the only road leading into Black Covenant Facility Zero cut through the mountains like a giant scar, heavily guarded and constantly patrolled. The wind howled across the valley, carrying dust and the distant rumble of engines. Through the communicator in his ear, Hope’s calm voice continued feeding him intelligence from headquarters.“The convoy should arrive in less than two minutes,” she reported. “Thermal scans indicate multiple supply vehicles transporting personnel, food, ammunition, and laboratory equipment into the facility. Infiltrating through the convoy remains your safest option.”Ares narrowed his eyes as he watched the empty road.“Safe isn’t exactly my specialty.”“I know,” Hope replied with an exasperated sigh. “That’s exactly why I’m reminding you.”A faint grin appeared on the gia

The driver nodded repeatedly, his face devoid of color as beads of sweat rolled freely down his temples. His broken leg throbbed with every slight movement, yet he didn’t dare complain. Compared to the giant standing behind him, the pain in his leg was insignificant. He slowly climbed back into the driver’s seat, his trembling hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Behind him, Ares had already dragged the unconscious bodies deeper into the cargo compartment. One unfortunate guard had been stripped of his uniform, identification badge, and tactical vest before being carelessly tossed into a corner alongside the others. Although the black tactical shirt stretched tightly across Ares’ mountainous physique, making it painfully obvious it wasn’t his size, it was the best disguise available under the circumstances.The engine roared back to life, and the truck slowly rolled forward until it caught up with the tail end of the convoy. None of the other dr