After securing Victor's loyalists, Marcus explored the pocket dimension more thoroughly. The Scout had mentioned something Victor stole from the Syndicate archives. Marcus needed to know what.He found it in a sealed chamber at the dimension's heart—a containment unit that made his bridge senses scream warnings. Whatever was inside radiated power that predated human civilization."Don't open that," Richard warned, appearing beside him."I have to know what we're dealing with.""Sometimes ignorance is safer."Marcus opened the containment unit anyway. Inside was something that looked like a crystal, but it pulsed with consciousness. The moment he touched it, images flooded his mind.The Syndicate's true origin. Not a modern organization, but something ancient. A group that had existed for thousands of years, manipulating human development from the shadows. And this crystal was their founder—not human, not old one, but something else entirely."The First Architect," the crystal spoke di

Tokyo was thirteen hours ahead and felt like another world. Marcus's team landed at Narita Airport to find Japanese supernatural authorities waiting."Marcus Vale-san." A woman in an immaculate business suit bowed. "I am Agent Tanaka, Special Supernatural Division. Your presence here has caused considerable concern.""We're here about the Pale King.""So are we. It has disrupted several districts, caused panic among our supernatural communities." Tanaka's expression was carefully neutral. "The question is whether you're here to help or make things worse.""Help. We have intelligence that the Pale King is trying to prevent a larger threat.""The Swarm. Yes, we're aware." Tanaka led them to waiting vehicles. "Our seers have been having visions. Darkness consuming light, reality unmaking itself. Traditional descriptions of apocalypse.""Can we see the shrine where it's staying?""From a distance. Approaching directly would be suicide." Tanaka gave Marcus an appraising look. "Unless you h

Tokyo was thirteen hours ahead and felt like another world. Marcus's team landed at Narita Airport to find Japanese supernatural authorities waiting."Marcus Vale-san." A woman in an immaculate business suit bowed. "I am Agent Tanaka, Special Supernatural Division. Your presence here has caused considerable concern.""We're here about the Pale King.""So are we. It has disrupted several districts, caused panic among our supernatural communities." Tanaka's expression was carefully neutral. "The question is whether you're here to help or make things worse.""Help. We have intelligence that the Pale King is trying to prevent a larger threat.""The Swarm. Yes, we're aware." Tanaka led them to waiting vehicles. "Our seers have been having visions. Darkness consuming light, reality unmaking itself. Traditional descriptions of apocalypse.""Can we see the shrine where it's staying?""From a distance. Approaching directly would be suicide." Tanaka gave Marcus an appraising look. "Unless you h

Marcus returned to his team looking shaken but alive. Elena ran to him, checking for injuries she couldn't see."I'm okay. Better than okay, actually." Marcus felt the connection to the Pale King thrumming in his consciousness. "We have one week to organize a summit between humans, supernatural beings, and old ones.""That's impossible," Agent Tanaka said flatly. "Our government barely acknowledges supernatural existence. You expect them to negotiate with old ones?""I expect them to choose survival over pride." Marcus pulled out his phone. "Sophia, I need you to set up a secure location. Somewhere neutral where all parties can meet without feeling threatened.""Define all parties.""Human governments. Supernatural communities. Old one representatives. And whatever other factions want a say in preventing dimensional apocalypse." Marcus felt the enormity of what he was proposing. "We're building a coalition or we're dying separately.""I'll see what I can do," Sophia said. "But Marcus,

Marcus found his mother standing on the facility's landing platform, five hundred supernatural hybrids arranged in military formation behind her. Catherine Vale looked exactly as he remembered, but her eyes held a determination that made his bridge senses alert."Mom. What are you doing here?""Protecting my son. The summit's been broadcasted across supernatural channels. Everyone knows you're building a coalition. That makes you a target." Catherine gestured to her army. "So I brought insurance.""I don't need an army. I need diplomacy.""Diplomacy backed by force is called negotiation. Diplomacy without force is called begging." Catherine moved closer. "Marcus, you're trying to unite species that have hated each other for millennia. Noble, but naive. Someone will try to stop you, and when they do, you'll need soldiers."Marcus looked at the five hundred hybrids. All armed, all trained, all loyal to his mother. It was exactly the kind of power display that could destroy the fragile t