The first sabotage attempt came at midnight Tokyo time—coordinated attacks on supply lines feeding the repair stations. Not direct assaults, but subtle disruptions that compounded into critical delays."Someone's poisoning our dimensional stabilizers," Sophia reported from the Tokyo site. "The chemical composition is off by point-zero-three percent. Enough to cause failures but subtle enough we almost missed it.""Check all sites. If they compromised Tokyo's supplies, they've hit others too." Marcus opened portals to each location, his consciousness spreading across the globe to assess damage.London reported equipment failures. Mumbai discovered sabotaged power systems. New York found their dimensional anchors weakened by microscopic fractures."It's systematic," Richard said, coordinating defensive responses. "They're not trying to destroy the stations—they're trying to delay completion. Buy time for a larger attack."Marcus reached out with his bridge senses, trying to trace the sa

The next seventy-two hours were the most intense of Marcus's life. Every repair station pushed toward completion while preparing for simultaneous assault. Every coalition member knew this was the deciding battle."Tokyo is ready," Agent Tanaka reported. "Ninety-eight percent completion. We can activate if needed.""Hold until all stations are ready. Activating early gives the Crimson Queen isolated targets." Marcus coordinated from the Vale Industries command center, his consciousness spread across multiple locations through bridge connections. "London status?""Ninety-five percent. Forty-eight hours to completion.""Mumbai?""Ninety-two percent. They hit some complications with dimensional anchoring, but engineers are working through it."Marcus felt exhaustion creeping in but pushed through with determination and stimulants Sophia assured him were "mostly safe." His hybrid nature helped—old one heritage meant he could function on minimal sleep longer than humans.But even supernatu

Richard Vale's voice reverberated through Marcus's bridge network, reaching the millions of connected minds. Marcus tried to cut him off, but his father had somehow hijacked the connection."You're not a hybrid, Marcus," Richard said. "You're a prototype. The first successful fusion of human consciousness and Old One architecture. I didn't just study dimensional beings—I created one."The revelation hit like a shockwave. Elena's hand slipped from Marcus's as he staggered. Around them, the Crimson Queen's hybrid soldiers paused, receiving new orders."Dad, what the hell are you talking about?""The exile wasn't a punishment," Richard continued. "It was activation. Five years of dimensional exposure, forcing your dormant Old One genetics to awaken. Every bridge you built, every reality you touched—it was all part of the design."Catherine's voice broke through. "Richard, you bastard, you can't tell him like this—""He needs to know. The Crimson Queen isn't trying to kill him. She's tryi

Marcus gasped awake, the Crimson Queen's power settling into his system like molten metal in his veins. Amanda held him steady while Elena pressed her bleeding palm against his forehead, her blood somehow anchoring him to reality."The Master," the Pale King said, his usual amusement gone. "I was afraid of this."Catherine's voice crackled through comms. "We're seeing the message worldwide. Every Swarm vessel in Earth's atmosphere is holding position. They're waiting for something."Marcus struggled to his feet. The Queen's final gift had stabilized him, but it came with her memories. Three thousand years of knowledge flooded his mind, including things the Old Ones had hoped to forget."The Swarm isn't an invading force," Marcus said. "It's a immune system. And we just triggered an infection response."The Pale King nodded grimly. "The Master is the consciousness that guides the Swarm. It maintains balance between dimensions, consuming realities that grow too unstable. Earth has been

Richard Vale pressed the gun against Raven's temple, his expression cold and professional. Marcus had seen his father angry, desperate, even grief-stricken. But this was different. This was the man who'd built Vale Industries from nothing, who'd played dimensional politics for twenty years.This was Richard Vale at his most dangerous."Two billion dollars doesn't just appear," Richard said. "I've been tracking unusual financial movements since the Swarm attack. Imagine my surprise when I traced them back to accounts I set up fifteen years ago. Accounts that were supposed to be inaccessible."Raven didn't flinch. "Your security wasn't as good as you thought.""No. But your partner's was better." Richard smiled. "Marcus, meet your third investor. The person who's been funding Raven's operation while simultaneously helping you build repair stations."Lilith Voss materialized beside them, her expression carefully neutral. "Hello, darling. Before you get angry, let me explain."Marcus fel