The rusty Vanguard van sped wildly down the dark, snowy streets of Chicago.Landon Hale sat in the back, gripping his heavy black rifle. His heart hammered against his ribs. His best friends, Claire and Kade, were trapped inside the burning Aether Dominion Headquarters building. General Kade Rauth was inside with them, holding a dangerous piece of ancient magic."Drive faster!" Landon roared at the militia driver."I am pushing the gas pedal to the floor!" the driver yelled back, spinning the steering wheel to avoid a burning car.Suddenly, a blinding, terrifying flash of pure purple light erupted from the massive stone building up ahead.The dark purple light did not look like a normal explosion. It did not create hot fire or gray smoke. Instead, it looked like the air itself was tearing open. The fabric of the world was ripping in half."What is that?!" Jin screamed from the front seat, covering her eyes.Landon instantly recognized the sickly purple magic. "It is the black stone!

"Tell me what to do, Claire," Landon’s deep voice answered. Just hearing his strong, steady voice made Claire feel incredibly brave."General Rauth is not fighting in the sky with his troops," Claire told Landon quickly. "He is heading straight for the Aether Spire. It is the tallest, biggest skyscraper in the exact center of the city. It is one hundred and fifty stories tall.""Why is he going up there?" Landon asked, kicking a piece of fallen glass out of his way."Because the Aether Spire has the most powerful radio broadcasting antenna on the entire continent of Africa," Claire explained. Her voice was filled with deep dread. "General Rauth still has the glowing black stone. If he plugs that magical stone into the giant radio antenna at the top of the building... he will broadcast the Deep One's waking signal across the entire Atlantic Ocean."Landon’s blood turned ice cold, even in the boiling African heat.If Rauth broadcasted the magical signal across the ocean, the ancient, sl

The freezing winter wind blew violently through the broken glass windows of the tall skyscraper.The city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was wrapped in a brutal, icy storm. The city was modern, cold, industrial, and highly elegant. Massive buildings made of shiny glass and dark steel reached high into the dark clouds. But the beautiful, shimmering skyline of Milwaukee hid dark, ancient secrets. Hidden underneath the modern streets were secret societies. There were powerful corporations run by the rich families of ancient, divine clans. And buried deep beneath the freezing, black waters of Lake Michigan were forgotten magic portals waiting to be opened.Landon Hale stood on the ninetieth floor of the Aether Dominion tower.The room was supposed to be a beautiful, elegant corporate office. It had shiny white marble floors. Expensive, colorful paintings hung on the walls. But now, it was a totally ruined war zone.Only a few minutes ago, Landon had faced the terrifying Hunter clone in the h

Landon stepped out from behind the concrete pillar. He ran silently across the dark marble floor. He reached the first blind green trooper.Because Landon knew the green armor would absorb raw magic, he did not use his magic to strike. He channeled his Kinetic Echo magic inward, using it only to make his own human muscles swing faster and hit harder.Landon swung his heavy, sharp combat knife in the pitch-black dark. He did not aim for the thick green chest plate. He aimed for the tiny, weak, rubber joints located right under the trooper's armpit.SHNK!The sharp knife cut perfectly through the weak rubber. The trooper screamed in pain and dropped his heavy shotgun.Landon spun smoothly on his heel. He grabbed the screaming trooper by the thick metal shoulders. Using all his massive, magically enhanced human strength, Landon lifted the heavy soldier entirely off the ground.With a loud roar, Landon threw the green trooper completely out the broken glass window.The soldier fell ninety

Landon dove safely behind a thick brick chimney. He was breathing hard. The cold air burned his lungs. The sharp pain in his broken rib was getting worse with every step he took."Where is the main antenna, Claire?" Landon asked, wiping freezing snow from his dark eyes."It is straight ahead of you," Claire guided him smoothly. "You have to cross fifty yards of open roof. Then, you have to climb a tall, metal spiral staircase to reach the highest platform. General Rauth is standing on that platform."Landon peeked carefully around the edge of the brick chimney. Through the thick, falling snow, he saw it.It was a massive, towering metal spire rising up from the center of the roof. It pointed straight into the dark winter clouds. At the very top of the spire, a large platform sat in the sky.And standing on that platform was a tall man wearing a long, expensive gray winter coat.It was General Kade Rauth."I see him," Landon growled."Landon, listen to me," Claire warned him quickly. H