Three weeks passed without a Voidborne attack. Three weeks of relative peace that felt simultaneously comforting and unsettling.Ethan spent the time strengthening his bonds with his companions, and Lyra was making her intentions increasingly clear."Come with me," she said one evening, transforming into her human form and practically dragging him toward the academy's training grounds. "There's something I need to show you."The training ground was deserted, moonlight casting silver shadows across the open space. Lyra led him to the center, then turned to face him with an expression that was equal parts fierce and vulnerable."In the Fenris Pack, we choose our mates through combat," she said without preamble. "Not to dominate them, but to prove we're strong enough to stand beside them. To show that we can protect what matters.""Lyra—""Let me finish." Her golden eyes caught the moonlight. "I've been watching you build connections with Senna, with Seris, even with Kara and the Empress

Commander Seris requested a private meeting three days after Ethan's commitments to Lyra and Senna became public knowledge. Her holographic form materialized in his quarters with an expression that mixed professional detachment with something more complicated."We need to discuss the political implications of your romantic choices," she said without preamble.Ethan had been expecting this conversation. "Go ahead.""By formally bonding with Princess Lyra, you've signaled preferential treatment toward the Fenris Pack. By acknowledging Senna's position as secondary bond, you've complicated medical chain of command. And by not addressing bonds with other factions, you've created uncertainty about coalition stability.""I made personal choices," Ethan said carefully. "Not political ones.""Personal and political are the same thing when you're the Reality Anchor coordinating galactic defense." Seris's silver eyes held frustration. "My mother is already questioning whether the Crystal Domini

The third Voidborne wave arrived during what should have been a diplomatic reception. Representatives from a dozen factions had gathered to formalize treaty arrangements when the alarms activated with devastating urgency.This time, the Voidborne didn't just attack—they adapted."They're targeting civilians first," Seris reported, her holographic form appearing in the command center. "Bypassing military defenses and going directly for settlements. They've learned that unified consciousness links require living defenders to function."Ethan watched the tactical display in horror as Voidborne entities materialized near population centers across multiple worlds. They were attacking everywhere simultaneously, spreading the defenders too thin to effectively respond."Activate emergency protocols," Ethan commanded. "Military forces engage defensive positioning. I'm establishing consciousness links with available cultivators.""That's only two hundred," Lyra said, her tactical mind already

Ethan spent the first day alone, meditating in the cultivation chamber where he'd achieved so many impossible breakthroughs. The Immortal Path system was quieter than usual, as if waiting for him to make his choice.On the second day, he called his bonded companions together.Lyra arrived first, still in wolf form, her massive body radiating protective energy. Senna came with medical equipment, probably planning to monitor his vitals during the conversation. Seris appeared via hologram, her expression carefully controlled. Nyx materialized from shadows, her ancient eyes knowing what was about to be discussed.And surprisingly, Kara attended in person, her molten skin glowing softly in the chamber's lighting."I've made my decision," Ethan said without preamble. "I'm attempting the advancement.""No." Lyra shifted to human form, her golden eyes blazing. "Absolutely not. We'll find another way.""There isn't another way," Ethan replied gently. "Nyx confirmed it—without Peak Soul Realm

Recovery from Peak Soul Realm advancement took three days, but Ethan's new perception made time feel strange. He existed partially outside normal temporal flow, aware of moments both before and after they occurred in ways that made linear thinking difficult."You're phasing," Senna observed during one of her medical examinations. "Your body flickers out of normal reality for microseconds at a time. It's consistent with forty-one percent contamination.""Can you fix it?""I don't know if it needs fixing. The contamination is stable, integrated with your cultivation rather than fighting it." Senna's amber eyes held concern mixed with scientific curiosity. "You're something new, Ethan. Not human, not Voidborne, but a hybrid of both."Lyra found the changes harder to accept. She'd catch him staring at nothing, seeing dimensional layers she couldn't perceive, and through their bond he felt her worry that he was slipping away."Talk to me," she demanded one evening, finding him on the obse