The safe house transformed over the next week.What had been a hiding place became a war camp. Kael sent messages to every faction that had fought beside them. To independent fighters. To anyone who'd stand against the War Gods.Some answered. Many didn't.Those who came brought their own people. Their own weapons. Their own doubts.By the end of the week, Kael had three hundred fighters. Not an army. But a start.He stood on a raised platform, addressing them all."Most of you know why you're here. Some don't. So I'll be clear." Kael activated his artifacts slightly. Blue light glowed. "In less than three weeks, the Six Lords will gather. They'll attempt what the First failed to do. Open the gate. Flood this world with beings from another realm. Beings who view us as property."Murmurs spread through the crowd."I know this sounds insane. Like stories. But you've all seen the evidence. Fought their forces. Watched people die because of their manipulations." Kael looked at each face.

They made it fifty feet inside before the first alarm sounded.Not where the enemy expected. But someone had seen them anyway."Go!" Kael shouted. "Fast and loud now!"His team sprinted through the ancient corridors. Behind them, footsteps thundered. Guards responding.They burst into the temple's outer courtyard. Open space. Dozens of enemy soldiers already taking positions."Spread out!" Kael commanded. "Create chaos!"His forces scattered. Vincent's team went left. Astrid's right. Kael charged straight up the middle.The first soldier raised a weapon. Kael was faster. He launched an energy construct that disarmed the man without killing him. Then he passed, moving deeper into the temple.More guards appeared. Enhanced fighters. Moving with coordinated precision.Kael met them head-on. His artifacts blazed. Blue energy erupted with each strike. He fought with everything Astrid had taught him. Every technique his grandfather had mastered.It still wasn't enough. There were too many.

Kael woke to pain.Every part of his body screamed. He opened his eyes slowly. White ceiling, bright lights and medical equipment beeping."He's awake," a voice said.Astrid appeared above him. Bandaged. Scarred. But alive."How long?" Kael's voice was barely a whisper."Six days. You've been in a coma. The doctors weren't sure you'd wake up." She helped him drink water. "The artifact detonation should have killed you. But somehow your bloodline absorbed most of the blast. Turned it inward instead of outward.""My father?"Astrid's expression darkened. "Gone. The blast vaporized him. Nothing left. Not even ashes."Kael felt something break inside. Despite everything. Despite the betrayal. That was still his father."The Convergence?""Failed. The gate collapsed completely. The War Gods were thrown back to their own realm. We won, Kael. You won.""At what cost?""Eight of our fifteen made it out. Vincent lost his other arm. Lyra's in critical condition but stable. The others..." Astrid

They returned to find the safe house under siege.Not a full assault. A precision strike. Thirty elite soldiers. All enhanced. All moving with military precision.And leading them was Cassius.Kael's rival stood at the perimeter, arms crossed, watching the assault with satisfaction."He survived the avalanche," Astrid said. "And he brought friends.""Then let's remind him why that was a mistake." Kael activated his new artifacts. The original Warborn armor blazed to life. Brighter. More powerful. "Get to the command center. Make sure our people are organized. I'll handle Cassius.""Kael, you can't—""I can. And I will." He looked at her. "This is personal. Between Warborn. Let me finish it."Astrid hesitated, then nodded. She and Lyra ran toward the safe house.Kael walked toward Cassius. Alone. No weapon but his artifacts.The elite soldiers moved to intercept. Cassius raised his hand, stopping them."Let him come. I've been waiting for this."Kael stopped twenty feet away. "New army

The strike teams moved out at midnight.Kael led his team through hidden passages the city revealed. Routes the enemy didn't know existed. Ways to approach Vincent's command post unseen.They emerged two hundred yards from the target. A fortified position. Guards everywhere. Purple energy barriers protecting the perimeter."Those barriers are strong," Astrid observed. "Same technique your father used. Blood magic mixed with War God power.""Then we don't go through them. We go under." Kael activated the city's systems. Found underground tunnels. Maintenance passages. "This way."They descended into darkness. The tunnels were narrow. Claustrophobic. But they led directly beneath Vincent's position."When we surface, it'll be chaos," Kael warned. "Stay together. Watch each other's backs. Our target is Vincent. Everything else is secondary."His team nodded. Ready. Scared. But committed.They emerged inside the command post. Caught the guards completely off guard.The fight was immediate