Marcus studied Akira Tanaka carefully.The CEO sat relaxed. Confident. A man who had planned everything and knew he held all the power."You cannot force billions of gods to leave Earth," Marcus said. "Where would they even go?""Not my problem," Tanaka replied. "Olympus. Asgard. Whatever divine realms they came from. I do not care. As long as they leave our world.""This is their world too," Marcus argued. "They have lived here for thousands of years. Built civilizations. Had families. You are talking about mass deportation.""I am talking about liberation," Tanaka corrected. "Humanity deserves self determination. To rule ourselves without divine interference.""You mean corporations like yours deserve to rule," Marcus said. "Without gods checking your power."Tanaka smiled. "Perhaps. But is that worse than gods who treat mortals as pets? As entertainment? As collateral damage in their wars?""Some gods are like that," Marcus admitted. "But not all. The Bridge Academy proves gods and

Day one of the thirty day deadline started with chaos.Marcus called an emergency assembly at the Bridge Academy. Every student. Every teacher. Every god who would listen."We have one month," Marcus announced. "Thirty days to prove gods and mortals can work together. To show real change is happening. If we fail, Tanaka activates the Nullifiers worldwide. Billions suffer.""That is insane," one student said. "How do we change thousands of years of history in one month?""We do not change history," Marcus replied. "We change the present. Start new patterns. Show progress is possible."He pulled up a presentation. "Here is the plan. Week one, establish accountability systems. Gods operating under law. Week two, reparations programs. Compensating families harmed by divine actions. Week three, integration initiatives. Mixed communities. Shared governance. Week four, demonstrate results. Prove this works.""Four weeks to save the world," Rachel said. "Feels familiar.""Too familiar," Marcu

Three weeks after Tanaka shut down the Nullifiers, Marcus woke to breaking news."Anti-integration bombing in Paris. Twelve dead. Forty injured. Group calling themselves the Purists claims responsibility. Demands all mixed communities be disbanded."Marcus sat up, immediately awake. Elena was already on her phone, getting updates."Same pattern as our attack," she said. "Military grade explosives. Coordinated hits. Professional.""The Purists," Marcus said. "New name. Same hate."His phone rang. Director Chen."You saw the news?" she asked."Just now. How bad?""Worse than reported. The twelve dead include six children. Three gods, three mortals, all from mixed families. The Purists are specifically targeting bridges."Marcus felt ice in his veins. "They are going after people like me.""Like you, like Rachel, like every student at your Academy," Director Chen confirmed. "We are increasing security everywhere. But Marcus, these people are organized. Well funded. Dangerous.""Who are t

The Purists breached the perimeter at twelve separate points.Marcus watched from the command center. Security cameras showing attackers moving through darkness. Confident. Experienced. Believing they had the element of surprise.They were wrong."Teams in position?" Marcus asked through his headset."All teams ready," Maya confirmed. "Waiting for your signal."Marcus watched the Purists plant their bombs. Surround buildings. Prepare for massacre."Let them commit," Maya advised. "We need evidence of intent. Of action. Otherwise good lawyers get them off."Marcus hated waiting. Hated watching enemies approach his students. But Maya was right. They needed airtight evidence.The Purists finished planting bombs. Started moving toward dormitories where students supposedly slept."Now," Marcus said.Lights exploded across the campus. Blinding spotlights. Speakers blaring."This is the police! You are surrounded! Drop your weapons!"The Purists froze. Confused. Realizing too late they had w

The Council of Realities waited in a chamber made of pure light.Marcus entered with Elena and Rachel. The three of them small compared to the five cosmic beings who maintained order across infinite universes."Marcus Chen," the lead Council member spoke. "And companions. Welcome.""You summoned us," Marcus said carefully. "Why?""To acknowledge success," the Council member replied. "We condemned you once for disrupting patterns. For returning from cessation. We were wrong."Marcus blinked. "You were wrong?""Your existence created instability," another Council member explained. "But also evolution. New patterns formed around you. Bridges emerged. Integration developed. Change we thought impossible became real.""New Athens is proof," a third member added. "Ten thousand beings coexisting. Cooperating. Creating something neither god nor mortal could build alone.""So you approve?" Rachel asked suspiciously. "Of integration?""We approve of functional evolution," the lead member said. "