Chapter Ninety-Nine: Shadows of Retaliation The morning air was thick with smoke and frost. Thornreach had survived the night, but the aftermath left scars—burned streets, shattered wards, and a lingering tension that vibrated like a live wire through every corner of the city. Lucien Vale stood atop the central tower, eyes sweeping across the damaged landscape. The people below moved cautiously, repairing barricades, reinforcing broken wards, and tending to the wounded. [System Alert: Enemy Consolidation Detected], [Varran Activity: Unknown], [Threat Probability: Escalating]. Kael appeared silently beside him, black blade gleaming faintly in the pale light. “He’s gone, but he won’t be idle. He’s gathering strength, reorganizing, and plotting a strike that will test everything you’ve built.” Lucien didn’t reply immediately. His eyes traced the northern ridge, where shadows lingered among the snow-covered pines. Even from this distance, he could sense the subtle pulse of enemy magi