Chapter 81 The morning after the dome came down the city felt different. Quieter in a bad way. People moved slow through the streets like they were waiting for the next bad thing to happen. The market square was nothing but broken stone and black stains that would not wash away. The rift was gone but the air still carried that cold rotten smell. Everyone knew it was not really over. Zarek stood on the tower balcony watching the eastern district. Draven’s people had pulled back to their side of the city. They had set up new barricades and their own guards. The temporary truce had lasted long enough to destroy the seed but it died the second the fighting stopped. Now the split was wider than ever. Mira rested in their quarters with bandages around her side. The cut from the creature had been deep but it was healing. She looked up when Zarek came in and gave him a tired smile. Her belly showed clearly now and she kept one hand on it most of the time. “The baby kicked strong this morni

Chapter 83 The surge from Harlan's device ripped through the eastern district like a living wound. Black veins spread across the ground and climbed the walls of buildings. Pale creatures poured out from the new cracks and attacked anyone in sight. Zarek barely had time to pull his team back before the real madness started. Draven's people blamed Zarek for the disaster. They said the raid had provoked the Void. Zarek's supporters shouted back that Harlan was the traitor working with outsiders. Words turned to bullets in minutes. The civil war exploded across the whole city. Houses burned in long rows. Families who had survived monsters and rifts now ran through the streets carrying children and whatever food they could grab. Zarek moved through the smoke with his hammer dripping blood. He had not slept. His body felt heavy but the rage kept him moving. "Push them back to their district," he ordered. "Do not let them reach the core." His fighters clashed with Draven's men in the mi

Chapter 85 The next day brought no rest for anyone in Sanctuary City. The black veins from the corrupted eastern district kept spreading slowly like a disease that refused to die. Zarek called for a temporary truce with Draven's remaining people. They had no choice. The pale creatures were getting smarter and hungrier. If both sides kept fighting each other the Void would finish them all by nightfall. Zarek stood in the central square and shook hands with Draven in front of the crowd. The moment felt fake. Both men stared at each other with cold eyes. Draven's face showed fresh bruises and his daughter stayed hidden away because the corruption inside her grew worse by the hour. They agreed to fight together for one day only. After that the war between them would continue. The combined force moved toward the eastern edge. Zarek led the front with his hammer ready. Mira insisted on coming again even though her belly had grown heavier and her wound still hurt. She carried lighter tool

Chapter 87 The colossal eye stayed fixed in the sky all through the night. Its purple glow lit up the ruined streets and made the black veins on the ground shine like living things. Zarek barely slept. He sat beside Mira in the core chamber while healers worked on her. The bleeding had slowed but she looked weak. Her face was pale and sweat covered her forehead. The baby inside her still moved but the kicks came less often now. "You need to rest," Zarek told her quietly. He held her hand and felt how cold her fingers were. Mira gave a tired smile. "I will rest when this city is safe. Our daughter needs her father strong." He stayed with her until the next alarm sounded. Another wave of pale creatures attacked from the east. Zarek kissed her forehead and left with heavy steps. Outside the air felt thicker. The eye watched every move he made. The fighting never really stopped. Small groups of creatures slipped through the barriers and attacked at random. Zarek moved from one fight

**Chapter 89**The colossal eye pulsed brighter in the broken sky. Its stare pulled at everyone’s strength like a heavy weight on their chests. Zarek woke from a short nap with fresh rage burning in his blood. He could not sit still while the city bled. The pale creatures had grown bolder. They gathered in large packs now and tested the defenses all along the eastern side. It was time to hit back hard.He gathered every fighter who could still stand. Draven’s remaining men joined them under the shaky truce. No one spoke much. They all knew this fight could decide if the city lasted another day. Zarek led them out at first light. His hammer felt alive in his grip. The Architect System pushed fresh energy into his tired muscles. Mira tried to follow but he made her stay back this time. Her bleeding had not stopped completely and the baby needed her to rest. She kissed him fiercely before he left and whispered for him to come back alive.The streets near the eastern district looked like