Chapter 171: A Blade Unsheathed, The Eve of the Storm

In the sterile, humming heart of a subterranean command center, the only light came from the cold blue glow of server racks and a massive central monitor. The air was thick with the silent tension of impending conflict. Castiel Lawne stood before the screen, his reflection a stark silhouette against the cascading lines of code. His face, usually a mask of calm indifference, was as still and cold as polished granite. Maddox Scurr approached, his steps silent on the metallic floor. He held a military-grade...