The sky split open.
Blackwood was no longer a kingdom, it was a battlefield. A storm of fire and steel rained from the heavens, casting eerie light across the ruined palace walls. Hundreds of perfected weapons, clones, soldiers, and machines born from Project Pandora descended like a swarm from the obsidian clouds. Their eyes glowed silver, void of humanity, bound only to one will.
Seraphine Vale stood at the head of them all. The First Queen. The Origin. The final authority.
Cambria staggered, her body bloodied and battered from the trial. Maddox rushed to her side, slipping an arm beneath her shoulders to hold her up.
"We need to retreat," he said. "Now."
"No," she whispered, eyes locked on Seraphine. "Not yet."
Evelyn backed toward the dais where Lucien still lay unconscious, protected only by a shattered energy field. Her voice trembled. "There's too many. Even if you beat Alpha, we can't win against this."
Cambria turned slowly, surveying the army descending upon her.
