Ares

The city slept, or at least it seemed to. But I knew better. Peace was a fragile illusion, a thin veil stretched over a war that never truly ended.

I stood in the war room of Sterling Tower, the dim glow of screens reflecting off my face, showing the chaos still unfolding in the shadows. Gideon, Evelyn, and Camilla had retreated after their last defeat—but retreat didn’t mean surrender.

Leon’s voice broke the silence. “Sir, Vanguard’s movements are minimal, but they’re ...