The war council met in the compound's largest chamber—what had once been a warehouse floor, now cleared of debris and marked with maps scavenged from a dozen sources. Azrael stood at the head of a scarred metal table, black flame flickering along his knuckles as he studied the intelligence spread before him.

"Here." Sariel's clawed finger tapped a junction point on the map. "Demon supply route. They've been funneling weapons and essence through this corridor for weeks. Hit it hard enough, ...