The world had changed.
Alex stood on the ridge overlooking the facility, watching the sun rise over the mountains. The light was different now. Brighter. More intense. The colors were richer, more vibrant. The air itself seemed to hum with potential.
The Forge's power had done more than heal the world. It had transformed it. Creation itself had been reshaped in Alex's image, and the universe was still adjusting.
But that wasn't what troubled him.
It was the silence.
The darkness inside him had gone quiet. Not controlled. Not suppressed. Quiet. Like it was waiting. Watching. Preparing.
Sebastian appeared beside him. "You've been out here for hours. The team is worried."
Alex didn't turn. "I can feel it, Sebastian. Something's coming. Something that's been waiting for this moment. For
