The world was healing.
Alex stood on the ridge overlooking the facility, watching the sun rise over the mountains. The sky was clear. The air was clean. The land was vibrant with life.
But the darkness inside him was restless.
It had been three weeks since he'd absorbed the Core. Three weeks since he'd become the source of all existence. Three weeks of peace.
But the peace was a lie.
He could feel it. A presence at the edge of his consciousness. An echo of something ancient. Something that had been waiting for this moment.
Sebastian appeared beside him. "You've been out here for hours. What's wrong?"
Alex didn't turn to face him. "I can feel it, Sebastian. Something's coming. Something that's been waiting for me to become powerful enough to face it."
"What is it?"
Alex finally tur
