to draw you into the war."
"So my father... he isn't alive?" Ethan whispered, his voice hoarse. His heart plummeted. The anger transformed into overwhelming pain.
"I'm sorry, Ethan. He's gone. But this *Echo* is a real threat," the First Ancestor sighed. "He kidnapped Clara to open the gate between the two realms. We have to stop him before it's too late."
"A gate? Other Realms?" Clara asked, her eyes wide with fear.
"This world is much larger than you realize, Miss Thorne," the First Ancestor replied. "The Seven Realms don't just control shadows. They control dimensions. And they are coming."
The hall doors were thrown open. The real Xander, with a bandaged head wound, rushed inside. Behind him, several of his best Sovereign agents followed.
"Sir! I apologize! I'm too late!" Xander
