The Chamber's air was thick with tension as Alex absorbed the revelations of the past. The Saints were not always the rulers of mana. His father's sacrifice had been to uncover something far greater than a rebellion—it was about reclaiming what humanity had lost.
"We have no time to waste," Soren said, his voice low but urgent. "The imperial families will sense your awakening. We need to move."
"Move where?" Alex asked.
Nyssa pulled up a holographic projection of the world. The image zoomed in on the heart of Delta, the continent of espionage and secrets. "There's an informant embedded deep in the imperial network. We believe they have critical intelligence on mana suppression. If we can extract them, we may find the key to unlocking your full potential."
Alex frowned. "You're talking about infiltrating the most dangerous intelligence hub in the empire."
Soren smirked. "That's why we're sending you."
A beat of silence.
Alex's jaw tightened. "I barely have control over my own power, and you want me to go into the lion's den?"
"That's exactly why," Nyssa cut in. "They won't be expecting you. The imperial families think you're still a ghost, a rumor. We use that to our advantage."
Alex sighed. Every instinct told him this was insane, but the fire in his chest—the one fueled by vengeance and purpose—burned hotter.
"Fine. What's the plan?"
Soren stepped closer, eyes gleaming. "We need to break into the Black Archives, a hidden vault within Delta's capital. The informant left breadcrumbs, but only someone with Saint blood can bypass the inner security."
Alex's stomach twisted. "And you're sure I won't trigger an alarm the second I step in?"
"That's what this is for." Nyssa handed him a small, rune-inscribed bracelet. "It masks your presence—temporarily. But once you're in, you'll be on borrowed time."
Alex rolled his shoulders. "Then I won't waste a second."
Soren's lips curled into a grin. "Good. Because we leave at dawn."
As the meeting adjourned, Alex remained behind, staring at the holographic projection of Delta. His reflection shimmered in the light, and for the first time, he didn't just see a lost soul seeking revenge.
He saw a warrior stepping into the unknown, ready to challenge the gods who had shackled his kind for centuries.
Tomorrow, the first move in the Phantom's gambit would begin.