The gates of Dominion groaned.
Not from a battering ram.
Not from siege.
But from presence.
The Warden Throne didn't walk. He glided, hovering inches above the ground, arms bound in runic chains. His mask was blank, featureless, like porcelain carved by a blind god.
Around him, the world slowed.
Guards froze mid-step. Birds halted in the sky. The rain stopped falling—held midair like scattered glass.
Aya cursed under her breath. "He's locking spacetime threads."
Mira gripped her system relay. "He's rewriting anchor points—fixing entities in place."
Velhira narrowed her eyes. "He's not attacking."
"No," Elias muttered. "He's collecting."
The Warden raised one chained arm.
A rift opened behind him—dark, humming.
And from it… something stepped out.
Something that made every girl recoil.
Even Elias.
Because it looked exactly like him.
Same height. Same face. Same dark eyes.
But colder. Empty.
Clad in a black system coat with glowing red runes.