The VTOL touched down on a massive floating platform—an aircraft carrier unlike any Nam had ever seen.
Delta Command's true headquarters: Obsidian Point.
As they disembarked, a squad of armored guards in black-and-silver exosuits flanked them, escorting them wordlessly through winding steel corridors.
Lan glanced around, tense.
"Feels like we're prisoners," she muttered.
Nam didn't respond.
He felt it too—the atmosphere was thick with urgency and secrets.
Finally, they were led into a vast, circular chamber deep within the carrier.
At the center was a massive holographic globe of Earth, flickering with red warning markers.
Seated around it were men and women—leaders from all over the world. Generals, directors, spymasters. All of them wore expressions carved from stone.
At the head of the table stood an imposing figure in a navy uniform adorned with silver stripes—Director Holt, the supreme commander of Delta Command.
He turned as they entered, sharp blue eyes locking onto Nam.
"Commander Nam," Holt said. His voice was cold and precise.
"You and your team are the only survivors of Site Epsilon."
It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
Nam saluted stiffly.
"Yes, sir."
Holt nodded once.
"You will be debriefed fully later. For now, you're needed here."
He gestured toward the center of the chamber.
The holographic Earth zoomed in, showing massive black vortexes spinning over key regions—North America, Eurasia, Southeast Asia.
Holt's voice dropped lower, grim.
"The Harbinger was merely a pawn. We are facing a global cascade event."
Minh frowned.
"Sir, what's causing it?"
Holt's jaw tightened.
"Ancient artifacts. The same type as the Shard you recovered. They've been awakening—reacting to something... or someone."
Bao crossed his arms.
"Let me guess. That masked freak we saw?"
Lan shot him a warning glance, but Holt merely nodded.
"Whoever they are, they have knowledge of the artifacts. And they're using them to trigger the collapse of existing dimensional barriers."
A heavy silence fell.
Lan broke it hesitantly.
"What happens if the barriers fall?"
A new voice answered.
From the shadows, an old woman in a crimson cloak stepped forward.
Madame Kora, legendary mystic advisor to Delta Command.
"If the barriers fall," she said softly, "the things we sealed away long ago... will return."
Nam's blood ran cold.
Kora continued, her gaze sweeping the room.
"There are entities beyond this reality—creatures born of hunger and chaos. They are older than humanity. Older than the Earth itself."
Images flickered across the hologram: colossal shapes moving through the darkness, cities crumbling, skies torn apart.
"These artifacts," Kora whispered, "were once used to lock them away."
Minh's mouth went dry.
"And now... they're keys to their prison."
Director Holt stepped forward again.
"This council has agreed: we must retrieve and secure every artifact before they fall into enemy hands."
He pointed at Nam.
"Commander, your team will lead the retrieval operations. You have firsthand experience."
Bao let out a low whistle.
"Just four of us against ancient cosmic monsters and a secret enemy? Great odds."
Lan elbowed him sharply, but Nam smiled grimly.
"We'll do it, sir."
Holt nodded.
"You'll be given additional resources—and reinforcements. We've activated Project Aegis."
Minh's eyes widened.
"Project Aegis... that's real?"
Project Aegis was whispered about even within Delta Command—an elite initiative, blending experimental tech, special operatives, and forbidden knowledge.
Apparently, it was no myth.
Holt stepped aside, revealing a group of figures entering the chamber: armored soldiers, cybernetic specialists, mystics... and something else.
A faint shimmering field surrounded them—protective spells woven with technology.
"You'll be working with them," Holt said.
"The fate of humanity depends on it."
Nam straightened.
"When do we deploy?"
Holt smiled thinly.
"You already have."
Suddenly, warning alarms blared.
The hologram zoomed into a remote region of Siberia—an artifact had just gone active, tearing the landscape apart with gravitational storms.
Nam turned to his team.
"Gear up," he said.
"This is just the beginning."
And without another word, they sprinted toward destiny.