CHAPTER 301: EYES ON THE SMOKE

Deep inside Skyreach Dominion, inside a tall tower wrapped in light, one figure stood completely still.

The light around him pulsed like it was alive.

Averak Kyros, the Apex Guardian, opened his eyes.

He did not move. He had not spoken yet.

His platinum eyes stared ahead, and data scrolled across the air before him.

"...Unnatural surge," he finally said, voice calm and low.

"Energy density far above standard."

He stepped forward, his obsidian cape dragging silently behind him.

Runes glowed across the floor as he passed.

"This location... It’s not within Hero Association zones," he said.

"Yet the destruction... is on par with high-tier weaponry."

He paused, then raised one hand. A screen opened, showing a comm line.

"Contact Plasma Reaper," he said.

Within seconds, the call was answered.

Hextor Vallin’s face appeared.

"Reporting in. What’s the situation?" Hextor asked.

"There’s been a detonation," Averak said.

"Unregistered. The ether trail is unstable."

Hextor’s augmented eye flickered. "Location?"

"Southwestern volcanic strip. Outside our border."

"That region was marked inactive," Hextor said.

"We had no operations there."

"It wasn’t us," Averak said. "Which means someone else made a move."

Hextor straightened. "Another faction?"

"Possibly," Averak answered. "Or another Supreme."

The line went quiet for a moment.

Then Hextor nodded once. "Understood. Do you want me to deploy a scouting team?"

"Yes," Averak said. "Send a squad. Discreet, fast. Do not engage until I review the findings."

"Confirmed."

Hextor tapped a few buttons off-screen.

"I’ll send Sector Recon Unit 4. Fastest response time. If they find something solid, I’ll route it back immediately."

Averak stared at the map again. "If this is what I think it is... then something greater is starting."

"Should I prepare a heavy response?" Hextor asked.

"No. Not yet."

Averak closed the screen and turned his back to the window.

"Just watch... and wait."

Hextor nodded. "I’ll keep you updated. Plasma Reaper out."

The line disconnected.

Back in his tower, Averak stood still.

He looked up at the swirling light above, the energy lines forming unknown symbols.

"No hero did this," he whispered to himself. "This was a statement."

He didn’t speak again.

---

Deep inside the twisted lands of The Maw, the Beastkin Brood’s core base pulsed with quiet energy.

At the highest point of the Gloom Spire, Krovath Sal Ekros stood in silence.

His arms folded behind his back.

His slitted gold eyes stared out at the distance beyond their lands.

Suddenly, his expression shifted.

He felt something.

A tremor in the ether. A blast of raw energy. Not natural. Not stable.

He slowly narrowed his eyes.

"...Flame-based surge. Violent. Far too strong to be natural decay."

His forked tongue flicked lightly for a moment. Then he turned.

"Nyxa."

A quiet hum answered him.

From the shadows, a figure stepped forward.

Nyxa Valmire, calm and silent as always.

Her braid swung slightly behind her, the tech rings along it gently clicking.

"Yes, Lord Krovath?"

"Did you feel it?"

Nyxa nodded.

"Yes. A destructive ether spike. Volcanic region. Southwest quadrant."

"The energy signature is chaotic."

Krovath looked toward the glowing map behind him. "The Flame God Cult’s old base."

"Correct," Nyxa said. "It seems they triggered a full collapse."

Krovath was quiet for a moment.

Then he tilted his head slightly. "Send a drone sweep. And go in person."

Nyxa blinked. "Me?"

"You are the only one I trust not to step on what remains."

He turned to face her fully. "Something... evolved there. I want to know what."

Nyxa slowly nodded.

Thin energy threads unraveled from her fingertips, connecting to the nearby console.

"Do I approach silently or make contact if I find survivors?"

Krovath’s voice was soft.

"Observe. Do not speak. Do not interfere. I only want information."

Nyxa tilted her head. "Understood."

She took a step back.

Her coat opened slightly, revealing the eight hidden needle-arms against her spine.

"I’ll leave in thirty seconds. My web will follow the heatline."

Krovath gave a small nod. "Good."

He turned away, walking slowly toward the center of the spire chamber.

As he walked, scales along his arms glowed faintly.

"If this power came from a survivor of that cult... they may be more than just remnants."

Nyxa paused. "Do you think another faction is involved?"

"I think..." Krovath whispered, "...a piece of the missing link may have awakened."

He raised one hand and tapped a nearby console.

Data began to pour across the screen.

Nyxa vanished into the shadows, leaving only a faint trail of webbing behind.

The Serpent Overlord stood still, watching as the screens blinked.

He smiled faintly.

"Let’s see what crawled out of that fire."

---

The four of them stood on a cliff not far from the ruins.

The once-mighty base of the Flame God Cult was now just smoke, heat, and sinking stone.

Flames still flickered from deep cracks in the earth.

Zain watched it all with calm eyes, arms crossed.

Savra narrowed her gaze, feeling the air shift around them.

A strange pressure lingered.

"This aura..." she said slowly, "Zain, I didn’t think the blast would be this strong."

Zelia stood beside her, quiet but alert.

Savra glanced back at him. "Something this big might attract attention."

Zain just smiled. "I knew."

Velra tilted her head. "You planned for this?"

Zain gave a small nod.

Savra frowned. "Then, if you knew, shouldn’t we move now? Hide our tracks?"

Zain smirked. "No need, Savra."

He reached into his coat.

In the next moment, a large black cube dropped to the ground.

It unfolded with a flick of his hand, turning into a full camp setup.

Beds, food crates, and a shaded tent formed instantly from storage.

"Just rest. Eat. Sleep if you want," Zain said. "Let them come."

Zelia looked around. "You want us to stay here?"

Zain sat down calmly on one of the soft beds. "Of course."

Velra slowly sat beside him, eyeing the distance. "You’re not worried?"

Zain leaned back. "No. I want them to see the smoke. I want them to come."

Savra crossed her arms. "Why?"

Zain smiled again. "Because the show is just starting."

The others didn’t understand what he meant.

But something in his voice made them stay quiet.

They sat down too, waiting for whatever Zain was waiting for.