Two days ago, far from the Human Continent, in a realm of twilight and shimmering starlight, a goddess watched, her lips curling into a knowing smile.
"Ah, Heris," she whispered, her voice lilting yet sharp. "So predictable. Let us see how thy Champion fares when faced with mine."
The scene faded, the goddess vanishing into the ether, her amusement lingering like the shadow of the inevitable.
____
The space above the Obsidian Hotel crackled with intense lightning. The massive building, towering over all nearby structures, seemed to draw the energy of the storm. Yet, the change went unnoticed by most of the weakly awakened, save for the powerful.
Within the Dragon Empire, the mightiest of its powerhouses felt a wave of alarm at the sudden surge of energy. But instead of urgency or fear, they experienced an overwhelming sense of calm.
