James returned to Elysium the following night, feeling refreshed and more grounded. His brief respite in the real world, spent with Amelia and reconnecting with his life outside the game, gave him a renewed clarity. Yet, as he logged back in as Canila Panort, that sense of tranquility quickly dissolved. In Elysium, the world was in turmoil.
The Shadow Court's war room buzzed with tense energy. The reports Kael had gathered spread across the table revealed a bleak picture: the Coalition's outposts were expanding even faster than anticipated, each one heavily fortified and positioned with strategic precision.
Kael was the first to approach Canila, his face lined with concern. "Canila, during your absence, the Coalition didn't waste time. They've fortified their outposts, and more concerning, they've established supply lines that are virtually impenetrable. If we don't act fast, they'll gain a foothold we won't be able to break."
