In underground bunkers.
In floating citadels.
In sealed chambers buried beneath continents—
The world watched.
Not through satellites.
Not through cameras.
Through secondary observation systems, forbidden relics, divine mirrors, and pre-Shattering constructs that hadn't been activated in decades.
Every faction was watching now.
Governments.
Apex Councils.
Hidden Supernova Clans.
And things older than the lanes themselves.
A hooded figure leaned forward.
"Those two…"
A digital avatar flickered violently.
"They're not breaking the system."
A pause.
"They are outside it."
Back in the city—
Dioka and Guakulia landed atop the central spire, the highest point for kilometers.
For the first time—
They stopped.
Breathing steady.
Below them, the city burned.
Above them, the sky distorted—new containment measures forming. Something bigger was coming.
Guakulia glanced sideways.
"…you think they'll stop chasing?"
Dioka laughed.
"Nah."
The sky split.
A Containment Domain began forming—an artificial reality bubble designed to seal anomalies permanently.
Dioka's smile faded.
"Oh."
Guakulia felt it too.
Not danger.
Not fear.
Recognition.
"…they finally did it," Guakulia said quietly.
"Yeah," Dioka replied. "They brought that out."
The Domain locked.
The city vanished.
And in its place—
A white, empty expanse.
No system.
No lanes.
No rules.
Just the two of them.
And something waking up.
Dioka cracked his neck.
"Well," he said. "Guess we're not late anymore."