The wind still carried particles of energy across the rocky plateau, but the atmosphere had changed. The tension from the encounter with the unknown agents had faded, leaving behind a dense silence — one that was far from comforting.
Albert continued to gaze at the energy map suspended in the air, his arm outstretched, as the blue lines pulsed faster and faster around the central node.
— Their time has shortened, he said quietly. They're starting to understand that the game is no longer being played by their rules.
Kaelya stepped beside him, focusing on the point on the map where the red and black lines intersected.
— Is this the place?
Albert nodded.
— It is. The temporary core of the hidden network. Not just the Church. Everyone who's begun to fear what might come… has gathered here. Behind fragile alliances, someone is orchestrating everything.
Enira tightened her cloak and asked softly:
— And what will we do? If we go there, aren't we walking right into the lion's den?
— We're not walking in, Albert corrected her calmly. We're opening the door from the other side. We'll enter the heart of that network without knocking. We'll go where we shouldn't be able to.
Leon smirked briefly while checking his weapon again.
— So we're breaking through a wall they think is invisible?
— More like, Albert said, we're stepping into a silence they thought was safe. And we'll make it speak.
Without further explanation, he closed the map and descended from the observation ledge. With a simple wave of his hand, he drew a circle of pure light in the air — but it wasn't an ordinary portal. The circle didn't pulse or emit magic. It was static, perfectly silent, like a wound in reality.
Kaelya flinched.
— That's not a portal… It's something… older?
— It's a path left by a civilization that didn't want to be remembered. A form of passage through the fibers of existence, not through space or time.
Enira swallowed hard.
— And you can activate something like that?
Albert turned to her, and for a moment, his eyes shimmered with a barely perceptible white.
— I can activate anything that doesn't want to be activated.
Leon stepped toward the circle of light. He didn't feel the usual danger of a magical passage — he felt… emptiness. A void without edges.
— Where does it lead?
Albert answered without hesitation:
— To the threshold of a chamber not even the Eternal Council has fully opened. A place where the intentions of those hunting us become visible… without them knowing they're being watched.
Kaelya stepped forward as well, and for the first time, hesitation appeared on her face:
— And if we're wrong?
Albert looked at her gently.
— We're not wrong. We simply choose which reality comes undone first.
Without another word, he signaled, and the entire group stepped into the silent circle of light.
The transition wasn't explosive. There were no sounds, no blinding flashes. It was as if they had been absorbed by an idea.
After passing through the circle of light, the group arrived in a space that was hard to define. It resembled no known plane but maintained functional stability. The ground was solid, made of a translucent material, and the walls — where they existed — were composed of compact energy layers. There were no architectural details. Everything was precise, geometric, and functional.
— Confirmed, said Leon, checking the floor. It's stable. No immediate vibrations. But we're in a non-local space. No direction is clearly defined.
— That's exactly why I chose it, Albert replied. It's not a location. It's an observation layer. And it's directly connected to the energy network of the core we're tracking.
Kaelya activated a flow scanner.
— I'm detecting traces. Not recent. Likely autonomous probes or mid-level operators. They were here, but exited quickly. No full authorization or they withdrew before triggering anything.
Albert stopped and turned to the group.
— That confirms it. None of the other factions have managed to penetrate deeply. We have the initial advantage. They don't yet know we've arrived.
Enira examined an area marked by interference on the floor.
— Someone tried to activate something here. The scheme's incomplete, but complex. If it had been completed…
— …it would've triggered a lockdown protocol, Albert finished. Without full access, the system rejects any presence. We won't force anything. We'll proceed directly toward the central node using the existing parameters.
Leon looked around.
— And the central node is where?
Albert raised his hand, projecting a simplified 3D map. A network of points and lines. In the center — a single point, pulsing weakly but consistently.
— There. That point is the source of the artificial flows we previously detected. All directions converge there. It's clearly a command center, or at least a strategic interface.
— Can we get there without triggering traps? Kaelya asked.
— Yes, Albert said. As long as we maintain passive infiltration signatures and avoid brute-force interference, we'll reach it. But once we enter the core zone, automatic responses will activate. They'll know we're there.
— And then? Enira asked.
— Then we'll no longer be a hypothesis. We'll be a presence within their system. And they'll have to react.
Albert gestured. An energy tunnel opened in front of them — a clear path, marked by controlled pulses. It wasn't a portal, but a transit route within the structure of the space.
— We move now. No sound. No flux variation. We reach the center in two minutes, max.
Each group member activated their silent-movement protections, and the advance began.
Those Who Are Beginning to Fear
[Southern Observer – The Fracture Beneath the Sky]
In a region where the convergence of magical lines formed an unstable vortex, two operators from an independent brotherhood were monitoring the energy oscillations. One of them suddenly stopped, eyes widening as he followed the flux.
— He's in.
— Are you sure?
— Confirmed. The distortion level just changed. He entered a layer that doesn't exist on any official plane.
— So they managed to activate it.
— Not just that. He knew exactly what he was doing. This wasn't a random discovery.
The second operator closed the terminal.
— Send the warning. The new access point is valid. We'll likely see a chain reaction in the next few hours.
[The Nameless Tower – Beneath the Unregistered Zone]
A circle of unaffiliated researchers, self-named "The Silent Ones," were analyzing changes in the global energy networks.
— The structure in the median plane has deformed, said one of the women, watching the projections.
— It's not deforming on its own, another added. Someone is rewriting it. From inside.
— It's said no one can access that without direct permission from the Eternal Council.
— Then note this: a limit has been crossed. Without approval.
A heavy silence followed for several seconds. Then:
— And the Council remains silent.
— Their silence means Albert has already been acknowledged. Informally.
[Central Academy – Node Monitoring Chamber]
Senior archivists watched a continental map where a new point pulsed — faint, but steady.
— That's not a static node. It's moving within the undefined layer.
— Is it him?
— It can't be anyone else.
— So… he's entered the censored zone. We can't hide the data anymore. We need to be ready for others to notice.
One of them sighed.
— Ready… but not involved. Not yet.
[Unknown Location – The White Mask Looking Down]
The woman with the white mask of the Eternal Council, surrounded by complete silence, whispered without turning to anyone:
— He's touching what has no name.
Behind her, another voice — low and emotionless:
— He's forcing us to choose. Observation… or contact.
— Not yet, she replied. But very soon… we will descend from our position.
The energy tunnel they entered didn't have a constant length. It adapted in real-time to the group's movement pattern, adjusting the route to avoid any unstable areas.
Leon stayed in front, weapon ready but without activating any offensive function.
— Still nothing. No signs of resistance. No traps.
Kaelya monitored the tunnel's lateral flows, connected to her deep-range scanner.
— We're getting close. About 300 meters ahead, there's a major intersection zone. The energy system is compacting. The central node likely has adaptive barriers.
Albert paused briefly, raising one finger toward the tunnel's ceiling. A strand of energy detached and wrapped around his hand.
— Confirmed. The node has started the identification process. The system knows someone is approaching.
— Will it stop us? Enira asked.
— No. Not yet. But it will begin recording everything. And whoever has access to this network… will know we're here.
Leon looked up.
— So we're on everyone's radar now.
— Exactly, Albert replied. From now on, everything we do is being watched.
The tunnel abruptly opened into a cubic chamber — undecorated, with eight luminous columns arranged in an octagon. At the center pulsed a metallic sphere, partially open, its ridges slowly retracting to reveal an energy core.
— Is that an observation device? Kaelya asked.
— It's an old-type interface. Built to extract control parameters. Whoever holds the key can access the logs. If not — it triggers a lockout.
Albert stepped toward the sphere and touched its base. A subtle impulse propagated through the floor. The sphere didn't react violently. Instead, a translucent panel projected from it, displaying lines of ancient magical code, unreadable to the others.
— What does it mean? Enira asked.
— It's an active archive. The last twenty-four hours of interaction with secondary nodes. If we're lucky, we'll see who passed through here, who sent data, and to whom.
Leon scanned the chamber's edges.
— I don't like this silence. The place looks abandoned, but it's too clean. No trace marks. As if someone deliberately erased everything.
Kaelya nodded.
— Manipulations were done here. Someone tried to wipe access trails. But not completely.
Albert closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, they were glowing bright green.
— I'm linking to the intention traces left in the core. Whoever was here wasn't alone.
The group remained silent for a few seconds.
— Two entities, he said. One active. One waiting. Neither belongs to official networks. Most likely… a temporary alliance between disjointed groups.
Kaelya stepped toward the core.
— And do they know we're here?
Albert looked directly at her.
— One of them does. And it didn't report us to its superiors. That means it wants to see how we act. We're being used as a test.
Leon moved toward the chamber's opposite exit.
— Then we have two options: either break the silence and force them to respond, or keep going until they show us what they really want.
Albert closed the panel and activated another point on the floor. A new path opened, this time descending.
— We go lower. The main control zone is beneath us. And there… we won't be able to avoid contact.
The descending corridor was stable, with smooth walls made of consolidated energy material. It emitted no light, but darkness couldn't settle either. After exactly twenty steps, the space opened into a circular chamber.
Four massive terminals were symmetrically placed, connected by lines of cold energy. At the center, a stationary core sphere emitted constant pulses.
— This is the command point, Albert confirmed. All secondary routes and network reports converge here.
Kaelya scanned the active flows.
— Terminals are authenticated. The system is active but in standby. No emergency commands issued.
— Which means no one knows exactly we're here, said Leon. Or… someone is letting us in.
Albert stepped into the center and touched the core without hesitation. An impulse triggered immediately, and one of the terminals activated. A stream of data appeared in the air, automatically translated into a general language.
— Access granted, unclassified level. Passive read-only. Observers not alerted.
Enira approached.
— Can you see what's been logged?
— Yes, said Albert. Everything sent from this zone in the last 48 hours. We have channel names used by at least three different groups. Two from the Church, one independent.
Leon tensed his jaw.
— So the Church is directly involved in this node?
— No. But they're using it. They didn't build it. Which means they don't control everything. They're just tapping in.
Kaelya stopped her scanner.
— Unstable signal. Someone is trying to access the system externally. They don't know we're connected.
Albert acted quickly, reversing the access channels. Instead of blocking the connection, he redirected it — allowing him to see the source.
On the terminal screen, a silhouette appeared. Undefined, distorted. No face. Just a pulsing outline that shifted with every second.
— Someone is trying to analyze us. But they're not identifying themselves.
— Send a direct message? Enira asked.
— Not yet, said Albert. I want to see what they do first.
After a few seconds, the external stream generated a visual reply:
> "Subject: Unspecified Entity. Classification: Undefined. Observation Priority: Level 0."
— Level 0, Kaelya whispered. That's absolute priority.
Albert raised a finger, and the message expanded:
> "Direct interaction not recommended. Awaiting spontaneous response. No authority has claimed responsibility."
Leon gave a short laugh.
— So they don't know what to do. And no one wants to take the risk.
At that moment, the internal system detected something. The side panels began closing automatically. An energy wall activated, attempting to isolate the chamber.
Kaelya reacted instantly.
— Encapsulation triggered! Estimated time: 12 seconds to full lockdown!
Leon raised his weapon.
— Do we attack?
Albert raised his hand. No need.
— No. We won't destroy anything.
With a simple rotation of his palm, the room's space restructured. The energy wall collapsed before finishing. The terminals remained intact.
Albert addressed the chamber, knowing someone was listening:
— I didn't come to destroy your systems. I came to show you that you no longer control them without me.
Silence. Then, without warning, the system stabilized.
Albert touched the core again and entered a new data sequence. A cryptic message. Visible only to those who held the architecture's key.
> "You opened the door to me. Now you're obligated to listen."
Kaelya looked stunned.
— What did you do?
— I left a marker. A permanent signal. They won't be able to erase us from the network without destroying their own structure.
Enira looked at the exit, now open again.
— And now?
Albert shut down the terminals. The space returned to silence.
— We leave. And prepare for the responses that will follow.
—
Elsewhere in the world, magical networks began logging unusual fluctuations.
Inside a Church command hall, an operator shouted:
— Intrusion in the silent node! Reverse reaction detected!
Inside an Eternal Council base, one of the Nine stood up.
— It's too late. He's entered. And he marked the system.
In a cavern of the ancient dragons, an elder with obsidian scales opened his eyes.
— It begins.
—
Albert exited the chamber. Leon, Kaelya, and Enira followed.
— The silence game is over, he said. From now on… they'll be forced to respond.
Reactions in a World That Can No Longer Avoid
[Bastion of Independent Strategists – Under the Western Arch]
Three unaffiliated leaders were speaking behind a mental isolation field.
— Is it confirmed? one asked.
— Confirmed. The marker is active and inserted directly into the passive communication network. Everyone will detect it within the hour.
— What does this mean for the global balance?
— That no faction holds the initiative anymore. They've all become passive. And he has become the central node.
---
[Continent of Smoke – Council of Healers]
The Master of Breath clasped his hands.
— He did not harm. But he altered the structure.
— It's still a warning sign, someone else added.
— No. It's a control signal. He showed he can reach what others only lock away.
---
[Eternal Council – The White Chamber]
Three empty chairs. One occupied.
— He entered without permission.
— He was allowed.
— Or he was invited… without our knowledge.
A pause.
— We begin withdrawal from observation. From now on, we'll analyze only after events occur. Not before.
---
[Dragon Zone – Obsidian Tower]
The ancient fire-scaled dragon closed his eyes.
— The first rupture is behind. The next will be ahead. And then we'll have to choose.
A younger dragon spoke:
— Against or alongside?
— It won't be a tactical choice. It will be a survival one.
---
[Substrate – Unregistered Level]
A hooded figure, fully covered, finished inscribing a symbol into a circle.
— It's done. He's opened the path no one dared to touch.
— What's next? asked a voice.
— No one can pretend anymore that he's just an event. He's now part of the infrastructure.
---
[Final Monitoring Line – Periphery of the Central Node]
A cold automated voice transmitted a single message to all major decision centers worldwide:
> "STRATEGIC ALERT: Unknown marker active in global network. Emitter: Unclassified Entity. Suggested response: NONE. Await directive. Do not initiate contact."
—
Albert, already far from the chamber, looked at the map of the next point. His voice was calm.
— They've awakened. But now, they can't stop anything.