Chapter 12: The Shadow in the Garden
Carson didn't sleep. A Celestial Sovereign had no need for rest; the Qi circulating through his meridians provided more energy than any REM cycle could. Instead, he sat in the center of the Gardens, legs crossed, entering a state of "Deep Resonance."
He was testing the 11th Strand—the 'Sense' strand. While his previous 10 strands were for raw destruction, the 11th was designed to expand his consciousness.
As he closed his eyes, his mind's eye expanded. He felt the vibration of the repulsor engines beneath the island. He felt the heartbeat of a bird nesting in a tree a mile away. And then, he felt something that shouldn't be there.
A ripple. A tiny, cold distortion in the air near the estate's perimeter.
A Void-Walker.
Carson didn't stand up. He didn't even open his eyes. "Aura, disable the perimeter alarms. I don't want the droids scaring our guest away."
"Target identified," Aura whispered. "Level 11 Assassin. Likely sent by the North Sector Syndicate. They believe you are just a lucky billionaire who found a Master's inheritance."
The air twenty feet behind Carson shimmered. A figure emerged, draped in "Chameleon-Mesh" armor that blurred into the moonlight. The assassin held a mono-molecular wire—a weapon designed to decapitate a target before they could even scream.
"You should have stayed in the gutters, McCain," the assassin hissed, his voice a digitized rasp. "Wealth without the strength to hold it is just an invitation to be robbed."
The wire whipped forward, a silver blur that moved faster than the speed of sound.
Carson's hand moved. It wasn't a fast movement; it was a precise one. He caught the wire between his index and middle finger.
The assassin froze. The mono-molecular wire, which could slice through a Tier-5 Phantom car like butter, didn't even scratch Carson's skin. The violet light of the 30th strand was coiling around his fingers, creating a protective barrier of "Concept-Sharpness" that nullified the wire's edge.
"You're right about one thing," Carson said, finally opening his eyes. His pupils were glowing with an ancient, golden light. "Strength is the only currency that matters. And currently... you're bankrupt."
Carson flicked his wrist. The vibration traveled up the wire, hitting the assassin like a physical hammer. The Level 11 warrior was thrown backward, his armor shattering into a thousand pieces.