Grey and Lyra emerged from the rubble near dusk.

  They had climbed for nearly an hour through broken stone and narrow gaps.

  The world above felt different.

  Charged.

  Grey checked his status.

  Mana slowly regenerating.

  Stormbound skills stable.

  New notification blinked.

  [Title Synergy Detected]Lightning Touched + Stormbound InitiateNew Passive: Resonant CoreEffect: When within 5 meters of compatible storm entity, mana regeneration increased by 40%.

  Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

  He looked at Lyra.

  She saw the shift in his expression.

  "You gained something."

  "Yes."

  "So did I."

  She raised her hand slightly.

  A faint sigil of lightning circled her wrist now.

  Not Kael's mark.

  Something older.

  "Seal stabilization," she said quietly.

  Grey smiled faintly.

  "Guess we're stuck together."

  She didn't deny it.

  Instead, she looked toward the horizon.

  "Phase Two will mean broader hunts. Wider nets."

  "Then we stop reacting."

  He met her eyes.

  "We hit them first."

  For the first time—

  Lyra smiled fully.

  "Now you sound dangerous."

  Lightning flickered faintly between them as clouds gathered again overhead.

  Not chaotic.

  Not violent.

  Focused.

  The storm wasn't chasing them anymore.

  It was forming around them.

  And somewhere in the shadows—

  The Argent Veil adjusted its plans.

  Because prey that evolves mid-hunt—

  Becomes something else entirely.