The world blurred as Astraeus walked through the dim, flickering light of the abandoned subway station. Every step seemed to echo with urgency, as if the city itself was warning her. There were answers somewhere, buried in the wake of Erebus’s spreading influence. But finding them would demand more than brute force—it required strategy.

Back at Foster’s secure NSB outpost, the atmosphere was tense. The room was lined with monitors displaying surveillance footage, maps, and encrypted files. Foster stood near the center console, his arms crossed, deep in thought.

"This isn’t just a random power play," Foster said, breaking the silence. "Someone is coordinating these cells, Astraeus. Erebus doesn’t move through chaos alone—he thrives on structure."

Astraeus leaned against the wall, her spear still in hand, its faint glow casting long shadows on the room’s gray walls. "If he’s building an army, what’s his endgame?"

Foster didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he tapped a few keys, pulling up a map with glowing red nodes scattered across the city. "This," he said, gesturing to the display, "is what we’ve managed to uncover so far. Coordinated attacks, recruitment centers, even supply chains… all pointing to a larger network."

Astraeus narrowed her eyes. "And who’s at the top of the chain?"

"That," Foster said grimly, "is the million-dollar question."

The interrogation room was stark and cold, illuminated by a single overhead light. The hooded man from the subway lay unconscious, his wrists bound to the steel table. Foster stood outside, watching through a one-way mirror as Astraeus entered the room.

She set her spear against the wall and sat across from the man, her expression calm but unyielding. When he stirred, she leaned forward, her voice quiet but sharp. "You’re going to tell me everything you know about Erebus."

The man chuckled darkly, his voice still tinged with the remnants of shadow magic. "You think you can stop him? You’re a fool, Starborn."

Astraeus didn’t flinch. "I’ve heard that before," she said, her tone icy. "But here’s the difference: I don’t lose."

The room grew colder as the man’s grin faded. For the first time, there was hesitation in his eyes. "You don’t understand," he muttered. "Erebus doesn’t just want control. He wants the stars to fall."