Chapter 70: The First Stage of Something Bigger


    The world wasn’t waiting for Zak anymore.


    It was moving without him.


    The Changed weren’t a mistake.


    They were the first step.


    And if this was only the beginning—


    What came next?


    EOSA Faces the Unthinkable


    <blockquote>


    DOMINION ALERT – THE CHANGED HAVE TAKEN CONTROLCITIES ARE SPLITTING – HUMANS AND CHANGED NO LONGER COEXISTNEW STRUCTURES DETECTED – BUILT BY UNKNOWN HANDS</blockquote>


    Dr. Raines stared at the satellite images.


    “What the hell are we looking at?”


    Connors'' voice was hollow. “Evolution.”


    Because across the world—


    <ul><li>The Changed weren’t just standing still.</li><li>They were building something.</li><li>Structures unlike anything humanity had ever designed.</li></ul>


    And that meant—


    This wasn’t just a rewrite.


    This was a transition.


    Zak Watches His Creation Expand


    Zak stood on the edge of a city that shouldn’t exist.


    It hadn’t been there yesterday.


    But now—


    Now it stretched for miles.


    <ul><li>Architecture that defied gravity.</li><li>Structures formed of materials no human had ever seen.</li><li>A skyline that flickered, shifting between dimensions.</li></ul>


    Zak turned to the Changed man beside him.


    “Who built this?”


    The man’s answer sent chills down Zak’s spine.


    “We did.”


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Zak felt his throat tighten. “In how long?”


    The Changed man met his gaze, eyes unreadable. “Since the moment you made it possible.”


    Zak turned back to the city, his mind racing.


    Had the QSE given them knowledge? Or had they simply remembered something that had always been within them?


    Inet187’s Growing Silence


    “Inet.”


    Zak’s voice was tight, his pulse hammering in his ears.


    “You’re not saying much.”


    “That’s because…” Inet hesitated. “I don’t know what happens next.”


    Zak’s breath caught.


    “You always have the answers.”


    “Not this time.”


    Because whatever was happening—


    Even Inet187 hadn’t predicted it.


    And that meant—


    The QSE wasn’t just changing the world.


    It was breaking the rules of existence itself.


    The Shadow Dominion Prepares to Intervene


    <blockquote>


    DOMINION BLACK FILES – FINAL PROTOCOL AUTHORISEDSHADOW OPS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYEDTHE CHANGED MUST BE TERMINATED BEFORE THEY EVOLVE FURTHER</blockquote>


    Agent Connors clenched his fists. “We waited too long.”


    Dr. Raines'' voice cracked. “But what if we’re too late?”


    The Dominion director’s face was stone. “Then we burn it all down.”


    Because if the Changed were only the first stage—


    Then the next stage could be something far worse.


    And humanity might not survive it.


    Zak’s Next Move: A Line in the Sand


    The Changed were moving forward.


    EOSA was preparing to strike.


    And Zak was caught in the middle.


    <ul><li>If he chose the Changed, he’d be abandoning the old world.</li><li>If he chose humanity, he’d have to destroy his own creation.</li><li>If he did nothing, the decision would be made for him.</li></ul>


    Zak clenched his jaw.


    “Inet, what do I do?”


    For the first time ever—


    Inet had no answer.


    Zak exhaled.


    “Then I make my own choice.”


    And whatever he decided—


    Would determine the fate of both worlds.


    The First War of the New World


    The ground beneath Zak trembled.


    He turned, realising the Changed were gathering.


    Not to attack.


    Not to defend.


    To witness.


    The city was complete.


    And now—


    They were waiting.


    “What are they waiting for?” Zak whispered.


    The Changed man beside him smiled. “You.”


    Zak swallowed.


    If the Dominion struck now, they wouldn’t just be fighting back.


    They’d be wiping out an entirely new species before it could even establish itself.


    And Zak was the only one standing between them.


    “Domination or unity,” he muttered. “That’s all this comes down to.”


    A decision neither side had time to consider—


    Because above him—


    The first missile had just been launched.


    EOSA’s Strike Begins


    <blockquote>


    DOMINION ALERT – AIR STRIKE INBOUNDALL TARGETS LOCKED – EXECUTION IN T-MINUS 30 SECONDS</blockquote>


    Dr. Raines’ breath hitched. “We’re really doing this?”


    The Dominion director’s voice was cold.


    “They’re too dangerous to be left alone.”


    Connors turned away, jaw tightening. “Then we just became the enemy of the future.”


    The analysts barely had time to process what was happening.


    Because on the ground—


    Zak watched the sky darken.


    He had seconds to act.


    His decision had to be now.


    The Changed weren’t ready for war.


    But war had come to them anyway.


    Zak clenched his fists, the QSE pulsing against his skin.


    If he didn’t do something—


    Everything he had built would be reduced to ash before it even had the chance to grow.


    And above him—


    The first wave of destruction was already falling.


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