The sleek, black helicopter cut through the twilight sky, a predator silently stalking its prey. Inside, Lucian pressed himself deeper into the plush leather seat of Anya's armored SUV. The tinted windows offered a distorted view of Aethelgard’s glittering cityscape, now a landscape of potential dangers. The city lights, usually a comforting blanket, felt like spotlights, highlighting him for the world – and for those who hunted him.

"They're thorough," Anya said, her voice a low, steady rumble that cut through Lucian’s anxiety. Her eyes, the color of glacial ice, were fixed on the rearview mirror. "Aegis Order doesn't waste time. They’ve already established a perimeter around Thorne Tower and are actively scanning for you.”

Lucian felt a cold prickle on his skin. The news reports he'd seen, filtered through the media spin of Thorne Industries’ PR department, painted the Aegis Order as philanthropic researchers investigating paranormal anomalies. He knew better. The files he'd found hidden within the Necronomicon Interface painted a far grimmer picture: a ruthless organization dedicated to eradicating anything they deemed "unnatural," fueled by fanatical zealotry and armed with cutting-edge technology.