Chapter 200 The Mark

Chapter 200 The Mark
The black mark on my palm pulsed beneath the golden light. Once. Twice. Then it disappeared.

I stared at my hand. Nothing remained except the familiar golden glow. Harper was still holding it. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I nodded. “I’m fine.”

She gave me a skeptical look. “You’ve said that before.” “And you never believe me.” “Because you’re terrible at pretending.” Despite everything, I laughed.

For a moment, the fear disappeared. Then Kael approached. “We need to examine the mark.” I looked at him. “It disappeared.” “That doesn’t mean it’s gone.” He led us back into the command center. Adrian, Mara, Aria, and Amara followed.

The room was filled with damaged equipment, broken screens, and scattered cables.

Lucas was already working on a scanner. “Put your hand here.” I placed my palm beneath the machine. The scanner activated. Numbers appeared. Then disappeared. Lucas frowned.

“That’s strange.” “What?” “I’m not detecting anything.” Kael looked at him. “Try again.” Lucas restarted the machine. The result was the same. “Nothing.” I looked at Kael. “So it was nothing.”

He shook his head. “No.” He pointed at the scanner. “That’s what worries me.” Harper stepped closer. “Why?” “Because ordinary energy leaves a signature.”

He looked at me. “The mark isn’t ordinary.” Amara suddenly spoke. “It’s hiding.” Everyone looked at her. “From the scanner?” She nodded. “From everything.” I frowned.

“Then how do we find it?” She looked at me. “You don’t.” “What?” “You wait for it to reveal itself.” I didn’t like that answer. Neither did Harper. “So we’re supposed to do nothing?” Amara shook her head. “No.” She looked toward the Gate. “We prepare.”

By morning, the world had changed again. The Gate remained closed. The alien fleet had disappeared. The Architects were gone.

For the first time, humanity believed the danger was over. But we knew better.

The Five Frequencies had connected to something beyond our understanding. And somewhere inside me, Orion was waiting. I stood on the roof of the command center. Harper joined me. She carried two cups. “Coffee.” I took one. “You’re officially my favorite person.” “I thought I already was.” “You are.”

She smiled. We stood quietly. Then she asked, “Are you scared?” I looked at her. “Yes.” She nodded. “Me too.” “I don’t want to lose you.” “You won’t.” “You can’t promise that.”

She looked at me. “Then I’ll promise something else.” “What?” “I’ll stay as long as I can.” I smiled. “That’s better.” She rested her head against my shoulder. For a while, neither of us spoke. Then she said, “I’ve been thinking.” “That’s dangerous.”

She laughed. “I’m serious.” “So am I.” She nudged me. “I think the mark appeared because Orion couldn’t control you.” I looked at her. “Go on.” “He needed a connection.” “Through the Golden Frequency.” “Yes.”

She looked toward the sky. “But he couldn’t control it directly.” “So he attached himself to me.” “Exactly.” I frowned. “Then why haven’t I felt him?” “Maybe because he isn’t strong enough.” I looked at her. “Or?” “Or he’s waiting.” The thought made my stomach tighten. “Waiting for what?” She looked at me. “For you to trust him.”

That afternoon, we returned to training. Kael believed the Five Frequencies needed to become stronger. Adrian stood across from me. “Ready?” “Always.”

He released crimson energy. I countered with gold. The impact shook the ground. Mara joined. Then Aria. Amara completed the circle. The energy became overwhelming.

For a few seconds, everything worked perfectly. Then the black mark appeared. I dropped to my knees. “Liam!” Harper rushed toward me. Kael shouted, “Don’t touch him!” She stopped. My body began shaking.

A voice entered my mind. “You cannot escape me.” I closed my eyes. “Get out.” “Why?” “Because I don’t want you here.” “You think choice makes you free?” The world around me disappeared. I stood in darkness. Orion was there. “You’ve come back.”

I clenched my fists. “I didn’t choose to.” “Choice is meaningless when the outcome has already been decided.” I stared at him. “Then why are you afraid of mine?”

His expression changed. “You think you’re stronger than me.” “No.” I stepped closer. “I think I’m stronger than you understand.” He laughed. “You have no idea what lies beyond your world.” “Then show me.” 

The darkness changed. Suddenly, I saw thousands of worlds. Some beautiful. Some destroyed—some empty. Then I saw something enormous moving between them. I froze.

“What is that?” “The Void.” “But we defeated it.” “No.” Orion shook his head. “You survived one fragment.” The image changed. The darkness became endless. “The true Void is much larger.”

I looked at him. “Why are you showing me this?” “Because I want you to understand.” “Understand what?” “The Void is coming.” “Again?” “No.” His eyes darkened. “Properly.”

The vision disappeared. I found myself back in the command center. Harper was holding my shoulders. “Liam!” I blinked. Everyone was staring at me. “What happened?” “You collapsed.” I looked at my hand. The black mark was gone.

But I remembered Orion’s warning. The Void was coming. And this time, it wasn’t sending an army. It was coming itself. I looked at Kael.

“The Void isn’t defeated.” His face changed. “What did you see?” “The real Void.” Silence. “Orion showed me.” Kael stepped closer. “Tell me everything,” I explained what I’d seen.

When I finished, Kael looked toward the Gate. “We need to open it.” Mara frowned. “Open the Gate?” “Yes.” “Why would we do that?” “Because if the Void is coming, we need to know where it is.”

Amara shook her head. “Opening the Gate could invite it.” Kael nodded. “Exactly.” Harper looked at him. “Then why open it?” “Because the Gate is the only thing strong enough to contain it.” I looked at the others.

“We’re going to need help.” “From whom?” Kael answered, “Every world connected to the network.” Aria stared at him. “That’s thousands of civilizations.” “Yes.” “And they’ll listen to us?” Kael smiled faintly. “They will now.”

Suddenly, the entire building shook. The Golden Gate appeared above the city without anyone activating it. People rushed outside.

A deep vibration filled the sky. Then the Gate opened by itself. Darkness appeared beyond it. Not a fleet. Not a creature. Just darkness. Endless darkness. Harper grabbed my hand. “Liam…” I stared upward.

The darkness began moving toward Earth. Kael whispered, “It’s here.” The lights across Lagos went out. Then every light on Earth disappeared. The darkness covered the planet. And a voice echoed through the sky.

“YOU CANNOT HIDE ANYMORE.”

I looked at Harper. She looked at me. Then the five frequencies ignited. The final battle had begun.