The mountain road disappeared beneath a sea of black uniforms.
Snow drifted silently between them.
The Eclipse Order stood without a sound.
Perfectly still.
Perfectly disciplined.
---
The masked leader took one step forward.
"We are not here for the Volkovs."
His gaze settled on Artyom.
"We are here for the First Heir."
---
Viktor stepped in front of Artyom.
"No."
One word.
Cold.
Absolute.
---
The leader tilted his head.
"So the Emigen chooses war."
---
Roman exited the vehicle.
His long black coat swayed in the freezing wind.
"If war is what you brought..."
His gray eyes hardened.
"...then you've come to the wrong family."
---
Behind him—
Mikhail cracked his knuckles.
Finally.
A real fight.
---
Dmitri adjusted the earpiece hidden beneath his hair.
"I've counted forty-seven hostiles."
Nikola corrected him calmly.
"Fifty-three."
---
Dmitri looked up.
"You already counted?"
Nikola nodded once.
"Six are hiding in the trees."
---
Yelena smiled faintly.
"They're getting predictable."
---
The Eclipse leader slowly removed his gloves.
His voice remained emotionless.
"Hand over Artyom Sokolov."
---
Silence.
---
Artyom stepped forward.
Viktor immediately grabbed his wrist.
"Don't."
---
Artyom met his eyes.
"If this is because of me..."
---
"It isn't."
Viktor interrupted.
"It became our fight the moment they threatened you."
---
For a brief moment...
Neither looked away.
---
The Eclipse leader sighed.
"So be it."
He raised one hand.
---
"Capture the heir."
---
The snow exploded.
Dozens of Eclipse soldiers rushed forward at once.
---
Mikhail grinned.
"There it is."
He charged first.
---
The impact echoed through the valley.
One soldier flew backward into the snow.
Then another.
---
Nikola vanished.
One second he stood beside Dmitri.
The next—
Three Eclipse soldiers collapsed before anyone saw him move.
---
Yelena calmly fired a flash grenade.
White light swallowed the battlefield.
Chaos erupted.
---
Roman intercepted the masked leader.
Their fists collided with enough force to send snow into the air.
---
Lucien and Caelum stood beside Artyom.
Watching.
Waiting.
---
Caelum whispered,
"Do not interfere."
---
Artyom frowned.
"They're fighting because of me."
---
"They're fighting because they chose to."
---
Suddenly—
A gunshot echoed.
---
Viktor turned.
Too late.
---
A hidden sniper fired from the cliffs above.
The bullet raced toward Artyom.
---
Without hesitation—
Viktor stepped into its path.
---
Bang!
---
Time froze.
---
Artyom caught Viktor before he hit the ground.
His hands shook.
"Viktor!"
---
Blood spread across Viktor's shoulder.
He forced a small smile.
"I'm fine..."
---
Artyom's voice broke.
"You're bleeding."
---
Viktor looked into his eyes.
"I told you..."
He winced.
"...I'd protect you."
---
Something inside Artyom snapped.
Not anger.
Not fear.
Something older.
---
The air around him changed.
Snow stopped falling.
Wind became still.
Every person on the battlefield looked toward him.
---
Even the Eclipse soldiers froze.
---
Caelum whispered,
"It's awakening..."
---
A pale silver light surrounded Artyom.
The ground beneath his feet began to glow with ancient symbols.
---
The masked leader stepped back.
"No..."
---
His voice trembled.
"The First Blood..."
---
Artyom slowly raised his head.
His usually calm blue-gray eyes now shimmered with silver.
---
Nobody had ever seen power like this before.
---