Ego exited the sanctuary and emerged within the depths of the slum he had carefully registered beforehand—a place shrouded in gloom and forgotten by progress.
With steady calmness and an unwavering expression, he searched for every individual he had once promised strength and power. It was finally time to fulfill the end of his bargain. A week had passed since Stone's demise, and by now, any suspicion that might have arisen had long died down.
With swift, silent efficiency, he moved them—one after the other—into the sanctuary, not even giving them a moment to register what was happening. Most of them were still half-asleep, shocked and terrified as the world they knew melted away into the unfamiliar.
"Welcome back," Aaron said smoothly, still masked under his new identity, Ego. His voice carried quiet authority, resonating with subtle power. "I trust you all have been well."
