Morning at Morgan Manor was as quiet as ever.
Sunlight spilled in from the direction of the Hudson River, turning the dew on the lawn golden.
The oak branches swayed gently in the breeze. Several squirrels chased one another near the roots, their tails fluffy in the sunlight like clusters of brown clouds.
In the distance, several white seagulls circled above the river, their cries clear and crisp.
Everything was normal. Everything was peaceful.
But the people in the manor knew it was only a facade before the storm.
In the study, Loren sat in a high-backed chair, his gray eyes fixed on the view beyond the window.
His hair carried a soft sheen in the morning light, while his fingers tapped gently against the armrest in a slow, steady rhythm.
His body was still digesting the energy of the Celestial Embryo he had devoured. It would take time.
A holographic map floated above the desk, marked with an energy signal from the depths of space.
That signal came from millions of light-years away and was moving toward Earth at an unimaginable speed.
Its energy signature was nearly identical to that of the Celestial Embryo, but stronger, more stable, and more mature.
A Complete Celestial—not a seed, but an adult.
Tifa stood beside the desk, her dark eyes on the holographic map, a teapot in her hands.
She had already poured Loren two cups of tea, and he had not touched either.
She did not pour another. She merely stood there, quietly keeping him company.
"How much time is left?" Tifa asked.
"About twenty-four hours," Loren said. "Maybe less. It has accelerated."
Tifa's brows furrowed slightly. "Just one?"
"For now, we've detected one. Celestials are extremely powerful. One is enough to destroy an entire planet. But I don't know whether