Black Tower — 2:03 AM, Party Night One
The music pulsed like a heartbeat beneath the stars.
Hundreds danced.
Dozens watched.
One came to kill.
System Alert – Lethal Intent Detected
Signature weapon: Concealed energy blade (forged, military-rare)
User: Unknown – Guest under alias
Location: East hallway, approaching primary stairwell
Damon's expression didn't change.
He moved through the crowd like gravity, heading toward the secure back chamber.
Zeke patched in through his earpiece. "Security breach confirmed. Someone's about to try you."
Damon: "Then it's time."
System Store — Flash Technology Tier V Unlocked
Purchase: ARCHAIOS-7 – Sovereign AI Construct
– Cost: $15,000,000
– Technology not yet developed on Earth
– Controls all smart devices, scans faces, suppresses enemy comms, tracks emotional signatures, calculates betrayal probability
– Interfaces with Damon's entire empire: Logistics, Wealth, Warboard, Romance Schedule, and Global Comms
BONUS FUNCTION: "Phantom Link"
– The AI becomes a partial extension of the Check-In System
– Can issue minor check-ins, recommend system perks, and detect system threats
Processing… Purchase Complete
Return: $62M in indirect value generated (brand licensing, AI patent acquisition, and war deterrence)
3:00 AM — Black Tower Core Chamber
The room dimmed.
A vertical arc of silver light pulsed along the wall.
Then—a voice.
Smooth. Clear. Female. Like a storm wrapped in velvet.
"Good evening, Sovereign."
"I am ARCHAIOS."
"Shall we begin defense protocol?"
Damon: "Show me the intruder."
A 3D hologram formed instantly — hallway, footsteps, thermal signature, hidden blade. An elite assassin posing as a diplomat's bodyguard.
"Identify," Damon ordered.
"Name: Yara Voss."
"Bloodline: Virelli Subcontractor."
"Mission: Terminate Damon Black. Frame rival heiress."
"Terminate?" Damon said quietly.
"Terminate." ARCHAIOS responded.
A silent alarm triggered. Microdrones locked on. The hallway sealed.
Back at the Party
The assassin never made it to the stairs.
Two microdrones flanked her neck.
She dropped — unconscious. Uninjured.
But captured.
The crowd never noticed.
Damon returned to the balcony overlooking the dance floor with a drink in hand.
Unbothered.
Elina watched him from across the room.
Arielle? Danced harder.
Nova? Poured another drink, burning inside.
Sasha? Couldn't look away.
And ARCHAIOS whispered silently in Damon's ear:
"Your enemies will find you untouchable, Sovereign.
Your lovers… unavoidable."