The auction hall was empty, but the tension within the walls of the Celestial Estate had only shifted. Ross Bailey stood in a private observation lounge overlooking the dark grounds. In front of him, a massive holographic array projected the faces of the other high-ranking directors of the House of Celestial. This wasn't a public meeting; this was the inner sanctum, where the real masks came off.
"Ethan Blake is a variable we failed to account for," said Ross Bailey, swirling his wine as the holographic figures shimmered with agitation. "His offensive power is astronomical. During the breach, he moved with a speed and lethality that bordered on the divine. To be blunt: if we had fought to the death in that corridor, I cannot guarantee I would have survived."
