News of the Black Ship spread faster than a virus through Mosaic City's data grid.
Within hours of Arden's encounter with The Silencer, panic set in. Markets in Sector 7 closed early. Transport signals jammed as thousands tried to move from the outer districts to the city center, which was perceived as safer though nowhere was truly safe if your enemy could delete existence itself.
Arden didn't have time to calm the masses. She had a more urgent problem: keeping the newly united factions from fracturing again under the weight of fear.
That night, the Council Chamber at the Chronos Institute was packed. Not just with the primary representatives, but with lieutenants, engineers, and strategists from every corner of the city.
The atmosphere was toxic.
"This is your fault!" shouted a Black Ash commander, pointing a dirty finger at Arden. "You merged the timelines! You made this 'noise'! Now those monsters are coming for us!"
