He died in chains. Now he walks in worship.
---
6:00 A.M.
Iceland — The Ruins of Kaldidalur
A dead zone. No satellites.
Once a volcanic listening post. Now forgotten.
Covered in ash and snow.
And here, beneath the earth—
Silas returns.
He stands shirtless in a black circle of blood and soot, surrounded by hooded zealots.
One of them speaks:
> "We've bled for you."
Another steps forward, trembling:
> "We've brought the offering."
A girl. Young. Barely a teenager.
Eyes glazed. Smiling.
Silas places one hand over her face—
and slowly crushes the life out of her.
No scream.
Just silence.
Then—
He opens his arms wide.
> "From man to myth," he murmurs,
"from prophet to god."
---
6:06 A.M.
Geneva — Emergency Assembly
Naomi slams her fist on the table.
> "He's out. And it's already starting."
Behind her, a wall of footage:
Paris: 119 deaths in synchronized fire ritual.
Kyoto: 16 found carved with Hollow's scripture.
Mexico City: Suicide cult jumps from skyscrapers in golden robes.
Taye's voice is raw.
> "They're not hiding anymore.
They want to be seen."
Naomi breathes hard.
> "Then we make sure what they see next is fire and steel."
---
6:30 A.M.
The Choir Broadcasts Globally for the First Time
Encrypted. Undefinable source.
No face.
Just voices layered in harmony — hundreds speaking as one:
> "We were made in flesh, but we rise in code."
"We are the new kingdom."
"He was the first god of silence.
But now he speaks."
The broadcast ends with the symbol:
A crown of knives surrounding a burning world.
---
7:00 A.M.
Inside Silas's Hidden Sanctuary
His hair is soaked in blood.
He carves a line across his chest.
> "How many now?" he asks.
A follower hands him a tablet.
Death Count: 7,112,201
> "Good," he says softly.
"Only 2.8 million more."
He raises his hand.
> "Time to let the Choir sing loud."
---
8:12 A.M.
Naomi Leads a Strike Force Into Helsinki
One of the largest Choir chapters discovered.
They raid it.
But they're too late.
Everyone inside — dead.
Slit wrists. Smiling.
One last message on the walls in ash:
> "We welcomed him home."
Naomi stares at the carnage.
> "They're not a cult anymore.
They're a suicide engine."
---
9:00 A.M.
An Emergency Leak Reaches Naomi's Desk
A resistance mole hacked into Hollow communications.
Only one phrase recovered, repeating:
> "Judgment Day is set. Seven days from now."
No location. No details. No context.
Just a countdown.
Naomi stares at the clock.
> 7 Days.
2.8 million lives.
And one god trying to finish his gospel in blood.
---
Final Scene
Silas stands atop a cliff of black rock.
Below him — thousands chant his name.
He removes the golden mask.
His golden eyes gleam.
> "The world has seen order."
> "Now let them see rebirth."
---
Final Line:
> "Day one," Silas whispers,
"and I'm just getting started."
---