Shadows on Campus

The multiverse held its breath, waiting to see what the new guardians may do next.

However, as Avery's cosmic senses tingled with foreboding, an important communication brought her back to more earthly concerns. Her phone buzzed insistently, displaying a cryptic text message from Lucas: "Blackthorn compromised." "Come quickly.

In an instant, Avery's focus shifted from the vast expanse of reality to the familiar grounds of Blackthorn University. With a thought, she opened a portal and stepped through with her heart racing.

The spectacle that confronted her became anarchy incarnate. The once-peaceful quad became a war, with college students fleeing in terror as masked people in black tactical tools surged across the manicured grass. The air was filled with gunfire and the bitter smell of smoke.