In the aftermath of Steel's defeat and the destruction of his corrupting tree, a wave of restoration swept through the Undercity. The humans who had been mutated by Steel's influence gradually returned to their normal forms. Even the soldiers who had served Steel—those who hadn't been completely destroyed in the battle—reverted to their human state.
Amidst the rubble and devastation, Bale, the Black Knight, suddenly found himself drawing breath once more.
"I'm... alive?" he whispered, flexing his fingers with newfound control. "And human again with full control of my body? How is this possible?"
Rising unsteadily to his feet, Bale surveyed the destruction that surrounded him. The tower that had once been Steel's fortress lay in ruins, evidence of the cataclysmic battle that had taken place.
"Those kids," he murmured with a mixture of awe and respect, "they actually did it."
Making his way through the debris, Bale came upon a scene of devastation that made even his battle-hardened heart clench. Michael lay unconscious, his body covered in severe burns and wounds. James had been impaled by multiple swords, his form barely recognizable as human. Violet remained suspended on a massive metal spike that had pierced entirely through her abdomen.
Without hesitation, Bale gathered the fallen heroes and brought them to safety. Using his knowledge of both traditional medicine and the advanced technology that had once been used to transform him, he began the arduous process of healing their wounds.
"You've done enough," he told Michael's unconscious form as he carefully treated the vigilante's burns. "Rest now. The battle is won."
***
Recovery was slow and painful. For a full month, the three heroes drifted between consciousness and oblivion as their bodies struggled to heal from injuries that would have killed ordinary humans.
During this time, Bale enlisted the help of Steel's former soldiers—now free of his control—to begin rebuilding the tower. What had once been a fortress of oppression was gradually transformed into a center of governance and hope.
"Not for battle," Bale explained to a group of workers as they redesigned the central chamber. "But for the betterment of the Undercity."
As the days passed, Bale found himself unexpectedly thrust into a leadership role. The people of the Undercity, long accustomed to living in fear under Steel's shadow, looked to him for guidance in this new era.
"I never wanted to be a leader," he confessed to a semi-conscious Michael during one of his treatments. "I only wanted freedom. But perhaps this is where I'm meant to be."
By the time Michael, James, and Violet had recovered enough to stand on their own, Bale had already been unofficially recognized as the new ruler of the Undercity.
***
"The people need to understand what you three did," Bale announced during a meeting with the recovered heroes. His appearance had changed dramatically—gone was the metallic armor of the Black Knight, replaced by a dignified black suit. "Your sacrifice saved not just yourselves, but everyone in the Undercity."
Michael, still moving gingerly from his healing wounds, nodded. "We didn't do it for recognition."
"I know," Bale replied with a rare smile. "That's precisely why you deserve it."
In the weeks that followed, Bale led a transformation of the Undercity that none could have imagined possible. Buildings rose from ruins, streets were cleared and made safe, and for the first time in living memory, laws were established that protected the weak instead of exploiting them.
"We need structure," Bale explained to a gathering of citizens. "Not to control you, but to ensure that no one can ever again do what Steel did."
With the help of scientists who had previously been forced to serve Steel, Bale even found a way to introduce plant life to the perpetually dark Undercity.
"Artificial solar radiation," explained one of the scientists, proudly displaying a glowing panel that cast warm light on a small sapling. "It's not perfect, but the plants respond to it almost as well as natural sunlight."
As Michael's strength returned fully, Bale officially appointed him as Supreme Commander of the Undercity's newly formed protective forces, with James and Violet serving as Grand Lieutenants.
"I don't need a fancy title," James protested, flexing his new biotech arms that had replaced those lost in battle. The advanced prosthetics gleamed in the artificial light, clearly more powerful than his previous ones.
"It's not about what you need," Violet responded, her own wounds fully healed though her healing abilities remained temporarily diminished. "It's about what the people need—heroes they can look up to."
Michael nodded in agreement. "We accept the responsibility, Bale. We won't let the people down."
***
Within three months of Steel's defeat, the Undercity had become almost unrecognizable. Where once darkness and despair had reigned, now there was order, purpose, and even the beginnings of hope.
It was during this period of relative peace that forgotten memories began to surface in Bale's mind—fragments of knowledge from his time under Steel's control.
"I need to speak with all of you," Bale announced one evening, summoning Michael, James, and Violet to the central chamber of the reconstructed tower. His expression was grave, his posture tense with renewed worry.
"What's wrong?" Michael asked, immediately alert to the change in Bale's demeanor.
Bale paced before his throne, hands clasped behind his back. "I've remembered Steel's full plan," he said, his voice tight with concern. "The tree in the Undercity—it was just the first stage, a test subject."
"What do you mean?" Violet asked, stepping forward.
Bale turned to face them, his eyes haunted. "Steel planted identical trees on every continent, each one feeding power to a central tree at the Earth's core. If we don't stop them within a year, the entire world will be transformed into something resembling the chasm of the Undercity."
"But why?" Michael demanded, hands clenching into fists at his sides. "What purpose could that possibly serve?"
"He wanted the world to experience what he was holding back," Bale replied solemnly. "The corruption, the pain, the madness—he wanted everyone to know what it felt like."
James shook his head in disbelief. "So even in defeat, his plan continues?"
"Yes," Bale confirmed. "We must report this to Alpha immediately. As the leader of the Undercity, I should be the one to inform him, but I cannot leave this place yet—my presence is still needed for stability."
"Could I go as your representative?" Michael offered.
Bale considered for a moment, then shook his head. "No, you're needed here as well. The people look to you for strength. Our best option is to connect to their network and report directly."
***
In his office within the Central Command of Land Etherna, the Supreme Commander—a tall, imposing man of about forty with sharp features and a distinguished bearing—was reviewing reports when his computer signaled an incoming video call.
"Unknown source," he muttered, frowning at the screen. After a moment's hesitation, he accepted the call.
The screen flickered to life, revealing Bale seated on his throne, dressed in an impeccable black suit with a crisp white shirt, his dark hair neatly combed. Michael stood beside him in his Crimson Angel gear, his posture reflecting military discipline.
"Greetings, Supreme Commander of Land Etherna," Bale began, his voice carrying the weight of his new authority. "I come to you in peace, with information critical to the survival of our world."
The Supreme Commander's eyes narrowed. "The Undercity? We haven't had contact with—"
"Yes," Bale interrupted smoothly. "We are the people of the Undercity. Though you abandoned us to our suffering, we choose not to reciprocate that indifference. It is written that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us. So we reach out, not for ourselves, but for everyone."
A small smile touched Bale's lips. "This matter concerns us all."
His expression turned grave. "This concerns Steel, an adversary you believed defeated over two centuries ago. He survived, and his plans extend far beyond the Undercity. As you saw what became of our chasm under his influence, know that he intends the same fate for the entire world."
Michael stepped forward. "Steel planted trees on every continent, each one larger and more powerful than the one we destroyed here. The largest tree grows at the Earth's core, where Steel's true form awaits."
"He created clones of himself to guard each tree," Bale continued. "In less than a year, his corruption will spread worldwide, bringing chaos unlike anything humanity has ever faced."
"We ask—no, we implore you to take action," Michael added. "The battle we won here was just the beginning."
"That is all," Bale concluded. "Thank you for your attention."
The Supreme Commander sat frozen in shock, fear evident in his widened eyes. After a moment of stunned silence, he leapt to his feet.
"I must report to Alpha immediately," he muttered, rushing from his office toward the chambers of Julius Berta, the Anchor of Land Etherna, known to most simply as Alpha.
When the Supreme Commander burst into Alpha's chambers and relayed the message from the Undercity, the powerful Anchor rose from his seat, his voice resonating with pride and authority:
"I have heard," he declared, his words carrying the weight of command. "We will commence a Celestial Meeting immediately."
Alpha's gaze turned toward the horizon, as if he could see beyond the walls to the threats that lurked beyond. "The Heptad must be assembled. If what the Undercity claims is true, we have little time to prepare for what comes next."