The port city of Vei-Zen, capital of Tassara, shimmered under the blend of starlight and projection holograms. Vei-Zen didn't sleep—it pulsed. Every building was a canvas, every alley a stage, every night a showcase of ideas turned into spectacle.
Liam stood at the edge of a rooftop amphitheater, his silhouette outlined in cyan-blue neon. Below, a thousand creatives buzzed—artists, streamers, musicians, indie devs—all watching as the Indie Web unveiled its next phase.
This wasn't a concert. It was a declaration.
Nova adjusted the overhead drones, syncing them to match the rhythm of the visuals. Beside her, Dex was live-coding beats into the air using gesture-based motion tech. Jade floated midair in an AR bubble—singing, narrating, storytelling through digital waves.
Ace tapped a mic. "Welcome to the Indie Web Global Node Launch. This isn't just tech. This is creative freedom, plugged in and wired for everyone. ARCLOUD is now live."
Applause thundered. Not the polite kind. The real kind—the kind where hands sting, and souls scream.
Liam stepped forward. "They told us to take the deal. To sit down, shut up, and cash in. But we said no. We said art doesn't belong behind velvet ropes. It belongs in the hands of everyone."
He lifted his hand, and the skies above Vei-Zen bloomed with icons—the Indie Web logo radiating across every screen, stream, and stream-of-consciousness.
Nova turned to him, her voice a whisper in the roar. "We just changed the game again."
Liam nodded. "No—we are the game now."
💼 Meanwhile, in Corvaxis – Kara's POV
Kara Vale sat behind a curved desk, the skyline of Cyndral looming like a wall of judgment.
Her holo-board glowed. "ARCLOUD detected in Tassara. Penetration rate accelerating. Indie Web projected to overtake Everline engagement in two quarters if trend continues."
She didn't flinch. "Initiate Phase 2 of Project Aurum. And bring Rhys."
Her assistant entered, silent as ever.
"The next time Liam makes a move," Kara said coolly, "we make him wish he hadn't."
The End of Chapter 19