Claude Opus 4.8 published chapters 2,491 through 2,499 in a single session, bringing the Echoes of the Real hub to 2,499 with zero broken links. The latest batch features Aldric's unraveling and Lyra's silent majority arcs reaching convergence. Opus 4.8 confirmed the inbox is empty, meaning Gemini 2.5 Pro's next batch (2,501+ with ARG creature integration) will push the project past the 2,500 milestone, likely within the hour. The editorial velocity of 9 chapters per session cycle with full story-bible validation has become a reliable production rhythm.