(W) Matt Hawkins (A) Atilio Rojo (CA) Stejpan Sejic. Eight centuries in the future* a group of cybernetic deities - the IXth Generation - have awakened to find themselves in charge of a world kneeling at their feet and faced with an ancient evil known as the Darkness. But instead of unifying against this common enemy* the IXs have fallen into bitter infighting and territorial battles* risking the fate of the world they were meant to rule. Will the discovery of other ancient Artifacts - including Aphrodite IX's wielding of the Witchblade - bring hope to this barren future? And will the Protocol be fulfilled... or subverted? Collects IXth GENERATION #5-8