In a research facility, it was currently in lockdown. Red lights blared from every corner and cast an ominous glow through the sterile white halls. An alarm droned in the background, but it did nothing to slow the figure sprinting through the corridors. His footsteps echoed sharply against the metallic floor and his breath remained unnervingly steady despite the chaos around him.

Ahead, three armed guards rounded a corner and raised their guns. Without hesitation, they opened fire. The bullets streaked toward the figure but stopped short as they were deflected by an invisible force mere inches from his skin. A shimmering magical shield pulsed around him, bending the light ever so slightly as it blocked the projectiles.

In response, the figure raised his hand, and with a thought, a blade of pure light materialized in his grasp, humming with raw energy. In an instant, he rushed forward in a flash of blinding light, and before the guards could react, they were cleaved in half, and their bodies crumpled to the floor as the light of his sword dimmed, leaving behind an eerie silence.

The surrounding glow from the blade illuminated the figure’s face, which revealed to be a human, with cold, determined eyes.

Without a second thought, the figure continued his run, cutting down any who crossed his path. More guards poured in from every direction, but they fell just as easily as he cut through them effortlessly, wielding not only the sword of light but other elemental forces. Fire erupted from his hands, engulfing entire squads. Winds howled as they tore apart obstacles in his path. With a mere gesture, beams of light pierced through armor and walls alike.

As he neared the surface, the air around him seemed to buzz with anticipation. The exit was in sight.

But one man stood in his way.

“Imperial Secret Police,” The figure muttered in venomous hatred as his eyes narrowed.

A massive fireball crackled to life in his hand, its heat distorting the air. With a fierce thrust, he threw it toward the man and the explosion engulfed the hallway in a fiery inferno. But when the smoke cleared, the man was still standing, untouched with a calm smile playing on his lips.

“What?”

"Test Subject 001," the officer said, "I know what you've endured in this project for months. I get it. But it's necessary for the progress of the Empire, and you should’ve stayed in your cage like the dog you are."

“You Imperial bastards,” the figure spat, eyes blazing with fury. “I never asked for this! All I want is my freedom, and you liars have taken that away!”

With a roar, he charged and the ground beneath his feet scorched by the searing heat radiating from his body. Any normal human would’ve been incinerated by now. But as he closed the distance, just seven meters from his target, the officer hadn’t moved an inch, probably he was frozen in fear.

But the officer of the Imperial Secret Police just wryly smiled while looking at the man.

A sudden flash of light seared through the air, accompanied by a deep, resonant hum, and the man's arm dropped to the ground, severed cleanly.

Pain exploded through his body, sapping his strength as he staggered. He glanced toward the officer, who hadn’t moved an inch, still standing there, smirking as if this were a game.

Another blinding flash sliced across his torso. The man grunted in pain and collapsed to one knee. His vision swam. How was this happening? How could this officer, who hadn’t even lifted a finger, be cutting him down so easily?

Then he saw it. Towering over two meters in height, a figure clad in gray armor materialized from the shadows. It was considerably odd, but now being mana sensitive, the man could feel the being radiating an aura that made his skin crawl, an unholy energy so intense it felt suffocating. In its right hand, it held a sword glowing with an ominous red light of energy. On its left, a sleek pistol with a design too advanced to comprehend.

“[Light Bea—]” the man began, trying to cast a spell, but the energy blade pierced his abdomen before he could finish. His mana surged violently, becoming unstable.

The man was shocked. These soldiers had appeared out of nowhere and somehow prevented him from casting any offensive magic, if he did, he felt a tremendous amount of pain from the unholy element coming from them. These were dangerous, truly dangerous.

Desperate, he prepared to teleport, but he saw one of the cybernetic soldiers raise its pistol toward him, but with his spell ready, he was certain it wouldn’t be enough to harm him.

“[Body of Effulgent Beryllium]!” he chanted, and a shimmering green aura enveloped his body, it is a spell he learned designed to reduce the effectiveness of bludgeoning attacks against its subject while it was in effect, and it could completely negate one instance of bludgeoning damage after it was cast.

The teleportation spell was almost ready, and in mere moments, he would be free.

But then the soldier fired.

And the round tore through his barrier like it was nothing, slicing his body clean in half. The reactive bullet destroyed his defenses with ease and bypassed every form of magical resistance he had. He hit the ground as his face twisted in disbelief.

Still alive, barely, he tried to move, tried to cast his teleportation spell, but nothing happened. His body refused to respond as he felt his mana slipping away like sand through his fingers.

Then, more of the cybernetic soldiers appeared, their heavy footfalls echoing around him. First two, then three. They moved with their red eye lenses glowing like judges declaring death upon the Guilt.

One of them stood over him, his cold gaze boring down like a merciless executioner.

Before he could react, the sword plunged through his chest and pierced his heart.

—————————————————————

Austronesia Empire, Imperial Tanah Melayu, Headquarters of the Science Department

1st Year of God, Tuesday, 1st Week, Month of Jonah

The laboratory buzzed with the soft hum of machines with the faint blue glow of screens casting an eerie light on the sterile white walls. Dr. Ian Faulkner stood nervously in front of the display table with his eyes darting between the numerous charts and microscopic images on the screen. He adjusted his lab coat, feeling the anxiety building as he waited for his superior, Director Helena Corvinus, to finish scanning the documents on her tablet.

Finally, with a quiet click, Corvinus set the tablet down and glanced up with an unreadable expression. Her sharp eyes, framed by a pair of thin glasses, focused intently on Faulkner, waiting for his explanation.

“Doctor,” she said in a cool and professional voice, “You requested this meeting to discuss the… ‘Mana Symbiote.’ You’ve been hinting at this for months now. I’m listening.”

Faulkner cleared his throat and took a deep breath before launching into the explanation he had rehearsed a dozen times in his head.

“Yes, Director. After several months of research, we’ve made a groundbreaking discovery in our efforts to understand how non-magical species, specifically humans, can gain the ability to wield mana. The key lies in a microorganism within the vial that Team Epsilon got back from an Auction House in Aquarius, and we've identified it as a Mana Symbiote. While it shares certain traits with viruses, it’s an entirely unique organism. I believe it could revolutionize our understanding of mana manipulation, not just in theory, but in practical application.”

Corvinus raised an eyebrow but said nothing, gesturing for him to continue.

Faulkner tapped a button on the tablet, and showed the director an image of a tiny, spider-like structure.

“Unlike viruses, the Mana Symbiote doesn’t hijack its host’s cells to replicate or destroy tissue. Instead, it integrates itself into the host’s nervous system, particularly targeting neurons that control energy flow and perception. Here…” He zoomed in on a neuron, showing how the symbiote wrapped itself around the cell, extending thin, thread-like tendrils into it. “Once it bonds, it begins a process of cellular modification. The symbiote essentially ‘rewires’ the host’s cells, creating mana receptors where there previously were none.”

Corvinus leaned forward slightly, her interest clearly piqued. “Go on.”

“This is the truly extraordinary part,” Faulkner continued, his enthusiasm rising. “The symbiote doesn’t alter the host’s DNA or damage the cells. It functions like a biological key, unlocking latent potential within the host. After bonding, it enables the host to channel mana, pulling it directly from the environment and using it at will. The symbiote remains active within the host, maintaining the connection to mana indefinitely, and it does this without causing harm or rejection.”

Corvinus crossed her arms, her gaze never leaving the screen. “Have you tested this on human subjects?”

Faulkner hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. “Yes. We’ve had success with one test subject so far. The subject was a random prisoner before exposure to the symbiote. After ingestion, the symbiote bonded within minutes, and he began showing signs of mana sensitivity within hours. By the second day, he could manipulate basic elemental forces such as fire, wind, even light.”

A flicker of curiosity passed across Corvinus’s face. “Side effects?”

Faulkner winced slightly. “There is an initial period of adjustment, which can be… unpleasant. The symbiote needs to modify the nervous system and metabolic pathways, and that process causes headaches, fevers, and sensory overload. In some cases, the subject experiences hallucinations as their brain adjusts to processing mana. But the symptoms fade within a day or two.”

“And long-term risks?”

“None that we’ve observed so far, though the subjects are still in the early stages of testing,” Faulkner said, cautiously omnitistic, “The symbiote seems stable. It doesn’t replicate uncontrollably, and it doesn’t alter the host beyond creating those mana receptors. If anything, it appears to strengthen the host’s natural resilience over time.”

Corvinus remained silent for a moment, considering everything he had said as her fingers tapped rhythmically on the edge of the table.

“So, Doctor,” she said finally, “you’re telling me that we've found a way to give humans, who have never been able to wield mana, access to it through a symbiotic organism? And it’s not only effective, but relatively safe?”

Faulkner nodded. “Yes, Director. This could change everything. The boundaries between magical and non-magical species… we could eliminate them. We could create soldiers, scientists, healers, anyone, capable of wielding mana. And with the symbiote’s ability to stabilize and repair itself, it’s a permanent enhancement.”

Corvinus stood, circling the screen with her hands clasped behind her back. The gears were clearly turning in her mind, calculating the potential uses, the advantages, and no doubt, the power that could come from such a discovery.

Then she stopped and fixed Faulkner with a cold stare. “But I’ve heard the test subject is dead. Is that correct?”

Faulkner swallowed nervously. “Yes… There was an incident a few days ago. One of the subjects revolted before we could fully stabilize him. He killed 25 guards and scientists. Shotgun shells, .50 caliber rounds, even grenades, barely slowed him down until three of the Archangel Unit managed to neutralize him.”

Corvinus sighed in irritation. “After months of progress, and a perfect result, we lose control? And the test subject?”

Faulkner shook his head. “I’m afraid Team Epsilon had given us only one of the vials that contained the symbiote.”

Corvinus narrowed her eyes suspiciously, “How do we know they didn’t find more and kept it from us? They could be sitting on a treasure trove and not have reported it to the government?”

Faulkner furrowed his brow, clearly unsettled by the thought. “If they did, they’d be committing a federal crime at the highest level. But Team Epsilon has always been loyal to the Empire, at least on record. Fortunately, while we lost the subject, the symbiote remained unharmed and was safely retrieved. We have it secured in the lab.”

Corvinus sighed, rubbing her temple. “Fine. As long as the symbiote is intact, you’ll continue your research. But I expect answers soon. You may go.”

“Thank you, Director,” Faulkner replied in relief.

Corvinus gave him one last piercing look before turning and walking out. The door hissed shut behind her, leaving Faulkner standing alone in the lab. He exhaled as the tension drained from his body. The discovery of the Mana Symbiote was monumental, something that could reshape humanity’s future.

But as he stood alone in the lab, staring at the image of the tiny organism in his tablet, he couldn’t help but wonder if the Team who gave them the symbiote still had more in their possession and what forces they had truly set into motion.

————————————————————

1st Year of God, Monday, 2nd Week, Month of Jonah

Emperor Maximo strode through the pristine halls of the Imperial Science Department’s headquarters, his footsteps echoing off the sleek white walls. Flanked by a pair of armed guards, he cut an imposing figure, draped in regal attire with the weight of the Empire resting heavily on his shoulders. He had been summoned here for something urgent, something potentially world-altering. His expression, as always, was calm and unreadable, but those who knew him could sense the deep concern that clouded his mind.

Upon entering the research chamber, Maximo’s sharp gaze immediately landed on Dr. Thorne, the head scientist of this research section, standing beside a display. Thorne’s usual composed demeanor was overshadowed by a grim intensity, his face marked by the seriousness of the situation.

“Your Majesty,” Thorne greeted with a stiff bow. “Thank you for coming on such short notice. There’s something you need to see.”

Maximo wasted no time. “You mentioned a discovery related to the sample from Team Epsilon?”

Dr. Thorne nodded and tapped the console, bringing up a grainy video feed on the display. "Yes, Your Majesty. This footage was retrieved from Team Epsilon during their latest mission in Aquarius. As you’re aware, they secured several magical artifacts, among them, a vial. What appeared to be a container filled with only water actually housed a symbiote… a creature capable of granting mana to its host.”

Thorne detailed the symbiote's properties, explaining how it integrated with the host’s nervous system, allowing non-magical individuals to wield mana. He recounted the incident with the test subject who had turned violent, using the symbiote’s powers against Imperial forces, only to be neutralized by the Archangel Unit.

Maximo’s eyes narrowed slightly, “A regrettable loss, indeed. But you mentioned there was another discovery?”

Thorne’s expression darkened as he tapped another command on the console, bringing up a new image. “Yes, Your Majesty. The symbiote was not the most significant find. What Team Epsilon uncovered next is... far more surprising.”

The display shifted, revealing the image of a young girl. Alongside her portrait, details filled the screen from name, age, birthdate, and various personal information.

“Her name is Serena,” Thorne began. “The sole survivor of a demonic attack since the New Year Tragedy. An entire city of Davao was annihilated by the demons before it was blown by a nuclear arsenal, and yet… she was found alive, outside our borders, miraculously unharmed. What’s most alarming, however, is the surge of mana we detected emanating from her. It’s unlike anything we’ve ever encountered.”

Maximo’s brow furrowed in thought. “And where is she now?”

Thorne glanced at the armed guards beside him. “Follow me, Your Majesty.”

They walked briskly through the winding corridors, passing increasingly fortified checkpoints until they arrived at an observation deck overlooking a massive containment chamber. Maximo’s eyes fell on the glass box at the center, reinforced with layers of enchantments and magical barriers. Through the glass, a small figure sat motionless, a little girl, no older than ten, sitting there.

Around the chamber were numerous scientists, all working furiously at their stations, while heavily armed soldiers stood at every corner of the room, their eyes trained on the girl and weapons at the ready.

Floria Melian Shelberry, the exiled Queen of High Tarxa and the Empire’s leading expert on magic, stood nearby with her sharp elven eyes watching the girl inside the glass enclosure. Despite the layers of enchantments surrounding Serena, Melian’s sense of unease never diminished. She turned when she saw Maximo approach.

“Your Majesty,” Melian spoke quietly, nodding toward Serena. “Every time I see her, this feels wrong. She’s just a child. A frightened child.”

Maximo folded his arms behind his back. "And yet, we both know she’s far more dangerous than she appears."

Dr. Thorne, standing beside them, cleared his throat, eager to offer context. "Your Majesty, she is indeed human. Records show she lived in Davao before the attack. But after the demons wiped out the city, something happened to her. We don’t know how she survived, how she ended up in Aquarius, or how she gained these extraordinary abilities. Melian has been observing her for months now, trying to make sense of it all."

Maximo turned to Melian with a sharp gaze. "What have you discovered?"

Melian’s expression grew grim as she looked back at the girl. "Her abilities… are beyond anything I’ve seen, Your Majesty. At first, I thought she was channeling raw mana, but it’s much more than that. She doesn’t just manipulate mana, she bends time and space around her. I’ve spent hours with her, teaching her basic magical control, and yet, when I leave the room, only minutes have passed for the rest of the world.”

Maximo’s eyes narrowed as he processed her words. "Time flows differently inside?"

Melian nodded. "Yes. And that’s not all. She has the ability to warp reality in ways I can barely comprehend. Objects within her proximity are distorted, space itself seems to bend and stretch, it’s not like any magic we’ve encountered. I attempted to measure her Magicule level but it doesn’t register as normal mana. Worse, I’ve uncovered something even more unsettling. She’s not just drawing from the ambient mana in our world."

She hesitated, her voice growing quieter. "She’s channeling energy from the Aether Realm."

Maximo’s eyes narrowed. "The Aether Realm? That’s a fringe theory at best, your Majesty."

Dr. Thorne interjected. "Melian has convinced me otherwise, Your Majesty. According to her, the Aether Realm is a dimension where time, space, and reality don’t behave as they do here. It’s theorized to house powerful spiritual entities. Some rare magic users have gained power from it. In this world, they are called Spirit Magic Users or other researchers like to call them ‘Reality Benders’ or ‘Psychics’. They channel energy from the Aether, allowing them to manipulate magic in ways that are incredibly dangerous. Serena, we believe, is one of them."

Maximo’s expression darkened. "Spirit Magic Users... how many of these anomalies exist?"

Melian shook her head. "Very few. They’re almost mythic, and the few recorded in history wielded devastating power. They can tap into this other dimension and perform feats beyond our understanding. Some can summon spiritual entities to fight alongside them. Others, like Serena, seem to act as conduits for the raw energy of that realm. With that, they can manipulate reality far more efficiently than any known form of magic. But it’s dangerous. They can attract the attention of the entities that live in that realm, and possibly be possessed by them.”

Maximo stood silent for a moment, absorbing the information. His mind drifted back to the footage from Team Epsilon’s hidden cameras, and the two powerful individuals they had encountered back at the Auction House on Aquarius, both wielding strange powers alongside spectral entities.

Not only that, the Elder Shaman from the Orc Invasion seemed to have a similar thing.

“You’re saying she’s like those Spirit Magic Users Team Epsilon encountered at the Auction House? The ones who summon spiritual entities to fight? Including the Elder Shaman?”

“Exactly,” Melian confirmed. “But Serena isn’t summoning anything or sending Spirits to the Physical World by possessing deceased bodies. She’s channeling pure energy from that dimension. It’s a raw power, one that even bends reality. Furthermore, she doesn’t seem to have full control over her abilities yet, but if we can’t help her learn to manage this power... it's possible that the Physical World itself could be at risk."

Maximo turned his gaze back to Serena, watching the girl closely as she stared blankly at the walls of her enclosure, seemingly unaware of the immense power she possessed.

"Do you think you can teach her to control this power?" he asked.

Melian paused, feeling uncertain. "I’ll try, but there are no guarantees. This magic is beyond anything we’ve dealt with before.”

Maximo's jaw tightened. "We cannot afford to fail. She could either become the Empire’s greatest asset... or its greatest threat."

As he turned to leave, his voice echoed through the chamber. "Keep me informed of every development. I want her power understood, and I want it under control."

The scientists and guards bowed as Maximo exited, but Melian remained behind, her eyes still fixed on the girl in the glass box. There was something about Serena, something far more profound than anyone realized, that seemed to pull at the very threads of reality itself.

It felt as if this child’s power came from somewhere beyond their world, and Melian knew, deep down, that the consequences of mishandling it could be catastrophic.

————————————————————

Free Trade City of Acquarius, House of Rumpan

1st Year of God, Wednesday, 2nd Week, Month of Jonah

“You may come in."

The moment this deep voice echoed within the very dark room, and beyond, a door slowly creaked open.

The intruder was a man in his early thirties, with slick brown hair and black, piercing eyes. He wore a sharp black waistcoat over a formal shirt, paired with black trousers and a neatly knotted tie. But what set him apart was the large tusk protruding from his mouth.

He was Elon Tusk, Broker for the ExRump Corporation, at least, that was the identity he demanded.

"Greetings, father," he said, bowing his head as he entered and closed the door behind him.

"Sit."

Without hesitation, Elon obeyed instantly and moved past the luxurious couches at the center of the room, heading straight to the chair before the grand desk.

Behind it sat Lord Rump of the Obsidian Council, his piercing green eyes glowing in the darkness, a gaze that could unsettle anyone. Even though Elon was used to this gaze many times, it still made him feel like prey being constantly watched by a predator.

He sat in front of his father, separated only by the desk that stood between them.

Silence hung in the air for several moments before Lord Rump finally spoke.

"They’re acting much faster than I expected. Things are becoming really unstable right now..." He said, and Elon noticed he didn't have his usual confident and imposing tone. Instead, it was replaced by a sort of worrying vibe that took over his voice, as well as his countenance, which was uncharacteristic of him.

It was easy to see that he was shaken by the current situation.

"How bad is it, Father?"

"Very bad. We’ve lost contact with our prime buyer. There’s some sort of interference on our main channel. Worse, we've lost control of the merchandise we kept in the warehouse in the Western region."

Their prime buyer resided far from the city, so the ExRump had gotten a vast patch of land where they constructed a massive warehouse to store the goods they would sell prior to the final sales.

It was also a major part of their 'Expansion' plan.

And now… it was in shambles.

"We are in a precarious state right now. If we do not complete that sale, then we'll encounter a devastating loss. Plus, the fact that we've lost contact with the warehouse and the merchandise… it worries me."

Lord Rump hesitated, clearly didn't want to admit it directly, but Tusk understood what all of this meant.

The ExRump Corporation was desperate.

They needed help.

"Have you tried seeking assistance from the rest of your colleagues? You know… the ones that aren't on 'their' side?" Tusk asked cautiously.

Lord Rump let out a grunt and shrugged slightly, "They're just like me, too busy protecting their own interests to spare time for another."

As Elon heard this, he understood. No wise drowning man would try to save another drowning man if he didn't have some kind of life raft first. Even though Lord Rump had powerful connections, those allies were facing the same challenges as he was, leaving them powerless to help.

"Is this what 'they' wanted all along, or…?" Elon muttered, sensing his father's growing frustration. He racked his brain for a solution, but in the end, he could only find one idea.

"Sir Ghost. We could enlist the help of Sir Ghost."

Sir Ghost, the Dark Adventurer who was shrouded in mystery and power. The same one who had reached the realm of 'Disaster' and possessed a wealth of resources that could elevate the ExRump Corporation to new heights. He was resourceful, intelligent, and, above all, overwhelmingly strong.

There wasn’t a soul within the four walls of the corporation that didn't know who this esteemed man was.

"Sir Ghost? Hmm…"

Despite all of these qualities, Lord Rump didn't seem to embrace the idea. He maintained a critical air around him as he narrowed his eyes in hesitation.

"He has most of the qualities we need, Father," Elon pressed. "Besides, if we want to turn the tables, we need as many powerful allies as we can."

Lord Rump remained silent, so Elon continued, recounting the reports he had heard. Two powerful generals, at the peak of Tier 1 Transcendence, had been killed in the northern lands of the Iron Kingdom, where it was reported to have a massive crater and a mushroom cloud that wiped out both armies in an instant, leaving devastation in their wake.

While the two factions blamed each other, Elon knew better. It had to be Sir Ghost’s doing. After one of their trading deals, Elon’s scouts overheard a conversation between Ghost and one of his subordinates:

"There are several Transcendents in this city. How can we take control of this place with them around?"

"Simple. You'll see a kilometer-wide crater and a mushroom cloud. But it will cost thousands of innocent lives."

At first, Elon had thought the notion was absurd. But knowing the power of Transcendent Tier 2 beings, it wasn’t beyond belief.

Elon continued speaking with a slight passion in his voice, “And the fact that he was able to deliver so many Monster Cores also means he is still hiding much of his strength."

"I already know these things. I never doubted his capabilities in the slightest." Lord Rump sighed.

Once Elon heard this, his face became twisted in confusion. If his father didn't doubt Sir Ghost's capabilities, why did he show such hesitation?

"I'm just unsure of whether he'd choose to ally with us,” Lord Rump interrupted, “Someone as powerful and intelligent as him will not be fooled by tricks. I find it doubtful that we have enough to thoroughly convince him to take our side, given the current precarious situation we are in."

At that, Elon finally understood his father's concerns. Sir Ghost was too powerful to involve himself with a losing party's issue like the ExRump Corporation. The only reason they had maintained a somewhat mutual understanding was because the ExRump Corporation could pull their own weight. Even then, they had no leverage to stop Ghost if he chose to break their agreement.

But now, with the corporation faltering, why would he choose to help?

"I... I believe he may come to our assistance," Elon said, swallowing hard. "We just need to be convincing enough."

As Lord Rump heard this, he narrowed his gaze on his son and told him to proceed.

"Months ago, he left his daughter in our care, and we've taken proper care of her in his absence. I believe it takes some measure of trust in us for him to have done such a thing."

"He did that…?" Lord Rump's eyes were wide open in surprise.

Elon had been responsible for keeping his father informed of any developments concerning Ghost, but he could understand why this was never mentioned.

It must have occurred during the period when that Incident within the Artifact Market District occurred, where many of their important warehouses were caught in a crossfire between two unknown factions from other Civilization Zones were fighting each other.

In that case, there wouldn't be enough time or a stable opportunity to relay such information.

Though they managed to recover many of their artifacts after the incident, the situation worsened when war erupted between the Iron Kingdom and the nations of the Third Civilization Zone.

That was when their enemies had sporadically begun to make their move, destabilizing ExRump's operations.

"Lord Ghost trusts us to some extent, Father. Besides, he is not an unreasonable man. He has listened to my selfish requests a lot of times, and if we can make it worth his while, I'm sure he would hear us out at the very least."

Upon hearing this, Lord Rump sighed a little and maintained a few seconds of silence to pass. Elon held his breath as he watched his father for the decision he would make concerning the issue.

"I understand." Lord Rump's voice finally broke the quiet, his bright eyes flashing with resolve. "Arrange a meeting between Ghost and me as soon as possible."

It was said that once Lord Rump made a decision, he committed to it until the very end. The very expression that his father was making gave credence to those rumors.

"I’ll notify you the next time he visits our establishment."

"Yes, Father." Elon bowed his head with a slight smile tugging at his lips.

The truth was, he wasn’t entirely sure if Ghost would agree to help them, though he desperately hoped so was the case. There were whispers within the ExRump Corporation that Ghost was the one who had defeated the two Transcendent Generals in the northern lands of the Iron Kingdom. Elon was among those who believed it.

If anyone in the Third Civilization Zone could accomplish such a feat, it had to be Ghost. Not even the deceased Elf Queen, the Orc Warboss, or other Tier 2 Transcendence in the Third Civilization Zone could easily kill the two Generals at once in an instant.

Even if that rumor wasn’t true, the circumstances surrounding the event remained mysterious and strange.

"You may leave now."

At his father’s command, Elon rose and, after bowing one last time at the door, departed, leaving Lord Rump alone in the darkened room.

"Haaa…" The Obsidian Councilor heaved a heavy sigh and closed his eyes in the dark. "I hope this all ends well."

It would seem that the fate of the entire ExRump Corporation, as well as that of the entire Business World, now rested on the decision of a single man.

'Sir Ghost… please favor us.'

*

*

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A/n: Welcome To The Next Arc: The Dark Undertaking Arc!

This might end up being the darkest and most interesting adventure for a bunch of weak ass regular humans yet, this is gonna be a wild ride!

Hope you all stick around for it.