The guilds had not been officially invited.
They didn't need to be.
In several discreet buildings around the world, secondary screens had turned on almost simultaneously with those of the government. The feeds weren't complete. The data was filtered, compressed, deliberately diluted.
But even so…
It was enough.
Atlas Guild Headquarters
— "…This simulation."
A massive man, his face marked by old scars, stared at the screen without blinking.
— "It wasn't meant to be won."
Around him, several senior officers remained silent.
— "The student didn't seek to dominate."
— "He endured."
A short-haired woman scrolled through the data.
— "Mental stress peaks beyond normal standards."
— "Emotional stability abnormal for his age."
She looked up.
— "He's not a conventional fighter."
— "No," the man replied.
— "He's someone who survives what breaks others."
Another officer grimaced.
— "And the others?"
The screen changed.
Blurred silhouettes.
Three simulations classified beyond academic standards.
— "Those…" murmured the woman.
— "They barely showed anything."
— "Exactly," replied the man as he stood.
— "They are the real dangers."
Aegis Guild — Tactical Room
— "Isaac Ifrey."
The name was projected in large letters.
— "An extremely dangerous verbal ability," an analyst said.
— "But still unstable."
— "He progressed during the simulation," added another.
— "He learns in real situations."
An older woman sitting at the back folded her fingers.
— "This kind of power…"
— "If he survives long enough, it will become uncontrollable."
— "And Diopha Hitari?"
A silence.
— "He," she finally said,
— "is a problem of another order."
— "Why? He didn't even destroy anything."
She smiled faintly.
— "Exactly."
Academy — Dorms, Night
Diopha sat on his bed, staring blankly.
The day had been long.
Comments, glances, speculations.
Milim had eventually fallen asleep in the common room, a book open on her chest.
Douriel was still reviewing, as if nothing had happened.
Mini-Zenkai floated near the window, arms crossed.
— They're starting to understand, he said mentally.
— Understand what exactly? asked Diopha.
— That the world isn't divided between strong and weak.
He tilted his head slightly.
— But between those who know what they're facing…
— And those who move blindly.
Diopha inhaled slowly.
— And us?
Mini-Zenkai gave a thin smile.
— You're still opening your eyes.
A silence passed.
— The guilds will move, he added.
— Not tomorrow. Not officially.
— But soon.
Diopha clenched his fists.
— Then I have to keep going.
— Exactly, Mini-Zenkai replied.
— And above all…
— Never show them everything you can do.
Elsewhere — Secondary Government Institution
— "The Academy has fulfilled its role," declared an officer.
— "But it won't be able to contain them forever."
— "That's why the guilds exist," another voice answered.
A screen displayed the names:
Hitari Diopha
Ifrey Isaac
Special Class — Unidentified Members (x3)
— "The world will have to adapt."
— "Or be surpassed."
Diopha closed his eyes.
Tomorrow, classes would resume.
As if nothing had changed.
But beneath the surface…
Everything had already started to move.
To be continued…
System Update — Key Characters (Chapter 39)
Diopha Hitari
Academic Rank: Special Class
Public Status: High-potential student
Actual Status: Unmeasurable anomaly
Visible stats (Academy)
• Strength: 420
• Speed: 465
• Endurance: 500
• Mana: 380
• Control: 410
Known Passives:
• Immortal Body (not publicly revealed)
• Impossible Fusion (undetected)
Known active skills (public):
• Artemis (partial use observed)
Actual skills (system):
• Event Manipulation (restricted)
• Chaos Fusion (Lv 0)
• Alter Ego (summonable, unobserved)
Resistances:
• High physical alterations
• Abnormal mental resistance
Isaac Ifrey
Academic Rank: SS Class (promotion pending)
Estimated Stats:
• Strength: 360
• Speed: 390
• Endurance: 340
• Mana: 620
• Control: 310
Main Ability:
• Absolute Verbal Authority (thought/speech)
Known Limits:
• Exponential mana consumption
• Vital wear in case of overuse
Observed Evolution:
• Improved timing
• Better control of activation
Special Class Members (unnamed)
Status: Classified
Observation:
• Used only a tiny fraction of their abilities
• Their simulations exceeded safety standards
Overall Evaluation:
• Threat level higher than Diopha/Isaac under equal conditions
• Capabilities deliberately concealed