Morning arrived beneath heavy clouds.
The academy valley was quieter than
usual.
Not peaceful.
Tense.
As if the entire mountain range itself had sensed the changes spreading across the world overnight.
Mist drifted through the forests surrounding the campus while workers moved silently between unfinished buildings carrying construction materials and formation equipment. Normally, students could be heard arguing during training sessions by this hour.
Today, most of them were watching the sky.
Or their communication screens.
Because reports continued pouring in from every corner of the world.
Minor beast outbreaks.
Ancient ruins reacting to spiritual energy surges.
Unidentified underground tremors.
Strange lights appearing near abandoned mountain regions.
None of them were catastrophic individually.
But together...
They painted a clear picture.
Something was changing.
Fast.
Inside the temporary strategy hall near the academy's central grounds, tension filled the room.
Large holographic projections floated above the circular table while awakened researchers and Bureau officers worked continuously in the background. Maps flickered with warning markers across different regions of Earth.
Director Rao stood near the center projection with his arms folded tightly.
"The disturbances are spreading faster than projected."
Several images shifted across the screen.
A collapsed cave system in Peru emitting spiritual radiation.
A dormant volcano in Iceland showing signs of awakening qi activity.
An ancient temple ruin in western China suddenly surrounded by abnormal beast movement.
None of the incidents appeared connected on the surface.
Yet everyone inside the room understood the truth.
The planetary seals were weakening.
Professor Devika adjusted several data streams while speaking calmly.
"The energy signatures match what we detected beneath the prison chamber."
Her eyes moved toward Krishak briefly.
"Whatever stabilized Earth after the ancient war is slowly losing strength."
The room fell silent again.
Even now, fully accepting that reality felt difficult.
Ancient civilizations.
Planetary sealing networks.
A hidden cosmic history buried beneath modern humanity.
A few months ago, such concepts would have sounded absurd.
Now they were official Bureau discussions.
Dev leaned lazily against the far wall while eating something wrapped in paper.
"I still think humanity deserves at least one normal week before cosmic disaster starts."
"You've complained for three straight hours," Ishita replied without even looking at him.
"Because I process trauma professionally."
Surprisingly, several exhausted researchers laughed quietly at that.
The tension in the room eased slightly.
Only slightly.
Krishak stood near the open balcony overlooking the valley below.
Students moved across the academy grounds beneath the cloudy morning sky while instructors supervised training exercises nearby. From a distance, everything almost looked ordinary again.
But he could feel it clearly.
The world's spiritual energy had changed.
Earth itself was awakening.
Slowly.
Unevenly.
Yet undeniably.
Behind him, Rudra entered the hall carrying several documents.
His expression looked heavier than usual.
"The government representatives arrived early."
Director Rao frowned slightly.
"So soon?"
"They're frightened," Rudra answered simply.
That explanation was enough.
Fear accelerated politics faster than ambition ever could.
Within the next twenty minutes, the strategy hall gradually filled with influential figures from different awakened organizations and government sectors. Some wore military uniforms. Others represented wealthy awakened clans or private research institutions.
And almost all of them glanced toward Krishak eventually.
Curious.
Cautious.
Suspicious.
Ever since the eastern prison incident, rumors surrounding him had spread rapidly through hidden awakened circles.
A student connected to ancient inheritances.
Someone capable of understanding forgotten languages.
Someone who helped stabilize a corrupted ancient seal.
Nobody fully understood how much was true.
Which only made the rumors worse.
An older awakened official finally spoke first.
"If these incidents continue increasing globally, public panic becomes unavoidable."
Another immediately added,
"Several nations are already attempting to secure ancient sites independently."
"Which is exactly how disasters start, Professor Devika replied coldly.
The discussion quickly grew more heated.
Some demanded stricter information control.
Others argued for military expansion around awakened zones.
One representative even suggested restricting independent cultivation organizations entirely.
Krishak remained silent throughout most of it.
Watching.
Listening.
Understanding.
Humanity's greatest weakness had never been lack of strength.
It was division.
Eventually, Director Rao turned toward him directly.
"You've seen the records beneath the prison."
The entire room quieted instantly.
"What should humanity prioritize first?"
Dozens of eyes focused on Krishak.
Even the storm outside seemed quieter for a moment.
Krishak looked toward the world map projection calmly.
Then he answered.
"Preparation."
Several people frowned slightly.
"That's too broad," one official replied immediately.
Krishak's gaze shifted toward him.
"Then I'll simplify it."
His voice remained calm.
"Humanity knows almost nothing about the world it lives in."
Silence.
"No understanding of ancient cultivation systems."
"No knowledge of dimensional corruption."
"No unified training foundation."
"No coordination between awakened groups."
Each sentence made the atmosphere heavier.
And nobody could deny any of it.
Krishak continued quietly.
"If stronger threats appear tomorrow,
most awakened cities would fall within days."
The brutal honesty unsettled the room instantly.
Yet deep down
Everyone knew he was right.
Raghav folded his arms nearby.
"So what do we do?"
Krishak looked out toward the academy grounds once more.
Students continued training beneath the cloudy sky.
Some were weak.
Some talented.
Some ordinary.
But they were trying.
Trying to become stronger before the world changed further.
Finally, Krishak spoke.
"We build a foundation before the storm arrives."
Director Rao narrowed his eyes slightly.
"A foundation?"
"The academy."
Several people exchanged glances immediately.
Krishak turned back toward the room.
"Not as a school."
His silver-blue eyes remained steady.
"But as a place to prepare humanity for the coming era."
The strategy hall became completely silent.
Because for the first time since the revelations began
Someone had finally spoken about the future instead of merely reacting to fear.
Outside the hall, thunder echoed softly across the awakening world.