The Box: Fate
Chapter 41 — The Architect of Groups
The walk back to Liya was filled with the sound of Axel complaining about the Akatsuki name but the mood shifted the moment they stepped through the gates of The Sleeping Griffin The rest of the sixteen—Murasaki Hina Anastasia and the others—jumped to their feet The reunion was loud and chaotic but Kataki remained seated at the center table his silver-blindfold glowing with a deep knowing hum
You're back Kataki said his voice steady And you brought a guest
After the initial excitement they settled around the long table Zanaki introduced Hanzoe and explained her origins She from another group Kataki A massive one called the Trillion Anime Zone They have hundreds of members and they're all trapped here just like us
Kataki went motionless The runes on his blindfold flickered rapidly Trillion Anime Zone... that is a name I haven't heard since the day I entered this world
You know it? Zanaki asked leaning in
I don't just know it Zanaki Kataki replied his voice dropping an octave I created it I was the founder and head administrator of that group But because it grew to over 300 members I became less active focusing instead on our smaller more personal Akatsuki chat I left the management to my sub-admins
The room went silent Hanzoe looked at Kataki in shock You... you were the Founder? My group leaders always spoke of an Original King who disappeared
The mystery deepens Kataki continued Zanaki you shared the Box link in the Akatsuki group while you were on that date at the hotel. But in the Trillion Anime Zone someone else shared the link at the exact same second I checked the logs before I was pulled in—I was offline that night I didn't send it If it wasn't me and it wasn't an admin... then who had the power to message 300 people at once?
Zanaki rubbed his temples So someone used your group to harvest 300 people? This wasn't a game invite It was a net
Exactly Kataki said And that is why our next mission is critical The Hunter Guild has issued a Special Request There is an Ancient Fortress on the edge of the Iron-Reach border It is said to hold a legendary relic—a card capable of rewriting spiritual laws
The curse Hina whispered looking at the black marks on Kataki neck
Yes Kataki nodded The card is known as The Origin Spark: Zenith It is the only thing powerful enough to cleanse the Architect mark and break the curse on my sight If we find it we might also find the logs of who sent those links
Zanaki stood up his Draconic energy sparking An ancient fort a mystery sender and a legendary card Sounds like a Tuesday for the Akatsuki
We leave at dawn Kataki commanded Akira Axel—you've had your warm-up in the woods Tomorrow we explore the ruins of the Old Kings
As the group went to prepare Zanaki stayed behind for a moment looking at Hanzoe The puzzle was coming together but the picture it formed was terrifying They weren't just survivors; they were part of a grand design that started long before they clicked a link
The road to the Ancient Fortress was set The search for the Origin Spark had begun