🌑 The Meeting Place
The location did not exist.
Not on any map.
Not in any record.
It was the first site destroyed during the Great Disaster.
Now—
Buried beneath it—
An underground facility.
Silent.
Secure.
And filled with monsters.
Not creatures.
People.
⚖️ The Powers Gather
Present in the room:
Director Kael Viremont — Government Operations
Leviathan Leader Lila
The Top Three Guild Masters:
⚔️ Guilds:
Iron Dominion (military power, direct force)
Astryx Covenant (elite, strategic, conceptual users)
Gravehound Syndicate (ruthless, profit-driven hunters)
No greetings.
No pleasantries.
Lila stepped forward.
"I won't waste time."
A pause.
"I propose an alliance."
Silence.
Then—
A man leaned forward.
The Guild Master of Iron Dominion.
"…We already knew that."
His eyes narrowed.
"But you wouldn't call us here…"
"…without testing the odds first."
A pause.
"So tell me."
"…How did the fight go?"
Another voice—
Cold. Sharp.
"…Who did you send?"
The leader of Gravehound Syndicate smirked.
"One of your weakest hunters?"
Lila didn't react.
"…No."
A pause.
"We sent a conceptual holder."
Silence.
Then—
Shock.
"…You WHAT?"
Even the calmest among them shifted.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Explain."
Lila continued.
"Orion."
"The conceptual holder of speed."
"Refined level."
A pause.
"…He lost."
The room froze.
"…Impossible."
The Astryx Covenant leader spoke.
"He must have used his power."
Lila shook her head.
"If he had…"
"…Orion would not be alive."
Silence.
Heavy.
"Everything he did…"
"…was skill."
"…and what his concept had already affected."
Murmurs spread.
"…You're telling us…"
"…someone defeated a refined conceptual holder…"
"…without using their own?"
Lila's voice dropped.
"…Yes."
⚖️ The Proposal
Kael finally spoke.
"…So what exactly are you suggesting?"
His tone was calm.
But sharp.
"…That we throw everything at him?"
"…Conceptual holders included?"
Lila nodded.
"…Yes."
The Gravehound leader laughed.
"…And why would we cooperate?"
"The reward goes to one."
"Not all."
Lila smiled faintly.
"…Because divided…"
"…we lose."
A pause.
"You already know this."
Silence.
Then she continued.
"Let's be honest."
"Conceptual power is not public knowledge."
"Only we…"
"…understand what's at stake."
She walked slowly.
"Basic concepts are everywhere."
"Refined… fewer."
"Absolute…"
A pause.
"…rare."
"And right now…"
"…we don't have enough."
Her eyes hardened.
"…to stop him alone."
🩸 The Twist
"…So I'm not proposing cooperation."
A pause.
"I'm proposing…"
"…a free-for-all."
Silence.
Confusion.
"…Explain."
Lila smiled.
"No interference between factions."
"No sabotage."
"If two groups engage him at once…"
"…compensation is given."
The room shifted.
Interest.
Calculation.
"…So whoever kills him…"
"…takes everything."
Lila nodded.
"…Exactly."
⚠️ Government Objection
"…Stop."
Kael's voice cut through everything.
Silence returned instantly.
"This is reckless."
A pause.
"You're not thinking about what happens after."
"If he dies…"
"…whoever gains that power…"
"…what then?"
"…Who controls them?"
Silence.
No one answered.
Because they knew—
He was right.
🧠 Leviathan's True Move
Lila turned slightly.
"…I expected that question."
A pause.
"Everyone here…"
"…has something they want to change."
"…Regrets."
"…Failures."
"…Desires."
She looked at them.
"…So let's make it simple."
A pause.
"Whoever obtains the power…"
"…grants the wishes of everyone here."
Silence.
That hit.
Hard.
But—
The Astryx leader spoke.
"…And if they refuse?"
"…Power changes people."
"…Even subordinates."
Lila smiled.
"…Then control them."
A pause.
"…Or…"
"…use this."
She raised her hand.
"…Come in."
⛓️ Ella — Concept of Limit
The door opened.
A girl stepped in.
Calm.
Quiet.
But the air—
Felt… restricted.
"…Ella."
"…Conceptual holder of Limit."
Silence.
Everyone understood instantly.
"…She can restrict power."
"…Cap it."
"…Control it."
Lila's voice lowered.
"…Now you see."
"…Even if someone gains Creation…"
"…they won't be free."
The room shifted.
Greed replaced hesitation.
"…This could work…"
"…We can control the outcome…"
"…We can win…"
The Decision
Only one person remained silent.
Kael.
His eyes didn't change.
"…This is a mistake."
But—
He already knew.
He was outnumbered.
If he refused—
He wouldn't just lose the alliance.
He would gain enemies.
All of them.
A pause.
"…Prepare the contract."
And just like that—
The world—
Moved one step closer—
To war.