Chapter 1342 Chaos

For the past few weeks, the Imperial City had been anything but peaceful.

According to rumors, eyewitness accounts, and actual evidence seen by the public, a considerable number of young people throughout the city had begun exhibiting unusual changes.

Fortunately, the newly ascended Emperor had acted quickly.

Upon discovering the unusual incidents, he immediately ordered the imperial authorities to investigate and gather those affected.

A considerable number of the youths were placed under supervision in specially prepared facilities, where their conditions could be observed and treated if possible.

Naturally, not everyone welcomed the arrangement.

Some believed they were being imprisoned simply because they had obtained extraordinary opportunities. Others feared that the imperial authorities intended to steal their newfound powers.

However, the Emperor's decisive actions proved effective. Most of the affected youths were confined before they could cause any serious disturbances.

The real trouble came from those who refused to cooperate.

Some concealed their conditions and continued living among ordinary citizens. Others fled before the authorities could reach them.

And among these individuals were those who saw their sudden increase in strength as an opportunity.

Robberies, assaults, and other crimes began occurring throughout the capital.

People who had once been ordinary youths suddenly possessed enough power to overwhelm experienced guards, and a few became arrogant enough to believe they could do whatever they pleased.

Unfortunately for them, the new Emperor was far from ordinary.

Under his leadership, the imperial authorities responded with astonishing efficiency.

Individuals who attempted to use their powers for malicious purposes were identified and apprehended, often before their actions could develop into larger incidents.

There were even occasions when some died without the chance to defend themselves, though this seemed to happen only to the truly wicked.

Despite the strange phenomenon affecting numerous youths throughout the capital, the resulting damage had remained relatively limited.

And as the days passed, the number of new incidents gradually decreased.

Unfortunately, that peace didn't last.

On this particular day, something even stranger occurred.

⸻

In one of the Imperial City's bustling commercial districts, a middle-aged merchant was standing behind his stall, arguing with a customer over the price of a herb.

"Three silver coins? Are you trying to rob me? This is a genuine Moondew Herb!"

"Two silver coins, and not a copper more!"

"Impossible!"

The merchant was just about to continue arguing when something caught his attention.

Not far from his stall, a small brown rabbit was sitting beside a roadside tree.

There was nothing particularly unusual about the animal. Although rabbits weren't common within the busiest sections of the Imperial City, one would occasionally find its way into the streets.

The merchant paid it little attention.

However, just as he was about to turn back toward his customer, the rabbit suddenly disappeared.

In its place appeared a young man.

"…"

The merchant froze. The customer standing opposite him also stopped speaking.

Both men stared at the newcomer.

The young man appeared to be in his early twenties, dressed in ordinary clothing.

His expression was completely blank, as though he hadn't yet understood what had happened.

A moment later, his expression changed drastically.

"Ahhh!"

His shout immediately attracted the attention of the surrounding pedestrians.

"What's happening?!"

The young man staggered backward, nearly colliding with the merchant's stall.

"Where am I?!"

⸻

Similar incidents were occurring throughout the Imperial City.

In another district, a butcher was preparing to slaughter a fat pig.

Business had been rather good lately, and he had already received several orders from nearby restaurants.

Unfortunately, the pig currently lying on his slaughtering table was proving rather troublesome.

"Stay still, you damned thing!"

The butcher cursed as he pressed the struggling animal against the wooden surface.

His left hand firmly restrained its neck while his right held a sharp butcher's knife.

Although the pig was strong, the butcher had been doing this work for more than twenty years. Dealing with a struggling animal was hardly a challenge.

"Just a little longer…"

He raised his knife.

However, just as he was about to bring it down, the pig suddenly disappeared.

In its place appeared a woman.

"…"

The butcher froze. The woman froze as well.

She appeared to be in her thirties, with disheveled hair and a loose nightgown covering her body.

More importantly, she was lying on the slaughtering table, and the butcher's large hand was still firmly holding her neck.

His other hand remained raised, gripping a sharp knife.

For several seconds, neither moved.

The woman's eyes slowly traveled from the butcher's face to the knife in his hand.

She also looked down at the bloodstained slaughtering table.

"…"

"AAAAAAHHHH!"

The woman's scream nearly deafened the butcher.

"MURDERER!"

"W-wait!"

"HELP! SOMEONE'S TRYING TO KILL ME!"

The butcher hurriedly released her neck and stumbled backward.

"No! That's not what happened!"

Unfortunately, the woman had already scrambled off the table.

She grabbed the nearest wooden stool and hurled it toward him.

"YOU PERVERTED MURDERER!"

⸻

Meanwhile, another peculiar incident occurred in one of the Imperial City's entertainment districts.

A large crowd had gathered around a street performer.

The man was rather famous in the area for his tricks involving trained animals, and his greatest attraction was a small monkey capable of performing various acrobatic movements.

At the moment, the performer was demonstrating one of his most popular tricks.

"Everyone, watch closely!"

He raised the monkey above his head. The little creature squeaked excitedly.

"One!"

The crowd watched with anticipation.

"Two!"

Several children began cheering.

"Three!"

The performer tossed the monkey into the air. The animal spun gracefully, preparing to land in his waiting hands.

However, just as it reached the highest point of its jump, something strange happened.

The monkey disappeared.

In its place appeared a baby.

"…"

The performer's eyes widened. For a brief moment, his mind went completely blank.

WHAT?!

The baby, who had appeared several meters above the ground, looked equally bewildered.

Its tiny arms and legs moved helplessly through the air as gravity began pulling it downward.

*

A/N: Author is on his knees! Thank you for the continued support!!