Chapter 1660: World Crisis

A new terrorist organization had emerged, calling itself The Ascendancy, and its arrival plunged the world into an unprecedented state of terror.

At first, their attacks appeared sporadic, striking different countries without any apparent pattern. but it soon became clear that this was no ordinary terrorist movement. The Ascendancy had somehow discovered a way to control the Bael, turning the monstrous creatures into weapons of mass destruction and unleashing them upon unsuspecting cities.

Under their command, the Bael rampaged through urban districts, tearing down buildings, demolishing power stations, and reducing critical infrastructure to rubble. Bridges and highways collapsed, railway networks were destroyed, and airports and seaports were forced to shut down. Entire regions were cut off from the outside world as communication networks failed and transportation routes became impassable.

National borders were no longer safe either. Border checkpoints and military outposts were overrun, leaving several territories vulnerable to further incursions. Governments scrambled to reinforce their defenses, but conventional military forces struggled to contain creatures that could be directed with such terrifying precision.

Yet the devastation extended far beyond the cities.

Wherever the Bael roamed, their toxic blood seeped into the earth, poisoning vast stretches of agricultural land. Fertile fields became barren, crops withered beneath the contamination, and entire orchards were left to rot. Irrigation channels and water reservoirs were polluted, while livestock farms and fisheries suffered devastating losses. Countless farmers were forced to abandon their livelihoods, uncertain whether their land would ever be safe for cultivation again.

The destruction of agricultural regions soon triggered a food crisis that spread even to countries untouched by the attacks. With transportation networks crippled and food production declining, essential commodities became increasingly scarce. Prices soared, supply chains collapsed, and millions found themselves struggling to secure even the most basic necessities.

As the attacks continued, panic spread across the international community. Governments declared states of emergency, militaries were mobilized, and millions of civilians fled their homes in search of safety. Riots erupted in several major cities as public frustration turned into anger, while growing numbers of people began demanding that their governments take drastic measures against gifted individuals.

Then, amidst the mounting chaos, The Ascendancy made its intentions known.

Through a series of broadcasts circulated across international communication networks, the organization claimed responsibility for the attacks and declared its intention to establish an independent nation exclusively for gifted individuals. They condemned the existing world order, accusing ordinary society of suppressing and persecuting those born with extraordinary abilities.

Their demand was simple: a country of their own, free from the authority of ordinary humanity.

But their methods had made that demand impossible to separate from the bloodshed.

What began as a series of coordinated terrorist attacks had escalated into an international crisis, threatening not only the stability of individual nations but the world’s entire political and social order, and as fear and hostility toward gifted individuals spread across the globe, the distinction between those responsible for the atrocities and those who had nothing to do with them became increasingly blurred.

The emergence of the Ascendancy sent shockwaves through the international community. One after another, world leaders issued public condemnations, denouncing the organization as a threat to global security and demanding an immediate end to its campaign of terror. Emergency meetings were convened, diplomatic channels were flooded with urgent communications, and military forces across several nations were placed on heightened alert.

Yet condemnation alone did little to stop the bloodshed.

Governments struggled to formulate an effective response. The greatest obstacle was the Bael themselves. For couple of months, most countries had relied on B-13 as one of its most effective means of weakening the creatures. The substance had proven remarkably successful in suppressing their abilities and making them more vulnerable to conventional weapons.

But that advantage had been compromised. B-13 had been developed and tested specifically against the Bael. Its effectiveness was far less reliable when gifted individuals were involved, particularly when those individuals were deliberately manipulating the creatures. The Ascendancy had exploited that weakness, rendering one of humanity’s most dependable countermeasures practically ineffective against their operations.

Military intervention also presented its own complications. The Bael were no longer behaving like ordinary monsters that could simply be lured away or eliminated. They were being directed by human intelligence, making every confrontation considerably more unpredictable. Any attempt to contain them risked turning populated areas into battlefields, potentially resulting in even greater casualties.

As the attacks continued, the number of victims climbed, and the situation grew increasingly desperate. Entire territories remained inaccessible, agricultural regions were abandoned, and several governments began questioning whether their existing defenses were sufficient to withstand another wave of attacks.

The international community needed a solution, and they needed one quickly.

With conventional countermeasures proving inadequate, attention eventually turned toward Harland. More specifically, toward its king. King Lucas of Harland was summoned to the center of an increasingly urgent international discussion. His kingdom had long been regarded as one of the most capable authorities when dealing with matters concerning gifted individuals and the Bael. Consequently, the pressure placed upon him was immense.

World leaders wanted answers. They demanded a viable countermeasure, a strategy to neutralize the Ascendancy’s control over the Bael, and, above all, a way to prevent further casualties. The expectation was clear: Harland had to find a solution,and King Lucas, whether he welcomed the responsibility or not, had become one of the few people upon whom the world was placing its hopes.

"I assume they’re asking for our help right now," Lory remarked, leaning back casually against the arm of a chair in the king’s study. Beside her, Zhao Li Xin attended to her needs with a calm, attentive demeanor, as though entirely unperturbed by the chaos currently engulfing the world.

Lucas sat behind a wide mahogany desk, his expression appearing quite calm as he listened. "They are," he replied casually.

"It’s practically a reflex—when a problem arises, who else would you turn to?" Fredhardt teased, leaning against the edge of the desk while his fingers idly flipped through a stack of reports.

Fargo, meanwhile, had claimed another chair, reclining comfortably as he worked on his tablet. "We’ve already dispatched some of our troops to assist our allies. Unfortunately, B-13 is no longer effective with those pests getting involved. Ethan Hamilton had better come up with a better solution before things get any worse."

A moment later, Jay and Clift entered the study. Jay held a document in his hand, his expression considerably more serious than usual.

"We’ve identified one of the terrorists from the Ascendancy," he announced. "One of them is confirmed to be Ingram Tearance. Remember him, everyone?" Jay said, his tone playful. "Because, honestly, I’d almost forgotten about him."

"Who?" Lory frown.

Lucas accepted the report, his brows drawing together as he scanned its contents, "The leader of the Underground Guild?" he asked, looking up. "I thought he was dead or something."

"Well, something did happened," Jay replied. "His gifted power have increased several times over. Possibly as a result of MADD."

"So there’s a considerable chance that the terrorists are all members of the Underground Guild," Clift added.

"Huh? I wonder where are they now. I thought they’d all been used as experimental subjects at Blackridge?" Lory tilted her head, casually popping another piece of dim sum into her mouth.

"Apparantly, the experiments appear to have been successful," Zhao Li Xin remarked, gently wiping the corner of her mouth with a napkin.

"Indeed. They’ve become Luxemborough and the organization’s lapdogs. Well... not that they weren’t already," Fredhardt remarked, flipping another page of the report.

"Are we able to track their next targets?" Lucas asked, leaning back in his leather chair.

"They’re striking everywhere," Clift answered. "The targets themselves don’t seem particularly important. What matters is the public reaction. They’re deliberately trying to drive a wedge between gifted people, the Creators, and ordinary humans."

"It’s just like the time of King Ar’Kheon all over again." Lory gave them a pointed look.

"Someone is trying to turn back the clock to an era when humans slaughtered one another," Lucas muttered, tapping his fingers against the desk.

"Ah, a simple times," Fredhardt make a dark jokes.

Lucas shot him a brief look before continuing with his orders.

"Fargo, Jay, Clift. Your task is to locate the Ascendancy and disrupt their operations wherever possible. We need to show the world that we won’t sit idly by and allow them to destabilize the world order. And Fredhardt, arrange a meeting with Dolza president, secretly." he empasize the last world.

"Noted it" Fredhardt give a firm nod.

"Hey, what about me?" Lory asked, suddenly feeling left out.

"You..." Lucas paused, giving her a brief glance. "Eat more and get plenty of rest."

Zhao Li Xin gave an approving nod, appearing quite satisfied with the king’s instructions.

On the contrary, Lory cross her arms on her chest and puffed out her cheeks. "Aah, come on! I’m bored sitting around here. I feel like a pig!" she huffed.

"With those rosy cheeks, you do look a little like one," Fargo teased.

Lory shot him such a murderous glare that he immediately fell silent. She then turned back to Lucas, refusing to give up. "Come on, give me something to do, Luc. I’m bored, and you know what happens when I’m bored..." She gave him a pointed, warning look, as though daring him to test her patience.

Lucas rolled his eyes. He knew perfectly well that she wouldn’t stop pestering him until he finally gave in. "Fine. Work with Noxcra to keep an eye on Alinna, the Saintess. Find out what she’s been up to lately and monitor her movements."

"Alrighty" Lory exclaimed, immediately brightening. She gave him an enthusiastic salute, looking considerably more pleased with herself.

Lucas then turned his attention to Zhao Li Xin. "Keep an eye on her," he instructed, giving Lory a pointed look.

"Alrighty," Zhao Li Xin mimic lory but in poised manner.