Klaus left the laboratory after several hours, satisfied with the progress of his research.
Humming quietly as he walked through the white, sterile corridors—creepy in their own way—he pulled out his communicator and started scrolling aimlessly, trying to kill time while lost in thought.
After a few minutes of playing around, he slipped the communicator into the pocket of his lab coat and frowned. His expression was a mixture of displeasure and anticipation.
He stepped into the elevator and ascended to the -5th floor.
It might seem strange that thousands of people were living in the underground base of the Chaos Ascendancy, but not so strange when you remembered that Klaus was the one who created the project — and with Driver's help, he had made it a success.
Walking out of the elevator, he glanced at the crowd in front of him.
A massive hall stretched out, easily able to accommodate thousands of people. This was the base's common floor—a hub where personnel took on missions, had their Memories and Echoes appraised, submitted detailed reports, and received points based on their accomplishments. These points could be exchanged for information, Memories, Echoes, research data, or even services like hiring other operatives.
At the center of it all was the Mission Board—a private server designed by Driver for the Ascendancy. It held everything from mission details to priority alerts, real-time updates, claimed and unclaimed assignments, and other critical data. It was the backbone of managing such a behemoth of a secret organization.
Klaus was known only as the Joker—a title that served as both a symbol and a mask. But no one knew he was Joker. In their eyes, Klaus was simply the eccentric protégé of the mysterious director. Someone who acted under Joker's orders.
Which made Klaus both the de facto and the real leader of the organization — a fact that amused him deeply. In most people's eyes, Joker was some mysterious, sinister figure pulling strings behind the scenes. But now that Klaus thought about it, most of them weren't even afraid of Joker — they were just thoroughly weirded out by him.
The thought made him grin as he walked deeper into the hall—but he quickly remembered why he was here today, and sighed. It was a big day, after all.
Cassie stood nearby, dressed in a practical yet sharp professional suit. She looked stunning, and Klaus—well, Klaus found professionalism strangely hot.
After that night in the sky, Klaus had revealed a lot to her.
The first thing was his real face. Though not his real identity — that part remained hidden.
The second was the existence of the Chaos Ascendancy, and his dual role as both an unhinged scientist and Director of the entire organization.
And lastly… why he needed her help.
Cassie, perhaps used to his eccentric and chaotic personality, had taken the revelations in stride. After her initial shock, she regained her composure quickly.
Surprisingly, she hadn't judged him. And even though Klaus liked to pretend he wouldn't care if she did — deep down, he felt genuinely relieved. her acceptance meant more to him than he wanted to admit.
What he needed from Cassie was information — specifically, the location of their enemies.
And now… it was time to act.
Standing on a raised platform, overlooking the gathered operatives, Klaus took his seat at the edge, dressed in his usual ridiculous ensemble—summer shorts, sunglasses perched atop his head, and the ever-present white lab coat.
At this point, the Ascendancy was used to his antics.
Clearing his throat, he leaned back and spoke with a pleasant smile.
"Well, well, well... We're all gathered here. That alone's an occasion worth celebrating… but sadly, we don't have the time. I'm sure you all understand that."
No one spoke. Most looked at him seriously — though, as always, some were uninterested, some laughing about something in the back, and a few were even playing games.
What did he expect? These people were just as crazy as he was.
Chuckling, Klaus shook his head and continued in a more energetic tone.
"Two years ago, members of our organization were found dead around the world. We lost Kevin, Andrés, Natalie… over two hundred men and women. Our brothers and sisters."
His voice grew sharper, more grounded.
"At that time, the organization wasn't as strong as it is now. We lacked information about the enemy who targeted us. But now…"
He grinned.
"Now we do have that information. We know who they are — and we know where they are."
That's where Cassie had come in. Klaus had no Seers powerful enough to pinpoint their enemies' location—until she joined. And in just a few days, she had uncovered the coordinates of one of their enemy's branches.
Klaus didn't need more than that. If he got his hands on one branch, he could trace it to the main base.
"I won't force any of you to come with me," he began. "It's your choice, so I won't—"
He was cut off by laughter.
From the front of the crowd, a man stood—tall, confident, probably in his twenties, with striking features and a cocky smirk. He was an Ascended, and more importantly, he held the King card—a symbol of power and respect within the organization.
It was Mark.
Mark stood at the front, hands buried in his coat pockets, a scowl tugging at the corners of his lips.
"The fuck are you talking about?" he muttered with open disdain, voice echoing across the vast chamber.
That was Mark for you—outrageously blunt, never the one to sugarcoat a damn thing.
He took a slow, deliberate step forward, eyes sharp like a drawn blade as he swept his gaze across the crowd.
His voice was cold.
"What were we... before the Ascendancy?"
No one responded at first. Everyone glanced between Mark and Klaus. Their silence didn't mean they were afraid of Mark. Everyone here was a battle-hardened killer, fully ready to die. After all, if you take lives, you should be prepared to give up yours too, right?
Well... not everyone was the same. Each person had their own unique personality. And perhaps because of Klaus's Aspect, their individuality showed even more.
After a pause, Anna stepped forward. Her navy-blue hair was tied in a short ponytail, and her piercing blue eyes were ice-cold.
"I ran my own organization," she said, voice flat. "Things were going well… until he beat me." She jerked her chin toward Klaus. "And in the Underworld, the loser kneels. That's the rule."
By "Underworld," she meant the criminal web of syndicates and rogue guilds. Everyone here understood.
Another voice chimed in, casual and dry.
"Government agent," the man said, spinning a combat knife between his fingers. "Dying of boredom. At least here, the job has perks."
A ripple of laughter echoed through the hall.
Then more voices followed, one after another:
"I was imprisoned for disobeying orders."
"Used to be wanted. Still am."
"I was from a vassal clan, but I don't take kindly to leashes."
Cassie watched, silent and thoughtful, arms folded as her unseeing eyes flicked toward the sound of every voice. She could feel the unity here, the raw, honest weight of it.
This place… this organization… wasn't bound by hierarchy or nobility or bloodlines.
It was built on choice.
Perhaps it was Miseria's help that had allowed Klaus to pick the right people. Or perhaps it was Klaus himself—his ability to see past masks and titles. Regardless, what mattered was this:
They were strong. Not just in power, but in resolve.
Mark gave a slow nod of approval, then asked the real question:
"Then tell me… what makes us different from the Great Clans? From the Government?"
That's when Klaus laughed.
It was low at first—smooth and amused. Then it grew into that familiar, chaotic note.
He stepped forward lazily, sunglasses reflecting the soft white lights. His coat fluttered slightly as he tilted his head toward the crowd.
"The Great Clans and the Government believe in control and order to protect the world. We believe in freedom—and the free will to unleash the dormant potential in everyone."
He grinned, teeth white in the shadows.
"Their methods? Expanding territory in the Dream Realm and recruiting talented Awakened. Our methods? Expanding knowledge. Gathering Awakened with ambition and a hunger for freedom and power. We use politics, corporate influence, military force, and chaos."
He raised his hand, fingers curling in a lazy gesture.
"They use symbols. Do you know them?"
He started counting off on his fingers.
"Government's emblem? A shield, protecting the Earth.
The Valor Clan? A straight sword, driven through an iron anvil.
The Song Clan? A crimson moon above a sea of blood."
He paused for effect, and then smiled—slowly, almost too wide.
"And our symbol?"
The room stilled. Even the laughter stopped.
Klaus spoke with eerie softness, his voice carrying across the hall like a whisper over a grave.
"A decaying skull, entwined with roots and fungi… lying at the center of a ritualistic web. Severed hands offer macabre gifts around it. All of it framed by wild blossoms—life tangled with death."
He looked down for a moment, his expression unreadable. When he smiled again, it was eerie—disturbing. A chilling reminder of the Joker's faceless, ever-smiling visage.
"They believe people need guidance and control. That freedom leads to disorder."
His voice dropped, colder now—calm, but final.
"We believe people should choose their own paths… even if those paths lead to chaos."
He spread his arms wide, arrogantly. His calm voice carried clearly through the hall.
"That's what makes the Ascendancy different. Not just from them… but from the entire damn world."
The chamber went quiet.
Then Klaus chuckled, lifting his head toward the high ceiling.
"I can see it in your faces. You've already decided."
He stepped forward, sunlight from the artificial skylight catching his smile.
"We're going to war."
His voice rang out like a blade unsheathed.
"We win... For the Glory of Chaos Ascendancy!"
***
Hey guys! Hope you're all doing well.
Remember when I said there'd be a war before Nephis returns? Well… here it is! The Ascendancy is going to battle—hell yeah! This will be an exciting showcase of the organization's power, and it's also a big turning point for the plot.
Now that Klaus has become the Narrator, he has the ability to alter fate itself. That means a lot of things are going to change—but the focus will stay firmly on Klaus. We'll also see more of his Aspect development and get a full look at his Ascended ability in action. I've got everything planned out, at least up until the end of the Throne of War volume!
As always, thank you so much for your support. This fanfic is currently ranked 113th in power rankings, and that's all thanks to you.
Enjoy the chapter!
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