"How do you feel?" Iz asked, crouching down to place a hand on her friend's shoulder. Around them, the training chamber was in shambles.
Vivi exhaled slowly, catching her breath. She wore only a black tank top and loose black trousers, sweat darkening the fabric. "Pretty good. Definitely good." Her gaze drifted to the massive, scorched crater in the center of the chamber.
Hosha lay at its heart, most of his limbs burnt away.
Kaede strolled in with a bright smile. "You actually beat Hosha. That was awesome, Mii!"
Vivi returned the smile. "I was surprised too. Honestly, I didn't think I'd win. I guess his speed was the only thing he and Sally had in common."
Iz nodded. "Not that surprising. You were one of the few who could go toe-to-toe with Maple back in the day."
Vivi laughed. "Yeah… it feels nice having my strength back."
"Is it yours, though?" Iz teased. "After all, New World Online was just a game. Whatever this is… getting the stats and abilities of our avatars added onto our real bodies..."
Vivi nodded, already bringing up her status screen.
---
Name: Vivi Hachibana
Level: 86
Job Class: Monarch Of Ivory Flame
HP: 15,350 / 15,350
MP: 20,050 / 20,050
Status: Normal
Attributes:
STR: 197 (+175)
VIT: 310 (+173)
AGI: 254 (+126)
DEX: 202 (+60)
INT: 367 (+200)
Physical Damage Resistance: 20%
Equipment:
Head: Crown of the Reborn Flame (+35 INT, +28 VIT)
Chest: Blazing Empress Robe (+45 VIT, +40 INT
+8% Physical Damage Resistance) Phoenix Aegis: Once per battle, auto-heal 20% HP when dropping below 10%.
Arms: Sunfeather Gauntlets (+32 STR, +30 DEX)
Legs: Ashen Wing Greaves (+35 AGI, +30 VIT
+5% Movement Speed)
Weapon: Ignis Sovereign (+38 STR, +35 AGI, +45 INT)
Accessory 1: Tear of the First Phoenix (Amulet (+35 INT, +30 VIT)
Accessory 2: Sunflare Sigil (Ring) (+35 STR, +28 AGI)
Skills:
Fire Generation / Fire Magic X / Detonate /Flame Spear / Flamation / Magic Mastery X / Magic Secrets X / Fast Chant / MP Boost (L) /MP Cost Down (L)/MP Recovery Speed Boost (L) / Magic Boost (L) / Spell Boost / Mana Amp / Reinforced Magic / Insight / Shearing / Poison Nullification / Paralyze Nullification / Stun Nullification / Sleep Resist (M) / Freeze Nullification/Burn Nullification / Eternal Flame / Flame Empress /Eruption /Flare Impetus /Inferno Cage / Immolate / Pyre / Blue Fire / Chain Fire / Raging Inferno / Reaper's Mire / Cataclysmic Eruption / Fire Reinforcement / Flash Fire Fist / Incendion / Burning Spirit / Martial Arts Style: Sol Ignitus.
Job Class Skills:
• Ivory Rebirth (Support / Survival)
Effect: Upon receiving a fatal blow, Vivi is instantly consumed in white flames, leaving behind only glowing feathers. After 5 seconds, she is reborn at full HP and MP with all negative status effects cleansed. Enemies within 20 meters are struck by a Penitent Blaze, dealing massive fire and light damage while reducing their stats by 30% for 15 seconds.
Cooldown: 24 hours (resets upon natural death).
• Penitent Judgement LV 1 (Offensive / Executing)
Effect: Vivi marks up to 3 enemies in her sight with a "Mark of Regret." After 3 seconds, they are engulfed in white flames that scale in damage based on their past inflicted damage (the more harm they've done, the stronger the burn). If enemies are below 25% HP, the flames ignite into a Final Ash burst, instantly executing them.
Cooldown: 3 minutes.
• Radiant Dominion LV 1 (Field Control / Support)
Effect: Creates a 50-meter radius domain of white flames for 30 seconds. Allies within the domain gain 25% bonus to all stats, 50% faster HP/MP regeneration, and immunity to fear or control effects. Enemies within the domain suffer constant HP drain (fire & light damage) and 30% reduced healing received.
Cooldown: 10 minutes.
SP: 0
---
"What do you say, Maple? Want a rematch? I know I'll lose, but I'm feeling way too good right now." Vivi grinned, her eyes glinting with mischief.
Kaede shook her head. "Maybe later. We still have to deal with the S-Rank raid tomorrow. Apparently, the Hunter Association still decided to hire foreign hunters for support."
Vivi laughed, leaning back on nothing, with her arms on the floor. "Let them waste their resources. After what you did at the conference, after they basically put you in charge, there's no way they'll be the ones calling the shots anymore."
"Well, considering how much Maple Tree is getting paid for 'protecting' Japan," Iz said as she laid down beside Vivi, "I'm almost surprised they can still afford to hire anyone else."
Kaede frowned slightly. "Matsumoto isn't the only one with his hands full. For some reason, half of Japan's guilds have decided to join us."
Iz chuckled, her voice tinged with amusement. "Didn't think of that, did you? When you were strutting around being all badass this morning. You're ridiculously strong, you've got the confidence to match, and now, thanks to Draw Sword joining, you've got three-quarters of Japan's S-Ranks under your command."
"That's basically three-quarters of Japan's entire military force," Vivi added, tapping her fingers against the floor in thought. "Add you and me into that number, and…" She smirked. "Well, you see where I'm going with this."
"Then it's New World Online all over again." Kaede sighed. "I wish Sally were here. She's good at this kinda stuff. No offense Iz."
Iz smiled. "None taken. Who knows? We found Mii, I found you. There's a chance we might find the others. Wherever they're waiting for us."
Kaede flinched as a memory hit her.
=I'll be waiting... Maple.
She blinked, shaking her head slightly, before bringing up the guild status.
---
Guild Management System – Maple Tree
Guild Name: Maple Tree
Guild Level: 6
Guild EXP: 14,720 / 50,000
Max Members: ∞ (Sub Guilds: 18)
Current Members: 400 (Main Branch)
Guild Status: Active
Guild Points (GP): 2,517,800
(Earned through Guild Level-ups, Recruitment, and Dungeon Raids)
---
Guild Overview
Kaede Tawata — Level 73 — Guild Master
Elizabeth Urahara — Level 42 — Vice Guild Master
---
"You ok?" Iz asked, her voice tinged with concern as she studied Kaede's face.
Kaede offered a small smile. "Yeah. I'm fine." She rose to her feet and walked toward Hosha's regenerating form. The demonic voltoid sank into her shadow and vanished without a trace.
Turning back to Iz, she said, "Honestly, the only issue right now is the several dozen A-Rank Gates that popped up all over Japan. So, while Mii and I handle the S-Rank Gate, I want everyone else to deal with the rest."
Iz frowned thoughtfully. "Just the two of you?"
Kaede shook her head. "The foreign hunters will be there too. Along with those other guilds that don't seem to like us much… what was it again? Phantom Guild?"
"That's still going to paint us in a bad light," Iz pointed out. "Sending only two hunters when the other guilds are bringing their best?"
Vivi scoffed. "Please. If Maple and I can't stop what's coming, then Japan's already done for."
"They say pride comes before the fall." Iz arched an eyebrow.
"First of all, who even are 'they'? Because clearly, they've never met us. With Maple's defense and my firepower, we could take on each of the National Level Hunters without breaking a sweat." Vivi smirked, heat in her eyes.
Kaede couldn't help but chuckle.
Iz gave a reluctant laugh. "Alright, alright. Just making sure you two will actually be careful. I'll draft a schedule for the rest of the guild to cover the gates popping up everywhere. Anything else I should know?" She glanced at Kaede.
Kaede shook her head. "Not much. The military already has a perimeter around the Black Gate, and the foreign hunters are set up and waiting. The gate's going to break tomorrow, so until then… we train, maybe?"
Vivi's eyes lit up. "Exactly what I wanted to hear. I'm all fired up."
"Don't make me drug you to sleep," Iz said flatly. "You're resting tonight. Got it?"
"You're not the boss of me," Vivi grumbled.
"I'm literally the Vice Guild Master," Iz shot back with a laugh.
Kaede chuckled at their banter. "I'm going to check on my sister. Good night, you two."
---
Kaede spotted her sister standing near the perimeter of the Black Gate. Kanae wore a cropped pink jacket that left one side of her tattooed torso exposed, her dark hair tied back in a neat ponytail.
"Kanae!" Kaede called as she approached. "Shouldn't you be resting? You've got a full day of clearing tomorrow."
Kanae glanced over her shoulder and smiled. "I know." Her eyes, however, drifted back to the looming gate in the distance. Even though it stood miles away, its sheer size made it seem as though it was right before them, an immovable wall blotting out the horizon.
"It's just… I can't shake this feeling," she said quietly. "That thing is ominous, like it's breathing down our necks. And you don't want anyone going in there with you."
She drew her katana in a smooth motion, angling the blade until its tip pointed toward the gate. "I'm your big sister, but… how am I supposed to protect you from something like that?"
Her voice faltered. "I could barely keep the others safe during the Jeju Island raid. Who knows what's waiting inside?" She exhaled and slid the blade back into its sheath.
A squad of soldiers marched past, rifles in hand, their boots crunching on the gravel. Both sisters watched them in silence until they passed out of earshot.
"Modern firearms don't do much against beasts," Kanae muttered. "Mobilizing the army feels pointless."
"Well, if the hunters fail, someone still needs to buy time for civilians to evacuate," Kaede replied.
"So they're just… human shields?" Kanae asked, her tone flat.
"As far as I'm concerned, hunters are no different," Kaede said. Then, with a faint smile, she pulled her sister into a one-armed embrace. "Although… I'm the only shield we need."
Kanae's lips curved into a reluctant smile, but Kaede's attention had already shifted. Her gaze sharpened, locking onto one of the tallest skyscrapers far in the distance.
"I'll be back in a minute," she said, her shadow twitching unnaturally before settling again.
"Hmmm?" Kanae tilted her head. "Sure. I'll wait here."
Kaede nodded once, then vanished in a flash of blinding white light.
Kanae blinked, then murmured to herself, "Cover move?"
---
A Few Seconds Earlier
A tall, grey-cloaked figure stood atop a skyscraper, gazing down at the hunters and military units stationed around the black gate's perimeter.
"It finally begins, huh?" he murmured, his Korean accent distinct. "Everything is going according to plan. Tragedy is afoot."
He suddenly froze, a faint prickle running down his spine. Someone was watching him. Turning slightly, he caught sight of a dark-haired girl far in the distance, her head turned just enough for one sharp eye to meet his.
"A girl with keen senses, I see," he said quietly. "I suppose that much is to be expected after her performance a few months ago. Still… there's the question of where her power comes from..!"
A sudden shift in the air made him react instinctively. He leaned back sharply as a spear whistled past, slicing through the space his head had occupied a heartbeat earlier.
He vaulted backward over the skyscraper's edge, dropping into a free fall. Mid-descent, his eyes caught the attacker, a tall, lean figure with glowing pink eyes, wielding a long spear.
Hosha launched himself off the skyscraper's glass wall, his pursuit faster than the cloaked man's fall.
The cloaked figure's daggers flashed into his hands, crossing before his chest just in time to block a precise thrust aimed for his heart. The force of the blow sent him crashing through a neighboring skyscraper and slamming into the ground below, concrete erupting in shards around him.
Hosha landed lightly and followed without a word, spinning his spear in a fluid motion before lunging forward again.
The figure, still tumbling from the impact, planted his feet mid-slide, gouging a deep trench in the asphalt. He shifted one leg forward, his eyes igniting with a fierce golden light.
In a blur, his twin daggers merged into a single strike, meeting Hosha's spear head-on.
Boom!
The explosion tore the grey cloak to ribbons and hurled Hosha backward. Standing in the debris, the figure was revealed, a tall Korean man with wild, slightly unkempt black hair, his mane-like locks framing eyes that burned like molten gold.
"Did the gate already break?" he murmured. "Where did this monster come from? Or did the Monarchs send you?"
Hosha remained silent, his spear angled toward the ground. His posture was loose, almost casual, as if he posed no threat at all.
The figure narrowed his eyes. "Fine. I'll just force the answer out of you."
In the next instant, he vanished in a burst of speed, reappearing before Hosha with both daggers raised. His strike was fast, precise, yet something about Hosha's stillness made him falter, his momentum slowing as a flicker of unease crossed his face.
It didn't matter.
A dark-haired girl appeared between them in a flash of white light, materializing so suddenly that his instincts screamed danger.
The girl from earlier!? His thoughts raced as he tried to pull back, but too late. His body locked up, every muscle seizing as if invisible chains bound him in place.
[Commander's Authority]
Helpless, he was dragged forward into the girl's waiting grasp. Her hand clamped over his face, and with crushing force she drove his head into the ground.
BOOM!
The earth split under the impact, debris exploding outward. The figure gasped in pain, his skull grinding against the dirt as she held him down with unyielding pressure, not allowing even an inch of movement.
"A human?" she asked, her tone curious but edged with suspicion. "Why do you feel like a monster? And what are you doing here?"
He couldn't understand her words, but her intent was clear.
"So you are a Monarch after all!" he spat, gritting his teeth. His arms blurred into motion, daggers flashing as he stabbed at her neck with both blades...
SHATTER!
The steel splintered on impact, fragments scattering like glass. His eyes went wide. "Wha…?!"
The girl's expression darkened. "Language barrier, huh? Well, we can take our time when I'm ready to deal with you. Until then..."
[Seeping Chaos]
The ground beneath the struggling figure warped into swirling black tar, writhing like a living portal. The girl pressed her palm forward, forcing the figure down inch by inch.
"Raaaaargh!!!" He resisted with everything he had, eyes burning gold and aura flaring violently as he roared. His fingers dug into the warped ground, pulling himself up in agonizing increments. Golden energy erupted skyward like living smoke, crackling with raw power.
Kaede exhaled slowly, her eyes widening as a purple glow bled into them. A massive wave of violet energy surged out from her, swallowing the golden aura in an instant and pressing it down with crushing force. Step by step, she drove the figure deeper into the portal.
The man bellowed in defiance, but the tar began to cling to him like a living thing. From within, sludge-like arms emerged, wrapping around his limbs and dragging him under.
The last thing he saw was the girl's grin, sharp, dangerous, and brimming with malice, like a devil even the Monarchs themselves might fear. Then the portal sealed shut, erasing all trace of him.
Kaede straightened with a soft sigh. "That was close… Who's sending spies at a time like this? I'll have to question him later."
Dozens of approaching presences brushed against her senses. Turning, she saw Kanae leading the charge.
"Kaede, what happened? We felt you clashing with someone. Where are they?" Kanae demanded, eyes sharp.
Kaede rubbed the back of her head with a sheepish smile. "Yeah… didn't really catch who he was. He was spying on us, but he got away. Speed's not really my strong suit."
Kanae let out an exasperated breath. "Seriously? A spy, now? What the hell for?"
Kaede shrugged, her tone light. "No clue."
---
"I once thought to myself..."
"I'll swallow the system whole," Sung Jin-Woo said, his voice low but cutting through the silence like a blade. He walked forward slowly, each step deliberate. His clothes hung in tatters, his face streaked with blood, but the glow in his bright purple eyes burned undiminished.
"But lucky for me," he continued, lips curling into a faint smile, "it seems your design is full of flaws."
His gaze locked on the massive, statue-like figure before him. The Architect.
The being was crumbling, fissures and gaping holes spreading through his stone-like form. "Aaargh! How dare you…!?" the Architect roared, his voice shaking the air.
Whoosh!
Sung Jin-Woo vanished in a blur, reappearing in front of him. The flash of his blade was the only warning before the Architect's body was carved into several collapsing pieces.
As his face began to break apart, the Architect's voice rasped one last time. "Let me make… a prediction... No, a prophecy."
He raised his trembling, fractured hand, pointing directly at Jin-Woo.
"When the Endless swallow the sky… and the Pillars of Fire are erected…" His voice grew thin, fading with each word. "She… will come find you."
"Death… will come and find you."
The Architect's form disintegrated into dust, scattering in the cold air.
Jin-Woo landed lightly behind the spot where the Architect had stood, his blade lowered but still in hand. He cast one final glance over his shoulder, watching the remains drift away.
"So be it," he murmured, his glowing eyes unblinking.