The room was in absolute silence, but it was not an empty silence. It was expectant. Dense. Like the moment just before a storm.
It was not a physical room.
It was a closed virtual conference, protected by multiple layers of technological encryption and magical seals at the same time.
Atlas had overseen the digital security; the Orleans family had reinforced the magical shielding.
No signal could enter or leave without authorization.
At the center floated a circular holographic table. Above it, the emblems of the five guardian families slowly projected, rotating in synchronization with global time systems: ÓBroin, Sevianko, Orleans, Minamoto, and Cavalcanti.
Around the table appeared the most powerful political representatives in the world: the UN Secretary-General, presidents, prime ministers, military chiefs, leading scientists, and strategic advisors. All connected from secure facilities. All aware that what they were about to hear could redefine human history.
Ciara ÓBroin spoke first. Her holographic image materialized clearly. Age and fatigue were visible, yet her voice retained a firmness that commanded respect even at a distance.
"Thank you for accepting this extraordinary meeting. We know recent events have generated uncertainty, fear… and many questions. Today we will answer them. But you must understand something from this moment forward: this conversation will change how you understand the world."
A faint murmur spread through the connections. The Secretary-General intervened:
"Ms. Ciara, before continuing, I must ask directly… are we facing an extraterrestrial invasion?"
Ciara did not respond immediately. She looked at the representatives of the other families. They nodded almost imperceptibly. Then she spoke:
"Not exactly. But you're not entirely wrong either."
The central display changed. A projection of Earth appeared, followed by another translucent sphere superimposed over it. It was not a visible planet; it resembled a reflected dimension.
Kenji Arata, an Atlas analyst, spoke:
"Approximately ten thousand years ago, an event occurred that humanity has since forgotten. Not by accident… but by decision."
The projection changed again. Stylized figures appeared — humanoid, yet clearly different. Taller. More luminous. Not threatening, but unmistakably non-human.
"We call them the Supreme Beings," Kenji continued. "They were not gods. Nor conquerors. They came from a parallel world connected to ours through what we now call the Mirror Dimension."
One of the scientists connected from Europe raised a virtual hand.
"Parallel in a physical or metaphysical sense?"
Étienne Orleans responded:
"Both. Their world coexisted at a different frequency from ours. They could partially interact with our reality without altering the planet's structure."
The projection showed impossible structures: suspended cities, flowing energy, technology that seemed alive. Astonishment was visible on the leaders' faces.
Kenji continued:
"They did not arrive as colonizers. They arrived as observers. Their civilization had reached a critical stage, and they sought to understand how other species managed evolution, conflict, and cooperation."
A U.S. general spoke incredulously:
"They came to study us?"
"In part," Ciara replied. "But they also shared knowledge: clean energy, advanced medicine, dimensional control… principles we are only beginning to rediscover."
The image changed again. A different human group appeared, wearing ancient armor whose symbols partially matched historical records: the Kartnod.
"They were the first chosen," said Hiroshi Minamoto calmly. "Not for military power, but for intellectual capacity and scientific curiosity."
Isabela Cavalcanti added:
"The Supreme Beings allowed a small group of the Kartnod to visit their world to study their technology and understand how to maintain balance between science, energy, and society."
Silence returned to the room. The Secretary-General spoke slowly:
"So… the Kartnod were our first interdimensional ambassadors?"
"Exactly," Étienne replied.
But his tone shifted.
"And that's where the problem began."
The projection showed the same technology, now altered — more aggressive, more unstable. Kenji explained that some Kartnod began interpreting that knowledge as superiority. They believed they could accelerate human evolution by imposing control. Not all thought that way, but a faction did.
A European minister asked whether it was a radicalized group.
"Yes," Ciara answered. "And extremely capable."
The image showed creatures now familiar to everyone: the Claimoors. Several leaders visibly tensed.
"These entities," Kenji continued, "were developments derived from altered Kartnod technology. They were not originally weapons. They were hybrid dimensional defense systems. But they changed."
"Who created them exactly?" asked a military advisor.
"The radicalized Kartnod themselves," Étienne replied. "They used magical engineering, biology, and Supreme Being technology… without fully understanding the consequences."
The next image showed an ancient world map with glowing points across multiple continents. Hiroshi explained that when they attempted to impose their vision, a war began — not a conventional war, but a dimensional conflict.
Kenji added that the guardian families were born then. Their ancestors accepted the responsibility of maintaining balance between both worlds.
Isabela continued, explaining that with the help of the Supreme Beings, the Mirror Dimension was created as containment. There, the rebellious Kartnod and much of their creations were sealed.
Silence filled the UN channel. Finally, a Latin American president asked whether the Supreme Beings were still present.
Ciara gently shook her head.
"They withdrew. They believed humanity needed to resolve its own mistakes. But they left monitoring mechanisms… and knowledge for when it became necessary."
The Secretary-General took a deep breath.
"So what we're seeing now…"
"…is the progressive breakdown of those seals," Kenji replied. "And the appearance of new Claimoors indicates something worse: someone is replicating Kartnod technology."
An uneasy murmur spread across the connections. A Japanese scientist asked:
"Humans?"
"Probably," Hiroshi answered. "With access to information stolen decades ago."
The display changed again, showing recent attacks in Canada, Ireland, Russia, France, Japan, and Brazil.
"This secrecy is no longer sustainable," Ciara said. "The population has seen too much."
The Secretary-General nodded.
"But revealing this could cause global panic."
"Concealing it would cause something worse — disorganization," Isabela replied calmly.
A U.S. general intervened:
"We need clarity. Can our militaries fight them?"
Silence followed immediately. Dmitri Sevianko answered bluntly:
"Not alone."
Kenji explained that conventional technology can contain some physical effects, but Claimoors operate partially outside our dimension and require specialized magical intervention. That is why the guardian families exist.
The Secretary-General looked directly at Ciara.
"What do you need from us?"
"Cooperation. Civil order. Responsible information control. And avoiding impulsive actions that could break remaining dimensional seals."
Étienne added that nuclear or experimental weapons in marked zones could amplify dimensional fractures.
A military advisor took rapid notes. Another leader asked about the ultimate goal behind the attacks.
Kenji replied:
"To fully release the sealed Kartnod… and access a critical point we call the End Nexus."
The term immediately caused unease. The Secretary-General asked what it was exactly.
Ciara answered that it is a dimensional node that allows the boundary between worlds to be altered: in the right hands it stabilizes; in the wrong hands it could merge both realities chaotically.
No one spoke for several seconds. Finally, the Secretary-General said they were literally discussing the possible collapse of planetary equilibrium.
"Yes," Ciara replied.
Absolute honesty could no longer be avoided. The Secretary-General requested an immediate joint protocol.
Hiroshi proposed coordinated public communication without alarmism. Isabela spoke of global logistical preparation and preventive evacuations. Étienne suggested scientific collaboration between Atlas and human research centers. Dmitri insisted on coordinated military discipline.
Ciara concluded:
"And fifth: trust. For millennia we protected in silence. Now we must do it together."
The Secretary-General nodded slowly.
"So… we are officially in an interdimensional alliance."
No one smiled. But everyone accepted.
Before closing the meeting, Ciara added one last point:
"There is a key element you still don't fully understand: the current bearer of the Mark. He will be fundamental to future balance."
She gave no names. Not yet. But everyone understood there was a central piece on the board.
The meeting ended without applause or closing speeches. Only decisions. Because for the first time in ten thousand years, all humanity was about to learn the truth.
And this time… there would be no way to forget it.