Chapter 43 of 72

Chapter 43

By SaberGlory • 2,103 words • Code: NV-0LpSitM

The ocean has always been a frontier yet to be truly conquered, much like the void of space, and no moment proved it more than this one.

Time felt like it had slowed to a crawl, as if it might halt altogether.

The sea rose impossibly high, swallowing the skyline until it replaced the heavens themselves. And where water had been, now gaped a dark, unfathomable chasm, exposing the deepest depths mankind had never witnessed.

As if the earth itself had been torn open, the ocean floor was laid bare, a looming abyss revealed by Kaede’s arrival.

Through it all, Kaede stood suspended, staring ahead, her gaze locking on the ant that held Kanae by the throat. 'An ant?' she thought sharply. 'She lost to an ant? What the hell happened while I was gone?'

Faint whispers, screeching and nonsensical, clawed at the edges of her senses. They drew her gaze to the dark-clothed figure standing atop one of the falling wrecks. 'Who's he? The energy within him… is he one of the…?'

Then her focus snapped back to Kanae.

As the ocean surged to its highest point and began its thundering collapse, the burning wreckage of ships surrendered to gravity, plummeting toward the ocean floor. Yet none of it mattered to Kaede.

Her sister. The blood trailing down her chin. The ripped sleeves of the Draw Sword Guild uniform, exposing the deep, ugly bruises that marred Kanae’s arms. The faint trembling in Kanae’s amber eyes, a tiny quiver born from pain and desperation.

Kaede’s own eyes narrowed, a faint buzz filling the air as electric sparks ignited around her clenched fist. In an instant, purple lightning surged forth, crackling wildly as it wrapped itself around her hand.

Kaede suddenly exploded, a faint haze of shifting colors surging from her body and washing over the world like a wave.

Sung Jin‑Woo narrowed his eyes slightly, leaning forward to brace himself as the wave of energy surged toward him. Yet when it passed, it didn’t push or batter him as expected, it simply flowed around him, brushing past like mist.

Then it swept over the ant and Kanae, swallowing them too, and surged outward until it was impossible to tell where the wave ended.

With Kaede at its center, the wave of color kept spreading until its edge was lost to sight.

Once the haze settled, silence claimed the scene.

Then he noticed it.

Everything had stopped.

The ocean, moments ago crashing and falling, now hung suspended in place. Not like ice, not solid or brittle, but completely still, as if held by an unseen hand. The droplets didn’t shimmer, the mist didn’t move. Even the sound of the wind had vanished.

Sung Jin‑Woo’s brow furrowed as realization sank in. 'What the..?!' he thought sharply. He tried to shift, to move, but every fiber of his body refused to obey. It felt as if invisible threads pulled him tight, holding him still.

A faint glow appeared before him.

---

You are under the effect of Commander's Authority.

---

'Commander’s Authority?' he wondered internally, straining to budge a muscle. 'It’s like Commander’s Touch… but stronger. That wave of colors felt like the blue haze I use myself.'

A faint glow bloomed across Jin‑Woo’s hands. Azure mist leaked from between clenched fingers, rising like ghostly threads, slowly crawling up his body.

'If I use my own Commander’s Touch to counteract hers… I can...'

The mist surged higher, engulfing his body in a faint, shifting glow. He drew in a sharp breath, tightened his fist, and growled, “Break free.”

With a crack like splitting ice, the grip weakened. He raised his hand forward, clenched it tight, and then opened it sharply.

---

Commander’s Touch has leveled up.

---

With that, the air shimmered, and Sung Jin‑Woo took a step forward, freed from the threads that held him.

He glanced toward Kaede, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. 'Well,' he thought, brushing away the last threads of mist, 'That’s impressive.'

Small pieces of wreckage floated before Kaede, gravitating towards each other until they molded into a path.

Step…

Sung Jin‑Woo didn’t realize just how vastly he had underestimated what had happened.

Step…

'What’s going on?'

'I can’t move my body.'

'What’s happening to me?'

'Why can’t I move?'

---

A tall man covered in thick, winding tattoos, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and brown shorts, stood in the heart of a luxurious estate, a phone gripped in one hand.

“Well, this is most definitely interesting,” he rumbled, voice low and deep.

Behind him, his personal assistant was completely immobilized, unable to move a single muscle, a statue caught in a moment of terror.

But the man himself remained unfrozen, encased in faint, golden threads of energy.

“To think someone can hold the great Thomas Andre down… from halfway across the world, no less… is something indeed.”

On the phone in his hand, a video played. Four figures came into view, one of them moving with slow, deliberate steps.

Step…

---

Step…

All the ant felt was fear. Pure, unadulterated terror.

'I can’t move.'

Its instincts screamed in its ears, louder than any sound it had ever known. 'This power… this overwhelming presence. How can their King be this strong? No… this one is no King.'

The ant’s crimson eyes shifted to the dark‑haired girl advancing across the floating wreckage. 'That one is coming. Must escape.'

Step…

All across the world, every living thing, every person, every beast, every insect, was gripped by a single thought:

'''''''''''''''Why can’t I move?''''''''''''''

Step…

Kaede kept walking, her Authority locking down the world itself. Every insect. Every animal. Every human. Every object. Every car. Every building. Every island. Every continent.

Even the planet itself stopped turning.

Step…

Once upon a time, there was a girl.

---

_Two days ago_

Kaede sat in her own office, Iz standing quietly behind her. As vice guild master, and someone well-versed in negotiations, her presence was a reassuring one.

The door opened, and Kaede tensed for a moment before rising to greet the visitor.

“Ah, excuse me. Good afternoon, Miss Kaede,” said the woman as she stepped inside, extending a hand for a handshake.

Kaede shook it firmly. “Good afternoon. Welcome to Maple Tree.”

“Thank you,” the woman replied, taking a seat across from the desk. Her gaze briefly passed over Iz before returning to Kaede.

“As you already know, my name is Nisha Rai. I’m a senior Biogeneticist at Mandala Genetics, a large company based in India,” she said.

“Ah?” Kaede tilted her head slightly, a polite smile brushing her lips. “Welcome to Japan. I hope your stay has been eventful.”

Nisha smiled. “Thank you. I originally came here on vacation with my mother when I heard about your guild. It gave me an intriguing idea, which is why I’m here.”

Kaede narrowed her eyes slightly. “And what idea might that be?”

Nisha gave a slight nod, leaning forward. “Although I work at Mandala Genetics, I’m also one of its original founders. I own a significant number of shares, enough to have a controlling interest. What I’m proposing is a sponsorship agreement between Mandala Genetics and Maple Tree.”

Behind Kaede, Iz shifted slightly. ‘A sponsorship?’ she thought.

Kaede noticed the movement out of the corner of her eye. She rested her chin on the back of her hand, voice calm. “Mandala Genetics, hm? What exactly does your company do?”

Nisha smiled. “We focus mainly on the bioengineering and study of arthropods, hexapods, invertebrates... insects, if you will. These creatures hold remarkable potential for advancing medical and biological technology. And with the recent phenomenon of mana added into the mix, the possibilities are virtually limitless.”

Kaede nodded slowly. “I see. And why Maple Tree? What’s in this for you?”

Nisha drew in a slow breath, choosing her words carefully. “To be honest, this wasn’t part of any long-laid plan. I came to Japan on vacation and learned about your guild by chance. I noticed how quickly your numbers have swelled and suspected that, as a relatively new guild, you might be struggling financially to sustain that rapid growth.”

Kaede tilted her head slightly. “That’s true enough. Monetarily, we’ve been stretched a bit thin. But that won’t last long. So I don’t see any reason to accept a sponsorship too hastily.”

She offered a faint, confident smile and waved a hand as if brushing the thought aside. “Let’s skip the benefits for Maple Tree for a moment and focus on you. What does Mandala Genetics stand to gain from this deal?”

Nisha didn’t flinch at Kaede’s sharp gaze. Instead, she gave a slow, confident nod and spoke clearly.

“What Mandala Genetics needs from Maple Tree is very simple, access and branding,” she said, resting her hands calmly on her knees. “Your guild has available, trained hunters who can locate, subdue, and deliver rare insect‑type monsters from gates and dungeons. These creatures hold the key to advances in bioengineering and medical research that could benefit both of us.”

She glanced down for a moment, brushing an imaginary crease from her skirt, before looking back up, voice softening slightly.

“In return, Mandala Genetics will sponsor Maple Tree, providing equipment, research grants, and access to state‑of‑the‑art medical treatments for your members. In exchange, Maple Tree would help secure and transport unique insect‑type specimens for our labs, and agree to wear Mandala Genetics’ brand on your guild gear and advertisements. An emblem of trust and collaboration between our two organizations.”

Nisha offered a faint smile. “You get the backing and resources you need to expand. We get the biological treasures you’re uniquely positioned to obtain. Together, we gain strength and make breakthroughs that wouldn’t be possible apart.”

Kaede tapped a finger against the desk, narrowing her eyes slightly as she weighed the offer. Iz watched from behind, unreadable.

"Iz," Kaede said, extending her hand.

Iz immediately retrieved a tablet from the side of the desk, tapped a few quick commands, and placed it in Kaede’s palm.

Kaede glanced down, then passed it across the desk. "I assume this is one of yours?"

Nisha accepted the tablet and watched the video within, a recording of the battle between Vivi and Gin, paused precisely when Gin pulled out a distinctive vial.

Nisha’s expression didn’t shift, but a faint chill crept into her eyes. Both Kaede and Iz noticed it, yet said nothing.

“As a matter of fact, yes,” Nisha replied smoothly as she handed the tablet back. Iz quietly retrieved it and slipped it into the desk compartment. “That is one of our recent products, currently in its testing phase.”

“On living subjects?” Iz pressed sharply.

Nisha waved the remark away. “I assure you, the volunteers were fully informed of the risks and consented to participate. The product is designed to increase a hunter’s mana capacity, allowing them to operate far above their natural limits.”

“It was turning him into an insect,” Iz stated flatly.

“An unfortunate side effect,” Nisha responded, brushing an invisible strand of hair from her jacket. “But one we anticipated. It simply means we have a few kinks to work out.” As she spoke, her gaze fixed firmly on Kaede.

Kaede tapped a finger against the table, considering. The room sank into silence, thick and palpable.

"Iz," she said at last, voice soft but commanding. "Could you step out for a moment? I’ll be fine." She offered Iz a faint, confident smile.

Iz gave a curt nod and turned for the door.

"Also," Kaede added as Iz crossed the threshold, "activate the soundproofing and magical wards on your way out."

A faint hum thrummed through the office as Iz departed, the air gaining a faint shimmer, a slight blue tint enveloping the room.

Kaede leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk and interlocking her fingers. An aura leaked from her like a viscous mist, saturating the space between them. “Now then… what exactly do you want, Monarch?”

Nisha smiled, sharp and cold, as her eyes blazed with an emerald glow. Her long, dark hair rose slightly, wavering like threads of mist, and the air shimmered with faint threads of green, crawling like unseen silk.

The room shook slightly as the auras surged forth, Kaede’s dense and viscous, Nisha’s sharp and delicate, threads and mist crashing and intertwining like opposing tides.

For a moment, silence ruled, broken only by the low hum of wards and the faint creak of the room under the pressure of two titans staring one another down.