The world had been changed. A single person had managed to gain enough power if only temporarily to change the world. For a second the entire world felt the touch of freedom. Of true freedom. No system, manipulation, or even conscience had bound anyone. It was only for a moment, but it revealed to the world a truth that few knew and accepted. As much as they defined their class, their class also changed them. Shackled them and painted them in new colors. Some had suspected that their classes manipulated them in subtle ways, but never had they been able to feel it so succinctly. Others went their entire lives without ever delving into the mysteries of the class system. But now the whole world had felt it. The corruption that infected every person.
It was not the class system, but a part of it that was twisted. That piece was revealed and removed if only temporarily. And that destroyed some people. People who had lived their entire lives believing in the system. Trusting their levels and class. The chaos such a moment would cause could not be understood by anyone. That was only part of what had happened.
Freedom, a severing of bonds, on a global scale caused problems. Intelligent undead species slipped the control of their masters. Slaves were freed, and the weaker slavers died. Gods suddenly lost their followers. Priests and paladins momentarily lost the majority of their powers. The king’s lost their kingdoms, in the blink of an eye, they had lost everything. It went further than just affecting such large and important things though.
Parents lost control of their children. Teachers found their classrooms in disarray. Kids lost any fear of reprisal or consequence. Pets found their collars cut, though many just remained in their secure homes despite it. Skills meant to watch and contain people failed. Prisons collapsed, and many criminals escaped.
Beyond all of that, there was another consequence. Death. Many people across the world died. Slavers, necromancers, and even beast tamers fell. Some knights and guards died. Many more collapsed or suffered injuries. Mayors, lords, and members of the nobility, in general, were a mixed bag of death and disaster. It ranged from small things like headaches to more severe injuries and even death. And it occurred on a global scale.
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Radiant Empress of Colors P.O.V
Reports came in by the hundreds. Thousands of freed prisoners, animals, and worst of all the monsters.
“What’s next?”
The Empress asked her attendant the question while wringing her long green hair of water. It ran down her arm, and her face twisted in disgust. What was the point of being an Empress if she had to deal with all the really annoying monsters?
“Good work, my queen. The other Kraken is being restrained by Lord Kaito, so you may choose between the greater ice wyvern or the cloud breaker whale?”
Her attendant Miyu was a narrow-eyed woman, who had lived for nearly as long as she had. And she should be handling one of those threats herself, but she adamantly refused any duty that would separate the two of them.
“Will you help?”
“I regret to say that I cannot. I must preserve my power in case something truly dangerous attempts to approach you.”
The queen’s eyes sharpened at the fox-like grin on Miyu’s face. She spoke venomously as she finally managed to get the Kraken mucous out of her hair. The water was easy, but the mucous on its tentacles was a pain.
“The cloud breaker whale is dangerous. Even to me.”
“Then I will leave that creature to Haruto. We shall go to the wyvern. Also, the sun king has replied.”
A portal opened behind Miyu as she spoke. It appeared in the form of a very ordinary door, and she opened it smoothly. The Empress froze at the last words.
“What did he say?”
“He will not be providing any reparations of any kind. His exact words were ‘we have all the same problems as you. Whoever did this is not one of mine. I mistakenly made an alliance with the being. I should’ve foreseen this result considering the nature of his power. If you have any concerns or demands, take it up with the individual. His name is Mash, in case you want to attempt to contact him.”
The Empress’s fist shot out and slammed the door loudly. She cursed a few times loudly before responding.
“Did you attempt to contact this Mash? Have our vision seekers watch him.”
Miyu’s own face contorted with rage for a moment, but she schooled her expression.
“Mind your language. We cannot see him with any skill or magic. Furthermore, we cannot reach him with any long-distance communication skills. Even, my abilities could not reach him.”
Stolen story; please report.
There was a little sourness in her voice. It surprised the Empress to hear that. Miyu was reliable and far stronger than herself. Although, it was a little unfair to compare anyone to her considering all of her unique spatial skills. Although, one of her skills was no longer unique. It seemed like another was walking a similar path as her. The empress would have to find her before another. Spatial skills were too valuable to be ignored, and she knew for a fact that she was one of the wealthiest rulers.
“Inform the spies that they must make contact with this Mash person. I would like to speak to him.”
With those final words, the Empress stepped through the doorway. It was time to deal with this stupid wyvern. Then kill all the prisoners who were foolish enough to run away. At least some were smart enough to stay put.
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The Last Sword Master P.O.V
Jacob was not having fun. He looked at his friends with annoyance. Something had happened somewhere in the world, and all of sudden, they hated their classes. They were fine a moment ago, but now. He looked at Rosa. She was an assassin, and she stared at her daggers with genuine grief. He had rarely seen any hints of emotion on her face before, but now she wept openly. She wouldn’t respond to anyone either. Jacob’s eyes drifted toward Nicholas who was similarly broken. He was a paladin, and he had lost something. His palms clutched at a metal triangle, the symbol of his god, and he was just staring blankly into space.
Jacob who was unaffected by whatever had happened had to deal with the monsters on his own. Thankfully, the monsters seemed almost as distraught as his friends. He gripped his sword loosely and stared at the herd of Fire Treaders. They were like horses but left fires in their wake. The name fit them perfectly. If they were moving and charging, they were nearly invincible as their bodies shifted partially into flame. They had stopped and were staring into the distance though. Thus, they were completely vulnerable.
He sucked in a quick breath, and gently swung his sword. It slid through the air gently and cut. Everything within a hundred meters of his swing was cut. Heads toppled to the ground along with most of the trees and rocks in the area. His breath was visible as it escaped, and he sighed. Well, at least the mission was done.
“We’re done let’s head back and figure out what happened. I bet the guild will have at least one big new hunt contract for us.”
He turned and looked over his still despondent group and slid his sword back into its sheath.
“This is why I told you your class system didn’t make any sense.”
They didn’t reply, but they did start moving. He grimaced. His friends were tough, but they were not inhuman. Whatever had happened, had shown them something they didn’t want to believe. Their world was suddenly very different. It was a feeling he understood well since he came from another world after all.
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Fate, The Elven Prophet P.O.V
“What can you see? You are the prophet; this is your only duty!”
The king of the elves, or Arnie to Fate, was shouting at the top of his lungs. Ever since he became the king Arnie had grown so demanding. So, what if she was a prophet, it wasn’t like she wanted to foresee disaster. And this wasn’t even a disaster. It was just freedom. Pure, untainted freedom. The king’s anger only meant that he had done something wrong.
“You said to inform you of any problems. This is not a problem. We are a free people. More freedom does nothing.”
She felt like being especially sassy today and was tired of important people coming to complain to her. In her mind, people were just getting what they deserved.
“Tell that to all the parents who can’t find their children!”
He snapped back, roaring in anger.
“Well, they should’ve been relying on tracking spells anyways. And most of the ‘children’ should know better by their thirties.”
She spoke and the king stared at her incredulously. Then she relented a little and handed him the sheet of paper. It had the location of all the children on it. They were only thirty, and she didn’t like to imagine them crying and alone. Arnie snatched the paper and passed it to his servant all while glaring.
“Tell me the next time anything like this happens, or else.”
“No, I’m leaving. I’m tired of being an alarm bell for everyone.”
She spoke confidently. Threats were empty when facing someone who could see the future and had a teleportation skill. The king’s eyes widened ever so slightly as she vanished. Just like that, she was free. She didn’t completely abandon her position. Each of the rulers would find a letter in their homes that indicated all the important people or things to watch. They could handle the rest. It wasn’t her responsibility to babysit them for their entire lives. Plus, she was curious about this Mash person. She had been able to see his past, but his future was invisible. In all her life, she had never known someone like that.
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?????????????? P.O.V
“Now what is this?”
A voice echoed across the sky and turned everyone’s gaze downward. Carellial’s words did shift her attention too, though it was reluctant. She cared little for the affairs of the weak. Even still, she looked at the figure in question and stared. Was that a new greater race? A truly rare phenomenon indeed. Now, the question was how great they were. Would they dare intrude on her territory? She smiled a little at the thought of fledging daring to bare its fangs against her kind. It would be humorous.
Then she felt one of her children move, and several other youths joined her. She sharpened her attention on them and spoke coldly.
“And where are you going?”
Her daughter paused and gazed up suspiciously.
“Aren’t you curious, mother? What if it can join us? Aid us? Its power is certainly grand enough.”
Her daughter spoke wistfully. It was not a tone she wanted to hear. Was her daughter thinking that this thing could serve as a mate? She knew the newer generation liked finding worthy mates in the lesser races, but this was different. An unknown greater being could harm her daughter, or worse, charm her.
“You will not go. It is a greater being, and I forbid it.”
Her daughter wasn’t happy, but she relented. Wait, her daughter wouldn’t do something like that. She moved and swatted where her daughter had been. Her daughter exploded into a white mist to reveal nothing. It had been a clone, a trick, and it had fooled her. She felt proud for a moment, then roared in fury.