Early Evening - Mid Summer : Montijo | Portugal
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- Kazzaer Aldinn ~
An indescribably deafening silence filled the meeting room that evening.
It was the first time in about eight years that the ISO had gotten everyone together for a meeting, but regardless of it having been several minutes since the meeting began, no one was able to say a word.
We all just stared at the system panel that suddenly appeared before us in silence, letting our thoughts race in hopes of coming up with some sort of plan.
"This.. is a problem..." Speaking through a mask of stress, Miss Tsvetok anxiously knawed on the base of a feather she plucked off her head.
-Shit...- It was a reaction that was the opposite of reassuring.
But we all understood why.
A few days prior to this meeting, we had all been informed of the rapidly rising mana levels on Earth, and how Earth's projected 'rank-up' was moved from twenty years out, to two years, requiring an already aggressive shift in plans.
However, just as we got together to talk about what our plan going forward was, our systems notified us that our already terrifying two-year estimate was reduced to a handful of days at most.
It was almost like a gate had appeared over someone's capital, but instead of being frozen from fear or panic, we were all in disbelief... Speechless...
"Has anyone confirmed whether the public was given the same message..?" Attempting to remain calm, I tried to take the lead.
But... "They have..." Oliver was quick to jump in. "Does anyone object to streaming this meeting to the public?"
In theory, it would help reduce mass panic by greatly suppressing misinformation, but.. we weren't in a great state either.
Thankfully, we had measures in place for that.
*Flicker* Changing the lights, the table was instantly lit up while the lights on each of us disappeared, hiding our faces behind a veil of darkness while exposing everyone from the chest down, effectively keeping people from reading our faces.
And so, after some quick tests, the meeting started once more and the brainstorming to come up with emergency countermeasures began.
"For starters, let's begin full-scale evacuations of low-rank cities. Cities below Class B cannot safely remain populated by regular civilians." Pulling a tablet out of my inventory in a rush, I quickly started messaging major guild leaders, military generals, and people of influence before the others in the room followed suit. "The United States will leave the evacuations as non-mandatory, however, until further notice, we cannot ensure the city's safety."
Several other representatives then quickly followed with similar plans before it eventually got back to me.
"Now, to those who don't have the space or ability to consolidate citizens in such a large scale manner, please begin evacuations to other countries. Are there any objections to that?"
Elisio, Bazil's representative was quick to raise his hand. "If there is anyone who needs space, please send people to Brazil. We have plenty of high-rank cities that need to be filled."
Unlike the US or Russia, Brazil had fought hard to grow over recent years, only to be hit with a brain drain of system mercenary talent. -He wants to use this as an opportunity to grow Brazil...- It was pretty smart, even if it was a risky choice for other countries. -But they may not have a choice...-
Others were quick to jump on board as well. "Sweden is the same."
"Turkey as well."
-Good start...- Deciding to take advantage of things as well, I stepped in after several other countries voiced their interest in receiving migrants. "If anyone needs materials, the US is able to assist."
Ahaan had a similar idea as well. "And if anyone needs mercenary equipment or weaponry, we are in a position to supply those in need." Being the home of a majority of Earth's dwarves, India had a massive supply of mercenary equipment that could be crafted on a moment's notice.
-This will be good for them...- After dedicating an entire decade to strengthening their grip on the mercenary gear manufacturing industry, they had become one of the most well-equipped nations for a sudden disaster.
But while many of us were attempting to take advantage of the situation, many people didn't have that luxury, and so, for the rest of the meeting, we attempted to form a web-like plan where everyone could have their shortcomings covered as best as they could.
However, deep down, we all knew that, even with a perfect plan, many people in the room would lose their countries in this storm just as in past 'rank ups'. Death and loss were unfortunately just inevitable, all we could do was attempt to minimize it, and pray the storm wouldn't be as bad as we were expecting.
But the odds of that were next to zero, and while many of those in the room knew that, and were planning for it, the public could never see the panic and anxiety on everyone's faces. *Tap* Picking my tablet up off the table again, I scrolled through my conversation with the Sergeant Major before beginning to type: 'Consolidate everyone into Rank A cities. Give priority to mercenaries, alchemists, scholars, and those involved in manufacturing.'
It was inevitable that the world would try to lean on us when things turned south, but we had to put ourselves first. Continuing to type, I started messaging many of the top guilds and even high-ranking members of parliament. 'If we can't profit from assisting others, we just need to focus on our own safety.'
It was probably quite a jarring message for many of them, but after sending it, not a single person responded with objection.
"Haah..." Letting out a sigh, I set my tablet back down with a dark look while everyone else continued their discussion about plans. -I just hope and pray that we don't have to turn to Leyfa Askr to stay afloat this time...-
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Thinking back to the disaster that struck about eighty years ago, my gaze turned cold. -Now that the Queen has 'her', they'll be even better off than before...-
But while Miss Lestir was most certainly not going to come back to the US, it was true that the ISO had left a rather favorable impression on her. -Thanks to Alrek.. it may not be arrogant to request a favor from her if things go south...- Considering she was most certainly somewhere in the top five strongest people on Earth, a single favor had the ability to dig us out of a hole like a hidden trump card.
However, just as I started thinking of how I would have to ask for such a favor, I received a message from an unknown number. -Huh?-
Quickly viewing the message, I read: 'An airship will land in Montijo in twelve hours. Please gather your things and board it. The Queen wishes to discuss a deal with the United States and Russia.'
Pausing, I quickly looked up only to find Miss Tsvetok staring at me. She had gotten the same message.
-W..why.. would the Queen message us first...- It honestly made it feel like some kind of trap.
But at the same time, if it was real, there was a chance we could receive the deal of a lifetime; her initiation implied that there was something she wanted from us, meaning we would have the high ground when it came time to dictate the conditions for a deal.
However, I was still nervous about it... Something about the message made me uneasy...
But at the same time, it wasn't an opportunity I could risk missing, and Miss Tzvetok seemed to agree.
So, after the meeting ended, we went to the airport and boarded an unbelievably lavish airship filled with greenery and almost exclusively run by elves before beginning the long flight to the capital of Leyfa Askr.
But nothing could have prepared us for what we were about to experience.
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Late Evening - Mid Summer : Central Leyfa Askr
- Evren Lestir ~
*wwwwoooOOOOOSH* Blasting over a stretch of forest so quickly that the trees creaked as if groaning in pain, I trailed Eve as closely as I could.
It had only been a few hours since we were at Betsy Lake discussing what was to come next after the system notified us of Earth's impending rank-up, but we hadn't wasted a single second of that time.
Shortly after our talk, Eve took a moment to contact several people before saying she needed to get back to the capital as soon as possible and darting away at several times the speed of sound.
"How long do you think it will be before the rank-up starts?" Looking back at me, she spoke to me with wind magic.
But I could only shrug. At any moment, the rank-up could start, it simply depended on too many factors to accurately account for. However.. wanting to give a conservative estimate I held up four fingers.
Eve instantly exploded with panic. "Four days?!"
Unable to speak because of how fast we were going, I quickly shook my head.
"Th-Then four weeks?"
Shaking my head again, I gently motioned downward.
And in that instant, her face paled. "So.. hours..." Forgetting to relay her voice through her magic, I only saw her mouth open.
But her expression told me all I needed to know. -Unless the administrators find a way to delay it, Earth only has a few hours at most...- However, with the way rank-ups worked, we likely had a few days before it started really ramping up. -At first, it'll just drop a few lower-rank monsters on the planet, but as more time passes, their level and quantity will grow...- Only ever slowing down when the system thinks the world has found balance...
Whether the world was still in one piece or not.
*Ding* -Huh?- Hearing my system ping me, I quickly looked over to find a system panel I had never seen before.
Rank-Up has begun
Monsters have been released at the following coordinates
-What the...- It looked like something intended for administrators.
And that was probably because it was. *Vwoop*
Cutting off my thoughts, a familiar presence neared, the wind slowed, and the rustling tree canopies froze beneath my feet. -Ah...-
Finally looking over toward the presence as time slowed to a halt, I saw Michael's figure approaching before suddenly coming to a stop right in front of me. "~Evren,~" He spoke somewhat coldly as he looked down at me. "~Your first rent payment is due.~" *Snap* Snapping his fingers, he instantly disappeared, and the star-covered night sky was consumed by darkness.
"Oh..." The entire sky had been covered in a series of massive, circular gates in an instant. -So his way of giving humanity some time is to drop all the monsters on my head...- Not a single monster was coming from a crack, meaning Michael was deliberately moving them all to me.
But as time slowly returned to normal and Eve looked up toward the sky, she exploded into panic. "WHAT THE FUCK?!"
As all the gates dissipated, almost a dozen monsters revealed themselves before plummeting toward the ground.
*VWOOM* Slamming on the brakes, Eve came screeching to a halt without taking her eyes off the sky for an instant. "Uh, Auntie?! What the hell is this?!"
Slowing down next to her, I shrugged before setting my hand on her shoulder to try and calm her down. "Don't worry about it. If I want to stay on Earth, I have to at least pull my weight, you know?"
Looking up at all the monsters, I gave them another moment to fall before connecting their heads to me with several columns of aura. -These should all be around level 600... Let's try it...-
*Vwoom* Promptly accumulating mana in my arm, visualizing the mana clinging to and strengthening the muscle fibers, I made a fist and punched the pillars of aura collected next to my shoulder. *Ping* And then, with a faint metallic ping, the heads of the falling monsters all simultaneously turned into clouds of red mist, and my face was lit up by the glow of a dozen kill-confirmed panels.
-To think it'd work that well...- Watching as ripples spread through the clouds above the monsters, satisfaction spread across my face. "Aura really is convenient, huh..."
Still pale, Eve stared up at the lifelessly falling monsters with a look of disbelief. "Y..yeah... I guess it is..."
"Anyway, shall we get moving?" *TH-TH-TH-THUMP-CRACK* As the monsters finally hit the ground, being impaled by trees as they were stripped of their branches, I motioned Eve along. "If you want the resources from them, feel free. With the rank-up coming, you might need it."
Unable to break out of her stun, she stumbled on her feet, nearly falling out of the air before nodding. "R-Right... Uh... Let me share our coordinates with someone then..."
"Haha, take your time." Giving her a wide smile, I looked down at my fist and clenched it a few times. -I really forgot how good progress feels...-
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Additional notes: The schedules of both TDOD and TSH will be changing over the course of the coming weeks. Although this isn't set in stone, I'm thinking of having TSH release more consistently on Fridays at 1:30 EST
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