Chapter 110: Circles of Decision
The floating citadel of The Locus remained suspended above Earth, silent and eternal. But inside its vast chamber, the air was anything but still.
The Conclave had begun.
Ten Demigods each seated upon their thrones of celestial alloy formed the innermost ring. Around them, the mystical-level beings sat in solemn silence, their robes and armor woven with spiritual laws. Behind them, the legendary figures observed eyes of flame, of stars, of crystal, watching everything.
It began with status reports.
From the South American pair, whose thrones pulsed with jungle mana and volcanic hums, came the news first:
"Beasts stir in the vaults beneath the Andes," said the one marked in vines. "Creatures sealed since the last Astral Shift. The runes that bound them are cracking. Bloodlines are awakening in villages untouched for centuries."
"And the stars are wrong," added the tattooed twin. "They speak of gods returning."
The chamber stilled slightly.
Next, the Russian Demigod spoke. His voice was like glaciers grinding across metal.
"Siberia is breaking. Mana storms churn above the Tunguska. Winds tear through time. Soldiers sent in never return "
"Have you lost control?" asked the Wolf Demigod, voice tinged with challenge.
"Not yet," replied the Russian. "But the Earth grows angry. Even frost cannot silence her rage much longer."
The Vampire Demigod leaned forward then, eyes glinting crimson.
"In America, twelve of my covens were exterminated. No trials. No accord. No law upheld. I demand redress."
Her words were calm. But her aura oozed death and old hunger.
The North American Demigod, who had thus far remained with her eyes closed, opened them slowly.
"They were destabilizing cities. Eating children. You demand justice I demand restraint."
The Vampire hissed. The Locus itself dimmed slightly as their auras flared.
Before it could escalate, the Wolf Demigod pounded his fist on the armrest of his throne.
"Enough! The ley lines are decaying. The mana floods must be contained. We need action, not excuses."
"And whose action would that be?" asked the Chinese Demigod, still seated in perfect stillness. "Your expansions are not containment they are conquest."
A murmur of agreement echoed from the mystical beings seated behind him elders from Kunlun, shadow-masters from Cambodia.
"Conquest restores order," the Wolf snapped.
"Or destroys balance," replied the Chinese Demigod.
They might have argued longer, but then the European King the Nominal Leader raised his hand, breaking protocol.
"There is a concern," he said slowly, each word laced with diplomatic tension. "That one among us " he turned toward Philip " may be too independent. Too… detached from global consensus."
The words echoed with weight.
In the circle of Demigods, Philip was still new. Not claimed by any bloc. Not beholden to any code. Not shaped by centuries of compromise.
He raised one eyebrow. Calm. Unmoved.
"Independence," Philip said, "is only a problem when others rely on chains."
A few chuckled.
But the undercurrent in the room was different now charged.
The mystical-level beings leaned forward, whispering behind fingers and veils. Eyes watched Philip with a new understanding.
Sorcerers from Europe passed small jade tokens between themselves, scanning him from afar.
Soul Binders from Ethiopia invoked low hums of ancestral mana to trace the edges of his aura.
Witches from Romania whispered runes beneath their breath.
Some looked with awe.
Others with unease.
The Wayward Pritchard laughed then a hollow sound, like wind through broken bells.
"Balance must be maintained," he said, his voice a harmony of many beings trapped in one. "Power, concentrated in one too young, too unknown… could fracture the Veil."
Philip turned his head slowly, eyes meeting the fragmented gaze of the Wayward Demigod.
"Then perhaps the veil needs to be broken."
That sentence struck like a thunderclap.
The European King, unsettled but composed, stood slowly.
"This meeting was called early," he said, "because the balance we've protected may be ending."
His crown glowed faintly. Law-binding Runes shimmered with ancestral warnings.
"Mana levels are increasing rapidly across the globe not by natural awakening, but by artificial stimulus. We believe factions from NAM are trying to pierce the planetary seal. If they succeed, Earth will not survive the influx."
The chamber darkened.
Everyone knew NAM. The multiverse organization of awakened species. Of astral beings and planetary federations. Earth had long remained outside their jurisdiction by divine treaty, and by power.
"There are god-level beings orbiting the edge of Earth's dimension," the King continued. "They watch. They test. Only the Planet's own will keeps them at bay."
But the planet grows stronger with the influx of mana and soon the divine will be allowed to step into earth that should be the to raise the planet grade
"We have also seen," the King said, shifting tones, "a sharp rise in unregulated Awakened. Those who know nothing of the rules. Children waking as Masters. Criminals ascending to Sages overnight."
"The veil is thinning," added the American Demigod without opening her eyes. "And too many minds are waking."
"So we ask," the King said, "Should the Awakened Community still remain a secret?"
That question hung like a blade over the room.
"No," the Wolf Demigod said. "It is too late. Let the world see."
"Yes," said the Chinese Demigod. "Knowledge is power. But chaos is still chaos."
"Let it fracture," whispered the Vampire. "We will feed on the fallout."
Each demigod's response was noted by the mystics.
Then all eyes turned back to Philip.
He had not been asked to vote.
But already, they understood
His answer would matter.
Philip tilted his head.
"The veil was never protection," he said. "It was denial. You people just wanted control
"And you don't?" the Russian asked.