Kun Island-Midnight-Wrapped Skies,
The storm began as a whisper over Kun Island's southern cliffs—low thunder murmuring in the belly of cloud-torn skies, a pale gleam of lightning dancing like the breath of gods across the horizon.
Within the depths of the island's heart, the State of Records Council Hall, once a chamber of learning and law, now pulsed with warlike urgency. Every pillar bore the banners of the Nine Halls, stitched with sigils that flickered in the stormlight, casting long shadows across the obsidian floor.
Su Mengtian stood at the center of the round table—no throne, no raised dais, only equal footing for equals. His gaze swept across the assembled Hallmasters and department heads.
Ji Yeyan, calm and spectral in dark robes, leaned against the far wall, his gaze unreadable.
Inara of Ironblood stood straight, a fresh scar crossing her temple from the recent assassin assault. Her aura was barely contained fury.
Rao Lin of Valor sat to her left, arms crossed, eyes burning. "Every hour we wait, they bleed another city dry," he growled.
"Blunt retaliation strengthens their propaganda," Baojin of Aegis countered calmly. "They claim we're warmongers—do not give them truth to match their lies."
Yue Mei of the Luminous Veil brushed a scroll across the table. "Then let them drown in truth. The next wave of Veilburst is ready for release. Visual testimonies from three border provinces. Families buried beneath stone. Cries from survivors. All timestamped. All verified."
Mengtian nodded slowly. "Good. We release them with the dawn. But before that—tonight, we finalize the countermeasures."
Lightning cracked outside, and the glass dome above them shimmered with reflected fury.
"Let's finalize the countermeasures," Xuan Le said.
"Each Hallmaster is ordered to decentralize command. Key captains, enforcers, and operatives are now embedded across allied cities to maintain stability if headquarters fall," Su Mengtian said.
"I've already woven contingency pathways via astral messaging. If Kun Island is taken, our allies across Astraea will still receive coordinated orders within six hours," Xuan Le of Astral Command added.
"All defensive formation codices have been replicated and sealed in three encrypted archives. Only Hallmasters can access them," Baojin said.
"We've frozen forty-eight commercial accounts tied to Compact shell clans. Every gold plate redirected to the frontline budgets. We've also placed price pressure on the Shi's iron supply chains via neutral brokers," Sorin Ma of Truehold Financial Bastion reported.
"Ten guardian beasts have been rotated across the isles. If they push naval, we meet them with sea wyrms," Yune Yashara of the Sanctuary of Beasts added.
Su Mengtian began discussing the plans for counter-infiltration. "We plant forged documents implicating Compact internal betrayals. A narrative of rebellion within rebellion. Let the seeds of doubt devour them."
"Already underway. A forged confession implicating Long Aotian in the disappearance of a Shi elder has been placed near their vaults. Their own scribes will find it," Ji Yeyun said.
"We've established protected zones across five provinces. Any battle that spills over to civilian areas will activate sigil-bound alarm wards to evacuate innocents within two minutes," Phairos Den of the Sanctuary of Eternal Remembrance explained.
"Volunteers from the arena fighters are ready. They know they may not return. But they will hold the line if needed," Elira Sorn of the Battle Arena added.
"Me and Yue Mei drafted a joint accord to be read publicly should open war be declared. Signed by Mengtian, Bai Xuening, and twenty-one neutral clan leaders," Lan Qiu announced.
Mengtian's voice dropped low. "I don't want war. But I'll not bend my neck to tyrants. If the Compact brings its fleet—we do not kneel. We roar."
The great war doors creaked open.
Bai Yueying stood there—a silhouette cut from snow and steel. Clad in the ceremonial armor of the Celestial Snow Pavilion: pale moonmetal etched with frost sigils, trailing white banners that shimmered with quiet dignity. Her long black hair was bound in a war-knot. Her eyes held calm, but beneath it, an iron will.
Gasps echoed through the chamber.
Yue Mei smiled faintly.
"Yueying…" Mengtian whispered.
Yueying stepped forward. "My grandfather has declared neutrality. The Bai family will not aid the Compact. But I will not remain neutral."
Her voice rang through the hall like a blade unsheathed.
"I, Bai Yueying, heir of the Snow Pavilion, stand with Su Mengtian. Before the empire. Before my ancestors. Even before my own bloodline—if need be. The time for indecision has passed."
She turned toward Inara and Rao Lin. "You want open war. You may soon have it. But let it begin with clarity. Not vengeance."
Inara gave a solemn nod.
Rao Lin rose slowly and pounded a fist to his chest. "Let history remember your courage."
Mengtian looked at her—truly looked. Not as a strategist. Not as a warrior. But as the soul that had stood beside him in silent nights and bloodied dawns.
He offered no words. Only a nod. The kind only those who've suffered the same fire can understand.
At the Southern Cliffs,
The lightning grew wild now, dancing like silver serpents through the black sky. The wind howled over the southern cliffs of Kun Island, tearing through trees and scattering leaves across the edge of the abyss.
And there—standing alone—Su Mengtian.
His cloak whipped around him. The storm arced around his form like a lover's breath. Lightning coiled in spirals over his arms. His eyes reflected nothing but clarity.
Far across the sea, lights shimmered. The Compact's fleet.
Ten thousand sails. Fifty banners. All sailing toward war.
Ji Yeyan stepped beside him, his shadow merging with the dark.
"They bring the hammer."
Mengtian's lips curled faintly. "Then we show them the anvil."
Another step forward. Boots on stone. Thunder behind his breath.
He raised his hand—and lightning obeyed, forming a roaring spiral across the skies above Kun Island.
Mengtian whispered, so low the wind had to lean close to hear:
"If they want a war of shadows, then I shall show them the dawn."
The storm answered him. And the final war had begun.