Chapter 986 – "The Great Crab Rush"
The news of the billionaire's transformation spread like fire on the wind. By dawn, harbors across America, Canada, and Russia were no longer calm places of trade — they were warzones of ambition. Hundreds of fishermen, awakened and emboldened, were preparing their vessels. The word had gone out:
The giant Alaskan crabs were real.
And whoever caught them first would strike gold.
Boats of every size surged from the ports — rusted trawlers, modern crabbers with reinforced decks, even private yachts hastily rigged with nets. The sea groaned under the sudden invasion of human greed.
For hours, the men cast their strongest steel pots, baited with everything from fish scraps to mana-infused rice. Hope was high, spirits electric. But the crabs were not the easy prey they remembered.
The first crew to spot a giant crab shouted in disbelief. Its body rose from the waves like a moving fortress, claws snapping with a force that cracked a wooden mast clean in two. When the fishermen hurled their pots, the creature simply scuttled sideways with a speed no one thought possible, vanishing into the deep.
"They're too fast!" one man cursed, clutching a broken rope as seawater stung his eyes.
"They've learned," another muttered, pale with shock. "They're not animals anymore. They're hunters."
One by one, crews reported the same: enormous shadows darting below their hulls, claws gleaming gold, vanishing before the steel pots even touched the water. For most, the sea offered nothing but frustration.
And yet — luck still favored a few.
By sheer timing, one crew hauled up a pot trembling with violent force. The winch screamed as the steel cage broke the surface, dripping seawater. Inside, thrashing against the bars, was an Alaskan crab nearly two meters tall. Its legs scraped against the steel, bending the rods. The fishermen cheered wildly, tears in their eyes.
"We did it!" their captain roared.
"This one pot pays for a lifetime!"
But their victory only heightened the frenzy. Word spread instantly via radio, livestreams, and dock gossip: some could be caught.
From above, the ocean no longer looked serene. It churned with vessels chasing shadows, steel pots crashing into the water, men shouting to one another as hope and desperation collided.
The Great Crab Rush had begun — and for every pot that rose empty, the hunger for fortune only grew stronger.
The sea was alive with frustration. Pots clanged empty onto decks, ropes burned raw through hands, and curses filled the freezing winds.
One fisherman slammed his steel cage down, glaring at the waves.
"These things are too fast. The pots can't hold them!"
Another, younger and already awakened, pulled off his heavy jacket and grinned. The storm winds whipped his hair, but his eyes burned with confidence.
"Then we dive. The storm, the cold — none of that matters anymore. We're awakened. The sea's no different from the land now."
The deck grew quiet, men exchanging glances. It was a mad idea… but then again, so was chasing crabs taller than men.
"Rank?" an older crewman asked cautiously.
The diver smirked, flexing his hands as mana rippled across his body.
"D-Rank. And he's D-Rank too." He pointed to his companion, a scarred veteran already stripping down to his diving suit.
Gasps rose among the deckhands. Two D-Ranks — not world-shakers, but far beyond ordinary men. Strong enough to wrestle beasts underwater, fast enough to hold their breath for half an hour, their bodies reinforced with mana.
"Alright then," the captain said finally, voice trembling between fear and hope. "Bring us something the world hasn't seen before."
With that, the two men leapt from the rail.
The sea swallowed them instantly, black and silver under the storm. For three long hours, the crew above waited, eyes scanning the restless water. Lightning split the sky, thunder rolling — but none of them cared for the storm anymore. They only waited for the hunters to return.
At last, shapes broke the surface. Two enormous crabs, each easily a meter tall, were dragged up by the awakened divers. Their shells clattered like bronze shields, their legs thrashing in fury. But the D-Ranks held them firm, their muscles glowing faintly with mana as they forced the beasts onto the deck.
The crew erupted into cheers.
"They did it!"
"Two of them—at once!"
The crabs hissed and snapped, but they were no match for awakened strength. Soon they were bound in reinforced chains, their alien gold-flecked shells gleaming under the storm's lightning.
The captain's voice cracked with laughter as he clapped the divers on their backs.
"With just two men, we've done what a whole fleet failed at!"
All across the seas, the message spread: pots alone were useless. To claim these monsters of the deep, awakened divers had to descend into their realm.
The Crab Rush had entered a new stage — no longer just a battle of fleets, but of awakened strength.
The storm had barely broken when the first news broadcast lit up screens worldwide.
On the deck of their ship, soaked fishermen huddled around a satellite feed, watching as the reporter's urgent voice carried across the airwaves.
"Breaking news from the North Pacific — experts are now confirming that the colossal Alaskan crabs are not just larger than ever before, but also faster. Much faster."
The screen shifted to slow-motion underwater footage provided by a diver's helmet cam. It showed a crab the size of a man darting sideways through the water, its legs moving like pistons. The camera shook violently as the diver struggled to keep up, the beast disappearing into shadow before reappearing meters away in the blink of an eye.
The reporter continued, her tone sharp with awe.
"Marine biologists estimate their speed underwater has increased by nearly four times compared to pre-Aten rice generations. What once lumbered along the seabed now moves with terrifying agility — comparable to a sprinting predator."
Clips flashed across the screen — divers chasing, nets snapping shut too slowly, pots lying empty after being torn through.
"This speed explains why traditional crab pots have been failing. These creatures are not only stronger, but capable of detecting and avoiding traps with unprecedented reflexes."
A panel of experts appeared next, their faces grim. One of them, a fisheries professor, leaned toward the microphone.
"We are seeing evolution under Aten rice influence. These crabs are no longer just prey to be harvested. They are predators of opportunity, capable of outmaneuvering almost all conventional methods of capture."
The broadcast cut back to the ship footage of the victorious crew — the two D-Rank divers dragging their massive, bound crabs aboard.
"Only awakened divers, with enhanced speed and endurance, have any chance of capturing them directly. Traditional fishing is becoming obsolete in these waters."
On the ship, the captain folded his arms, nodding grimly as if the world was finally catching up to what his crew already knew.
"They're right. Pots won't catch these devils anymore. It's men against monsters now."
The camera lingered on the two colossal crabs chained on deck, their legs twitching, eyes glowing faintly in the stormlight. Then the anchor's voice closed the report:
"The age of the Alaskan crab industry has entered uncharted waters. What was once a fisherman's livelihood is now a contest of strength, speed, and awakening. The oceans are changing — and only those who can change with them will survive."
The live broadcast suddenly erupted into chaos as the cameraman shouted, zooming toward the shoreline.
A figure was emerging from the waves. Step by step, water cascaded off his body as if he had risen straight from the abyss. In his arms — no, dragged behind him — was a colossal Alaskan crab nearly four meters tall, its massive legs splayed out, its shell gleaming wet under the pale storm light.
The crowd gasped. Reporters pushed forward, their voices tumbling over one another.
"Is that—"
"Four meters?! That's impossible!"
"Sir! Sir, can you tell us your name?"
The man's breath steamed in the cold air, but his expression was calm, steady. His muscles looked carved from iron, his clothes torn from days in the water. Still, he moved with ease, as if dragging a monster this size were nothing.
One reporter thrust a microphone forward, voice trembling.
"You… you carried this crab straight from the sea? How long were you diving?"
The man's eyes lifted, sharp as steel.
"Three days."
The crowd froze.
"Three… days?" someone whispered.
Another reporter shouted:
"Wait! You mean you were underwater this entire time?"
He gave a single nod. "I can hold my breath longer than that if I must."
The murmurs turned into stunned silence before one voice cut through.
"What rank are you?!"
For the first time, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"B-rank."
The crowd erupted. Reporters nearly dropped their equipment in shock, while chefs and buyers who had gathered screamed in disbelief. Cameras zoomed closer, capturing every detail — the faint glow of mana around his body, the colossal crab twitching weakly behind him, the sheer presence of someone who had fought the sea head-on and returned victorious.
The reporter's voice cracked with awe as she repeated for the world:
"A single B-rank diver… has captured a four-meter Alaskan crab after three days in the deep."
The feed spread instantly across global networks. For billions watching, it was no longer just about giant crabs — it was about the rise of a new kind of fisherman, an awakened hunter whose strength turned the impossible into reality.
The man simply straightened his back, looked at the stunned reporters, and said:
"Bring your scales. This one's for auction."
The crowd parted as the massive crab was hauled into the port auction hall, its towering shell and sprawling legs dwarfing every crate and barrel in sight. Reporters scrambled for position, their voices overlapping, cameras flashing like lightning.
One anchor, trembling with excitement, addressed the world:
"Breaking news — a four-meter Alaskan crab has been brought ashore alive, caught by a single B-rank diver after three days beneath the sea! According to official records, there are only 1,648 B-rank humans across the globe. For one of them to dedicate his strength to fishing, rather than war or politics… it is unprecedented."
The auctioneer, sweating with both fear and anticipation, raised his gavel high. Behind him, chefs prepared steaming pots and sizzling grills, their knives ready to carve history itself.
The opening bid shattered records immediately.
"Five billion yen!" shouted a magnate from Hong Kong.
"Ten billion!" countered an American casino tycoon.
"Twenty billion!" cried a Dubai hotelier.
The hall shook with tension as numbers climbed higher and higher. Cameras zoomed in on the crab, its enormous shell still glistening from the sea, every leg thick with meat that promised a taste unlike anything the world had known.
As the bidding soared past the wildest expectations, the B-rank fisherman stood silently in the corner. His presence, calm and resolute, only fueled the frenzy — the buyers knew this crab was not just food, but proof of a new age where awakened humans could reshape industries singlehandedly.
Finally, after a thunderous exchange of voices, the gavel slammed down.
"SOLD!"
The winning bid: 27.4 billion yen (roughly 190 million USD).
Gasps echoed through the hall. The previous record, held by the golden tuna in Tokyo, had just been obliterated.
The winning bidder, a media-shy billionaire from Silicon Valley, stood up with trembling hands. His voice cracked as he addressed the cameras:
"This crab is not just food. It is a miracle of the new world. And tonight, I will taste it before the world."
Chefs moved immediately, the atmosphere turning from electric to reverent. They cracked open the colossal shell with rune-forged knives, steam bursting forth in golden clouds. The aroma hit the audience like a wave — rich, savory, intoxicating.
Reporters whispered, some nearly in tears.
"This… this is the dawn of the 'Crab Age.'"
The billionaire took the first bite, his expression shattering into astonishment. His voice rang out, trembling with joy:
"It is divine… better than any meat, any seafood, any flavor I have ever known!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, applause, and disbelief. Cameras captured every detail, every taste, every reaction. Around the world, billions watched live as history was written once again — not by kings, not by gods, but by fishermen and the bounty of Aten's legacy.
The anchor's closing line carried into every home:
"The golden herds, the silver seas… and now, the colossal crabs. The world has entered a new era."
Even as the cameras lingered on the steaming crab meat, a ripple of curiosity spread through the auction hall and beyond. Reporters, analysts, and citizens all turned their attention to one question: If a B-rank human could bring such a miracle ashore… what could those above him accomplish?
News outlets scrambled to publish statistics. Within minutes, an anchor read the figures aloud, her tone hushed with awe:
"According to official records:
• A-rank – 142 individuals worldwide.
• S-rank – only 10 individuals.
• SS-rank – a mere 4 beings alive today."
The audience gasped. Compared to the 1,648 B-ranks, these numbers seemed impossibly small. Yet the implications were enormous. If a lone B-rank could dive for three days straight and drag out a four-meter crab… what would it mean if an A-rank set their sights on the oceans? What if an S-rank descended into the abyss?
One reporter whispered into his microphone as if voicing a forbidden thought:
"Could it be… that the seas themselves would be emptied if the higher ranks turned their attention to fishing?"
The speculation spread like wildfire. Financial analysts pointed out that entire industries could be reshaped if even a single A-rank dedicated their strength to harvesting marine life. Governments quietly drafted emergency proposals, considering whether to recruit or regulate these rare individuals.
In the auction hall, the B-rank fisherman remained silent, his expression calm. But reporters swarmed him the moment he stepped outside.
"Sir, what do you think about A-rank hunters?"
"Do you believe S-rank humans could catch monsters even deeper?"
"Will you continue to fish, or have you just rewritten history?"
The man only shrugged, his words simple but heavy with meaning:
"I do what I love. The ocean called me, and I answered. But if higher ranks join… then the seas will never be the same again."
The cameras cut back to the studio, the anchor's voice solemn as she closed the segment:
"The world has awakened — not just in power, but in possibility. Tonight we have seen what a single B-rank can achieve. Tomorrow, the question haunting humanity is this: what will happen when the A-rank, S-rank, and beyond turn their eyes toward the bounty of Aten's seas?"
The world trembled with anticipation.
Chapter 987 – "Assurances of Power"
The frenzy after the 4-meter crab auction reached every corner of the world. Social media exploded with speculation:
"If a B-rank can do this, imagine what an A-rank could drag up!"
"Ten S-ranks in the world… they could wipe the oceans clean if they wanted!"
"Are we about to see the sea become the next battlefield?"
The storm of rumors grew so intense that governments had no choice but to step forward. Within hours, official press conferences were called across America, Japan, Europe, and China.
A U.S. Defense spokesperson spoke firmly before the cameras:
"There is no need for public alarm. Higher-ranked individuals — from A-rank and above — are already accounted for. The majority serve under government contracts or as military assets. Their duties are strategic in nature. They do not involve commercial fishing."
Japan's Ministry of Supernatural Affairs echoed this sentiment.
"Most of our A-ranks and S-ranks are bound by service agreements, or they serve within the Magic Association, where their work is focused on research and defense. Others are affiliated with ancient magical families or sects, with long traditions and responsibilities that extend far beyond mere profit."
Reporters pressed the issue: What about mercenaries?
The answers varied, but the message was unified.
"Yes, some of the strongest have chosen mercenary paths. However, they are in constant demand — guarding borders, escorting high-value transports, suppressing rogue creatures. Their schedules leave little room for activities such as fishing."
The reassurance spread quickly. Governments, magical associations, and even some family elders released statements reminding the public that those standing at the heights of power rarely concerned themselves with such mundane matters.
One European official summarized it bluntly:
"Do you really think an S-rank — whose presence alone can shift the balance of nations — would waste their time chasing crabs? Rest assured, the seas are safe from their hands."
Still, the murmurs of doubt remained. Citizens whispered in markets and forums: But what if just one of them decided otherwise?
For now, however, the world took a deep breath, comforted by the idea that the gods walking among them were too busy with grander matters to stoop to the ocean's depths.
The B-ranks and C-ranks, on the other hand — they were another story.
The excitement from the giant Alaskan king crabs still hadn't faded when a new thought began to ripple through both newsrooms and fish markets alike.
Reporters, chefs, and even fishermen repeated the same words almost in unison:
"Wait a minute. The Alaskan king crab can't be the only animal affected by Aten rice."
For a moment, silence followed — the kind of silence that comes right before a collective realization. Then the floodgates opened.
"If crabs have changed this much," one marine biologist explained live on television, "then it's almost certain that lobsters, oysters, mussels, scallops, shrimp — all the crustaceans and shellfish — must also be undergoing transformation. These species are filter feeders and bottom dwellers. They're even more likely to have eaten Aten grains drifting into the ocean currents."
Chefs gasped at the implications.
Lobsters as large as dogs. Oysters with golden shells. Scallops the size of dinner plates, shimmering with mana.
A fisherman from Nova Scotia called in to the broadcast with a trembling voice.
"We've been pulling up lobsters for generations. But if even half of this is true… then the waters we thought we knew are about to become something unrecognizable."
The anchor nodded gravely, her voice steady but laced with awe.
"Alaskan king crabs may have been the first headline. But they are only the beginning. The oceans are vast, and Aten rice is spreading faster than anyone can track. Every crustacean, every shellfish, every species that feeds near the ocean floor may already be changing."
The room fell quiet again — not with doubt, but with anticipation.
For the first time, the world began to truly grasp it:
The Alaskan king crab was not a miracle. It was a warning of what was to come.
The reporters and experts quickly began mapping out what this meant on a global scale.
"Alaskan king crab may have put America, Canada, and Russia at the center of attention," one analyst explained on live broadcast, "but if lobsters, oysters, mussels, and scallops are also evolving, then a new list of countries will dominate the seas."
United States & Canada – Both nations had long coastlines rich with lobster and crab fisheries. Maine lobster, already considered premium, could become the next global luxury if Aten rice had altered them. Canadian Maritime provinces, with their vast cold waters, could see a new "gold rush" of seafood.Russia – With access to the Bering Sea and the Far East, Russia's fisheries had always been abundant. If shellfish in those waters were changing alongside the king crabs, Russia might control some of the largest untouched reserves in the world.Japan – Already far ahead in livestock and aquaculture, Japan was now poised to benefit from its famous coastal shellfish. From Hokkaido scallops to prized oysters in Hiroshima Bay, their culinary reputation could skyrocket even further.Norway – Having secured the "Silver Seas" with salmon, Norway's coastline was also home to mussels, oysters, and cold-water shrimp. With Aten rice strengthening these species too, Norway could dominate both fish and shellfish markets.France – Famous for its oysters in Normandy and Brittany, France suddenly found its quiet coastal farms becoming a treasure trove. If their shellfish gained mana-infused qualities, French cuisine might once again lead Europe's fine dining scene.Australia & New Zealand – Known for green-lipped mussels, abalone, and rock lobsters, these nations saw their exports already in high demand. Now, with Aten rice in the global ocean currents, their seafood could transform into priceless delicacies.
The analyst's voice grew more intense as the world realized the scale:
"America, Canada, Russia, Japan, Norway, France, Australia, New Zealand… these nations sit on waters that are about to become the most valuable in human history. If Alaskan king crab was only the first glimpse, then what's coming next could redefine global trade."
Chefs in the studio could barely contain their excitement. One French chef, shaking his head in disbelief, muttered:
"If even oysters have changed… the world will never eat the same again."
Chapter 988 – "The First Shellfish Hunt"
Seven days later, the world finally had its answer. Reports began flooding in from every coast where shellfish and crustaceans had once been plentiful.
Fishermen, divers, and awakened citizens alike were stunned: lobsters, oysters, mussels, scallops, and crabs had all changed.
At first, excitement surged. Boats went out in droves, eager to catch the transformed seafood. But the optimism quickly gave way to shock.
"They're bigger!" one diver shouted live on a stream. His camera caught the flash of a lobster over a meter long darting between rocks. "And faster—way faster!"
Unlike the lumbering prey of the old world, these creatures darted like shadows, propelled by mana-infused muscles. A lobster's tail flick could throw it meters in an instant; a crab's dash kicked up sand storms underwater.
Hunters began organizing themselves.
D-Rank awakened could manage alone, diving deep and wrestling a crab into submission with sheer strength.E-Rank awakened had to form groups of three or more, coordinating with nets, barriers, and mana techniques to slow the beasts down.
Still, the numbers were staggering. As boats returned to ports, their holds were filled with creatures beyond imagination: lobsters longer than a man's torso, oysters the size of helmets, scallops so large they needed two people to carry.
But the rush quickly raised alarms. Governments stepped in, worried about overharvesting and extinction.
News broadcasts cut to officials holding urgent press conferences:
"We cannot treat these creatures like before," said a Canadian fisheries minister. "They are evolving rapidly. If we hunt recklessly, we may wipe out species that could have been our greatest resource."
Police and military patrols began escorting fleets, enforcing quotas, and tagging catches. Research teams rushed to coastal labs, dissecting samples and studying their mana-infused biology.
Yet the people were not discouraged. Awakened citizens adapted just as quickly as the shellfish themselves. They sharpened their methods, refined their teamwork, and soon the first organized shellfish hunts were underway.
Markets overflowed again. Buyers gasped at the size, chefs wept at the flavor, and rumors spread of oysters that glowed faintly when cracked open, their golden shimmer promising mana-rich vitality.
And through it all, one truth settled over the world like a storm cloud and sunrise both:
The oceans were no longer safe, nor tame. They were alive with something new.
As markets overflowed with colossal lobsters, crabs, and golden-shelled oysters, a new challenge arose: governance. If humanity rushed too fast, extinction would arrive just as quickly as abundance.
Governments around the world convened emergency sessions, and within days, laws were passed.
United States: The Department of Fisheries declared an alternating two-month hunting cycle — two months open, two months closed. Each awakened fisher must register their catches, and limits were set: no more than five giant crabs or twenty shellfish per license each open season. Violations were met with heavy fines and confiscation of goods. Still, officials reassured citizens: "These creatures breed at a pace unseen in nature. By the next season, their numbers will be restored tenfold."Canada: Ottawa established a "Sustainable Harvest Law." Fishing grounds were divided into rotating zones — only one coastal region could be harvested per season, leaving the others to replenish. Canadian ministers proudly announced: "This is not depletion — it is regeneration. In two months, untouched zones will be overflowing again."Japan: Already experienced with Aten-fed livestock, Japan imposed the strictest system. Only government-licensed guilds could hunt, and catches had to be reported within 24 hours. Japan's Ministry of Agriculture emphasized quality over quantity, requiring alchemists to certify the mana levels of each shellfish before sale. Citizens accepted the rules readily, confident in their government's proven foresight.Norway: Riding high on their "Silver Seas" project, Norway introduced quotas tied directly to reproduction studies. Every catch had to be weighed, measured, and logged, with mandatory tagging of juveniles released back into the sea. Officials said: "Our priority is simple: eat today, but ensure tomorrow is richer."Russia: With its vast waters, Russia mobilized its navy to guard the resource. Civilian hunting was permitted, but heavily taxed — 30% of every haul went directly to state coffers. The Kremlin justified the move bluntly: "These are treasures of the nation, and the state will ensure they are never squandered."China: Declaring the seafood a "national strategic asset," China centralized all harvesting through state-owned companies. Independent fishing was banned, but in exchange, citizens were promised lower prices at government markets. Officials declared: "Let no family go without. These resources belong to all."European Union: Nations from France to Spain unified under a shared "Blue Abundance Act." Only two months each season could be hunted, and even then, harvesters were required to leave breeding pairs untouched. Fines were severe, but citizens largely supported the law, knowing the abundance would return quickly.
Despite the restrictions, people were not worried. Scientists, reporters, and even fishermen agreed: "Two months is nothing. By the time the season opens again, the oceans will be overflowing."
The laws, though strict, carried with them a sense of reassurance — that the age of Aten rice's gifts would not burn out in reckless greed, but instead cycle endlessly, like the tides themselves.
Chapter 989 – "The Cult of Sweetness"
For decades, Aten rice had been known only as a miracle crop, whispered of as "the grain of the gods." But now, after golden herds, silver seas, and the sudden transformation of oceans into bounty, another phenomenon began to stir: faith.
At first it was small. In villages across Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America, shrines appeared beside the fields where Aten rice grew tallest. Farmers placed bowls of golden grain at the base of simple wooden statues, whispering thanks before each harvest.
In Japan, families spoke of Aten in the same breath as their household gods. Mothers told their children: "Eat well, study well — Aten's blessing is in you now."
In Norway, where the seas had turned silver, fishers painted Aten's sun-disk on their boats. Before casting nets, they murmured prayers: "Guide the tide, guide the catch."
For years these were seen as harmless folk practices. But now, with the shocking abundance of colossal crabs, golden oysters, and livestock that lived longer and gave richer milk, belief spread like wildfire.
Reporters began filming gatherings in city squares — hundreds, sometimes thousands, bowing their heads toward a golden flame or a stylized rice stalk. Some called themselves the Children of Aten. Others, the Golden Dawn Fellowship.
Their message was always the same:
Aten had sown his seed in the world.Humanity was nourished not just in body, but in soul.These gifts were proof of his divinity, and to honor him was to ensure the blessings would never fade.
Governments tried to stay neutral. Some officials scoffed, calling it superstition. But others noticed that even skeptics grew quieter when drinking Aten-sugar tea or tasting Aten-fed salmon.
And then came the turning point.
A viral video spread across the world: a woman in Brazil, weeping as she cradled her sick child, told cameras that the child had recovered after drinking milk from Aten-fed cows. Behind her, villagers sang hymns to Aten beneath the rising sun.
The clip was subtitled in a dozen languages, and within days, millions had watched it.
From there, Aten's popularity surged. Across the continents:
Temples were built, some humble, some grand, with walls painted gold to reflect the sunlight.Priests and priestesses arose, blending traditional rituals with new prayers of harvest and ocean.Pilgrimages began, not to holy mountains, but to the sprawling golden fields of Aten rice.
Scholars debated furiously: was this the birth of a new religion, or the revival of an ancient god? Yet while academics argued, the people simply believed.
In every market where golden food was sold, candles and offerings soon appeared beside it. Restaurants hung small Aten symbols above their doors. Even major companies quietly adopted Aten imagery in their marketing, unable to resist the cultural wave.
And so, a new era dawned. Aten was no longer just the name of a grain. He was becoming a god of the people — worshipped not in myth, but in every meal.
Across Africa, Aten was no longer simply honored — he had become the foundation of belief, the central pillar of national identity. Where Christianity and Islam had once dominated, Aten now stood as the main faith. Not through conquest, not by erasing old traditions, but by quietly becoming the living proof of survival.
Unlike the towering cathedrals of Europe or the ornate mosques of the Middle East, Aten's temples were not built to awe with grandeur. Instead, they spread outward — woven into the very lives of the people. Small shrines nestled in villages. Modest halls built from local stone stood at crossroads. Simple open-air sanctuaries stretched across the savannas, where farmers prayed at dawn before working their fields of Aten rice.
The architecture reflected the god's gift: practical, humble, and eternal. Temples were often adorned with murals of golden fields and rivers, with Aten's veiled form watching over them. The yellow-robed priests, their faces hidden behind black bandages, taught not of judgment or fear, but of gratitude — gratitude for food, for health, for mana, for life itself.
Children learned hymns not in Latin or Arabic, but in their own native tongues, each line easy to remember:
"We eat because of Aten.
We grow because of Aten.
We awaken because of Aten."
Governments reinforced this natural spread. Councils and unions made Aten's teachings part of their new national identity, saying:
"Just as the rice unites all people in strength, Aten unites all of Africa."
There were no palaces, no golden domes. The "temples" were everywhere and nowhere. They existed in city markets where vendors set aside bowls of rice as offerings. They lived in schools where murals of Aten's outstretched hands decorated classrooms. They spread into homes, where families whispered small prayers before meals.
For the people, it was not about building grand monuments. The entire land itself — renewed, fed, and healed — was the temple of Aten.
Chapter 990 – "A New Dawn"
The world's news networks interrupted their broadcasts with a single headline that flashed across every screen:
"The African Union is formally established."
Delegates from across the continent stood together beneath a banner woven in gold and green. Their voices declared in unison what had once seemed impossible: a unified Africa, bound not by colonial borders or divided by dictators, but united under shared governance, free trade, and collective defense.
It was not just political. The announcement carried the weight of a new identity — a continent rising with one voice, its foundation nourished by Aten's gift.
The anchorwoman's voice summarized it simply:
"Today, Africa has entered a new age. For the first time, the world must address not fifty fractured states, but one rising Union."
The broadcast anchor leaned closer to the camera, her voice calm but carrying weight.
"Officials have confirmed that the African Union, modeled after the European Union, is not merely symbolic. It is a binding organization with formal treaties already ratified. The Union will implement:
A shared African Parliament, with representatives from every member nation.A unified trade bloc, eliminating tariffs between participating states.A common defense pact, requiring members to protect one another against external threats.A trial currency system, with the eventual goal of a single continental currency.Joint infrastructure and mana-resource projects, particularly in transportation, energy, and agriculture."
The screen shifted to a map of Africa. Nearly the entire continent had turned golden.
Participating African Union countries (54 states):
AlgeriaAngolaBeninBotswanaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCameroonCentral African RepublicChadComorosDemocratic Republic of the CongoRepublic of the CongoDjiboutiEgyptEquatorial GuineaEritreaEswatiniEthiopiaGabonGambiaGhanaGuineaGuinea-BissauIvory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)KenyaLesothoLiberiaLibyaMadagascarMalawiMaliMauritaniaMauritiusMoroccoMozambiqueNamibiaNigerNigeriaRwandaSão Tomé and PríncipeSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSudanTanzaniaTogoTunisiaUgandaZambiaZimbabwe
The anchorwoman concluded firmly:
"With fifty-four nations standing together, Africa is no longer fractured. It is whole. And the world must now reckon with a continent reborn."
The announcement of the African Union rippled across the globe within minutes. World leaders, journalists, and analysts rushed to respond, each reaction colored by a mixture of awe, caution, and urgency.
European Union
In Brussels, EU officials gave a rare unanimous statement:
"The European Union welcomes Africa's decision to unite under shared principles of peace, prosperity, and cooperation. This is a historic moment, and we are prepared to begin discussions on trade, security, and cultural partnership."
Yet behind closed doors, murmurs of unease rose. Europe had long been Africa's economic partner, but now they faced a continent negotiating as one powerful bloc instead of fragmented states.
United States
In Washington, the President stood before cameras, her tone calm but deliberate:
"The United States recognizes the African Union as a legitimate and sovereign organization. We look forward to strengthening ties with a unified Africa — an Africa that will play a leading role in the future of global stability."
Analysts noted the subtext: a quiet acknowledgment that America could no longer treat Africa as a resource frontier, but as a rising equal.
China
In Beijing, the reaction was sharper. State media hailed the union as a "monumental step for humanity," while quietly noting the massive opportunities for infrastructure and mana-resource projects. The Chinese Premier declared:
"China has always stood with Africa. We will now stand with the African Union — in trade, in technology, and in shared destiny."
Investors across Asia began speculating on new railways, ports, and energy grids that could connect Africa's vast resources directly to Chinese markets.
Japan
In Tokyo, the Prime Minister's words carried a respectful tone.
"Japan has long admired Africa's resilience. With this unification, Africa stands at the forefront of global progress. Japan is ready to cooperate — in food, in technology, and in the pursuit of shared prosperity."
Japanese media, however, drew a different angle: that Africa's rise mirrored Japan's own Aten rice revolution, and that both stood as living proof of how Aten's gift reshaped entire civilizations.
Global Media
Across the world, headlines blazed:
"Africa United — A New Superpower Emerges.""From Fragmentation to Unity: 54 Nations Stand as One.""The Aten Era Continues: First Japan, then Norway, now Africa."
For the first time in centuries, the continent was not spoken of in terms of crisis, famine, or war — but in terms of power, pride, and potential.
What the world did not immediately understand was that this African Union was not a sudden miracle, nor a hasty decision born from the momentum of Aten rice's prosperity.
It had been years in the making.
Ever since Aten rice spread across the continent, the people themselves had changed. They were no longer the same masses who once lived in poverty, suppressed under dictatorships or foreign exploitation. Aten rice had sharpened minds, accelerated learning, and given birth to a new kind of consciousness. Education programs flourished, and even children absorbed knowledge at a pace unthinkable before. Adults who once struggled with literacy now debated politics, economics, and philosophy with startling clarity.
This awakening gave rise to something unstoppable.
The rebel forces — once fragmented, hunted, and beaten down — discovered that with every meal of Aten rice, they grew not only stronger in body but sharper in thought. They began to connect across borders, moving beyond tribal and regional lines. Quietly, over years, they built networks of trust that stretched from West Africa to the Horn, from the Maghreb to the Cape.
When the time came, their revolutions did not look like the bloody uprisings of the past. Instead, they infiltrated governments, civil service, even the militaries. And when they struck, dictatorships crumbled from within, their very foundations hollowed out by years of silent resistance.
What made it possible was not only the will of the people, but the silent blessing of Africa's new generation of leaders. Many of the prime ministers and presidents now standing proudly at the African Union's founding ceremony had once been allies of these rebel networks. They had shared secret meetings long before elections, drawing up plans for a new Africa — one no longer chained to corruption or foreign manipulation.
Now, they stood united. Not as figureheads of broken states, but as visionaries.
With their people more educated, healthier, and conscious than ever before, they saw the truth: the age of fragmented Africa had ended. A continent of one billion awakened souls could not afford to remain divided. The African Union was not just politics — it was destiny.
And so, when the announcement was made to the world, it was more than a declaration of unity. It was the unveiling of a plan crafted in secret for years, guided by wisdom, sharpened by mana, and supported by the will of an entire continent.
The future, they knew, no longer belonged to others. It belonged to them.