Leader Dev sat in silence long after Sakshi's words faded, the faint crackle of his cigarette filling the room with thin spirals of smoke.
His thoughts were a storm, scattered between the revelations of Subrao Jagger, the coming cabinet deliberations, and the ever-lurking shadow of General Pedro.
Sakshi had been right. They could no longer afford to keep guessing in the dark.
Humanity's fate was already teetering on the edge of uncertainty, and only someone with Pedro's vast knowledge of the cosmos could bring clarity.
With a resolute sigh, he stubbed out the cigarette and stood. The clock on the wall ticked past three in the afternoon. He walked into his private study; a secure chamber layered with multiple defensive arrays.
Only he and three other leaders had the clearance to contact the enigmatic General. The chamber's walls shimmered with faint runic light as the communication crystal embedded in the central console pulsed softly.
Dev placed his palm upon it, and the familiar icy surge of cosmic resonance spread up his arm."Connect to General Pedro," he commanded.
The crystal blazed, projecting a rippling blue portal above the console. Slowly, the towering figure of General Pedro materialized — a man clad in a silver-black uniform adorned with sharp galactic insignias, his presence radiating an oppressive authority that seemed to bend the very air around him.
His dark eyes gleamed with the kind of knowledge born not from books, but from countless wars fought across galaxies.
"Leader Dev," Pedro's voice was deep, steady, and tinged with an edge of amusement.
"It seems you call me sooner than expected. Has your world begun to feel the weight of the Cosmic System already?"
Dev bowed slightly, not out of submission but respect. "General Pedro… circumstances demand clarity. We have discovered several truths during our cultivation, but with truth comes new dangers. I must speak plainly. All individuals on our continent are already experiencing a drastic rise in physical strength, and in seven days, when bloodline awakenings begin, I fear the social order itself may shatter."
Pedro folded his hands behind his back, his expression unreadable. "Go on."
Dev's tone hardened. "Even now, men and women who once struggled to lift a log can overturn vehicles. Soldiers who once required months of training now wield unnatural strength in mere hours. If this continues unchecked, what do you imagine will happen? Riots, chaos, rebellion — the fragile balance of society will collapse. We need a strategy to maintain security, to enforce order once the awakenings occur. Otherwise, even the Alliance may not survive the week."
Pedro's gaze grew contemplative. He tapped a finger against his chin, his silence pressing down on Dev like a weight. At last, he spoke.
"You are not wrong. The Cosmic System was never designed for worlds unprepared for evolution. Power without guidance leads to destruction. And yet…"
His eyes narrowed. "The solution is not as simple as shackling the strong with the weak. You must give your people a reason to follow discipline, a weapon greater than their own fists, and the assurance that your leadership is not mere words but iron authority."
Dev leaned forward. "And what do you suggest, General?"
A faint smile curved Pedro's lips. With a flick of his hand, the portal projection shimmered, and three silver cases appeared in holographic detail.
Each case opened with a hiss, revealing sleek weapon prototypes unlike anything Dev had ever seen.
One resembled a compact rifle, its barrel inscribed with pulsating runes. Another was a wrist-mounted device that radiated compressed energy. The third — a long, spear-like weapon forged from an alloy Dev could not identify — glowed faintly with condensed cosmic fire.
"These," Pedro said, his voice carrying a note of pride, "are the first prototypes of Silver Gut Arsenal weaponry. Designed not for galactic conquerors, but for civilizations like yours, standing on the threshold of awakening. They amplify discipline over brute strength. In the right hands, one trained soldier with these can subdue fifty untrained awakeners."
Dev's eyes widened slightly. "Weapons of such scale… They could restore balance. But at what cost, General?"
Pedro chuckled. "You learn quickly. Nothing in this universe is free, Leader Dev. My condition is simple — if you wish to receive these prototypes, along with training blueprints and manufacturing rights, then every current leader of your Alliance must pledge themselves as members of the Silver Gut Galaxy. Not as servants, but as allies bound by pact. Your world will no longer stand alone — you will become part of our order, a fragment of a much greater whole."
Dev stiffened, his mind racing. The Silver Gut Galaxy — a federation of countless star systems, renowned for both protection and conquest. To align with them would ensure survival, yes, but at the cost of autonomy. Still, the alternative was chaos, a future where ungoverned strength tore apart the Mystic Continent piece by piece.
He exhaled slowly. "This is not a decision I can take alone. But I will place it before the council tomorrow. If it ensures survival, we will consider it."
Pedro inclined his head, satisfied. "That is all I ask. Consider carefully, Leader Dev. The galaxy waits for no one."
For a brief moment, silence stretched between them, until Dev broke it with his next question.
"There is another matter — food." His voice was grim. "Already, citizens are complaining of increased hunger. If physical strength continues to rise, so too will consumption. Our current stockpiles will not last. What are we to do when millions of mouths grow hungrier by the day?"
Pedro's gaze darkened. He turned away slightly, as though weighing how much truth to reveal. When he spoke, his tone was grave.
"The infusion of cosmic force into your world core has already begun. In seven days, when the bloodline activation completes, the entire balance of your planet will shift. Crops, beasts, even water itself will undergo mutation. Food as you know it will not remain the same. Wheat will no longer be wheat, rice no longer rice. Your fields will birth crops infused with cosmic essence — stronger, richer, capable of sustaining the enhanced physiques of your people. But until then, hunger will spread. Ration your supplies carefully. Survive the seven days, and your world will never starve again."
Dev sat back, stunned. "Mutation of crops…" He rubbed his temples, both relieved and unsettled. "So, the very land will evolve with us?"
Pedro nodded once. "Yes. But understand this — not all mutations are blessings. Some plants will turn poisonous. Some beasts will grow violent. You must prepare for both bounty and disaster. That is the price of evolution."
Dev's fists clenched, but he nodded firmly. "Then we will endure it. I will ensure our people are ready."
Another thought gnawed at him, heavier than the rest. He looked straight into Pedro's eyes. "General… one final question. The matter of cosmic stones."
Pedro raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Ah. You have discovered them already."
Dev did not flinch. "Yes. A child of the Jagger family unearthed their secret during cultivation. Their presence amplifies CF growth beyond known limits. But uncertainty remains. Are these stones dangerous to human life? Can they corrupt, harm, or destabilize the system?"
Pedro let out a low laugh, shaking his head. "Your caution is admirable, Leader Dev. Fear not — unaltered or altered cosmic stones are not harmful. Quite the opposite. They are crystallized fragments of cosmic essence, naturally harmonized with the system. They can accelerate cultivation, stabilize breakthroughs, and even store energy for emergencies."
Dev felt a surge of relief. "Then they are safe."
Pedro's image flickered, his presence like a storm threatening to break. "Indeed. Remember, Dev — the future is not written. But choices made in these early days will carve the fate of your world for millennia. Weapons, food, stones — they are tools. But leadership, discipline, and unity… those will decide whether your world ascends or burns."
Dev bowed his head, deeply respectful. "Your counsel is invaluable, General. I will convey this to the others. We will not squander this chance."
Pedro gave a curt nod, then his image dissolved, leaving only the fading shimmer of the portal.
The chamber was silent once more. Dev remained seated, his hands gripping the console tightly, his mind ablaze with the weight of revelation. Security, food, currency — all threads of destiny now tangled in his hands.
He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and whispered to himself, "Tomorrow… the world changes again."