"They adapted faster than I expected…" he said observing his fellow surgeons...
No, faster than anyone should have.
They weren't just strong. They were structured. Organized. Each of them had become a core pillar, not just individually powerful, but functioning as anchors that stabilized the mana flow around them. Their presence alone reduced environmental volatility in their regions.
S-Rank wasn't just a measure of strength anymore.
It was a classification of influence. Of authority over reality within localized zones.
Bruce's expression hardened slightly.
"That explains how humanity is still standing…"
But it wasn't all controlled.
Beyond the fortified zones, chaos ruled.
There were vast territories where human authority simply didn't exist anymore. Areas dominated by evolved creatures, mana-born entities, or phenomena that didn't fit into any biological classification.
Some regions even showed signs of… intelligence.
Not human.
But organized. Adaptive. Watching.
