Morning sunlight spilled across the marble floors of the mansion, warm and golden. The curtains were still half-drawn when the quiet knock came on Vaibhav's door.
"Vaibhy," Prabhat's voice called softly. "Wake up." Vaibhav groaned, dragging the blanket over his head.
A second voice chimed in through the door—bright, gentle.
"Vaibhav… today's special," Alicia said.
Vaibhav blinked.
"…Special?"
The door opened, and Prabhat stepped inside with an unusually calm smile.
"Happy birthday, Vaibhy."
Before Vaibhav could react, Alicia peeked behind Prabhat and added softly,
"And… happy birthday to me too."
Vaibhav shot upright.
"Oh— right! It's our— I didn't— I totally forgot—"
A soft laugh came from the hallway.
"I knew you'd forget," Anika said, leaning on the doorframe with her arms crossed.
A moment later, more footsteps.
Yan'er approached with a warm smile.
Arjun nodded from behind her.
Theo gave a lazy salute.
Daichi burst into the room holding a plate piled with pancakes, shouting:
"HAPPY BIRTHDAAAY—"
Theo immediately whacked him on the head with a pillow.
"NOT WITH FOOD IN YOUR HAND!!"
Daichi pouted dramatically while stuffing a pancake into his mouth anyway.
Vivan followed next, offering a gentle nod.
A warm chorus echoed from everyone:
"Happy birthday."
Vaibhav rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed.
"Uh… thanks."
Alicia smiled shyly. "Thank you, everyone…"
Then—
Footsteps heavier than the rest descended the stairs.
A cold, calm and overwhelming familiar presence washed through the mansion like a silent wave.
Lin Xuan appeared.
Freshly washed, hair tied loosely behind him, aura perfectly controlled yet unmistakably vast. He stopped in front of the two birthday kids.
"Today," Lin Xuan said, voice serene but firm,
"the both of you become adults."
Vaibhav straightened instinctively.
Alicia clasped her hands nervously.
Lin Xuan continued,
"We're going out."
Behind him, Daichi gasped, crumbs flying everywhere.
"SPACE TRIP!! RIGHT!?"
Theo kicked him.
"DON'T SPRAY YOUR BREAKFAST ALL OVER THE FLOOR!!"
Daichi caught the falling crumbs midair with inhuman reflex.
"That was reflex."
Theo facepalmed.
"I hate you."
Lin Xuan ignored them, already turning toward the garage.
"Everyone. Let's go."
The group followed, and the garage door slid open to reveal a colossal, sleek structure gleaming under soft blue lights—
A starship.
Black, polished, lined with nebula-blue accents and thruster rings that hummed faintly like a heartbeat.
Alicia gasped softly.
"It's… beautiful."
Vaibhav blinked.
"I thought we were going in a normal spaceship… this looks like a military battleship."
Theo smirked.
"It's Big Brother's old ship."
Vaibhav froze.
"…Old?"
Anika whispered to Alicia,
"He has five more."
Alicia almost choked on air.
Lin Xuan walked in without a word, and everyone followed.
The ship hummed to life the moment he sat in the front seat.
Panels lit up.
Holograms flickered on.
Gravity stabilizers engaged with a smooth pulse.
Within seconds—
The ship lifted.
Then—
FWOOOOSH!
They shot through the atmosphere, leaving streaks of blue light behind them.
Alicia pressed her face against the window.
Vaibhav stared wide-eyed at the stars.
Daichi munched snacks as if space travel was normal.
Theo fought Daichi for the snack bag.
Vivan read a book.
Arjun meditated.
Yan'er leaned back peacefully.
And Lin Xuan stared out the front viewport in perfect silence, gaze unreadable.
It took only minutes before an island came into view—
Floating in space.
Lit by rings of pale-blue lights.
Shaped like a crescent.
Covered with buildings, neon signs, water tubes, amusement parks, sky-rails, gravity-free zones, floating gardens.
A chunk of Mercury itself—
turned into a luxurious entertainment district.
"Whoa…" Vaibhav whispered.
"It really looks like a piece of a planet."
Alicia's eyes sparkled.
"It's so pretty…"
Prabhat smiled.
"Welcome to Mercury Haven. Entry fee: 50 UC."
Vaibhav nearly fell out of his seat.
"50 UC!? That's 2500 Bitcoins!! EACH!?"
1UC=50Bitcoin—BC.
Theo smirked.
"Relax. Big Brother bought whole Island for this day."
The ship docked smoothly.
A small, peaceful moment passed.
But far away from this warmth—
on United Earth itself—
Chaos had already begun.
The world didn't take long to hear the news.
Screens flickered in every major city.
News drones hovered.
Social feeds exploded.
Security networks went on alert.
Everywhere—
The same headline appeared:
"NETHYRA CLAN ANNIHILATED— NO SURVIVORS."
The footage was blurry, corrupted by aura.
The courtyard was a smear of red dust.
The stone gate was reduced to particles.
The mansion stood half-collapsed.
But one figure was unmistakable—
A silhouette walking through the blood-mist.
Black coat.
Dark aura.
White pupils glowing like cold stars.
People whispered.
"Is that… him?"
"After eight years… Lin Xuan moved?"
"What triggered him…?"
"Why now?"
"Did someone provoke the Obsidian Onyx Guild…?"
"Is he planning something bigger?"
No one had answers.
But everyone knew one thing—
If he moved…
Nothing good would follow.
Not for enemies.
Not for threats.
Not for anyone foolish enough to stand in his way.
And so—
Panic spread like wildfire.
In the heart of United Earth, buried beneath the colossal Towers of Unity, a sealed chamber awakened for the first time in eight years.
Anti-aura barriers hummed to life.
Gene-locks rotated.
The temperature dropped as twelve layers of security unfolded one by one.
Why?
Because there was only one reason the world's strongest powers would gather:
Lin Xuan had moved.
And the moment his name resurfaced—
The 10 Great Organisations of Earth
the pillars that ruled the planet's economy, military, sciences, cultures, and politics
were forced to answer.
One by one, their leaders arrived.
Each powerful enough to shake continents.
Each commanding empires.
Together, they formed—
The Decem Sovereigns.
The Ten Great Clans of United Earth.
And they gathered today for survival.
1. Dragonfang Consortium
Leader: Zhao Kenjiro
Domain: Central United Earth (co-ruler)
'The strongest of the Ten.'
Chinese-Japanese lineage. Tall, sharp-eyed, presence colder than steel.
His clan controls half the planet's technological innovation, cybernetics, weapon blueprints, and gene-research labs—the beating heart of global progress.
2. Nakamura Clan
Leader: Arun Nakamura
Domain: Central United Earth (co-ruler)
'The strongest of the Ten.'
Half Japanese, half Indian. A warrior with hurricane blood and unbroken soldier pride.
His clan forges humanity's ultimate combat units—unbreakable soldiers born from brutal discipline.
If Dragonfang rules through intelligence and control…
Nakamura rules through raw, unstoppable military might.
The two titans share the Central heartlands, and neither will ever yield.
3. Seraphim Circle
Leader: Lucienne De Silva
Domain: Eastern Territories
Silver-haired, golden-eyed, beauty that feels like blasphemy.
A living angel sculpted from forbidden rituals.
Her organisation masters gene ascension, psychic domination, and angelic augmentations no sane mind would attempt.
She smiles like she already owns every soul in the room—and half the table believes her.
The East bows to her silent command.
4. Valhalla Syndicate
Leader: Axel Gunnarson
Domain: Western Frontier
Towering Nordic beast. Scarred face, ice-grey eyes, voice like rolling thunder.
His organisation commands the planet's deadliest mercenary legions—armies that live for war and die laughing.
Wherever chaos blooms, Valhalla reaps.
Even among monsters, Axel is the biggest.
5. Stormborn Union
Leader: Erik Johnson
Domain: Northern Regions
Thunderous voice. Athletic build. Known equally for his calmness and ruthlessness.
His organisation dominates weather-manipulation tech, storm reactors, and aerial battleship fleets.
When Erik moves, thunder follows—always.
6. Aegis Dominion
Leader: Marcus Diodoros
Domain: Southern Bastions
Bronze-skinned, muscular, eyes burning with barely contained fury.
His organisation builds the most powerful shields, barriers, and fortress-cities on Earth.
But Marcus carries one open wound:
He hates Lin Xuan.
And he makes no effort to hide it.
7. Kusanagi–Rajput House
Leader: Takeda Pratap
Domain: Northeast Highlands
Hybrid lineage of Japanese sword saints and Indian warrior kings.
Every member is a duelist—honor-bound, razor-sharp, and lethal.
Takeda himself is a walking blade: refined, disciplined, yet stubborn with pride that borders on arrogance.
8. Suleiman Order
Leader: Farid Albrecht
Domain: Southwest Enclaves
Calm-eyed scholar-warrior. Half Middle-Eastern, half European.
He fuses faith and science—quantum tech entwined with spiritual doctrines.
His organisation is balanced, steady, and frighteningly efficient.
They never waste a single move.
9. Azura-Kai Sect
Leader: Hiro Kalani
Domain: Global Oceans & Island Dominions
Tanned skin, ocean-blue eyes, always smiling like a carefree surfer—
until the fight begins.
Then he becomes a monster: a hurricane of fluid, unpredictable violence.
His organisation rules the seas, deep-sea resources, and scattered island chains.
Friendly on the surface.
Terrifying underneath.
10. Han-Seong Guild
Leader: Kim Wei-Lang
Domain: Global Trade & Information Networks (Southeast hub)
Smooth, polite, always smiling, fan in hand.
A businessman. A manipulator. A spy.
His guild owns the global economy, trade routes, assassination networks, and every information web that matters.
He is the man who knows everything—
even the secrets no one should.
These ten leaders—
ten forces that ruled humanity—
ten beings who stood above nations—
met around a round table forged from Lunarglass.
Outside, the world trembled.
Inside, their faces hardened.
Because even united…
Even together…
None of them truly knew—
What Lin Xuan would do next.
The chamber trembled with the overlapping voices of the world's strongest leaders.
A hologram of the destroyed Nethyra estate hovered above the table—
red mist, broken pillars, cracked marble, and a single silhouette walking through blooded dust.
Lin Xuan.
The very name sent a ripple through all ten powerhouses.
Marcus Diodoros, the hot-blooded leader of the Aegis Dominion, slammed his hand on the table.
"He massacred an entire clan! His power is growing too fast. We need to stop him before—"
Zhao Kenjiro didn't even let him finish.
"Oh? You think you can stop Lin Xuan?"
Kenjiro leaned forward, his cold eyes locking onto Marcus with disdain.
"Even I— the strongest person here—can't defeat him."
Then he smirked.
"And you think you can? Hm?"
A vein popped in Marcus' forehead.
Before he could roar back—
Arun Nakamura slammed his palm on the table.
"Wait—what did you just say!?"
Arun glared at Kenjiro.
"You are the 'strongest'!? You piece of sh*t! I'm the strongest!"
Kenjiro didn't blink.
"You motherf*cker.
I'm.
The.
Strongest."
Hiro Kalani sipped tea.
Kim Wei-Lang covered his face.
Farid Albrecht sighed into his hands.
Lucienne De Silva looked like she was used to it.
Takeda Pratap muttered, "Here they go again…"
It was obvious—they were all used to this.
Before either of them could escalate further—
THUD.
A loud slap echoed through the chamber.
Everyone turned.
Lucienne De Silva of the Seraphim Circle had slammed her hand on the table — face calm, eyes cold as ice.
Kenjiro blinked.
"Lucy? You want to say something?"
Lucienne nodded once.
Axel frowned.
"What the hell does that nod even mean?"
Kenjiro didn't hesitate.
"She's saying we should stop arguing. We were discussing something important. And neither of us are the strongest. It's Lin Xuan."
Arun and Kenjiro both froze.
Then in perfect sync:
"…Well… that's true."
Alex glared again.
"How the hell do you understand her nodding?!"
Kenjiro shrugged with a proud scoff.
"Well… You guys wouldn't understand."
Lucienne nodded again, approving.
The tension eased, and Arun finally exhaled.
Then he spoke, voice calmer.
"It's been eight years since Lin Xuan did something like this… and Ken and I owe him our lives."
The room went quiet.
Even Marcus's rage softened.
Arun continued,
"So we're not going against him."
Kenjiro leaned back, arms folded.
"Yeah. And the Nethyra Clan was far from innocent."
Hiro nodded.
Farid hummed in agreement.
But the moment felt short-lived.
Erik Johnson slammed both palms on the table, thunder crackling around his body.
"We have to do something! He doesn't care about humanity, and if he turns against us—"
A loud crackle shook the room as lightning formed around his arms.
"—we must kill him before he kills us!"
The chamber froze as every clan leader turned toward him.
And before anyone could respond—
A voice cut through the air.
Cold. Calm. Lethal.
The chamber door opened without sound.
A young man stepped inside.
He was tall and elegant, his black hair tied loosely, his sharp eyes beautiful—yet terrifyingly empty..
The temperature dropped instantly.
Dion.
He walked in as if the room belonged to him.
"Oh?" he said softly, his voice carrying across the hall like a blade sliding free of its sheath.
"You think you can kill my master?"
Lightning vanished from Erik's hands instantly.
Every clan leader stiffened.
Farid inhaled sharply.
Lucienne's smile vanished.
Erik froze mid-breath.
A moment later.
Kim Wei-Lang, leader of the Han-Seong Guild, stood up in shock.
"Mr. Dion…?"
Dion smiled pleasantly.
"It's been a while, Lord Wei-Lang."
His eyes shifted, cold and calm—
"And no… none of you will lay a hand on my master."
The room fell completely silent.
After a few moments.
Zhao Kenjiro raised a hand casually and broke the silence.
"Yo, Dion. It's been a while."
Arun Nakamura smirked, arms crossed. "Yeah. You suddenly vanished after we refused. Thought you were hiding from us."
Dion blinked once, expression flat.
"It has only been a few months."
Kenjiro shrugged. "That's long for someone like you."
Arun snorted.
"You didn't even say hello properly. Still rude as always."
Dion stared at them both.
"…Hello."
Kenjiro and Arun nodded, satisfied.
Everyone else just stared.
The two strongest clan leaders greeting Lin Xuan's attendant like he was an old brother was insane enough.
But the casualness?
Terrifying.
Dion turned his gaze toward the remaining clan leaders — the ones who weren't smiling, weren't relaxed, and definitely weren't happy to see him(except for Lucienne).
Erik Johnson scoffed loudly.
"So Lin Xuan didn't even bother coming himself," he said, voice dripping with contempt.
"He sent his slave to answer us."
The word echoed through the chamber with venom.
Marcus Diodoros leaned forward, smirking cruelly.
"Slave? No, no… he's not even that.
You're not a man.
You're not a woman.
What even are you?"
His tone was mocking, disgusting.
Lucienne De Silva watched silently, lips curling with faint amusement. Because she knew what would happen to those two "IDIOTS."
Erik added, laughing,
"You were once called the most beautiful spirit in the Nexus.
And now look at you — reduced to a man.
Pathetic."
The words struck something deep.
Dion's eyes narrowed just a fraction — and suddenly, a flash burned through his mind.
A flashback hit. A much younger Lin Xuan — perhaps eighteen — stood.
His eyes were filled with confusion, shock, and… worry?
"Daeun…" he said softly, voice cracking.
"Why did you do that…?"
The memory cut off abruptly.
Present-day Dion inhaled once — slow, steady.
Then he raised his gaze, eyes sharp like cold blades.
"You pieces of sh*t," he said softly,
"you think I care about your words?"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Erik roared and slammed his palms together, lightning erupting around him.
Marcus activated his defensive aura, a golden dome forming around his body.
Both of them charged at Dion from opposite sides—
The chamber shook.
The table cracked.
Farid and Takeda braced instinctively.
But Dion… didn't even blink.
He simply lifted two fingers…
…and flicked the air.
Tap.
A sound softer than a raindrop.
Erik froze mid-lunge.
Marcus's aura shattered like glass.
BOOOOM!
Both men were thrown across the chamber, slamming into opposite walls hard enough to fracture the Lunarglass surface.
They collapsed instantly, unconscious, limbs twitching, eyes rolled back.
Not dead.
But completely unable to fight.
Dion brushed imaginary dust off his sleeve.
Then he spoke again, tone colder than before—
"Next time you speak about my form or my past…
I'll remove your ability to speak entirely."
Every leader in the chamber went silent.
Even Zhao Kenjiro stopped smirking.
Even Arun straightened.
Because they all knew—
Dion wasn't bluffing.
He didn't bluff.
The chamber was silent after Erik and Marcus hit the walls.
Dion didn't spare them another glance.
He reached into his coat and pulled out a small obsidian-colored data drive—etched with the symbol of the Obsidian Onyx Guild.
He placed it gently on the Lunarglass table.
"This," Dion said quietly,
"contains all the evidence against the Nethyra Clan."
The hologram above the table flickered.
Files opened.
Images appeared:
● illegal Asura-technology
● hidden portals
● Asura blood rituals
● maps marked with invasion points
● data logs of Nethyra providing resources to Asura warlords
Farid Albrecht's eyes widened.
Lucienne De Silva leaned forward with real interest.
Takeda Pratap clenched his jaw.
Hiro Kalani's cheerful expression vanished entirely.
Dion continued, his tone clinical.
"They were working with the Asuras.
Trading human captives.
Smuggling artifacts.
Preparing a gate breach."
The room temperature dropped.
Even the strongest leaders stiffened.
Dion finally straightened.
"And I apologize on my master's behalf," he said with a polite bow,
"He was unable to attend this meeting."
Zhao Kenjiro waved his hand dismissively.
"Nah. No need to apologize."
Arun nodded.
"Lin Xuan doesn't owe anyone an explanation."
Takeda Pratap added softly,
"A clan working with Asuras deserves worse."
Dion's expression remained calm.
But something in his eyes softened—
just for a second.
Then he turned and walked out.
Leaving the ten greatest leaders of Earth in utter silence.
The starship door opened with a soft hiss.
Lin Xuan stepped out first.
Vaibhav and Alicia followed, eyes wide as the floating island stretched before them— Mercury Haven, glowing under artificial starlight.
But something felt off.
The walkways were empty.
The sky-rails inactive.
The entire amusement district… silent.
No people.
No staff.
No crowds.
Vaibhav blinked twice.
"Uh… why is this place so empty?
Does nobody come here?"
Lin Xuan responded plainly.
"It's not like that.
I bought the entire island for today."
Vaibhav almost fainted on the spot.
"B–b–bought?
The whole island?
But 1 UC is 50 Bitcoins!
Then buying an entire island like this— that's— that's—"
Lin Xuan tapped his forehead lightly with two fingers.
"Don't think so much, kid."
Anika wrapped her arm around Vaibhav's shoulder.
"Yeah, stop calculating and enjoy! It's your birthday."
Alicia giggled softly.
Vaibhav, still mentally exploding, nodded stiffly.
Meanwhile, Theo whispered to Daichi:
"He's going to get nosebleeds from stress."
Daichi whispered back, mouth full:
"Can we eat the entire island's food now?"
Theo: "No."
As they reached the entertainment district, Anika clapped her hands.
"Alright! Perfect timing!
There's a romantic movie playing in Theatre Hall 3."
Vaibhav blinked.
Alicia blinked.
"Okay…?" Vaibhav asked slowly.
Anika turned toward the two, her smile turning mischievous.
"You two should go watch it together."
Vaibhav's face turned red instantly.
"W–wait—alone? Why us? What will you do?"
Anika leaned closer, whispering teasingly:
"Why?
Because I want you two to get a little closer.
Maybe in the dim theatre light…
there might be a chance for a kiss~"
Alicia froze, ears red.
Vaibhav looked like he got hit by lightning.
"W–WHAT!?"
"Aw, look at them blush," Yan'er said softly, smiling.
Anika then turned toward Lin Xuan.
"And we—me, Yan'er, and Brother Lin—are going to watch a romantic movie in Theatre Hall 1."
Lin Xuan paused.
"I am not interested in romantic movies.
So I am not coming."
Anika raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really?
Did you forget you promised me you'd do anything I say?"
> "No."
> "You will."
> "No."
> "Yes."
Lin Xuan exhaled.
"…Alright. Alright. I'm coming."
Vaibhav whispered to Alicia:
"We're doomed."
Alicia whispered back:
"…I know."
And Anika grinned like a demon who had orchestrated everything perfectly.
"Okay!" Anika clapped her hands. "Everyone else can pick a different movie or go to the amusement park. Your choice."
Daichi raised his hand immediately.
"ROLLER COASTER!!"
Theo grabbed his collar.
"You just want to eat snacks while screaming—"
Daichi nodded proudly.
"Yes."
Theo: "That wasn't a compliment!!"
Lin Xuan ignored them.
Anika pulled him and Yan'er toward Theatre Hall 1.
Vaibhav and Alicia were gently pushed into Theatre Hall 3.
The rest of the family cheerfully headed to the roller coaster section.
Two theatres.
Two atmospheres.
Two different types of chaos.
Teen Theatre – Hall 3
The lights dimmed to a soft rose hue.
Vaibhav and Alicia sat side by side, both stiff as statues, their shoulders barely brushing.
On-screen, the romantic leads were confessing under starlight.
Alicia's fingers trembled.
Vaibhav's heart hammered so loud he was sure she could hear.
Slowly—almost painfully slowly—they inched closer.
Her head tilted.
His breath hitched.
The soft glow of the screen painted their faces in warm colors.
Alicia whispered,
"…Vaibhav…"
He whispered back,
"…Yeah…?"
Their noses brushed—
Then they kissed. It was soft, nervous and warm.
Alicia's cheeks turned crimson.
Vaibhav forgot how to breathe.
But neither pulled away.
Adult Theatre – Hall 1
The movie played softly in the background—dramatic music swelling, two actors confessing on a bridge.
But the real drama wasn't on-screen.
It was in the back row.
Anika leaned toward Lin Xuan with a grin.
"Hey. Kiss me."
Lin Xuan blinked slowly.
"…What?"
"I told you," Anika said, eyes sparkling,
"Kiss me."
Before he could respond—
she grabbed his collar and kissed him herself.
Yan'er gasped quietly beside them, face completely red.
Anika pulled away and smirked.
"See? Easy."
Then she pointed at Yan'er.
"Now kiss her."
Lin Xuan frowned.
"No. Not without her consent."
Anika scoffed.
"Oh, please. You kill people without asking—just kiss her. Besides…"
She leaned closer.
"…She likes you too."
Yan'er covered her mouth with her sleeve, trembling.
Lin Xuan turned to her gently.
"Yan'er…
Can I?"
Yan'er didn't trust her voice.
So she nodded.
Lin Xuan leaned in—
And kissed her.
Yan'er's hands trembled.
Her heart raced.
But she didn't move away.
Her cheeks burned the color of a sunset.
Anika squealed quietly, whispering,
"Kyaaaaaa~ romantic…"
Meanwhile—
Arjun, Vivan, and Prabhat sat calmly on the coaster.
Daichi sat next to Theo…
Still eating snacks.
Even as the coaster climbed a 90-degree drop.
Theo screamed,
"STOP EATING DURING A FREEFALL YOU MANIAC—!"
Daichi finally sighed,
"Fine…"
He lowered the snack bag—
Grabbed Theo's collar—
And YEETED him off the coaster.
Theo spun through the air.
Into space.
Far off in the distance, his echoing voice rang out:
"DAAAAAAICHHHIIIIII—!!!"
Daichi shrugged.
"He'll be back."
Arjun didn't even react.
Vivan calmly marked a page in his book.
Just another normal family outing.
Back in Theatre Hall 1, the movie played quietly while Lin Xuan and Yan'er awkwardly tried to regain composure.
Anika leaned back comfortably.
"By the way," she whispered,
"Daeun should have been here. Don't you think?"
Yan'er instantly shook her head.
"No. She wouldn't come."
Anika raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?"
Yan'er looked toward the glowing screen, voice soft and honest.
"…Because… she's afraid."
"Afraid of what?" Anika asked.
Yan'er's fingers played with her sleeve, cheeks pink.
"She's afraid of falling in love with Brother Lin."
Anika: Yes, I totally forgot.
Lin Xuan sighed deeply—
as if dealing with emotions was far more troublesome than killing clans.
And the movie continued playing…
quietly wrapping them all in a rare warmth.