Chapter 45 A Sign Of Great Change (2)

Thursday 11 AM, Obelisk Organization Headquarters, Meeting Room

Twenty-one powerful individuals were sitting across each other as a long rectangular sturdy table sets them apart. Any other person who will mistakenly go to such kind of meeting will be crushed just by pressure exuded by a single individual, but in the presence of twenty-one 'Players', if each of their aura was released, it will cause destruction not just in Obelisk City, but of the Country Olympia itself.

"Alright, everybody is here, let us begin as this will not take long." Spoken by a man in his late 60s, but his feature was like in his forties due to the effects of 'Mana' on human physique after the Emergence. He has brown hair, yellowish eyes, and a stature of 182 cm. He has a gentle demeanor, but if one didn't know, his tone of speaking contains a condescending tone, but such use of tone didn't come from just arrogance, but from an arrogance backed by his 'status' as every individual in the 'meeting room' consists of the TOP 10 Players in the Human Domain, and their attendants for each of individual. Each 'Player' here was ranked S and above, with the SSS+ as the highest.

"Emmanuel, please brief us on the situation." Spoken by a man with a cheerful expression. He has short black hair, light black eyes, and a stature of 178 cm. A Japanese-borne lineage in his late 50s, but looked like in his early 30s, who is the father of Anya Amasawa; Makoto Amasawa.

Although Emmanuel Lyncoster was a scholar and a researcher, he was a S+ rank 'Player', not just because of his 'Authority: Backward Clairvoryance'.

After some greetings and pleasantries, Emmanuel Lyncoster spoke in a manner befitting a researcher who was presenting his findings.

[Activating Skill: System's World Memory (S+)

[Conjuring the 'World Announcement' messages to the 'Targeted Players']

With the use of one of his skills under the 'Authority: Backward Clairvoyance', Emmanuel conjured the 'World Announcement' messages as holographic screen projections appeared in front of all individuals in the meeting room which included each attendant of the TOP 10 'Players'.

It was consists of a total of eight holographic screens which were historically six, but the cause of this urgent meeting was due to the mysterious two 'World Announcement' earlier that made it eight.

The First holographic screen was about the catastrophe that struck the world out of nowhere which was the 'Emergence of Races' that happened nearly 40 years ago.

The Second holographic screen pertained to the Status Window information, as well as its instructions of use. It happened just a week after the 'Emergence' also dubbed as 'Forlorn of Humanity' where normal society and every kind of government instantly crumbled due to the cataclysmic earthquake that caused more than five billion deaths.

The Third to Sixth holographic screen shows what happened within the almost 40 years after the new kind of lifestyle was forced on humanity.

The Third World Announcement consists of unknown Trials that were given by various known Constellations under the Neutral System which prohibited the "direct" intervention of Constellations under the Good and Evil System which were prone to possible biases, but during the Trials, a 'Player' could lean towards the Good System, or be under the corruption of Evil System unconsciously based on human nature itself.

This World Announcement happened one month after the 'Emergence' which caused humanity to have no rest, and experience continuous turmoil from the crumbled society.

And with the information about Dungeon Towers and Strayed Dungeons given by the System, they served as Training Grounds apart from Close Mystery Towers that even after almost 40 years were still closed.

With more than 3 billion people, millions were selected across the world and were given the Duration of 3 Earth Years to prepare.

The Fourth World Announcement happened ten years after the 'Emergence', and seven years after the unknown 'Trials' which was later called 'Trials of the Stars'.

This World Announcement consists of information about 'Races' that were deemed friendly to humanity by the System for unknown reasons, this prompted the selected humans to venture on a long journey as the locations of other 'races' were unknown. These races consisted of Elves and Dwarves.

The Fifth World Announcement pertained to the 'creation' of Warp Gates, which happened three years after the Fourth World Announcement. This World Announcement was mainly targeted at humanity because before the Constellation [Warper of Space] transferred the other races from across the 'Great Universe', some of them already had or knew how to construct the complex 'Warp Gates.'

The System guided humanity under the Constellation [Warper of Space]'s authority for faster travel, especially after the first contact with Elves and Dwarves.

The Sixth World Announcement was about the 'creation' of Guilds or Factions. Before this announcement, humanity became one government throughout the years.

This happened 20 years after the 'Emergence' which caused other Countries, and other hidden factions to be born.

With the creation of Guilds and Factions, opportunities were given to 'Players' who were not chosen for the 'Trials of the Stars' because when a player who didn't have a Constellation managed to join a Guild, that individual will be granted something called 'star blessing' which gives various effects depending on the player's profession.

And now…

[World Announcement!

Some True Ancient Constellations have sensed a mysterious presence in the 'Planet Earth']

…

[World Announcement!

Some True Ancient Constellations went back to their slumber as the mysterious presence instantly vanished, wondering if they were mistaken]

Two 'World Announcements' that happened within a span of minute were sent to everyone across the world.

With Emmanuel Lyncoster's help, under the 'Authority' of the Constellation [One Who Oversees the Past], he could project System World Announcements and record them because these kinds of messages cannot be browsed again in the System after a very short period of time after the notification.

"Based on the subsequent world announcements, we discovered three things; One, there are Constellations with higher power than we know so far; and Two, there is a mysterious presence here on our world; and lastly, three, True Ancient Constellations based on the System's message they are on a state of something called 'Slumber', and with this, we can infer that 'one day', they will wake up for some reason, we do not know when."

Emmanuel delivered his assumptions as he stood in front of the twenty people inside the meeting room while remaining composed befitting of someone as a true scholar and researcher who didn't get fazed especially in front of TOP 10 'Players'.

After some contemplation, a question was raised.

"So far, as per the prior System's information, there are only three kinds of Constellations' status which are the 'Half-Light Constellation, Lumen Constellation, and the Great Lumen Constellation… and now, one is added which is called True Ancient Constellation, but based on the eighth 'world announcement', when they wondered if they were mistaken about the presence of something mysterious, can we really come to a conclusion that they were stronger than the other Constellations' status, especially the Great Lumen one?"

A beautiful, alluring woman with bluish eyes like sapphire, blonde hair, and a stature of 172 cm spoke her thoughts, prompting the other individuals in the meeting room to think about her question.

After some time, almost every player looked at the individual sitting at the end of the oval table as if they were expecting an answer.

"Mr. Hall, what are your opinions? Did your Constellation communicates with you earlier?"

The woman asked the number 1 'Player' in the human domain, Artorious Hall who is the father of Samantha Hall!

He has a fitted body ideal for a man, with a stature of 184 cm, grayish eyes that seemed like devoid of reality, and brownish short hair.

Artorious, whose hands clasped together under his chin as his shoulders were placed on the table spoke in an authoritarian manner.

"Yes, True Ancient Constellations are above the Great Lumen ones according to my Constellation, he vaguely told me that they do not interfere with 'worldly' matters… that we should not worry about them."

They expected an answer from him because other Constellations that were contracted to each individual in the meeting room aside from him were at most on Lumen status, but Artorious Hall was contracted with a Great Lumen Constellation.

And during the almost four decades, some humans realized that Constellations were not omniscient beings that know everything, though it didn't mean they were lacking knowledge and wisdom, some mysteries to humanity were known to them, and in the same way, some mysteries to humanity… are also a mystery to them.

Silence scattered inside the meeting room after hearing Artorious Hall's words.

Then without further ado, Emmanuel said,

"As there are lands and oceans not explored or discovered, we do not know if the mysterious existence based on the System World Announcements are related to humanity or what exactly its nature. Any suggestions are welcome to take necessary actions…"

After some time of discussion, the Obelisk Organization's main heads decided that they would communicate with Elves, and Dwarves for more information.

…

Room 31, Amelie's Dormitory, Rigel Building

Amelie Rose went back to her dorm room after lunch as the classes ended at 12:00 noon. She managed to attend her last class which was the 'Emergence History and Widely known Constellations' (EHWC). She got questioned because of her absence during the P.E class as she told Freya with a smiling expression and cheerful tone that she woke up late, and her sleep was more relaxing than ever, though Freya still felt suspicious, she accepted it at the moment.

Then during lunch with Freya, as well as Amery, a voice rang in her head which prompted her to flinch slightly that was noticed by the duo, but ignored it.

She recalled the familiar voice that entered her head…

'Later at night, 11 PM, I'll go there again…'

Although she understood that not everything was over based on what Russell Moon said last night, she couldn't believe it when she checked the messages from the System about the benefits of what she went through.

'I'll tell him… perhaps he already knows.'

She thought as her resolve was fixed at the moment of telling Russell about the 'Dark Tears', No, her predicament.

…

Eleven in the evening, Room 31, Amelie's Dormitory.

Russell who wore the 'Mask of Night' appeared from the shadows on the floor of Amelie's dorm.

Amelie who saw again for the second time with her pair of eyes felt a baffling sense of wonder as she thought that this man has many secrets… but she has too.

'I got scolded by my younger sister… I told her that I felt lazy to attend classes. Haha'

Russell recalled her younger sister's nagging with his half-truth answer as to why he was absent earlier in class.

After he was snapped out of his thoughts, he asked Amelie who was sitting on the comfortable couch, eating a bacon sandwich at the moment.

"Are you ready?"

"What's next?" She asked as she took a light bite on the bacon sandwich she was holding with her right hand, and Russell, who saw this sat beside her, maintaining a certain distance also grab a bite as she prepared for an extra.

"Well… how do I say it…"

As Russell spoke, he remembered again the 'World Announcement' earlier in the morning that made him drenched in cold sweat.

'I'll ask my Goddess about that.' He thought, and as he realized how he referred to the Goddess of Night, he almost face-palmed in front of Amelie.

'I'm subconsciously subservient!' he lampooned inwardly.

After some time, he spoke to Amelie, saying the next step. When Amelie heard him, she doubted if her ears were in the right condition as she asked him again.

"Training Grounds? What are we going to do at such a place?"

"Hmm… Don't mind it, you'll know when we get there. Are you done?"

He took a glance on his side as he saw her finish her midnight snack, and Amelie who saw his glance nodded at him as she chew the last bacon sandwich.

'You're faster than me at eating...' she lampooned.

"Okay, let's go."

Russell stood up and took out an ominous-looking 'key' from his Dimensional Inventory, it has a symbol carved on its head part like the one on the 'mask' he was wearing.

Amelie who saw it also stood up, feeling a sense of apprehension because of the unknown.

Then Russell, who was holding the 'True Key of Chaos' thrust it in the air, prompting Amelie to look at her side, tilting her head in confusion, but after a second or two, a crack appeared on where Russell thrust the 'key'.

'What in the world…'

Amelie's eyes felt like they consumed something mysterious as the scene in front of her reflected in her eyes.

A dark blue aura gushes out in bare minimum as a space opened out of nowhere, then Russell held her shoulder; before she could say something, both of them were sucked into the torn fabric of space.