Chapter 365 - Phase 4
# [BREAKING NEWS] Urgent announcement! Currently, all ability users' powers have suddenly gone berserk, causing abnormal phenomena across cities worldwide! Citizens are advised to evacuate to safe shelters...
It happened in an instant.
The international community had been proceeding unsteadily as usual. Occasionally, some villain would launch a terrorist attack and destroy a city, and conflicts never ceased... but society was somehow managing to function.
Until suddenly, it happened.
[...Experts speculate that supernatural ability users' powers have been enhanced for some unknown reason, and they are currently investigating the cause. This situation, dubbed "Inflation," is expected to have significant repercussions, with particular concerns about the aftermath of large-scale terrorist attacks by villains...]
It was the secondary awakening of ability users.
Without any context, as if evolving, all ability users' powers suddenly strengthened in an instant.
This caused major reverberations throughout society.
Especially among villains.
[Breaking news! Simultaneous terrorist attacks are occurring worldwide! The scale is reportedly massive...]
Along with the anchor's words, footage appeared on screen.
It showed heroes and villains fighting on top of buildings in foreign cities.
A familiar scene of terrorism.
...However, something was different.
[Hahaha. Fireball!]
The casual words and actions of a masked villain.
But the aftermath was anything but casual.
[KWAAAAAAAAAANG]
A massive burning sphere formed in the sky, like a giant meteor.
As it emitted tremendous heat visible to the naked eye, seemingly intent on destroying the entire city below, everyone watching was gripped with fear.
[HUAAAAP!]
The hero opposing him was equally formidable.
A massive golden shield formed against the falling fireball.
KWAAAANG.
Finally, the two collided, creating an enormous explosion.
And so.
This kind of sudden unrest began to occur worldwide.
In theory, since both heroes and villains had become stronger, it might not have seemed like such a big problem.
But the real issue was that villains who once destroyed single buildings now threatened entire cities, and those who once threatened cities now endangered entire countries.
[Breaking news! Several villains are currently causing disturbances in the heart of Washington state. They were originally A-class villains but have now acquired S-class powers due to the Inflation incident...]
[The capital of India is currently experiencing riots by a puppet organization. They have occupied the area around the Indian Association and continue their terrorism...]
[Incidents of ability users causing accidental damage due to their suddenly enhanced powers are increasing worldwide. The number of reported cases so far...]
[The International Association has issued a statement. They are immediately reassessing the rankings of ability users and villains, and are making maximum efforts to resolve the situation. However, netizens are protesting, asking "what exactly are they doing?"]
The international community had always been in a precarious state.
Increasing numbers of villains and terrorist attacks. The sudden increase in ability users. The International Association losing control. Even countries like Brazil, China, and Japan falling to villains.
And in such a situation.
The Republic of Korea, once a country with more villains than any other and daily terrorist attacks.
This country, which seemed most vulnerable to the sudden power inflation...
*
[Opinion: Honestly, upvote if you don't feel any impact from all this world chaos lol]
Starting with me lololol
Is the Association just doing their job too well? What's going on lololol
[Likes] 3806 [Dislikes] 47
=[Comments]=
[For real lol]
[Exactly, the news makes foreign countries look like it's the end of the world, but Korea seems unaffected lololol]
[Is this the K-civic consciousness that surprises Japan and makes China tremble..?]
ㄴ[Actually those two aren't that affected either lol]
[Jokes aside, why is our country the only peaceful one? It doesn't seem like the dramatic situation portrayed in the news]
ㄴ[Because we have so many heroes]
ㄴ[More precisely, Yu-seong Group hired most ability users in advance + those guys beat up villains. Even those B-class and below heroes have become super strong now lol]
ㄴ[Because GOAT Lee Seol-ah prepared for everything]
ㄴ[For real? From today I'm mindlessly supporting Ice Mango]
[But it feels like the calm before the storm since Celeste, the #1 ranked villain, and other top-tier villains have been suspiciously quiet... They must be incredibly powerful now, and we have no idea how they'll react]
ㄴ[True, major villains like Atlas and Testeus, and Asian ones like Katana, Li Xiaopeng, and Egostic are all quiet. Something's up, and when they all return, it could be chaos]
ㄴ[The reason Egostic is quiet is... never mind]
ㄴ[Hmm, hasn't Egostic always been qui... ah, nothing]
ㄴ[Re...turn?]
ㄴ[I hate you all]
[This must all be part of Egostic's plan]
ㄴ[The scariest part is that this joke might actually be true lol]
[So Korea is safe? Sweet!]
*
...Korea was, rather unexpectedly. No, even more stable than other countries.
While storms raged across the world, Korea alone enjoyed a moment of peace.
...But even Korea would soon be shocked by an incredible event.
[[BREAKING] World's #1 ranked villain Celeste announces formation of global villain alliance 'CATHEDRAL']
The world's strongest villain, Celeste, declared she would create a worldwide villain alliance.
Sending her projections accompanied by sacred light to every Association headquarters worldwide, she proclaimed overnight:
That they would create a new world order.
...The enhanced power she demonstrated as a preview was far beyond imagination.
[Holy Fuck! I've never seen the sky split open and a giant hand emerge to deliver a message about annihilating you all. What the hell is happening?]
And with Celeste's declaration.
Representatives of villain alliances from countries worldwide began announcing their support, as if they had been waiting for this moment.
Support declarations came from all European villain representatives, the Americas, Oceania, and beyond.
When even Atlas, known as the Ruler of the Seas, revealed himself as a member of Cathedral, the world plunged completely into chaos.
This wasn't like the small-scale villain alliances that had existed by country until now, but the first transnational villain alliance in history.
With a clear central figure, the world's strongest villain Celeste at the helm.
It meant that villains from every country would unite under her to conquer the world.
Moreover, they declared they would eliminate not only heroes but also other villains who refused to join their order.
[Is this really the end...?]
And naturally.
The world descended into unprecedented chaos.
It wasn't just one or two. Dozens of villains, S-class villains, leaders of villain groups from almost every country in the world announced they would join Cathedral.
It was particularly shocking because even villains like Asia's Katana and Li Xiaopeng, who had already taken over entire countries, were revealed to be part of Cathedral.
In other words, Cathedral's membership included not just the S-class villains directly affiliated with it, but also all the villains in the national alliances under their control.
In this worldwide invasion announcement, Korea, like other countries, was terrified.
Who would be in charge of Korea? What would happen to this country? They were gripped with fear.
...Yes, they were terrified.
Until someone discovered something on Cathedral's website.
*
[Wait, what is this?]
I scraped this from Cathedral's website.
What is this?
=
[Cathedral Member List]
[[Asia Region]]
Asia Regional Director: Egostic
[Republic of Korea]
Egostic / Ego-stream
[Japan]
Katana / Three Associations
[People's Republic of China]
Li Xiaopeng / Fire Dragon
[India]
Bhāṣhma / Another-Om
=
I cut off the rest because I don't know about them...
But that Egostic is listed as the Asia/Korea representative?
Is he returning(?)?
=[Comments]=
[Holy shit?]
[Wow]
[I feel like I'm seeing things wrong, but is this for real?]
[Mangostick... I always believed you'd make a spectacular return... (collapses)]
[I can already hear the Mango fans celebrating lol]
[???: I'm retiring. (While becoming an executive of the World Villain Alliance)]
[Oh my goooooood lololololol this is craaaaazy lololol]
[This will be all over broadcast TV and trending searches soon lol]
*
...And so.
While other countries were all shocked by Cathedral's emergence.
The Republic of Korea alone experienced a different kind of shock.
*
[Upvote if you think Korea is safe now lololol]
Thank you for returning, GOAT
Please protect the Republic of Korea
[Likes] 7215 [Dislikes] 1
*
Egostic.
The one everyone had missed had returned.
In the best possible way, when people feared the most.
***
"Oppa, people are going crazy, you know?"
"Really?"
At the Ego-stream mansion.
As Seo-eun checked people's reactions and told me about them, I answered while putting on my mask.
"...Well, it's different since it's been a while."
After putting on my black coat that I hadn't worn in a long time.
I smiled broadly as I wrapped my cape around me.
Time to turn on the broadcast after so long.
"Well then. It's time for terrorism."
I said as I floated a camera in the air.
Time for terrorism.
...And simultaneously,
The time to legally meet Stardust was approaching.
"Let's go."