Aftermath of such an event had also seeped into the negotiations between the Aquatic race, Mana beasts and Humans.
They had forged a pact under the witness of the omnipotent mana. Absolute peace was a must and each race would suffer an unprecedented curse if ever broken.
The exceptions were the humans on the evil karma rankings, though normal humans were under the watch of mana if they ever meet any of them.
Curses themselves wouldn't be that disastrous to an entire race, as the mana required would be more than any being had on the planet combined and multiplied a million times.
Affecting fate and life of one or two weak beings is one thing, but taking their future from them for a long period of time?
Almost impossible for any mortals ever to achieve. At least unless they bet the fate of their races...
This pact had also paved the way for a joint cooperation with much clearer changes. To avoid hidden bitterness which would deteriorate the relationship of all three factions, a distribution of land was proposed.
Most of these conditions and rules would fall onto humans and mana beasts. It entirely excluded the aquatic race except for shallow waters.
Though it was allowed for humans to create underwater sonars, which would try to detect any intrusion. Many superpowers felt this was unnecessary.
Something capable of escaping the senses of SS and even SSS beings? Most probably, sonars would do very little.
Of course, the Queen inferred something from it all. She let it go for a simple reason. It was clear that a large part of humans were wary of her.
From the day she awakened her wisdom. The notion of total unity and peace was an unassailable dream.
Her determination to find the one who gave her freedom had not diminished. It had multiplied instead.
She had complete confidence to find her senior, combined with her massive power she wielded. It wasn't farfetched to say that if she didn't wish for this pact to happen, the Earth would soon herald a new ruler.
Limitations of aquatic beings, unknown to humans and mana beasts alike, had vanished. Air for beasts B rank or higher was like water.
And the number of servants ready to die for her was enough. In fact, the control she wielded over all aquatic beings baffled a bit, even her.
If not for the weapon, sights of aquatic beasts sunbathing in the middle of the Himalayas with the corpse of the Roc nearby wouldn't be too unrealistic.
As much as humans held the power of information about their homeworld in their hands against the invading enemy. She held the power of the deep oceans and seas.
With such ambitions brewing inside of her, multiple agreements were signed. While humans had an ugly face with some of her conditions, they had to agree.
Were the support from the aquatic races be cut off, the entire frontlines might as well be on every shore. Something which even a thousand SS rankers wouldn't be able to defend.
Mana beasts were not to be outdone as well. Though with the higher opposition from humans and some gentle nudges from the Queen, a census was reached.
Humans and mana beasts had to 'spread' out. In a way where a SS rank human could reinforce a place where mana beasts were attacked, and vice versa.
This would ensure that both factions won't hold back their powerhouses in order to grasp more power.
The kill on sight order had also been passed. As such, oceans became the absolute death of every negative karma ranker.
Many tried, though, and many had vanished from the leaderboard not long after. Another observation about the ranking leaderboards was also confirmed.
Any human could get on both of the rankings and yet only leaders of both factions were allowed in. Even when the SSS rank aquatic beasts took action, they weren't able to get in.
Furthermore, the division of powerful beasts near settlements unnerved a bunch of people at first. However, in a strange twist of fate, a new path had been pioneered.
Some called it beast taming, some began coining it as the companion path. One woman near desperation as none of the paths she tried were compatible turned to mana beasts after the pact was signed.
Her first intention was to observe mana beasts and see how they strengthened themselves. Over time, she forged some solid friendships, even an S rank mana beast was not a stranger to her.
It was one such day where she spent a day observing an S rank mana beast that a strange thought clouded her mind.
Like her, the mana beast was not satisfied with its ranking and wished to be one of the leaders of its faction. With her idea and its willingness, they soon did the unthinkable.
Through a mana pact similar to the one forged by the three factions, a bridge was built.
Bridge connecting two souls of the beings. An exchange on a much more intimate level happened and although it did not happen all the time, it was quite unthinkable.
Before the bridge had been completed, a rite of sorts had to be completed. For two beings to be recognised as 'one', they had to know their other half.
Which meant their total comprehension of the other person. Not limited to their memories, feelings, ideals, and thoughts.
The first time such a pact had been signed, the two participants had already known each other pretty well. But the subsequent tries were oftentimes met with broken minds.
Not everyone was willing to embrace a being of different species, and not everyone had the will to stand beside someone they fully understand.
Thus, although the companionship system had a massive edge over any known system as it combined and granted talent for both individuals.
Large portion of humans had to find a compatible mana beast, this went both ways. This system was more permanent than any marriage and brotherhood would ever be.
Such a system had less visible consequences. Humans became much less guarded against mana beasts, and in the near future, it wasn't a strange sight to see kids playing with mana beasts.
Even the smallest influx of mana had given most mana beasts intelligence boost and wisdom. Still, humans retained their advantage of pure and vivid imagination.
The Roman Empire took fancy to more grounded mana beasts like earth dragons or powerful steeds. A new regiment was even formed.
One of the most powerful trump cards, in fact. However, this would be far into the future. Next, the Five Lords of the North and the Beacon Empire were much more diverse, with organisations sometimes categorising themselves according to the mana beasts most common in their ranks.
Some even used mana beasts who were much more superior in aerial flight to create a competition for the technological branch.
Everything was rippling and changes not only heralded an era much more prosperous than the one at the end of the old, mundane era.
Prosperity comes at a price though and the once much more unified humans resumed their political plays once again.
Even the SS rank powerhouses began testing the patience of the other two factions. Someone was fuelling chaos in the background...
These changes in attitude were high on Magnus' priority list, as Gaia's Will had nothing to do with those. Either Gods or his enemy had their hands in this mess and they got very deep.
Unity of the Five Lords of the North had been based solely on keeping each other in check and having not only rivals but also more solidified power.
This unity had been challenged by the fifth ranked house, the weakest of all five. It had risen, clear to all that it was through not talent but outside intervention.
The system they pioneered was a simple and direct one. Berserkers, sacrificing psyche and any of the five senses for powerful power.
S rankers in their family who switched to the berserker path already had a temporary power of a SS ranker and the sole new SS ranker wielded might be comparable to 3 normal SS rankers.
A swift rise to the second most powerful position had startled the other four houses. Albeit not shown on the surface, a battle of influence had begun.
The targets? Anyone they can influence and can give them more power in the world. Beacon Empire, which held itself the best of all three factions, had seen some cracks as well.
Someone not directly affiliated with Magnus had broken into the SS rank and wished for political power. Still, the SS ranker had not much real influence as 6 SS rankers held the same voting power.
He was confident, though, and began accepting disciples on a wide scale. A new faction was budding in the Beacon Empire.
An Empire which held no real emperor and valued strength. Magnus chose not to interfere, but that didn't mean he took no action or precautions.
Unbeknownst to that poor soul, a single out of the line move would land him the spot in the negative karma ranking.
A sure death for an SS ranker not covered by Gaia's Will.
...
[Magnus]
Years, many years, had passed for Magnus. The feeling of guiding humanity was fulfilling and yet very heavy.
Many times, he had almost bent to confess to his disciples. Strength was such an easy thing to get, but scheming every day from every angle?
That took much more than mere strength Magnus had plenty of, even if it was sealed. His will stood strong though, and he found the activity of venting his emotions upon invaders to be very therapeutic.
Many times he sneaked out of his office and visited Africa to duke it out a few times before he had to return and finish the paperwork.
Without Oliver and Caroline and their upbringing, the management of the Beacon Island, let alone the entire 'Empire', would crumble in a few years.
As such, days like the ones he was on were a blessing. A day where he could vanish, where Magnus Fjall wasn't present, nor was M or Myrkr.
It was just him, the real Magnus. He decided to take his time today and just unwind. At first, it was much harder than he thought it would be.
Thoughts like; Is everything okay? Will something terrible happen? Clouded his mind.
But once he snapped out of it and began to live in the present, did he feel liberated? Now was not the future, now was now.
A fishing rod appeared in his hands as he sat down near a large pond. The Sun above him and the serene surroundings had made him fall asleep.
With the nonstop tension and work that had to be done. And the fact that mana could stop the need for sleep, he didn't sleep for nearly a year.
A year of not doing something humans and many other species needed to survive and live. His dream was a simple canvas.
Canvas which drew his life from his childhood it drew a young and brave boy. In one hand a rocket ship and in the other was the drawing of stars.
Next, a painting of a teen was painted. Vitality he once possessed was almost drained dry by both society and the modern technology.
Two more paintings appeared. One was him sitting in an office working and the other was him slaying beasts with a huge spell above his head.
Both of these were so different, and yet when Magnus saw them, he almost wasn't able to distinguish between them.
Even when one was smiling and the other without expression, even when one was filled with transcendent power and the other was not.
A same fact connected both of these together. He drifted along. Like a boat without a direction, he sometimes fought against the stream and sometimes followed along.
As much as he denied it, if he was given the choice of living between these two situations, he wouldn't be able to pick.
Not because one was more boring than the other. It was because he simply didn't know what he was even doing.
Apocalypse from the movies and novels and he 'adapted' in but an instant. Reincarnation and transmigration through time were also accepted as if it was a normal Monday afternoon.
When the dream reached its zenith, Magnus woke up. The well hidden hollow look flashed as if fighting something before it settled back.
Perhaps only one person knew what Magnus was, or rather, what he wasn't. And if they had to look at him, they would say two words to describe him.
'Unbound puppet'