The morning sun cast long shadows over the city as Cole made his way toward the Guilds Association Office. The towering structure, an architectural marvel of stone and ether-infused metal, loomed over the surrounding buildings. It stood as a testament to the power and influence of the guilds, a place where alliances were forged and destinies shaped. As he approached the grand entrance, he took a deep breath, steadying himself for what was to come.
Inside, the lobby bustled with activity. Guild members of various ranks moved about, exchanging information, issuing orders, and preparing for the uncertain future. The scent of parchment, polished wood, and the faint hum of ether energy filled the air. Cole stepped into the ether-charge elevator, feeling the familiar pulse of energy course through his body as it ascended rapidly to the top floor.
When the doors slid open, he stepped into a lavishly adorned corridor lined with portraits of legendary guild leaders. Each face was immortalized in time, their legacies etched into the very fabric of history. The dim lighting added an air of solemnity, as if even the walls acknowledged the weight of the impending meeting.
The double doors to the meeting room loomed ahead, intricately carved with symbols representing each of the major guilds. With a final breath, Cole pushed them open and entered.
The atmosphere was tense. The room, circular and grand, featured a massive table at its center, where the most powerful guild leaders in the continent had already gathered. Each seat was occupied by a figure of significance, their expressions a mix of grim determination and cautious anticipation.
Luke of the Waves Guild sat with an air of confidence, his sea-blue eyes scanning the room with sharp calculation. Stephane of the Silver Skies, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders, sat upright, exuding the strategic brilliance for which she was known. Jonathan of the Luminary Guild, renowned for their mastery of healing arts, observed quietly, his calm presence a stabilizing force. Will Williams of the Blackbird Guild lounged slightly, but his sharp gaze betrayed his casual demeanor. Frank Gusto of the Castle Guild sat like a fortress himself, a mountain of a man whose guild was famed for its defensive capabilities. Finally, Captain Adrien Carter of the Holy Order occupied his seat with an air of unyielding authority, his steely gaze locked on Cole.
The air was thick with tension as a government official, seated at the far end of the room, cleared his throat. "We will begin this meeting."
Cole took his seat, nodding at the others. There was no need for pleasantries; the time for formality had long passed. They all knew why they were here. The shadow of Lex loomed over the continent, and every passing day only strengthened his grip on chaos.
"We're here to address the imminent threat posed by Lex," Cole began, his voice steady despite the weight of the situation. "As you're all aware, Lex has demonstrated the capability to create multiple S-rank mutants. That alone makes him a threat unlike anything we've encountered."
Luke nodded, his expression dark. "The intelligence we've gathered confirms that Lex's power is growing. We've encountered roaming mutants with traces of his influence. His ability to mass-produce S-rank threats puts us at a severe disadvantage. If we wait too long, we may not have the numbers to stop him."
Stephane sighed, resting her hands on the table. "Our resources are already stretched thin. In this room, we have only two S-rank individuals. My guild is engaged in critical operations, and our A-rank members are spread dangerously thin. We don't have the luxury of pulling them from their missions."
Jonathan leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "The Luminary Guild can provide support in the form of healing and logistics, but we lack raw combat strength. If we engage in direct battle without proper planning, we'll suffer devastating losses. We need to be smart."
Will Williams tapped his fingers against the table. "Blackbird Guild can gather intel and carry out sabotage operations, but we're not built for large-scale warfare. If we play our cards right, we can cripple Lex's supply chains and disrupt his non-human trafficking operations, but that won't be enough to stop him outright."
Frank Gusto crossed his arms over his broad chest. "Castle Guild's specialty is defense. We can fortify major cities and protect civilians, but we won't be leading any charges. Our role will be to keep the non-combatants safe while the rest of you take the fight to Lex."
Captain Adrien Carter, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. "The Holy Order stands ready to fight. Our knights have faced supernatural threats before, but Lex is something else entirely. Even with our Sentinels, we lack the firepower to take him down alone. If we don't act soon, he will gain a foothold in our territories, and when that happens, it'll be too late."
Cole absorbed their words, appreciating their honesty. Every guild had its strengths, but Lex was no ordinary enemy. He was a force of chaos, a master of division and manipulation. This wasn't just a battle of strength—it was a battle of strategy, of unity.
"Then we must act with precision," Cole said, leaning forward. "Our first priority is to locate Lex and disrupt his operations before he grows any stronger. The Waves Guild and Blackbird Guild will work together to scout his base of operations."
Luke nodded. "Consider it done. We'll deploy our best scouts and use our naval routes to extend our reach."
Stephane added, "The Silver Skies Guild will provide aerial surveillance. If he makes any major moves, we'll know."
Jonathan looked thoughtful. "We should also consider alliances with smaller guilds across the continent. Even if they lack S-rank fighters, they can provide valuable support."
Will smirked. "We'll handle that. Blackbird Guild can negotiate alliances and secure additional resources. Meanwhile, we'll work on sabotaging Lex's logistics. If we disrupt his supply chains, it'll slow him down."
Frank nodded. "Castle Guild will establish defensive perimeters around major cities. If Lex's forces break through, we'll be the last line of defense. We'll also train and equip militias to reinforce our strongholds."
Captain Adrien's eyes hardened. "The Holy Order will mobilize our elite knights. We will take point in direct engagements. If necessary, we'll be the shield that holds Lex at bay."
Cole exhaled. The plan was coming together, but something still gnawed at him. "This is a strong plan, but we need more than just strategy. Lex thrives on chaos and deception. He turns people against each other, exploits weaknesses, and assimilates our own into his ranks. If we underestimate his ability to divide us, we'll lose before the battle even begins."
A hush fell over the room. The weight of his words settled in. They were preparing for war, but war alone would not be enough.
Stephanie, who had been silent, finally spoke. "Then we need a countermeasure. We could seek help from the Elven or Dragon Realms. Their ether-disrupting weapons could prevent Lex from turning our people against us."
There was only one response. "Dragons."
Cole sighed. "The elves are too expensive. The dragons, though… they might just be the edge we need. But even with weapons, even with tactics, this won't be easy. We need to be ready for anything.
Then the room went to silence.
Luke was the first to break the silence, arms crossed, a deep frown carved into his face. "We'll start mobilizing as soon as we can. But man, two months? That's way too short!"
Luka, slouched back in his chair with his boots propped against the edge of the table, finally spoke. His voice was slow, deliberate. "But why do we gotta go through all this? Ain't you just gonna handle him yourself, mate?"
Cole's gaze flickered to Luka, unreadable as ever. "I _could_ handle him. But knowing Lex…" He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "No. I _know_ he has something planned for me. Something to keep me occupied."
A heavy silence followed. The realization settled in like a lead weight—Cole wasn't going to be their failsafe. If Lex had accounted for him, then the rest of them had to be strong enough to fight on their own.
Cole let his gaze sweep over the room, his expression firm and unyielding. "I have a plan. You all need to get stronger—every single one of you. We need to train."
Confusion rippled through the guild leaders. Will blinked, brow furrowed. "Train? We're S-ranks, mate. We don't _need_ to train."
The room filled with murmurs of disbelief. S-rank fighters were already considered among the most powerful beings in the world. The idea of training—to push past limits they had long since shattered—sounded absurd.
Cole's expression darkened. "No. You _think_ you're at the pinnacle, but there's always room to grow. Lex isn't like any enemy we've faced before. We can't rely on our usual strengths against him. We need to evolve." His voice dropped lower, more intense. "We need to train in environments that will break us and rebuild us stronger."
Frank, who had remained silent up until now, narrowed his eyes. "And where exactly do you plan on taking us?"
Cole's lips curled into something between a smirk and a challenge. "To places where there are no S-ranks. Lands untouched by civilization—where _the world itself_ will be our enemy."
The room fell into stunned silence.
The idea was madness.
As S-ranks, they had long surpassed the need for rigorous training. Their power had been honed over years, battles, and wars. But Cole's tone left no room for argument. He wasn't suggesting this. He was _commanding_ it.
Will let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You're really not joking, huh? You expect us to run off into the wilds and train like we're fresh recruits?"
Cole met his gaze without flinching. "If you want to win this war? Yes. You've all grown _comfortable_ with your power." His voice hardened. "Comfort breeds weakness. And Lex will exploit that."
Stephanie, arms folded, exhaled sharply. "And how long is this supposed to last?"
Cole's gaze swept over them, measuring. "Three days. That's how long you have to prepare. After that, I expect you all at the Guild Association teleporter. Morning sharp."
Another silence settled over the room, but this time it was different. The skepticism hadn't vanished, but beneath it was something else—a spark. A challenge. The weight of Cole's words seeped into each of them.
Luke let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "Well... looks like we don't have a choice, do we?"
Cole smirked. "You _always_ have a choice. But if you want to protect your families, your guilds, your loved ones—this is the only way."
One by one, the guild leaders nodded. They understood the stakes. This wasn't about pride or proving their strength. This was about survival. If they failed here, there wouldn't be a world left to protect.
The meeting adjourned. One by one, the guild leaders left to prepare for the coming trial. But Cole lingered behind, his eyes locked onto the map spread across the table. His fingers traced the jagged borders of the continent, narrowing in on the unforgiving lands they would soon call their training grounds.
Cole returned to his office, sinking into the familiar comfort of his chair. With a fatigued sigh, he tapped the luminescent bird perched on his desk, its glow casting a soft halo around him.
"Jack," he began with a weary tone,
"I'll need you to free up your schedule."