NOVEL NEXT Chapter 322: Looming Battle
Two months had passed since the war ended, yet the world remained far from peaceful. Though the Black Hand had been eradicated and the world's governments humbled, the scars left by the conflict were deep, and the instability it had sown had only worsened.
Everywhere Silas looked, there were signs of recovery—and resistance to it. Cities were being rebuilt, but at a sluggish pace.
Economies were still in flux, struggling to stabilize in the absence of the once-dominant corporations and shadowy backers of the Black Hand.
Trade routes were disrupted, supply chains fractured, and entire governments struggled to regain control of their territories.
And then there were the Phenomenals families, clans, and factions*.
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The Phenomenals—those rare individuals gifted with extraordinary abilities—had always been a quiet but impactful presence in the world.
For centuries, they had lived scattered among ordinary people, or in secretive family lines and clans, shaping events from the shadows. But the war changed everything.
The dominance Silas had displayed, the raw power he had wielded, and the collapse of traditional power structures emboldened these hidden groups.
They no longer saw a need for secrecy. In the absence of the Black Hand and weakened governments, the Phenomenals families rose to fill the vacuum.
It started quietly, with whispers of the Blazing Fang Clan in Asia claiming swathes of territory in the Himalayas and enforcing their rule with fire and fear.
Then the House of Ebon Frost in Europe began freezing over disputed territories and declaring themselves arbiters of peace.
Soon, dozens of Phenomenals families, clans, and factions emerged, each staking their claim on parts of the world. Some had noble intentions, wanting to restore order and protect their territories.
Others, however, were less altruistic, using their powers to subjugate populations and build personal empires.
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The world, already reeling from the war, found itself spiraling into chaos.
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It wasn't long before the division of the world became painfully clear. Borders blurred as Phenomenals factions carved out regions for themselves, often clashing with local governments or each other.
In Asia, the Blazing Fang Clan controlled large portions of the mountainous regions, their fiery displays keeping potential challengers at bay.
Smaller factions like the Stormcallers fought for dominance over coastal areas, wielding weather manipulation to devastating effect.
In Europe, the House of Ebon Frost expanded their icy grip, freezing trade routes and annexing smaller countries into their self-proclaimed "Frost Empire."
Resistance movements formed, but they were no match for the house's cryokinetic elites.
In South America, the Umbra Collective claimed vast swathes of the Amazon, operating as both protectors and rulers of the region.
Their shadowy methods left entire towns under their control, with whispers of dissent quickly silenced.
In Africa and the Middle East, emerging factions like the Sandshapers and Iron Claws fought for dominance, each claiming to represent the region's best interests but often leaving devastation in their wake.
This new world order was one of chaos and uncertainty. Nations that had once fought Silas now found themselves begging for his intervention.
Leaders held emergency summits, but nothing came of them; no one could agree on how to address the rising Phenomenals powers.
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As expected, there was only one person to blame for the state of the world: Silas Kurt.
World leaders and governments pointed fingers at him, claiming that his war with the Black Hand had destabilized the global balance of power.
By dismantling the shadowy organization that had manipulated world systems, they argued, Silas had left a vacuum that these Phenomenals families were all too eager to fill.
In the media, pundits debated endlessly.
News Anchor: "Did Silas Kurt do the right thing by destroying the Black Hand, or has he unleashed something far worse?"
Analyst 1: "What did people expect? You don't topple global organizations without consequences. He didn't think about what came next."
Analyst 2: "Or maybe he did. Maybe this was his plan all along—replace one power structure with another he could control."
Social media wasn't any kinder. Hashtags like #SilasTheDestroyer and #NewWorldOrderSilas trended worldwide.
Memes compared him to a villain, blaming him for the chaos. Others, however, defended him, arguing that the Phenomenals families were merely taking advantage of the situation, not something Silas could have foreseen.
But the whispers and accusations weren't confined to public discourse. Behind closed doors, world leaders began strategizing.
If Silas wouldn't act to stop the Phenomenals families, they feared they would have to. The problem was… they didn't stand a chance against any one of these factions, let alone all of them.
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In the face of all this, Silas remained silent. For two months, he had stayed at home, spending time with his family and monitoring the world's descent into chaos but refusing to intervene.
He didn't attend the summits or respond to the countless messages sent by world leaders. He ignored the media's endless speculation and the public outcry.
But it wasn't because he didn't care.
Silas was tired. The war had taken everything out of him—his energy, his focus, and, for a time, even his will. He needed the time to reflect, to rebuild himself after everything he had done.
Yet, sometimes as he sat alone in the quiet stillness of his room, the weight of the world pressed against him. Every report Luna brought him, every news broadcast he watched, reminded him of the chaos spreading across the globe. He could feel the world turning against him, blaming him for the turmoil.
And deep down, he wondered if they were right.
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One evening, as Silas lay in silence on his bed, Luna's voice broke the silence.
{Master, there's been another incident. The House of Ebon Frost has annexed three more territories in Eastern Europe. Their forces encountered resistance from local governments, which they swiftly neutralized. Casualty estimates are in the thousands.}
Silas clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing. "They're pushing harder every day," he muttered.
{The Blazing Fang Clan has also increased their activity in Southeast Asia. Reports indicate they are preparing to expand further into neighboring territories.}
Silas let out a frustrated sigh. "And the governments? What are they doing?"
{They remain divided. Several nations have requested your intervention, but others believe you are responsible for the chaos. There are rumors that some governments are quietly aligning with the Phenomenals factions to protect their own interests.}
Silas's jaw tightened. "Cowards," he said under his breath.
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The world was burning, and he was at the center of it. Silas couldn't deny it—his actions had reshaped the global order, whether he wanted to admit it or not.
By dismantling the Black Hand, he had shattered the old systems, but in doing so, he had made room for new powers to rise.
He had thought his war was over, but it was becoming painfully clear that it had only been the beginning.
"I didn't fight the Black Hand just to let this happen," Silas said aloud, "I didn't stop them to let the world fall apart again."
Luna's voice was calm but firm. {Then what will you do, Master? Will you intervene? Or will you let the world decide its own fate?}
Silas didn't answer immediately. He stood and walked to the large holographic map of the world, studying the flashing markers that indicated areas of conflict. His gaze hardened as he traced the borders being redrawn by Phenomenals factions, each one another scar on the map.
"They think I'm responsible for this," he said, his voice low. "Fine. If they want to blame me, I'll give them a reason to remember my name. But I won't let these families tear the world apart."
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Silas turned to Luna, his resolve crystalizing. "Start compiling detailed reports on each of the Phenomenals families. Their leaders, their strongholds, their strengths, and their weaknesses. I want to know everything."
{Understood, Master.}
"And begin preparing our assets. If these families want to play ruler, I'll remind them why I'm the one they should fear."
As Luna processed his commands, Silas's mind raced. He knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy.
These families had been honing their powers for centuries, their influence deeply rooted in regions that had welcomed them as protectors. But Silas had faced impossible odds before—and won.
This wasn't about revenge or proving himself. This was about restoring balance, about making sure the world had a future.
For months, Silas had remained in the shadows, watching and waiting. Now, it was time to step back into the light.
The Phenomenals families wanted power, but they didn't understand the weight of it. Silas would show them what true strength looked like.
The world blamed him for its chaos. He would become the force that brought order to it.
"Let's finish what we started," he said, his voice steady.