Chapter 1245  A Merged World, Shattered

In the dimly lit office, the sounds of the mansion winding down from the day"s festivities filtered through the heavy oak door. Inside, Arthur sat in his leather-bound chair, his blind gaze directed toward Diana, who was deeply engrossed in a large, dusty tome about Earth"s nations and ecosystems. The intricate details of terrestrial flora and fauna fascinated her, drawing her deeper into the study of a world so different from their own.

As Diana turned the pages, her expression shifted between awe and curiosity, her fingers tracing the lines of text as if she could absorb the knowledge through touch. Arthur watched her, a smile playing on his lips, captivated not by the book, but by her. Her enthusiasm for new knowledge, her ability to find joy in the simplest of things, reminded him of the myriad reasons he loved her.

The clock in the corner struck midnight, its deep chimes echoing through the room, marking the beginning of a new year. But outside the walls of their sanctuary, the world was not celebrating. It was a world still grappling with the seismic shifts brought on by the merging of realms—a world fighting for survival.

A gentle knock on the door pulled Arthur from his reverie. He turned his head slightly, indicating that he heard the visitor before the door even opened.

Julia entered, her arms laden with stacks of reports and files, her face alight with the urgency of their content. "Your break is over, Arthur," she announced, a playful yet stern tone to her voice.

Arthur sighed but his smile remained, an acknowledgment of the never-ending responsibilities waiting for him. "I suppose it was too much to hope for a longer respite," he joked, adjusting his position to face her more directly.

Diana laughed from the side, her voice carrying a light, teasing note. "That"s what you get for skipping out on work all these years," she chimed in, setting the book aside as she joined in the conversation.

Julia grinned, finding common ground with the princess, and soon they were both playfully mocking Arthur"s notorious disdain for paperwork. Arthur listened, a resigned yet amused smile on his face, appreciating the lighter moments amid the chaos of leadership.

As the laughter died down, Julia began to arrange the reports on Arthur"s desk with precision. Observing his helpless spread of arms, she explained, "I"ve inscribed a rune on these reports. They"ll imprint directly into your mind when you activate them."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, impressed and slightly baffled. "When did you manage to add such a function? I don"t remember approving that innovation."

"It"s a new trick I picked up," Julia replied, winking. "You"re not the only one around here who can tinker with runes."

With a nod of appreciation, Arthur reached out, his fingers brushing over the papers, activating the rune. Information flowed into his mind, a stream of images, texts, and sensations that painted a vivid picture of the state of their world post-merger.

The first report detailed the condition of Runera, their city, which remained stable and relatively unscathed thanks to the protective arrays Arthur had installed prior to the merging. The rest of the world, however, had not been so fortunate.

Arthur"s concern deepened as he absorbed the information about the Yalveran Union. Governed by his friends Lucian and Nera, the union had survived with minimal damage, but its landscape had drastically changed. A vast wilderness now stretched between its major cities, teeming with aggressive demi-humans vying for resources.

Diana, overhearing the details, suggested, "Perhaps I could help mediate between the humans and demi-humans. Being of both worlds, I might—"

Arthur cut her off gently, "Thank you, Diana, but Lucian has it under control. He"s a Truth Seer, after all. He"ll find a way to mend those rifts without violence."

The next report shifted to the Theocracy of Shon, which had suffered greatly. Its capital, White Dragon Haven, had faced a calamity—an army of creatures capable of devouring blood, wreaking havoc across the city.

Arthur"s voice was grave as he explained the situation to Diana. "This is the same army we encountered in Alka, led by the Sin of Gluttony, Kar, the Lord of Blood."

Diana"s eyes narrowed, memories of their previous battles flickering through her mind. "Then we know what we"re up against. We should prepare to confront Kar again."

Arthur resumed his focus on the stack of reports that Julia had brought in, each doc.u.ment a testament to the myriad crises unfolding across their newly merged world. He reached for the next report, which detailed a surprising development between West and East Sourna—an island that had appeared seemingly overnight, a new landma.s.s born from the chaos of the worlds" collision.

The report went on to describe a surge of monstrous creatures that had taken to the waters around the new island, turning it into a perilous zone. Rain, his adventurous friend who had a penchant for finding herself in the heart of danger, was last known to be in that area. His concern for her safety deepened as he absorbed the details.

"Julia, send a team of volunteers to search for Rain. Let them know what they"re up against and equip them well," Arthur instructed, his voice firm with the weight of leadership. Julia nodded, her expression serious as she made a note to organize the search party.

Arthur"s hands trembled slightly as he picked up the next report, his mind bracing for more bad news. The doc.u.ment outlined the resurgence of the Seven Sins, now unleashed upon the world with the boundaries between realms blurred. Each Sin, embodying a destructive aspect of human vice, had begun a terrifying campaign of destruction across the nations, sparing none in their path.

The weight of his decisions pressed heavily on him as he pushed the report aside with a frown. "This is the cost of our new world," he muttered under his breath, guilt threading through his words.

Julia, noticing his distress, quickly offered him the last report, hoping to lighten his burden with some good news. "This one should give you some hope, Arthur. It"s about the effects of the Level Up Legacy."

Taking a deep breath, Arthur activated the rune on the report. Instantly, his mind was filled with vivid descriptions of the legacy"s impact. The Level Up Legacy, born from his sacrifice and vision, had ignited a global transformation. The number of awakeners had doubled, their newfound powers sparking hope even amidst the chaos.

The report detailed how the legacy"s strict rules—to grant power only to those who protect others—had led to a significant rise in heroism worldwide. Ordinary people, now armed with extraordinary abilities, were organizing into guilds driven by a shared desire to safeguard their communities and grow stronger together.

As Arthur processed this information, a mixture of pride and surprise washed over him. His vision, though it had cost him his sight, was reshaping the world in ways he had hoped for but hadn"t fully antic.i.p.ated.

"Julia, how did they find out that I was behind the Level Up Legacy?" Arthur asked suddenly, his curiosity piqued by the global recognition of his role.

Julia, equally puzzled, checked the report again. "It seems there"s a function in the legacy that lists its creators at the end. It mentions Jazarion Silverleaf and you, Arthur Netherborne."

Arthur burst into laughter, a sound rich with relief and amus.e.m.e.nt. "Jazarion Silverleaf?" he echoed, realizing only then that it was the real name of the Scholar Guardian, Jizo. "That"s a name I haven"t heard him use. It must have been his wife who gave him such a cute nickname."

The mood in the room lightened as they contemplated the quirky private life of the enigmatic Scholar Guardian, known to them only as Jizo. Arthur"s laughter filled the office, echoing off the walls as a momentary reprieve from the weight of his duties.

Diana, who had been quietly listening, smiled softly at Arthur"s reaction. "It seems even in the midst of chaos, there"s room for a few surprises and some good news."

"Yes," Arthur agreed, his spirits lifted. "It reminds us that even the smallest actions can ripple out and make a difference. The legacy is working, Diana. It"s doing exactly what we hoped—awakening the potential in people to do good and protect each other."

Encouraged by this thought, Arthur looked to Julia. "Let"s continue to monitor the situation closely. Keep me updated on the search for Rain, and let"s start coordinating with these new guilds. They"ll need guidance, and who better to offer it than those who understand the legacy"s true purpose?"

Julia nodded, her demeanor professional but with a newfound spark of hope. "I"ll arrange meetings with the guild leaders and set up a system for regular updates."

Arthur rose from his chair and walked to the window, his figure silhouetted against the soft glow of Runera"s lights. As he gazed out, his thoughts reached beyond the city to Devaheim, the realm of G.o.ds. "To heal the world is my duty," he murmured, his resolve firm. "And then, to challenge Devaheim itself, to seek answers and, if necessary, to dismantle the kingdom of G.o.ds."