Seducing the Guideverse With My System — Raising an Anomaly [BL]

Chapter 185: _Extinction Level

Across Aurelia, Ji-Hoon’s Private Villa

"Yes, I’ve seen the news." The SS-Rank moved down the steps leading to her living room as she answered a call from her home country. "It’s tragic, really. I—"

"Aren’t you finished with whatever it is you’re doing there, Hunter Ji-Hoon?" The voice at the other end asked cautiously. "I’m merely worried. This... entity could prove a threat. And the Korean Federation can’t afford—"

"Do you think I won’t flee at the first sight of that thing?" Ji-Hoon scoffed. "I’ve already encountered it once and believe me when I say... that was enough. I’m not fighting this country’s battles."

"That’s the thing, Ma’am. It could very quickly become the whole world’s battle. I’m hearing rumours that the Pantheon might be taking on interest now."

Ji-Hoon’s fingers on the stairs railing twitched.

Just merely hearing the name of the most powerful group of people in the world made her self-conscious.

"... It’s gotten that serious?"

"Indeed, ma’am. That’s why I had to make sure you’re at least coming back soon."

The Esper strode past her living room and headed for the kitchen island. She grabbed a teapot once she was there, pouring herself a cup quietly.

Then, "I plan to be done here in at least a few days. Tell the Federation not to worry about me."

With that, she hung up, sniffing in the calming scent from the tea. She took a sip with a satisfied sigh. "Could this Void Entity be getting more powerful with time? Or did the world just underestimate it all this while?"

Her other hand drummed against the island once. A crimson thread appeared between those fingers, bringing a small smile to her face.

"I’ve been patient for so long already." She mumbled. "If I break even your fate, C-Rank... it’ll only be a matter of time before I perfect my skills further."

The thought alone was absolutely riveting.

★★★★★

"The whole country is in peril—and yet we’re gathering here like it’s a United Nations summit." Irina was the first to speak as she and the other SS-Ranks in the country walked into a hidden room somewhere in Aurelia city.

Magnus, Gabriel, Valentine and Josiah joined, all standing around a round table at the centre of the room.

They’d all come here as fast as they could after each getting a summons message.

"It’s the only thing we can do for now, Irina." Magnus scanned the faces of everyone present before settling on the President himself. "What can you tell us now, Mr President? Is all hope truly lost? Does this mean the Pantheon—"

"The moment the Pantheon has to intervene means the beginning of something unprecedented." Josiah lowered his head with a grunt. "We need to contain and eliminate this threat on our own."

Valentine didn’t waste the opportunity to mock the man. "Tch. And how do you propose we do that? Mind you—I’m not even supposed to be here since I’ve made my stance on Hunter politics clear for years."

"This is not just politics, Valentine." Josiah snapped. "It’s the fate of the world. The fate of the stability we’ve built since the Emergence."

The Necromancer scoffed but didn’t respond to that. Especially when Gabriel gave him a silent signal not to.

They were both still trying to keep calm after finding out that the Federation had people watching them the other day. And possibly Devon, Viktor and Ambrose too.

Right now bringing down the Void Entity was more important. They could seize the President’s throat once all this was over.

"To answer your original question, Magnus." Josiah continued. "No—I don’t think all hope is lost. The Void Entity is powerful but I still believe it’s within the boundaries of a Cataclysm Level threat."

"I believe you might want to recalculate those aether readings," Gabriel chimed, pressing his palms against the table. "This thing... eliminated eleven competent S-Ranks. It made Valentine and I question if we could even escape it the one time when we were forced to face it together."

"Yeah, it’s becoming such an unfunny joke at this rate." Valentine angled his head to the President. "You need to be open to the possibility of this thing evolving. I mean, it did emerge from the Echo Rift—a Rift that was all about evolution."

Josiah released a long sigh, rubbing the space between his brows like the weight of the entire continent rested there.

"As we speak, the Federation is already carrying out another evaluation on the Entity’s current power level." He admitted reluctantly. "The previous Cataclysm classification might no longer be accurate."

Irina’s crimson lips curved faintly, though there was no amusement behind them. "And what exactly happens if your little analysts conclude that thing is beyond Cataclysm?"

The room quietened just slightly at the implication behind her words.

SSS-Rank.

Extinction Level.

Even saying those titles aloud felt taboo after so many years.

Josiah’s jaw tightened. "It’ll mean we’ll have to contact the other Federations once again." He answered bluntly. "Europe. Asia. Africa. South America. Everyone."

Valentine barked a laugh loud enough for it to bounce off the walls. "Oh, wonderful." He drawled sarcastically. "The rest of the world must be getting exhausted cleaning up America’s messes at this rate."

Gabriel shot him a look. "Val."

"What?" the Necromancer lifted both hands lazily. "Am I wrong?"

"You aren’t helping."

"Neither is the apocalypse floating around deleting people."

Magnus ignored their bickering altogether, his expression grim as he folded his arms. "The real issue here is that the Entity doesn’t obey any rules we’ve known since the Emergence."

Everyone’s attention shifted to him.

"It possesses intelligence comparable to humans. It adapts absurdly fast. It ignores barriers, aether restraints and spatial interference." He paused, his golden eyes hardening. "And worst of all... it doesn’t simply destroy."

A dangerous silence filled the hidden room.

"It deletes." Magnus finished quietly. "Entire existences. Matter. Energy. Possibly even souls."

Even Gabriel visibly stiffened at that last possibility.

No one joked after that.

The air itself felt heavier now. Suffocating.

Then—

Josiah’s phone buzzed against the table.

Every head turned instantly.

The President frowned before grabbing the device and unlocking it. At first, his expression remained unreadable. Then slowly... the colour drained from his face.

Irina noticed first. "What is it?"

Josiah didn’t answer immediately.

His fingers tightened around the phone so hard the screen almost cracked beneath his grip.

Finally, he lifted his head.

"The Federation completed the re-evaluation." His voice came out rougher than before. "The Void Entity’s threat level has officially been moved beyond Cataclysm."

No one breathed.

Then:

"... SSS-Rank," Gabriel muttered.

"Yes," Josiah answered weakly, staring down at the report again like he hoped the words would change. "Extinction Level."