BAB3 -Chapter 40

# Chapter 40: New Day

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*“This is Stacy Vega, reporting live with breaking news.”*

*“A week after the Blood Moon Event and the malicious command sent through the NeuroSync system, the death toll has climbed past 728,000, with over 500,000 injured and nearly 150,000 still missing. Authorities have officially declared this the deadliest catastrophe in New Meridian’s history.”*

*“Morwen Industries has been dismantled, and all surviving parties involved in the incident have been swiftly prosecuted. To maintain previously held contracts, all subsidiary companies under the Morwen umbrella have been acquired by the Helix Corporation.”*

*“In a rare unified front, the Awakened Association, the Big 4, and the Mayor’s Office have issued a joint statement pledging full cooperation in rebuilding the city, aiming to make it stronger, safer, and more united than before.”*

*“We now leave you with a statement from Mayor Christoph Maximilian:”*

*“We have seen the worst of monster and man, but we are not broken. Every walk of life has felt this loss. Yet, in our mourning, we stand united. The city bleeds with its people.. but it will not fall.”*

***

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*“I’m Duncan Darnel, and this is Deep Truth! No sugarcoating! No filters! Just the raw, uncut truth the mainstream cowards are too afraid to say out loud!”*

*“The city attacked itself! Brother against brother! Sister against sister! Husbands blasting wives! Total strangers foaming at the mouth and throwing energy balls in the middle of the street!”*

*“Where were you when New Meridian cracked like a rotten egg? Huh? I was in my bunker—just like I told you to be! Never trust government-run emergency shelters! Because guess what? The government struck first!”*

*“Now let’s talk about what really happened. They say Morwen Industries hit the big red button, sent every NeuroSync Implant into full kill mode. Yeah—kill mode!”*

*“Deep Truth has never been sponsored by Morwen Industries, has never endorsed NeuroSync Implants, and never will. That’s on record!”*

*“They want you to believe the acting CEO just went nuts and tried to take over the city from the inside. But you wanna know what I think?”*

*“Aliens! That’s right, space aliens! And I’ve got a witness from ground zero! Roll the clip!”*

*“Uh—hey, is this thing on? Yeah, hey, I’m Victor Reed, and I was right there, man. People were going nuts—fighting each other, crawling toward the Morwen Building like zombies. Then this giant beefcake of a lady folded me like a lawn chair and slung me right over her shoulder.”*

*“I don’t remember much after that. Just fire, ice, and some kind of flashing lights. Next thing I know, everyone’s normal again. Anyway, I’d like to officially announce that me and that beefcake lady are getting married.”*

*“Fire, ice, and flashing lights! If that’s not aliens, I’ll eat my damn hat! This has been Deep Truth signing off. Stay paranoid, friends! The real war’s just beginning!”*

***

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~Steak!~ Dragon sent, dunking her entire head into a bucket of meat chunks.

It had taken a whole week before she finally reverted from that condensed core form.

She’d been absolutely starving, and Xay may or may not have smothered her with every kind of meat he could get his hands on.

He was just so relieved to see her healthy and back to normal. The others were the same.

Even Willow hung around her a bit more than usual. Though she’d never admit it.

*Butterfly Effect* was somehow both a Resonance Break and a Limit Break combined. It had been beyond powerful; it brought Rox back, but the cost had been incredibly steep.

Xay still didn’t know what it might’ve done to him if the vision of Aoife hadn’t shielded him from the worst of the backlash.

But he knew it wouldn’t have been good.

Xay hadn’t let Rox out of his sight since the Blood Moon, keeping her within his sphere of perception at all times.

Both Belladonna and Theo had thanked him profusely when they found out. Belladonna even shed a tear, hugging both Xay and Rox tightly.

It was a nice moment, but Rox was beyond embarrassed.

Eventually, he told his friends everything the True Qilin had revealed to him.

Somehow, the part about Primeval Gods breaking free and this world not being the first took a back seat, though.

“I’ve been banging a god!” Lexi had shouted, making the others burst out laughing.

“I’m not a god,” Xay groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Her essence found my soul spark.. and manifested as a Bloodline.. for some reason.”

He trailed off, not even trusting the words coming out of his own mouth. “I don’t know. It’s complicated. But I’m not a god.”

“How’s it feel being a god?” Tyra asked immediately, her expression wide-eyed and innocent.

Xay sighed again.

Kimi, Rox, Ezra, and Shifu Wu took it more seriously, peppering him with questions about the nature of the Awakened System and how much time they had left.

Questions Xay didn’t have answers to.

He also brought the warning about the Primeval Gods to the Big 5—well, Big 4 now.

The Diamond Group had been disbanded after their failure to protect the city. Virgil was missing, and no one but Jasper was willing to follow Dante.

Normally, the other leaders would’ve laughed Xay out of the room. But after witnessing the Herald firsthand, most of them listened seriously.

Everyone understood that they needed to grow stronger for what was coming.

Xay absolutely left out the part about being the inheritor, or vessel, or whatever he was for the True Qilin.

No need to sound too crazy.

Xay had woken up not long after the Herald fell and the moon returned to its normal state.

The essence the event had been holding back flooded the battlefield, and nearly every Awakened there gained multiple levels.

Xay and his team gained a staggering fifteen—including Lexi and Kimi. His Bloodline Ability, *Harmony*, had distributed the essence evenly across their bonds.

**Level (+15)**

**All Stats (+4,500)**

- **Level**: 45

- **All Stats**: 11,000

The Herald hadn’t left any essence behind as if its existence was just a glitch or something.

And for some reason, Rox hadn’t been able to cultivate any of the Blood Moon essence either.

Ezra theorized it was because she’d been counted as dead.

It was strange, but the end result was that Xay was now officially the same level as Rox.

Omar had been taken into custody by the Awakened Association for questioning. But not long after, he was released into the care of one of the group homes.

It was clear the guy needed a lot of therapy after everything Piper had done to him. Bethany mentioned she would reach out, once she heard his story, relating to him in some small way.

When the mining zone emergency shelter was finally opened, they found Juniper and Winnie bruised and bloodied.

With some help, they had managed to hold off the NeuroSync attackers already inside and prevent the shelter from being opened too early.

Xay found out later that Peanut and Bev had done something similar near the Cosmos Tower.

No one at the academy had the implants, but that couldn’t be said for the neighboring communities.

Most of the Awakened who had been holding off the Blood Moon were completely stunned when they finally returned to the city.

Anton’s NeuroSync System had already been shut down by Talulah, but the damage was done.

It looked like a tornado had ripped through the city center. People were injured on nearly every corner, hovercraft were flipped, and a few buildings had completely collapsed.

Lexi and Kimi had kept Xay updated throughout, but it was pretty hard to witness in person.

Still, he was grateful they were safe—and incredibly proud of them both.

Things could’ve gone a lot worse without them.

Xay couldn’t believe all Anton had done. He had never liked the guy, but he also hadn’t associated him with that high a level of insanity.

Recovery efforts began immediately, and the city remained in a state of emergency for several days.

All but essential businesses were shut down, and Cosmos Academy canceled classes once again.

But as New Meridian slowly regained its footing, the city made sure to recognize those who had stepped up when it mattered most.

Several citizens were honored with medals for their bravery during the chaos—including Lexi, Kimi, Theo, and, surprisingly, Emily.

The Awakened Association also issued commendations and promotions. Xay and his entire team were officially promoted to Orichalcum Tier.

Kimi’s father and the other second-in-commands moved up to Mythril Tier, while the Group Heads were all promoted to Hihiirokane Tier.

Given everything they displayed on the battlefield, their promotions had apparently been a long time coming.

Things were beginning to calm down, but the city was still a long way from returning to normal.

Cleanup crews still worked around the clock, shelters remained overcrowded, and entire districts still bore the scars of battle.

But for most people, the worst was already behind them.

***

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Xay was meditating in the air at the Quantium Penthouse, rotating sideways in the living room with Dragon.

Multiple days had passed, and still nothing felt quite real.

The Blood Moon, the city, the True Qilin, the Primeval Gods, Rox, the Herald—just everything.

Xay was still having trouble processing it all. He’d put up a good front around everyone else, but inside, he was in over his head.

He hadn’t even been awakened for a full year, and now suddenly the whole world felt a lot more dire.

If it hadn’t been for Grandmaster Wu, Xay would absolutely be dead right now.

Lexi, Kimi, and Rox were talking in the kitchen, while Tyra, Willow, and Ezra sat nearby in the living room.

The boutique had reopened, so Amy, Valiant, and Bethany were downstairs with Remington and Aunt Gwen.

Everyone’s proximity made him feel better, but it was still a lot.

~Hungry?~ Dragon asked, nudging his arm.

Xay snorted, flipping right side up. “Actually, yeah. I could eat.”

Then the doorbell rang.

The live feed from the back door showed Vi, dressed in an elegant blue and silver outfit.

“Vi?” Xay asked over the comms.

“Xay,” she replied, smiling more genuinely than usual. “May I speak with you for a moment? In private?”

“Uh, sure,” Xay shrugged, heading downstairs. “Be back in a minute,” he called to the others.

Dragon obviously followed him, however.

“What’s up?” Xay asked as he stepped off the elevator.

“I have something to admit to you,” Vi said, her tone serious. “I was not truly a visiting student. I am a Royal Seeker from the Kingdom of Illantari.”

Xay scratched the back of his neck, not entirely sure what that even meant.

Vi smiled gracefully, reading his confusion. “Royal Seekers search for artifacts, treasures, historical items, or even truths—on behalf of the royal families.”

Xay nodded. “Neat.”

“Yes,” she continued. “The honored role of Seeker runs in my family.”

Xay frowned, his brows knitting together. “Wait, so Desmond Knight isn’t really your uncle?”

“No, no,” she shook her head. “He is. The women become Seekers, and the men become Knights. He just took a different path. That’s.. a whole different story.”

“Anyway,” she said, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, “I came to this city investigating the destruction of a sacred cave several generations ago.”

“Seekers before me gathered evidence, and the search finally led me to the Diamond Group and their abilities. Somewhat anticlimactically, however, Dante openly admitted his family’s involvement in the cave’s destruction once we had gotten close.”

“And, as you’ve probably heard, his father disappeared before the Blood Moon. He’s presumed dead, and the entire Group has fallen apart.”

“Okay..” Xay said, still frowning.

He knew Virgil had attacked the mountains and hadn’t survived, but he didn’t have a reason to tell Vi that.

“So why are you telling me all this?” he asked.

“To make this next part easier,” Vi said with a soft smile. “You reminded me of someone when we first met at your table in the GastroHub. So.. I had your DNA tested. Back when we went to the Grand Nightvale.”

Xay’s frown deepened.

“I apologize for the intrusion,” she added quickly. “But it’s part of my duty to be certain of these things.”

“What things?” Xay asked, his confusion mounting. “What are you getting at?”

“Xavyer Vyntari,” Vi said reverently, dropping to one knee, “you are the lost Prince of Illantari.”

Xay’s mind sputtered

“What?!”

~Prince!~

***

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“You now have sixty percent control of the Infinity Group, sir,” Anders reported, tapping items off on a holo tablet. “We’ll soon be in position to take over the trade route they’ve been developing.”

“Good, good,” Desmond replied, distracted.

He was watching clipped footage of the Blood Moon Event. He and Anders had left for the Kingdom of Illantari weeks prior and had only just begun to settle in.

Though his family owned estates near the Nobles’ Quarter, Desmond had long since distanced himself from them, and the position he deemed beneath him.

Instead, he’d purchased a villa and vineyard on the outskirts—somewhere he could comfortably plot and watch everything unfold.

Xavyer’s growth had surprised even him, and his niece stumbling onto Xavyer’s true identity had been a stroke of beautiful serendipity.

A dark grin crept across Desmond’s face. His plans had changed, and he wouldn’t be returning to New Meridian anytime soon.

There was a grand show about to begin in the Kingdom Illantari, and he would, of course, be in the perfect position to benefit.

“As you suspected, the Morwen boy’s plan failed,” Anders continued. “However, it appears Siren was also killed in the process.”

Desmond looked up, clicking his tongue. “A shame. His talents could have proven useful in our coming endeavors. It seems I’ll need to visit a few family members after all.”

“And finally,” Anders added, “your niece is preparing to leave New Meridian and return home.”

Desmond’s smile returned even wider. “And I highly doubt she’ll be coming alone.”

***

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Formosa Seeker had debated long and hard about whether to reveal what Viatrix had uncovered.

She hadn’t been privy to the circumstances of the prince’s disappearance, nor did she understand why there had never been a formal directive to search for him.

The official record claimed he had died at birth.

But in the end, Formosa could not ignore her duty.

She would notify the one person the news mattered to most.

Late one evening, Formosa arrived in person to the palace of Archduchess Xylda Vynari.

Alone and in complete secrecy, she requested a special audience.

“This isn’t like you, Formosa,” Archduchess Xylda said, dismissing her servants with a wave. “Seekers don’t typically dabble in espionage.”

“I apologize, Your Royal Highness,” Formosa replied, bowing low. “But I bring information that should be yours to act upon, and yours alone.”

The Archduchess’s gaze sharpened. “You have my attention. Speak.”

Formosa took a breath. “Your son has been found.”

“Impossible!” the Archduchess boomed, the sheer force of her voice sending a shockwave through the room.

Formosa was slammed to the ground, barely withstanding the crushing weight of the powerful aura. She gritted her teeth, bracing against the invisible force.

At Level 60 and past her third awakening, she was no weakling, but even her power paled before the anger of the Archduchess.

“Choose your next words carefully, Seeker,” Archduchess Xylda warned, her voice cold as death. “My son died nineteen years ago.”

Gasping, Formosa quickly transmitted all the evidence Viatrix had gathered. “DNA test results, images, video footage, and a full synopsis of his life!”

The oppressive pressure lifted slightly as the Archduchess scanned the data.

“I apologize for speaking out of turn, Your Royal Highness,” Formosa continued, still panting. “But your son yet lives.”

“Xavyer,” Archduchess Xylda murmured, retracting her aura altogether. “..my son.”

For a long moment, she just stared at the projected image of a tall, handsome, strong young man with braided hair, sharp metal teeth, and a small draconic creature at his side.

For the first time in nearly two decades, Formosa saw a smile on the Archduchess’ face.

But it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

“Who else knows of this?” she prompted, her tone clipped and cold.

“Only myself and the Seeker who brought it to my attention,” Formosa replied. “After verifying everything I could, I came only to you.”

“Thank you,” Archduchess Xylda said sincerely, giving a slight incline of her head. “I apologize for my violent outburst.”

“No, Your Royal Highness. It’s quite all right,” Formosa said quickly. “I understand the weight of what I’ve shared.”

The Archduchess turned back to the projection, her expression growing sharper. Hundreds of steel weapons displayed around the palace began to hum and vibrate, resonating with her rising wrath.

“I will be needing your assistance again soon, Seeker,” she said, her tone low and honestly, terrifying. “Someone in this kingdom has committed a grave injustice against me, and worse, against my son.”

Seeker Formosa swallowed hard as sweat gathered at the back of her neck.

“Whether it was the king, the nobility, or just some nameless beggar,” the Archduchess declared, her voice echoing through stone and steel alike, shaking the palace at its very foundations.

“They will answer to the Archduchess of Arms!”

***

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**To be continued in Bond Arsenal 4.**