The news spread across the globe with the speed of a terminal virus: the world as they knew it was over. Ethan had initially feared that the populace might feel too secure under Royal’s protection and refuse to leave, choosing instead to cling to the comforts of the regime forever. His concern, however, was in vain.

The chaos that followed was absolute. The fury Ethan had unleashed upon the ocean to vent his frustration had triggered global tsunamis of apocalyptic proportions. In a single day, the island nation of Japan vanished beneath the waves. Korea lay devastated, and coastal nations across every continent were submerged. The death toll climbed into the hundreds of millions. Only the territories under Royal’s direct grip remained standing, saved only because Royal’s forces used brute spiritual strength to hold back the encroaching tides.

When the truth was finally revealed, it hit with the force of a hammer. Ethan, with Crul’s assistance, broadcast a message to every screen and frequency on the planet:

"The world you knew is finished. Invading forces are stalking us from beyond the sky, and there is no way to resist them indefinitely."

Many still clung to a shred of hope, praying that Royal would declare a total war to defend humanity until the last man. Their prayers went unheard. The remainder of the message was a death knell:

"Royal is preparing for a Great Exodus. One hundred thousand chosen individuals will be selected from those loyal to Royal to abandon this island. The end is imminent. While Royal remains, peace will be guaranteed. Anyone attempting to exploit this chaos to cause further suffering will be exterminated without mercy."

Despite the warning, the world plummeted into madness. Desperate groups attempted to seize by force what they had always coveted; rapes, murders, and pillaging spread like wildfire. National governments collapsed, unable to provide even a semblance of security.

But Ethan did not allow the anarchy to spiral out of control. Royal’s strike teams were deployed globally. Even those soldiers who knew they were not among the "Chosen" still held a deep-seated respect—and even deeper fear—for their King. The Outsiders were terrifying, but Ethan was the literal incarnation of their nightmares.

Royal moved with unprecedented brutality. Heads were mounted on pikes along the borders of every major territory. The message was clear: The world still belongs to me. I may be leaving, but while I am here, it remains mine. If you want to fuck with my order, try it.

To drive the point home, Ethan released a single video. He stood before Mount Everest, the roof of the world, and threw a single, unenhanced punch. The mountain was erased from existence, reduced to a cloud of fine dust that blocked the sun.

The sight of such god-like power ended all resistance. No one dared to challenge the King again.

The world settled into a strange, haunting stasis. People returned to their lives because they still had to eat, but cities emptied as residents fled to the countryside. Logistics failed; transport halted. Planes sat rotting on runways. Who would work for a paycheck when the world was ending?

Yet, in the midst of this grief and chaos, a beautiful peace emerged. Nature began to reclaim its territory with aggressive speed. Over the grey ruins of abandoned skyscrapers and the silence of empty highways, wild animals returned. Species long thought extinct were suddenly spotted in the heart of former metropolises.

Chaos and peace were, it seemed, two sides of the same coin.

In primary continent, far from the isolated island Ethan called home, the atmosphere of the Crimson Sect’s grand palace was thick with the scent of spilled blood.

Elder Su’s rage was a physical weight. As a warrior of the Spiritual Sea Realm, his aura alone caused the ancient stone walls to groan and crack. He had already torn through a corridor of his own guards in a blind fit of grief; hundreds of Spiritual Core disciples lay decapitated or crushed in his wake. His fury reached toward the heavens, a pillar of dark, crimson energy that made the very air tremble.

His grandson—his only blood, the one he had pampered with silks and spirit stones—was dead. The Life Crystal stored in the sect’s sanctum had exploded into a thousand meaningless shards. There was no doubt. There was no hope.

The old man slumped over a heavy jade table, his tears staining the polished surface, while the other Elders of the sect stood in a semi-circle behind him. These men were at the Half-step Spiritual Sea Realm—the true foundation of the sect’s power.

Elder Su snapped his head up, his eyes bloodshot as he looked toward the most senior among them: Elder Red Knife Xuan Ni.

"Old Xuan... my grandson... my only grandson is gone!" the old man wailed, his voice shifting from a sob to a serrated growl. "Help me. I cannot go to avenge him alone. Those bastards from Blackmountain are already stirring up trouble on our borders; if I leave personally, they will descend upon us like vultures."

He slammed his fist onto the table, shattering the jade into dust.

"You must bring me his killer! I authorize you to lead the Crimson Army. Take every last one of our Suicide Soldiers! If there is something in that godforsaken place strong enough to keep my grandson from escaping, you must be prepared. Do not just kill the murderer. Annihilate everything he has ever known! Burn his world until only ash remains! Let the entire region know that no one—no one—touches the blood of the Crimson Sect and lives to tell of it!"

Xuan Ni bowed his head, the red blade at his hip humming with a murderous vibration. "As you command, Elder Su. By the time we return, that island will be nothing but a graveyard floating in the void."

--------------------

From this moment forward, to avoid confusion regarding cultivation ranks, I will include this footer with the current established levels.

Note: These are only the ranks mentioned so far to avoid spoilers.

Body Refinement Realm

Skin Refinement / Bone Refinement / Organ Refinement

Spiritual Gathering Realm

Spiritual Perception / Spiritual Mist / Spiritual Condensation

Spiritual Core Realm

Core Solidification / Core Awakening / Spiritual Collapse (Half-step Spiritual Core)

Spiritual Soul Realm

Spiritual Soul Awakening / Soul Nourishing / Soul-Core Fusion

Golden Core Realm

Prime Fusion / Core Perfection / Core Destruction

Spiritual Sea Realm

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

Dao Manifestation Realm

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

Spiritual Transcendence

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??