Just as Adam had settled into a new family dynamic and resolved Leon's duplication issue, a new crisis emerged. King Wayne arrived at Adam's doorstep, an unprecedented visit that immediately signaled the gravity of the situation.
Before Leon and Lyra, the King explained that the entire civilization was in a state of panic. The various continents were preparing for an extraordinary meeting to discuss a new treaty. Such an event only occurred when a cataclysmic threat loomed over them all. Each continent would hold sub-meetings to select a representative to attend the grand gathering of all races. The kings of the human kingdoms were about to convene.
King Daniel explained that this historic moment was driven by widespread fear. Intelligence agencies from every kingdom and continent had confirmed the existence of a looming entity. Their goal was to forge a new treaty and devise a plan to counter this threat. King Daniel urged Adam to join them, hoping his unique abilities could help resolve the crisis. Adam and Lyra agreed to attend the meeting. They would depart soon, hoping Adam could settle his affairs before leaving with King Daniel.
Adam tasked Leon with relaying the news to the rest of the family, who all readily accepted his decision. He instructed them to inform him immediately if Emily returned and to explain his sudden departure. The kings would mobilize their troops for the journey to the Kingdom of Khord, located in the heart of the human continent. During this period, any attack on any kingdom would be considered a violation of the meeting's laws, drawing the full might of all human kingdoms' armies. The King cautioned Adam against using his powers during the event, as it might be perceived as a threat, potentially uniting all other kingdoms against him.
The meeting was scheduled to begin in a month, with their journey taking about three weeks. The other kings would arrive and wait in Khord until everyone was present, allowing them a short period of enjoyment in the kingdom. Adam, despite his ability to reach Khord in minutes, agreed to abide by the King's decision.
Adam immediately asked the King about the nature of the danger. As expected, the King was ready to explain. He led Adam, Lyra, and Leon to a sealed room beneath the castle, where a massive, multi-colored orb fluctuated with various mana signatures.
The Looming Threat
The King explained that this device was created by a hero from the Dragon Continent, an "otherworlder" who had once halted a war between continents. This hero had discovered that creatures in the unknown lands possessed mana far stronger than anything outside of it. The hero had even ventured into these lands but was forced out by the sheer power of its inhabitants.
Many powerful individuals died during that expedition, unable to withstand the unknown lands' might. Because of this, the hero created this device to sense mana fluctuations from within the unknown lands. Smaller versions were distributed to all civilizations, but Khord held the largest and most sensitive orb.
The King continued, explaining that there had been significant mana fluctuations from the unknown lands before, prompting civilizations to prepare for an invasion.
However, a specific black mana, known to be an extremely catastrophic threat (the anomaly Adam had captured), had suddenly disappeared. This had halted the preparations, leading some continents to descend into civil war as the impending threat seemingly vanished.
Adam and Lyra exchanged knowing glances. They realized the King was talking about the anomaly they had captured in their dimension.
"However," the King stated gravely, "just last night, a far greater mana fluctuation emerged, surpassing even the black mana anomaly. A creature surpassing the previous threat has been born." The King expressed his understanding that even the otherworlder hero couldn't compete against the unknown lands, and he wouldn't force Adam, powerful as he was, to risk his life against such a threat.
This new, overwhelming presence had, paradoxically, halted all ongoing wars and greed among kingdoms, leading to the imminent continental meeting.
Adam's Unforeseen Impact
Via neuro-link, Lyra's voice echoed in Adam's mind. "It might have been Adam's mana outburst last night that this orb picked up. The whole thing was due to Adam's appearance in the unknown lands."
Adam stood there, contemplating the immense problem he had inadvertently caused for the entire civilization. Everything that had just happened – the fear, the urgent continental meeting, the halting of wars – was all due to him.
Adam now faces the monumental task of explaining his accidental role in creating a continent-wide panic.