LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 184: Chapter 183
While the ability-user nations buzzed with the potential of these new techniques, the surviving world governments remained somewhat calm, relying on their established systems. They had weathered the initial chaos of the Awakening, the time when abilities first emerged and threw the world into turmoil. Now, these old power structures, like the United Nations, China, and other still-functioning government entities, were confident they could handle any new disruption. They had PowerGen on their side, after all. The suits provided them with enough strength to match the ability users, at least for now.
In contrast, regions that lacked the same level of stability—where the structures of government had already fractured—were less certain.
In North America, the Central Coalition was an uneasy alliance formed out of necessity. Once, it had been comprised of independent states that had resisted the rule of Phoenix and his fiery dominion. But now, they found themselves sandwiched between the might of Phoenix's Dominion in the north and La Corona's creeping influence from the south.
Governor Natalie of Texas sat at the head of the coalition council, her brow furrowed as reports came in. "The frequency techniques are spreading faster than we expected," she muttered to her advisors. "If Phoenix gets his hands on these, we'll have more than just rogue firestorms to deal with. And La Corona… their mind powers are already difficult enough to contain."
Her military chief, General Harlowe, shook his head. "It's not just them. The people are starting to hear whispers about these techniques. We're going to have unrest if they believe they can gain abilities like the ability users. They'll demand access, and we don't have the infrastructure or control to stop an uprising."
"Then we must get ahead of this," Natalie said firmly. "We need those techniques, and we need to make sure the people know that we're in control of them, not the ability users. If we don't, we're looking at chaos. We could lose everything we've built."
The Central Coalition had survived through pragmatism and force of will. But now, as these new techniques began to circulate, they faced a new kind of threat—one they weren't sure they could control.
---
In Africa, the Southern Free State was an anomaly. Unlike Tera Nova, which had embraced the rise of ability users like Eze, the Southern Free State had clung to its old ways, rejecting ability users and relying on the remnants of military power and international alliances to stay afloat.
General Obasi, the leader of the Free State, was a man of iron discipline, but even he felt the pressure as rumors of the new techniques reached his ears. He stood on the balcony of his command center, looking out over the bustling city below, knowing that change was on the horizon.
"These techniques will be the end of us," his intelligence officer, Captain Adebayo, said grimly. "If people believe they can gain power through these methods, we'll lose control. The Free State has survived because we've kept ability users out. If we start embracing techniques like these, we risk becoming like Tera Nova."
Obasi clenched his fists. "Then we'll find a way to suppress it. If we can't stop the spread, we'll regulate it. These techniques must be ours first, and the people must never know the full truth. We cannot allow chaos to take root here."
But even as he spoke, Obasi knew that the tide was turning. The world was changing, and no amount of military discipline would stop it.
---
In Europe, the Eastern Alliance was another fragile coalition, formed in the wake of the Sovereign Pact's rise. While the pact controlled most of Western Europe, the East had fragmented, with scattered governments and regional powers banding together to resist.
President Nikola of the Eastern Alliance addressed his war council with a heavy heart. "The Sovereign Pact already has the upper hand, but now these new techniques threaten to tip the balance even further in their favor."
One of his advisors, an older man with a grim expression, nodded. "If these techniques spread and people believe they can challenge the Pact's ability users, we'll see revolts across the region. We've barely held things together as it is. And if the Sovereign Pact acquires these techniques first, we won't stand a chance."
"We need to play smart," Nikola said. "We don't have the same resources as the Pact or Suprema, but we can still leverage our alliances. We'll need to secure these techniques for ourselves, not just to keep the people in check, but to ensure we're not overrun by the ability users. And if we can't acquire them… then we'll have to disrupt the flow of information, make it harder for others to access them."
The Eastern Alliance was on the edge of survival, and Nikola knew that this new wave of techniques could either save them or destroy them entirely.
--
Russia, once a vast and powerful nation, had been reduced to a patchwork of territories controlled by scattered governors. These leaders had no unifying structure, and most ruled their regions like warlords, relying on brute strength to maintain control.
In the governor's mansion of Siberia, General Sergei sat at his desk, reading the latest intelligence reports. His region was vast and cold, but the people were restless. The rumors of new techniques had reached even this desolate land.
"We've barely survived the rise of ability users," Sergei grumbled to his second-in-command, Major Ivanov. "Now they're saying anyone can control the elements? It's madness. If this spreads, we'll lose control."
Ivanov was more pragmatic. "Then we get the techniques first. We use them to keep our people in line. If these abilities can be learned, we need to make sure our soldiers are the first to do so. If we don't, the people will turn on us."
Sergei sighed. "This world isn't what it used to be. There was a time when smartphones and electric cars were the most advanced technologies we had. Now we're talking about controlling the elements and reading minds. Sometimes, I wish we could go back."
"But we can't," Ivanov said bluntly. "And if we don't adapt, we won't survive."
---
The spread of the frequency techniques had created a ripple effect, reaching even the most remote and fractured parts of the world. For the ability-user nations, this was an opportunity—a chance to grow their power and dominate the landscape. But for the scattered coalitions and governments still standing, it was a threat. They had survived the first wave of chaos brought on by abilities, but this new wave promised something even more dangerous: the potential for anyone to gain the power of the gods.
As the world buzzed with rumors and speculation, one thing was clear—chaos was brewing once again, and no one knew who would come out on top. The surviving governments and coalitions were already scrambling to secure their future, knowing that this new world of techniques could either empower them or destroy them.
For now, the calm before the storm held, but everyone knew it wouldn't last. The world was about to change—again.