The global SDF summit convened in Neo-Seoul's fortified headquarters, a chamber sealed with layered mana barriers that hummed like a living entity. Commanders and representatives from across the world gathered around a holographic table, their faces illuminated by flickering maps of Genesis's attacks—Shanghai's charred ruins, Seoul's subway carnage, Tokyo's blood-soaked Shibuya, London's collapsed towers, and Mumbai's market massacre. The air was thick with tension, mana affinities subtly clashing: American telekinesis warping the edges of documents, Chinese fire crackling faintly, British illusions casting faint distortions. Korean Commander Hyeon-soo Choi presided, his gravity powers anchoring the room's gravity, a metaphor for the fragile balance they sought.
The meeting began with a grim exchange of details on Genesis. "Their mana weapons are evolving," the Indian representative reported, her gravity affinity steadying a projection of explosive residues. "Amplified to mimic national signatures—Japanese tech in Shanghai, Korean patterns in London. They're engineering blame to fracture alliances." The Japanese commander, Aiko Tanaka's former mentor with wind powers, added, "Our Eclipse Collective intel confirms: Genesis operates from hidden veins, recruiting Black Heart rejects for their chaos ops." Murmurs rippled as files were shared—manifests of upcoming strikes, cryptic references to "Exodus" as the endgame.
But the true goal loomed unspoken: unraveling what "Exodus" meant. Was it a mass attack? A mana cataclysm? A forced global reset? "We need leads," Choi urged. "Genesis's video promised it soon—USA, UK, France, India next, but now they've hit the latter two. Patterns suggest escalation."
The topic shifted to Black Heart users, a volatile thread in Genesis's arsenal. Eyes turned to Choi, the Korean commander, suspicion heavy. The American representative, a burly Division Captain named Victor Harlan with telekinetic prowess, leaned forward, his voice laced with mock curiosity. "Speaking of Black Hearts, I watched the video of that warehouse incident in Neo-Seoul—kid going berserk, shadows tearing folks apart in a bloodbath. Decided to do some personal research out of curiosity. Turns out that brat's now under the Korean SDF as a recruit. When did you guys start recruiting kids who should be punished? Thought you had juvie or something for that."
Snickers echoed, but the Chinese representative, a fire manipulator with a stern glare, cut in. "He's some anyhow brat—the kid they have under them is in possession of a Black Heart. Dangerous, if you ask me."
Harlan chuckled, his telekinesis flipping a pen idly. "I know, I'm just teasing him. But seriously, what's the end goal Korea's getting at with this bloodshed and experiments? Keeping a Black Heart kid shielded—smells like you're building something big."
Choi met their stares evenly, his gravity powers pulsing subtly. "Isn't that what we're here to find out? Genesis exploits Black Hearts for their chaos. Our recruit controls his—unlike the rabid ones they weaponize. We're containing threats, not creating them."
The room tensed, accusations hanging unspoken, but before retorts flew, alarms blared. Holographic feeds switched to live footage: New York City under siege. Mana explosives detonated in Times Square, flames coiling into spectral beasts that devoured crowds. Tourists and locals screamed as bodies were torn asunder, limbs shredded in gory sprays, blood painting the billboards in crimson streaks. Flesh melted under mana corruption, entrails spilling onto the pavement amid the chaos of collapsing screens and fleeing masses. The attack mirrored the others—visceral, unrelenting, the air filled with the stench of death broadcast in real-time.
"Genesis," Choi muttered, the summit dissolving into urgent commands. American forces mobilized, but the damage was catastrophic—hundreds dead, the heart of the USA scarred.
Post-attack investigations by the US SDF branch uncovered a damning lead: mana signatures traced to Korean tech, embedded in the explosives. "It's from Neo-Seoul labs," the American commander relayed in a furious holo-call. Whispers of collusion reignited—Korea's early intel on Shanghai now seen as foreknowledge, not heroism.
The USA, true to their warning, prepared to launch what they'd threatened: a full-scale assault on Asian nations deemed responsible. Warships maneuvered in the Pacific, mana shields glowing, while diplomatic channels burned with ultimatums. "Korea and Japan first," Harlan declared in a press briefing, his telekinesis crumpling a podium for emphasis. "No holding back."
In the SDF summit's aftermath, Choi reconvened his captains. "Genesis wants war—we stop it before Exodus hits." But with Third Division Captain Soo-jin Lee's betrayal fresh, and Min-jun's squad under his command, trust frayed. Min-jun, watching from base, felt the Black Heart surge—shadows ready for the bloodbath ahead.
As nations armed and alliances shattered, Genesis's fractured-heart symbol pulsed on screens worldwide, Exodus drawing near.