Chapter 3: Mysterious Intruder

"The only solution to this crisis will be to eradicate the weak. In clear terms, every person above the age of twelve who can't wield at least a C-rank Magical affinity must be annihilated!"

The loud sounds of people gasping could be heard across the room. All eyes turned and were fixed on the old man.

Does he know the gravity of the words he just uttered?

"Heinrich, surely you really don't think the only answer is genocide? How can you even suggest such a thing?" the man beside Edward stood up to say, his fisted hands pressed on the table in front of him. "That's insane!"

"Insane?" Heinrich snickered, sending a glare at those around him. "Deep down, you all know I'm right. The world is already unbalanced as it is. Do you really think ordinary people can live peacefully with others who can summon lightning from the freaking sky?"

"I-"

The room was filled with rumors as Heinrich's idea began to make sense to some people. He wasn't all wrong, but then again, genocide would be going too far.

"Genocide is out of the question. Heinrich, if you don't have any other propositions, I suggest you have your seat," Edward announced, trying his best not to show any irritation in his voice to the old man.

"Out of the question? Is it because you are one of the weak ones?" Heinrich persisted, crossing his arms above his chest. He scoffed and then sat down. "What better solution could there be? Survival has always been for the fittest. I can't wait to hear a better solution, because, in the end, it'll all lead back to genocide."

"Enough!" Edward shot out, banging a fist hard on the table. "Someone else should please proffer something that doesn't involve killing innocent men, women, and children."

Just as Edward finished speaking, a man some distance from Heinrich stood up. He was putting on a suit designed in gold and white colors. Compared to the other authorities present, he was on the young side. He had a tall, brawny figure and looked in his late thirties. His dark blonde hair was trimmed at the sides. His black eyes gave out an overwhelming aura of power; an Awakened.

"I agree with you, Edward. Genocide is not the answer. What I propose is order. The scales of this world have been tipped, bringing chaos that if left unchecked will ruin us all. What the world needs is a nation that'll stand above every other nation in terms of intellectual, military, and Magical prowess; A new World Power.

"If this was the days of Evan the Terrible, do you think the Dark Mages would have the guts to do what they do now? No. Because there would be no bail or jail sentence. You break the law and pay with your fucking life in the most painful methods imaginable." With every word from the man, the force in his tone heightened. He had the attention of every person in the room.

"For centuries, Etharia has been in power, but with the state of anarchy in the world after fifteen years of Magical influence, it is clear that the world needs a more capable nation to maintain balance. One to rule with an iron fist, which no Dark Mage, terrorist, or whatever they can fucking call themselves, will dare to oppose."

Having made his point, the young man took his seat. Edward stood up to speak but was pushed back to his chair by an unseen force. It prevented him from getting off the chair.

"What?!" Edward exclaimed with unbelieving eyes searching his chair.

"He's right, you know!" came the deep voice of a man at the far end of the room.

He was the only one seated on the row of chairs. He appeared to be in his early thirties with long fiery hair that was tied at the back of his head. Unlike all the others, he was dressed in a casual black top and red jeans. Up until now, no one had noticed him. He brought his hands out of his pocket as he stood up and began to walk to the center of the room.

Everyone looked back and was shocked to see his unfamiliar face. The fact that he didn't bear the crest of any nation made one thing certain. This man was an intruder.

"Intruder!" some chorused at the sight of him.

"Just shut the fuck up and listen." The man snapped his finger and all of a sudden, no one was able to move. Almost like he had stopped time.

Edward struggled to move even an inch of his body but he couldn't. He wanted to alert his men at the other side of the portal through the enchanted ring, but right now that was an impossible thought. Many others wished to do similar but whatever Magic the intruder was using on them prevented them from doing so.

"Die!!" Two men shouted as they stretched out their palms and flames five times the size of a football shot out of them, heading straight for the intruder.

The intruder put a hand out to block the attack and the instant the fireballs touched his hands, they disappeared into thin air. Another threw lightning bolts at the intruder, but just like the fireballs, he absorbed it, taking no damage whatsoever. These men were SSS-rank Blockers who also had an additional Magical affinity. No level of Magic could affect them so they didn't have trouble breaking free from the time-pause.

They were ten in number. Ten against one. They kept on throwing attacks at the intruder, but he effortlessly absorbed all of them.

"I almost forgot about you guys," said the intruder, his tone laced with irritation.

He picked up a pen from the table next to him and with superhuman speed, he zoomed across the room and back to his former position. All ten bodies fell to the ground within an instant. He dropped the pen now soaked in blood back on the table. He brought out a white hanky from his trouser pocket, cleaned the blood on his hands with it, and then put it back into his pocket.

"I'm going to make this as quick as possible," he said, standing at the center of the room. "And just to be clear, no one is entering or leaving this room. Not alive at least. So don't think of doing anything stupid."

He cupped his hand and lifted it, and by doing so everyone in the room was lifted by their necks by an unseen force, strangling them.

"I'm only going to ask this once," he warned, increasing the force in his hand. "Which one of you stupid fuckers has the Origin Crystal?"

He waited for a few seconds for an answer but got none. His eyes suddenly began to glow golden. He was amplifying the heat in their bodies, creating a condition similar to lighting them on fire.

"There are several other painful ways to get what I want, so just save yourself the agony and tell me."

When he still didn't get an answer, he increased the intensity of the heat. The skin on their bodies started to turn a reddish color. Those who couldn't handle it went unconscious.

"S-stop! I'll tell you where it is!" Heinrich struggled to say, unable to take the torture any longer.

The intruder waved his hand in the air and the roasting and strangling sensations ceased.

"Give me your word that you'll let me live."

"You selfish bastard," the intruder chortled. "You are in no position to be making requests." He fisted his left hand.

"Argh!!" Heinrich shouted as all the bones in his left leg were crushed to powder.

In a second, the man levitated in the air and got to where Heinrich was. He placed his palms on Heinrich's head and began to scan through his memories. Satisfied with what he saw, he smirked and then snapped his finger. Immediately, they all fell to the ground. He stood on the air, his eyes flashing golden as he opened his palm and a fireball began to form above it. Quickly, it kept increasing in size until was as big as a wrecking ball..

"Forgive me," he whispered with a bit of sadness in his voice. "This is the only way."

BOOMMM!!