Chapter 61: What a Chaotic Situation!

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: What a Chaotic Situation! The first global broadcast from the merged world went live exactly six hours after the Great Convergence. News anchors from what used to be Earth sat in studios that now overlooked landscapes that belonged in fantasy novels, struggling to find words for what had happened. "This is Sarah Chen reporting from New Beijing," the anchor said, her voice steady despite the chaos visible through the window behind her. "What we’re witnessing today defies every law of physics, every understanding of reality we thought we had. Ten worlds have somehow merged into one, and we’re no longer alone." The camera panned across the city skyline, where traditional Chinese architecture now stood alongside crystalline spires that hummed with their own inner light and organic towers that seemed to breathe. In the streets below, crowds of humans mixed with... others. Evon watched the broadcast from a temporary command center set up in what used to be the Amazon. Around him, Hunter personnel tried to make sense of their new reality while coordinating with similar groups across the merged world. "Turn up the volume," he said, settling into a chair. The reporter continued, "We’re getting reports from every major population center of contact with what can only be described as other intelligent species. In London, witnesses describe tall, elegant beings with pointed ears who claim to be elves. In New York, small, bearded humanoids have emerged from what appears to be underground cities, identifying themselves as dwarfs." The broadcast switched to shaky cell phone footage from Times Square. A group of stocky, bearded figures stood in the middle of the intersection, looking around with expressions of confusion and wariness. One of them, wearing elaborate armor covered in glowing runes, was arguing with a police officer. "Sir, I’m going to need you to move along," the officer was saying. "Move along?" the dwarf replied in accented English. "This is supposed to be the Iron City of Clan Hammerstrike! Where are our forges? Where are our halls?" "I think there’s been some kind of misunderstanding..." Evon shook his head. "This is going to be complicated." Commander Jaun’s voice came through his comm unit. "Evon, we’re getting similar reports from everywhere. It’s not just humanoid species either. There are reports of elemental beings made of pure fire and water, winged creatures that might be angels, others with horns that people are calling demons..." "Any hostile activity?" "Some. Mostly confusion and territorial disputes. But there have been a few incidents." ### The First Clashes The broadcast switched to aerial footage of what used to be Central Park in New York. The familiar green space was now bisected by a river of liquid fire, around which beings of living flame danced and fought with creatures made of flowing water. "The Fire and Water Elementals have been in constant conflict since their emergence," the reporter’s voice explained over the dramatic footage. "Neither side speaks any human language, but their intentions are clear." Steam rose in massive clouds where fire met water, creating a localized weather system that was already affecting the surrounding area. In another part of the city, the camera showed a very different kind of conflict. Tall, ethereal beings with white wings faced off against equally impressive figures with dark wings and curved horns. Both groups had drawn weapons that glowed with their own inner light. "Angels and demons," Lyria said in Evon’s mind, her tone concerned. "This was inevitable." "You know them?" Evon asked silently. "Not personally, but their species are eternal enemies. They’ve been fighting across multiple realities for millennia." On screen, one of the angels stepped forward, speaking in a language that sounded like singing. The demon leader responded with words that seemed to make the air itself recoil. Subtitles appeared, though Evon wondered how anyone had managed to translate so quickly. ANGEL: "This realm belongs to the Light now, spawn of darkness." DEMON: "The darkness was here first, feather-brain. We claim dominion by right of arrival." "Oh, this is definitely going to be a problem," Evon muttered. ### Dragons and Humans The next footage made Evon sit up straight. The camera showed what looked like Washington D.C., but the familiar monuments were now overshadowed by massive forms circling overhead. Dragons. Real dragons, with scales that caught the sunlight and wings that created shadows the size of city blocks. One of them, a magnificent creature with golden scales, had landed on the steps of what used to be the Capitol Building. It was speaking to a crowd of humans, its voice somehow audible despite the distance. "HUMANS OF THIS REALM," the dragon’s voice boomed, each word carefully enunciated. "YOU ARE NOW UNDER THE PROTECTION AND AUTHORITY OF THE GREAT WYRM COUNCIL. SUBMIT PEACEFULLY, AND YOU WILL BE TREATED AS HONORED PETS." The crowd’s reaction was immediate and negative. Shouts of protest rose from the assembled humans, and some were already pulling out phones to livestream what they clearly saw as an alien invasion. A government official stepped forward with a megaphone. "We appreciate the... offer, but humanity doesn’t accept anyone as our overlords." The golden dragon tilted its massive head, looking genuinely puzzled. "OVERLORDS? YOU MISUNDERSTAND. WE OFFER PROTECTION. HUMANS ARE CLEARLY AN INFERIOR SPECIES THAT REQUIRES GUIDANCE." "I think I’m going to have to have a talk with them," Sythara said in Evon’s mind, her draconic pride bristling. "They’re giving us a bad name." "Later," Evon replied. "Let’s see how this plays out first." ### The Beast-kin and Dwarfs Another broadcast showed a very different kind of conflict. In what appeared to be downtown Chicago, a group of humanoid figures with animal features—cat ears, wolf tails, bear-like builds—were facing off against a clan of dwarfs over what looked like a construction dispute. The camera caught the tail end of an argument between a wolf-eared woman and a dwarf in elaborate ceremonial armor. "This is sacred hunting ground of the Moonhowl Tribe!" the woman was saying, her canine teeth visible as she spoke. "Sacred nothing!" the dwarf shot back. "This is prime mining territory! Look at those mineral deposits! We’ve got rights here!" "You have the right to leave before we make you leave!" The dwarf hefted a massive war hammer. "Try it, fleabag!" The wolf-woman’s eyes began to glow, and her fingernails extended into claws. Around them, members of both groups began to square off for what was clearly about to become a very messy fight. Just as the various conflicts seemed about to escalate into full-scale warfare, something unexpected happened. The broadcast switched to a split-screen showing multiple locations where the fighting had suddenly stopped. In New York, the elemental conflict had been interrupted by the appearance of two figures—one seemed to be made of crystallized light, the other of living shadow. Both radiated an authority that made the warring elementals step back. The angel-demon conflict had been similarly interrupted by the arrival of what could only be described as an archangel—a being of such radiant beauty that the camera had trouble focusing on it—and a demon lord whose presence made the air shimmer with heat. In Washington, the golden dragon had been joined by an even larger dragon, this one ancient beyond measure, with scales that seemed to shift between all colors at once. "The leaders are arriving," Naia observed. "The strongest of each species." Evon watched as similar scenes played out across the world. In every location where conflict had broken out, powerful beings were appearing to restore order among their people. Evon’s comm unit buzzed with an urgent message from Commander Jaun. "Evon, we’re receiving a communication. It’s... well, it’s addressed to you specifically." "From who?" "That’s the interesting part. It’s from all of them. Every species leader who’s appeared. They want to meet." Evon raised an eyebrow. "They know who I am?" "Apparently. The message says they can sense the power you used against the Corrupted God. They want to discuss the situation with the one they’re calling ’the Bridge-Walker.’" Through his connection to the four goddesses, Evon felt their interest spike. "This could be our chance," Veyra said. "If we can establish diplomatic relations early..." "We might be able to prevent a full-scale war," Lyria finished. Evon stood up, checking that the Blade of Fate was secure at his side. "Where do they want to meet?" "That’s the other interesting part. They’ve suggested a neutral location that apparently didn’t exist before the merger. Something they’re calling the Nexus—a floating city that’s appeared above what used to be the Atlantic Ocean." Evon looked out the window of the command center, where he could see figures in the distance—some human, some definitely not—working together to clear debris from the recent battle. Despite all the conflicts breaking out around the world, there were also signs of cooperation. Hope. "Alright," he said. "Set up transportation. Looks like I’m going to my first interdimensional diplomatic summit." As he prepared to leave, Evon couldn’t help but smile slightly. He’d fought corrupted humans, battled shadow gods, and saved the world more than once. But somehow, the thought of sitting down to negotiate with dragons, angels, demons, and elves seemed like it might be his biggest challenge yet. "This should be interesting," Sythara said, echoing his thoughts. "That’s one word for it," Evon replied. ______________