Chapter 41 - "Breakout"
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**Greater Yamato Central Command – Secure Holographic Chamber**
Minister Aiko Tanaka sat at the head of the long obsidian table—posture perfect, face unreadable.
The hologram across from her shimmered—Dr. Priya Sharma, Indian Republic Executive, arms crossed, eyes tired but sharp.
Priya spoke first.
"We're searching for him. Everywhere. But… nothing. No trace. Not a whisper."
Aiko leaned forward—voice calm, but edged.
"How long has it been?"
Priya exhaled.
"I know. But it's still a mystery. Where he is… if he even exists anymore."
Aiko's fingers tapped once—slow.
"Did he even exist… or not?"
Priya looked away—briefly.
"He should. But now… it feels wrong to set expectations on mythology."
Aiko nodded—once.
"If you can't find him there… we start searching here."
She paused.
"The war may be unavoidable after all."
Priya's eyes hardened.
"Don't worry. We're with you. And we can't trust the US. They don't want power-sharing. They want full control."
"It's What their One Nation Policy is."
Aiko's lips curved—just a fraction.
"Thank you. It's always an honor to speak with you."
Priya smiled—small, fierce.
"The pleasure is ours. We'll help however we can."
The hologram flickered out.
Silence.
Aiko sat alone—staring at the empty space where Priya had been.
The door hissed open.
A female officer—young, uniform crisp—entered quickly.
Bowed.
"Minister Aiko… I have something important."
Aiko turned.
"What?"
The officer swallowed.
"There has been a major mana cave breakout in the Western Peninsula."
Aiko stood—slowly.
The room seemed to darken around her.
"What breakout… at this time? And a major one?"
The officer nodded.
"Monitoring station detected multiple large signatures emerging simultaneously. Several outposts have stopped responding. Communication is unstable."
Aiko walked to the window—hands behind her back.
Monsters could spread.
Into the mainland.
Into the heart of Greater Yamato.
But the Academy could not react recklessly.
Their primary priority—
The natural males.
They could not deploy Kaito. Or Ren.
Not like normal soldiers.
Aiko turned.
"Call Colonel Hasegawa."
The officer activated the panel.
Moments later—Hasegawa appeared on screen.
Uniform sharp. Expression stone.
Aiko spoke directly.
"There has been a major breakout in the Western Peninsula."
Hasegawa didn't flinch.
"Understood."
Aiko continued.
"We cannot deploy Academy assets directly."
The risk was too high.
Hasegawa nodded.
"Containment forces will be prepared. Intelligence first."
"But we are not heroes and so we can't kill all monster in whole western peninsula in one run."
Aiko lower her eyes.
"Then what."
Hasegawa sighed.
"In this run we will just capture and distroy caves in Seoul our HQ, then different areas in different runs."
Aiko's voice lowered.
"Notify no one at the Academy yet. Keep the students unaware. Until the scale is confirmed."
Hasegawa saluted.
"Yes, ma'am."
Screen cut.
Aiko stood alone.
She looked out the window—city lights glittering far below.
Something was wrong.
Deeply wrong.
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**Inside One Cave – Western Peninsula mana cave**
Dark.
Endless.
Blue crystal veins pulsed faintly in the walls—like dying heartbeats.
Something moved.
Slow.
Deliberate.
A silhouette—tall, humanoid—stepped forward.
No Visible eyes.
It tilted its head.
Listened.
Then smiled—slow, wrong.
The cave answered—low rumble.
Deeper darkness stirred.
The silhouette raised one hand.
The crystals flared—bright once.
Then dimmed.
Something was waking.
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*End*