The blackout had swept across every corner of the world a brief, chilling silence that blanketed cities, towns, and villages. In the aftermath, confusion spread like wildfire as people tried to make sense of the event. It wasn't just a power failure; every device, every piece of technology, from simple household items to the most advanced scientific equipment, had failed all at once. The broadcast networks buzzed to life shortly after, their transmissions a blend of static and hastily arranged announcements.
The global government made its first official statement shortly after, addressing the situation. An official broadcast crackled through every device capable of reception, with an apology from the Planetary Government Council. The spokesperson's voice trembled, but they were firm in their words: "To the citizens of Earth, we apologize for the sudden disruption. We are currently investigating the root cause of the blackout and taking every measure to prevent this from occurring again. We appreciate your patience as we resolve this unprecedented issue."
However, beneath the surface of the government's composed response, a storm was brewing.
---
In the former UN Headquarters, now the headquarters for the Planetary Government Council, an emergency assembly had been convened. Representatives from every nation and every department of the Planetary Government were present through holographic projections that glowed in the dim, tense chamber. This virtual assembly reflected the urgency of the situation.
Silence blanketed the room as President Andrew Mayer, head of the Planetary Council, took his position at the center. His usually calm demeanor was replaced by a mix of frustration and exasperation. His voice, strained but controlled, broke the silence. "How is it," he began, his words cutting through the tension, "that every device, every piece of technological equipment even our most precise scientific tools could fail at exactly the same time? And yet we had no forewarning. What have you all been doing?" His gaze bore down on the group, finally locking onto one individual in particular the Minister for Defense, Arjit Saksham.
The Minister straightened under the scrutiny, his eyes darkening as he gathered his thoughts. "We were caught off guard as well, Mr. President," he replied, his tone even. "We've only just managed to bring essential systems back online. Our teams are still troubleshooting, and we're working tirelessly to determine the cause. As of now, we have yet to rule out the possibility of a premeditated attack or sabotage. Rest assured, we are already seeking ways to prevent this from ever happening again."
The tension was palpable as other ministers exchanged wary glances. Then, the Minister of Internal Affairs leaned forward, his voice cutting into the silence. "If this was an attack," he said, voice laden with uncertainty, "we need to know who's behind it. We've tried contacting Fixi, the most notorious hacker known to us, but we've received no response. And Ayesha, the cybersecurity consultant for the Saudi Government, has denied any involvement." He paused, glancing nervously at the faces around him. "This feels… too ominous. Almost as if we're dealing with something outside our understanding. I didn't even think this kind of simultaneous shutdown was possible."
Across the room, the Minister for Cyberspace and Information Security, Lee Ho-seung, cleared his throat, speaking up with an intensity that instantly drew everyone's attention. "According to our sources," he began, each word deliberate, "all technological infrastructures were affected civilian, transportation, and military alike. However…" He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "However, the VR Game Pod developed by Nova Corporation was completely unaffected. Every user logged into their system remained untouched by the malfunction."
The assembly erupted into murmurs, shock rippling through the room. Representatives turned to each other, some openly speculating, others clearly unsettled by the revelation. Whispers of the enigmatic Nova Corporation spread through the chamber, mixed with murmurs of disapproval and distrust. Many had long questioned the company's motives and secrecy, but none dared to voice it openly until now.
President Mayer's face hardened, his jaw clenched as a scowl overtook his expression. His frustration morphed into barely restrained anger as he banged a fist on the podium. "Damn it," he muttered, glaring out at the assembled ministers. "I never trusted those people, not even for a second. We shouldn't have let them promote that game of theirs so freely." His voice grew louder, echoing through the chamber. "Contact them immediately! Demand an explanation from Nova Corporation. Either they're involved in this, or they know something we don't. They need us more than we need them, and we're going to use that to our advantage."
---
Meanwhile, halfway across the world, the Primordials—Zainab, Jiangfeng, Reginald, and Freya were each dealing with the effects of the blackout in their own way. They had all felt a strange aftershock from the collapse, a profound sense of disorientation as they slowly regained consciousness. Their bodies ached, the lingering pain a reminder of the blackout's unexpected intensity.
James, still struggling to clear his vision and focus, blinked as his mind fought through the fog. Everything around him felt muted, as if he were underwater. His system console and servers were rebooting, the familiar hum of machinery a comforting sound amidst the chaos. He glanced around, his eyes catching the light of the monitors as they flickered back to life.
After a moment, he reached for his communication device and dialed a number, connecting to his Aunt Amy. She answered almost immediately, her tone soft yet reassuring. "James," she said. "Are you alright? Things seem to be calming down, but I need you to come down to the sitting room. There's something you need to know. I just received updates from the Planetary Council's emergency meeting."
Nodding, James made his way downstairs, still feeling the residual dizziness from the blackout. He could sense that whatever information his aunt had was crucial, the urgency in her voice unsettling.
---
In the meantime, Viviana, still within the virtual realm of the VR Game, sat in quiet solitude, a heavy tome in her lap. The book was a rare find she had stumbled upon here in the Library, She'd taken to reading it just to pass the time but somehow she's got herself hooked.
As she read, she noticed a faint shift nearby a figure gradually returning to focus, his dazed expression slowly clearing. It was the NPC, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding players, many of whom were still in various states of confusion and fatigue. His eyes fell upon a young boy who had collapsed in front of him during the chaos, and his expression softened with a tenderness that left Viviana confused. He leaned down, murmuring a few quiet words to the boy, words that Viviana couldn't quite make out.
Then, as if sensing her gaze, the attendant turned toward her, his face breaking into a faint smile. "My sincerest apologies, Milady," he said, his voice warm and respectful. "It's good to finally have you back with us." He gave a deep, respectful bow.
Viviana blinked, utterly taken aback. "Huh?" She stammered in a mix of confusion and surprise. The NPC's unexpected gesture left her momentarily speechless.
---
Back at the Planetary Government Council, the discussion had only grown more heated. Ministers and representatives alike were caught up in a whirlwind of theories and arguments, each one trying to grasp the significance of the Nova Corporation's immunity to the blackout.
"If Nova Corporation's technology remained functional during the blackout," one minister remarked, his voice barely above a whisper, "then surely they must possess knowledge we don't. Something that could help us understand the source of this event."
The Minister of Technology, a reserved woman named Lena Novak, added, "If they were unaffected, then it's possible they're either responsible or they hold the key to preventing future blackouts. We need answers from them, now more than ever."
President Mayer nodded, his earlier frustration now tempered by determination. "Arrange a meeting with Nova Corporation's representatives," he ordered, his tone brooking no opposition. "And make it clear that we will accept nothing less than full cooperation from them. The safety and stability of our entire world may depend on it."
As the assembly continued, the gears of global politics turned, driven by the uncertain threat of the blackout and the enigmatic Nova Corporation's potential involvement.
---
In the aftermath of the meeting, Amy filled James in on every detail. He sat on the edge of his seat as she described the exchanges, the accusations, and the looming question of Nova Corporation's role in the blackout. His mind raced, the pieces of the puzzle coming together in a way that felt all too familiar.
The sudden global shutdown, Nova Corporation's apparent immunity, and the government's desperate search for answers all of it struck a chord deep within him. He had always been curious about how the Government were able to make quick breakthroughs in advanced technologies, aside from the Quantum Mechanics theory developed by that Arab Scholar the rest were a mystery and now it seemed that one of those mysteries had just erupted onto the global stage.
"What do you think?" Amy asked him, breaking the silence that had settled between them.
James met her gaze, his expression thoughtful. "I think… we're on the brink of something big, something none of us truly understand. And whatever it is, Nova Corporation or Should I say the game Tower of Apotheosis is at the center of it."
Amy nodded slowly, a knowing glint in her eye. "Then let's make sure we're ready for whatever comes next."