The grand meeting room of the human government was abuzz with voices, the echo of hurried conversations bouncing off the high, ornate walls. Leaders from across the territories had gathered, their faces a mix of pride and concern. They celebrated their unprecedented victory over the Zero but were wary of what lay ahead. The atmosphere was thick with tension, an undercurrent of unease running through the room.
Suddenly, the heavy oak doors creaked open, silencing the assembly. A group of five young women stepped inside, their presence commanding immediate attention. They were stunningly beautiful, their appearances a stark contrast to the grim mood of the gathering. But it wasn't their beauty that held the room captive—it was their aura. Each of them exuded a sense of purpose and authority, their movements graceful yet deliberate.
The tallest among them, with long silver hair and piercing violet eyes, stepped forward. Her voice, though soft, carried a weight that silenced even the murmurs.
"I am Celeste," she introduced herself, her tone calm yet firm. "And we are the Envoys. We come with a message—a warning."
The leaders exchanged uneasy glances, but none dared interrupt. Celeste gestured to the others, each of them stepping forward in turn.
"This is Lyra," Celeste said, nodding toward a woman with fiery red hair and golden eyes. "The strategist among us."
"Aria," she continued, motioning to a serene figure with flowing blue hair. "Keeper of secrets."
"Eira," Celeste said, indicating a stoic woman with pale skin and icy white hair.
"And finally, Vega," she concluded, pointing to a confident young woman with raven-black hair and emerald green eyes.
Celeste turned her attention back to the room, her expression grave. "We are here to tell you that your victory over the Zero, while impressive, is far from the end of this ordeal."
The room erupted into murmurs, but Lyra stepped forward, her voice cutting through the noise. "The Zero you defeated was the weakest. It was but a shadow of what lies ahead. Each of the remaining Zeros is exponentially more powerful, more cunning, and more ruthless. This is not a battle you can win through sheer force."
Aria stepped in, her voice melodic yet tinged with sorrow. "This is not a simple competition, as you may have been led to believe. The Zeros are part of a larger game, one with stakes far greater than you can imagine. And at its center stands an entity we call the Unknown Arbiter."
Vega's eyes scanned the room, her tone laced with disdain. "The Arbiter is not your ally. Whatever its motives are, they are its own. Even we—who have faced the Zeros countless times—do not fully understand its purpose. But know this: it is watching, and it will not intervene to save you."
Eira, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, her voice as cold as her presence. "You must prepare for what is to come. The Arbiter does not play favorites. It cares only for the game. And if you falter, humanity itself will become nothing more than a footnote in its grand design."
Celeste took a step forward, her eyes scanning the faces of the leaders. "We offer you this warning not out of obligation, but out of hope. We believe that you have the potential to rise above this challenge. But only if you listen. Only if you prepare."
One of the leaders, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and defiance, spoke up. "Why should we trust you? Why should we believe any of this?"
Celeste's gaze was steady, unwavering. "You don't have to trust us. You only need to survive long enough to see the truth for yourselves."
With that, the five Envoys turned as one, their presence leaving the room colder than when they had entered. As the doors closed behind them, the weight of their words settled heavily on the shoulders of the leaders. The silence that followed was deafening.
The game had only just begun. And humanity, whether they were ready or not, was now a player in a battle far beyond their understanding.
As the heavy silence filled the grand meeting room, a single voice broke through with calm authority. The speaker was a man in his late twenties, his sharp black hair and piercing brown eyes making him stand out among the crowd. His name was Kane Mathis, the leader of human intelligence and a man known for his unshakable resolve.
"Maybe you're right," Kane began, his voice steady yet laden with conviction. "Maybe the Zero we defeated was the weakest among them. Maybe the road ahead is darker than we realize."
He paused, allowing his words to settle over the room like a cold wind. The other leaders and generals exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of where he was leading.
"But," Kane continued, a glint of determination in his eyes, "what if we win? What if, against all odds, we overcome each challenge, one by one? Yes, the Arbiter might see this as a game, and yes, the Zeros might be stronger than anything we've faced. But strength alone doesn't decide a battle. It's about strategy, determination, and adaptability."
The room buzzed with quiet murmurs as Kane's confidence began to seep into the others. His words carried a weight that even the dire warnings of the Envoys couldn't fully shake.
"To the next Zero—whatever it may be—we'll bring more than brute force," Kane said, his voice growing louder. "We'll bring every ounce of ingenuity, every shred of courage humanity has. The first victory was no accident. It was proof that we can fight, and we can win."
Someone from the back called out, "But who will represent us? Who will step up to face the next Zero?"
Kane's expression didn't waver. "That's the question, isn't it?" he said, a small smirk playing on his lips. "The next representative won't just be a soldier. They will be the best humanity has to offer—someone who understands the stakes, who can think outside the box, and who won't hesitate to do what must be done."
His words left the room hanging in suspense, each individual silently wondering who might be chosen for the daunting task.
A general leaned forward, his voice full of curiosity. "Do you have someone in mind, Kane? Or are we to deliberate?"
Kane crossed his arms, his posture radiating confidence. "Oh, I have someone in mind. But it's not my place to announce it just yet. Trust me when I say, when the time comes, you'll know why they were chosen. And so will the Arbiter."
The tension in the room shifted, the fear from earlier giving way to a flicker of hope. Kane's unwavering belief in their potential had rekindled something vital—a belief in their ability to not just survive, but to prevail.
For now, the identity of the next human representative remained a mystery, but one thing was certain: whoever stepped forward would carry the weight of humanity's hope.