A week had passed since the catastrophic sinking of the island, and with it, the final hope that Oracle King, the once indomitable protector of the US, had perished in the depths of the ocean. The majority of the salvage teams dispatched by the US had been pulled back, leaving only a fraction behind, clinging to the hope that some trace of their fallen king might emerge.
But the truth was becoming undeniable—the Oracle King was truly gone.
Meanwhile, negotiations regarding Excalibur, the fabled relic of the King of Horizon, had stalled. The US had been unable to make any significant progress in reclaiming the relic, which had been claimed by Alexis, a soul realm martial artist from Britain. The once-mighty weapon, a symbol of power and fear, was now in the hands of another, a foreign power that had no intention of returning it.
Enraged by this turn of events, the leader of the United States issued an ultimatum to Britain: the US demanded the return of Excalibur within a month. If not, Britain would face the consequences.
The British government responded with derision.
The US, still reeling from the grief of their fallen hero, could not come to terms with the fact that their guardian saint—the man they had placed all their faith in—had met such a strange and unresolved end. Their top leader, in a somber speech, announced that the US flag would be flown at half-mast for the coming week to honor the Oracle King. But for many, this was just a final admission that the Oracle King, their king, was truly dead.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the site of the gene experiment base that had been destroyed by Oracle King, work had resumed. A new team of British scientists now ran the operations, ensuring that the work carried on smoothly. The decision to rebuild the base at the same location was, perhaps, a subtle provocation—a check to see if the Oracle Palace would react. No response came.
This same pattern of rebirth was seen in India, Congo, and even Canada, where new gene experiment bases were being set up under the auspices of Britain, with Britain providing critical technical support.
With the collapse of the Oracle Palace and the rise of new powers in the martial arts world, the British martial arts community formed the Kingslayer Alliance. It was an alliance born not out of humility, but a sense of triumph and vengeance. The very name—Kingslayer—was a direct challenge, a deliberate insult to the legacy of the Oracle King, whom they now referred to as the "King" in their eyes.
The alliance grew rapidly, attracting martial artists from across the globe. The Kingslayer Alliance had become a juggernaut, a rising power that threatened to overshadow all others, as the old guard—those loyal to Oracle Palace—faded into the past.
In Australia, the Ninja League was in a precarious position. Daniel, the leader of the Australian Ninja League, was a man of integrity and conviction. He sat face to face with Alex, a high-ranking member of the Kingslayer Alliance, his gaze solemn as the legendary Excalibur sat between them on the wooden table.
Alex had come with an offer—an invitation to merge the Australian Ninja League into the Kingslayer Alliance. The terms were simple: in exchange for their allegiance, the Ninja League would gain access to genetic modification technology, an offer that Alex promised would vastly enhance their combat capabilities.
For the Ninjas of Australia, a group whose fighting style leaned more on stealth and agility than brute force, the promise of genetic enhancement was tantalizing. If they could achieve the same kind of physical prowess as the martial artists through genetic modification, their already impressive skills could be enhanced to a level unimaginable.
But it wasn't just the promise of power that made Alex's offer hard to refuse—it was his standing as a soul realm martial artist. His ability to claim Excalibur, the weapon of the Oracle King, spoke volumes about his strength and influence. Daniel, knowing that he had no real way to refuse someone like Alex, accepted the offer with a grim determination.
"Mr. Jackson," Alex said with a smile that hinted at his victory, "you've made the right decision. The Australian Ninja League will make its mark in history from here on out."
Daniel nodded solemnly, not smiling, but his words were respectful. "Thank you for your words. We'll look forward to learning from you in the future."
After Alex left, Daniel called a meeting with the Australian Ninja League's leadership to announce his decision. To his surprise, most members supported the merger, but one person stood opposed.
Mandel, a senior member of the League, spoke out against the decision. His voice was heavy with doubt. "I think we need to reconsider this decision, Mr. Jackson."
Mandel had a history with Oracle King, one that was far darker than the others knew. He had once pledged his loyalty to Oracle King and had even had a drop of Oracle King's blood taken from him. That experience had left him shaken, as he felt an inexplicable fear—an unnerving sensation that Oracle King could kill him at any moment. Now that news of Oracle King's death was spreading, Mandel felt a deep unease. If Oracle King was truly dead, why hadn't he felt anything? Shouldn't he have been dead too, if the Oracle King's power had been able to take his life at will?
His instincts told him that things were not as they seemed—that Oracle King could still be alive. But Mandel couldn't voice his concerns out loud. If he did, he would likely be branded a traitor, and his life would be in danger.
Daniel, however, was resolute. He stood up, slowly removing the mask that he had worn for years to hide the deep scar on his face. The moment the mask hit the floor, he crushed it with his hands, his voice hard as he spoke, "Oracle King made me live under this mask for years. I've carried this hatred inside me for far too long."
The scar on his face twitched as if alive, a grotesque reminder of the years he had spent in servitude and humiliation under Oracle King. "I've worn this mask because of him, and now, from this moment on, I will never wear it again. I want you to see how he humiliated me."
The members of the Australian Ninja League were shocked. They had always seen Daniel as their leader, a man of strength and dignity. But seeing him exposed, vulnerable in this moment, only cemented their decision to join the Kingslayer Alliance. Oracle King's legacy was one of torment and fear, and they were eager to break free from it.
Mandel, silent for a moment, knew that his objections would no longer hold weight. If he continued to oppose the merger, he risked alienating himself from the rest of the League. So, he spoke up reluctantly, "Mr. Jackson, I have one request. I want to go to the US."
Daniel paused, surprised by the request. He looked at Mandel, his expression unreadable. "Why do you want to go there?"
Mandel's eyes glinted with a mixture of resolve and fear. "I need to find the truth about Oracle King. I have a feeling that the news of his death is a lie."
4o mini