The first shot rang out, echoing sharply off the walls, followed by a second, then a third. Several of the leaders instinctively ducked or turned away, bracing themselves for the sight of blood. But Jade was already in motion. Her eyes flashed with a sudden, intense light—white flas flickering within them. Her body moved with a speed and precision that defied logic.
She twisted to the side, the first bullet slicing through the air where she had been a mont before. With a quick, fluid movent, she dropped low, evading the next shot, her body almost a blur.
The third and fourth bullets were t with a swift backward leap, each one missing by re inches as she contorted her body mid-air.
The final two shots passed harmlessly beneath her as she flipped gracefully, her form a perfect arc in the air, before landing softly on the ledge above where Kamala Harris sat.
The room fell into a stunned silence.
All eyes were on Jade, now perched like a hawk, poised and calm, her breathing steady as if she had just completed a simple exercise. The flicker of white fla in her eyes faded, replaced by her usual calm gaze as she looked down at the room.
The older man who had spoken earlier slowly turned to face the Director again, his disbelief evident in his expression. His jaw slackened, and for a mont, it seed he was at a loss for words. Finally, he managed to stamr out, "I guess… I was really wrong."
He swallowed, his voice shaking slightly. "But please, Director, don’t discharge a firearm in here again."The Director nodded, holstering the gun with a small, satisfied smile.
"Point taken. But let this serve as a reminder—our leaders are not chosen lightly. They are more than capable of handling themselves and the challenges that lie ahead."He paused, letting his words settle in before addressing the next concern.
"As for firearms, yes, training with them remains essential. The energy flowing through the veins of those who have severed their bond with the crystal amplifies their physical abilities, including precision and speed. Firearms, when paired with these enhanced abilities, beco even more potent tools for defense and combat."
Jade, still perched on the ledge, allowed herself a mont to breathe, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away. Her earlier shock had been replaced with a steely resolve. She had been underestimated before, but never so publicly, and never with such a challenge.
The Director had turned what could have been an embarrassing mont into a demonstration of her capabilities, and for that, she was grateful.
The tension in the room eased slightly as the leaders began to process what they had witnessed.
The older man, his pride clearly wounded, settled back into his seat, his eyes not eting Jade’s. Others exchanged glances, a mix of respect and apprehension evident on their faces.
They had seen sothing extraordinary, sothing that defied their expectations. The Director’s voice brought their attention back to the front.
"Now that we’ve addressed that, let’s focus on the next critical step—breaking the crystal."The room stilled again, the ntion of the crystal drawing everyone’s attention. The holographic display shifted, revealing the crystal at the center of their efforts.
It hovered above the ground, encased in a complex array of energy fields that flickered with a soft, ominous glow."The world has been waiting for weeks," the Director continued, his tone serious. "They know sothing is happening, but they don’t know what. Breaking the crystal is the first step in revealing the truth to the world.
It’s a mont that will be broadcast globally, a signal that we are stepping into a new era."He paused, letting the gravity of the situation sink in. "But this isn’t just about revealing our existence. The crystal is tied to the growing threat of another Kaiju erging, thanks to the Vale. We’ve seen the destruction they can cause, and we cannot afford any more delays."
Jade glanced at the hologram of the crystal, her mind racing. This was what everything had been leading to—the point of no return. Once the crystal was broken, the world would change in ways that no one could fully predict.
There would be no going back. The Director’s voice broke through her thoughts. Enjoy more content from empire
"This is why we’ve gathered you all here. To witness this mont and to ensure that, moving forward, we have the full support and cooperation of the world’s leaders. The divisions we’ve established, the training we’ve begun—it all hinges on what happens next."
He stepped back slightly, his eyes scanning the room. "We will break the crystal, and we will broadcast it to the world. But we will do so with the understanding that this is just the beginning. The threats we face are real, and they are growing. But with these divisions in place, with the leadership you’ve just witnessed, we will face them together."
Jade remained on the ledge, her eyes scanning the room as the Director continued to address the gathered leaders. He noted the murmurs of confusion and addressed the unspoken question head-on."You noted eight divisions but have only ntioned five leaders," one of the leaders pointed out, the question hanging in the air. The Director nodded, acknowledging the observation. "That’s correct.
The five leaders I ntioned are Tyree Maxwell, Oscar Lux, Ashaiki V., and Jade Fujiwara. The last leader is Gojaro. However, due to injuries sustained in battle, Gojaro will serve as vice-captain to soone until he returns to full health—if he ever fully recovers."
The room seed to take in this information with a mix of understanding and concern. The Director continued, addressing the rest of the divisions. "As for the remaining three divisions, more work is needed to fill those leadership slots. The training across all divisions will be uniform, ensuring that each mber, regardless of their division, will be a well-rounded fighter and warrior.
The difference in the divisions will lie in their specific goals and objectives."
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