Demonic Pornstar System

"The tragedy earned them a four-month grace period, which is a rare occasion. Political strings were pulled, no doubt. But grace doesn’t last forever. Their window of afforded respite is almost up. If they don’t finish the dungeon within the next three weeks, the guild will be disbanded. Legally, forcibly. Assets seized. Personnel reassigned."

"Why does the government treat its own guilds so harshly?" Bastet asked, curious. "Shouldn’t it instead help the struggling ones so they can keep up?"

It was Tessa who responded. "This isn’t cruelty. The government is not a sadistic entity; they are just policy makers whose job is to steer us in the direction they think is best for the nation."

Nyx, already aware of the details, took over. "The U.S. can’t afford dead weight in a mana apocalypse. Every guild that’s allowed to limp along is a drain on scarce awakened talent and a danger to their lives. Mismanaged clears, reckless tactics, lack of discipline... these failures cost more than lives. They cost progress. Global progress."

Luna, having done her due research ever since becoming awakened, could add her own bit to the conversation. "China and India are racing ahead, turning entire provinces into fortified zones and churning out high-tier awakened like a factory line due to their high population and newly introduced favorable childbirth policies.

Aria twirled a lock of her gorgeous silver hair in between her fingers as she looked at Bastet and explained, "Many women there have even become professional birth factories due to the pay they receive from the government in exchange for churning out babies with a 15% potential to awaken... If we don’t keep up, we fall behind. And in this new world, falling behind means extinction. That’s why the government doesn’t coddle underperformers. If you want to keep your badge, then you must prove you’re worth it."

Bastet took in the information with many nods of her head. Despite the felinid not caring one bit for the humans around her, save for a select few, she knew that information was worth its weight in gold. As such, she was eager to soak in all the information she could get her claws on.

Kaiden’s expression hardened. "So they need outsiders."

"Exactly," Tessa confirmed. "They’ve tried scouting for recruits, but no one wants to join a guild that just lost nineteen members in a single operation, especially knowing that another do-or-die mission loomed on the horizon. Even desperate newbloods are avoiding them like the plague."

"That’s more than understandable," Nyx said under her breath.