Chapter 87: Martial Law! I
Chapter 87: Martial Law! I
The news that was prevalent in Skyglass Heights was always different to what the Stackborn saw.And the difference was clear as day right now as they were watching a bunch of clowns on live TV distort events freely.
Beside the man in the dark suit that had just been yelling at the screen, there was a woman in a navy blue power suit with golden hair that showed extreme beauty and grace.
There was a white-gold furred, winged cat Interstellar Beast in front of her that she stroked as tears fell from her eyes while she contributed.
[I saw the images of Guardian Dawn and Theresa taken down in cold blood. I saw their lives that they laid down to save so many and help so many across Ebonreach Metropolis reduced to... nothing. Many of you are justifiably angry. Many of you, up in your homes, are thinking, what will the Council do about all this?!]
Her golden hair shimmered as her eyes radiated an equally terrifying glow as this Interstellar Beast Master on live television continued.
[Well, I am here to bring you breaking news of now. The live coverage and decision that the Council has made.]
Her face pulsed with ferocity as she raised the device that she held in her hands that seemingly had terrifying information that she would read for everyone to hear.
And she started off with a bang.
[As things stand right now, in the hours to come, there will be Martial Law declared for the Hollow Stacks.]
...!
Like a bomb being dropped, even the eyes of Anastasia opened wide in shock and surprise as Damian became grim while holding the body of Kitsuul tighter.
The Void Serpent around Serena wrapped her body ever tighter as she also stared with wide eyes.
[Martial Law will be declared for the safety of those living in the Hollow Stacks and the safety of those living in Skyglass Heights.]
[After the tragedies that have befallen all sides and all people in such an unfortunate manner, no Beast Masters, unless those authorized by the Council, shall freely walk the streets of Hollow Stacks after a certain time.]
...!
[All Beast Masters are required to come forward and register their identities and Beasts within the next week, or they will be considered Unlawful Beast Masters within Ebonreach Metropolis.]
Every single word coming out of her mouth seemed more and more insane than the last, and yet she continued with a straight face!
[Enforcers will be patrolling the Hollow Stacks in large volume to ensure the peace and protect the people of the Hollow Stacks from anything like what happened today. Their presence there will be for their own protection.]
[And many of these things that I say are subject to change, but last and entirely not least... between the Hollow Stacks and the Skyglass Heights, the Pylon Gateway has been instated for the first time in over 50 years.]
...!
Damian’s eyes opened wide.
What?
[On the boundary line separating the Hollow Stacks from the Skyglass Heights, the Pylon Gateway has now been fully activated. Towering and fortified with next-gen military-grade defenses, this imposing structure stretches across the city skyline like a sentinel of steel and lightning. Designed to restrict all unauthorized movement between the lower and upper districts of Ebonreach Metropolis, this gateway will be more than just symbolic. Pulsing with high-voltage electric currents capable of incinerating even an Initiate Interstellar Beast Master, the Pylon Gateway will keep account of all of those going in and out and ensure order and peace.]
[Equipped with rotating Aether Cannons and long-range Plasma Turrets positioned along its segmented pillars, the Pylon Gateway is virtually impenetrable. Surveillance orbs will monitor every shadow, while embedded voiceprint scanners and quantum ID readers line the narrow entry point at its core. Officials have confirmed that over two hundred Enforcers now guard the central gate, armed and ready to keep the peace. Any attempt to breach the perimeter without clearance will be met with swift and lethal response.]
[For citizens of Ebonreach or certified Beast Masters, legal passage is still possible. Identity cards must be scanned and verified by the Registry, and biometric confirmation is mandatory. In this manner... everyone will be kept safe. Order will be established in the previously orderless lands of the Hollow Stacks. With this added, security investments will be allowed to flow into the Hollow Stacks and rebuild what was destroyed today while also ensuring that nothing like what happened with Guardians Dawn and Theresa ever occurs again! This... is the response of the Council!]
...!
Registries.
A literal wall between the Hollow Stacks and Skyglass Heights!
And Martial Law being declared as Enforcers would be patrolling the alleys and streets of the Hollow Stacks for the days and weeks to come!
Damian’s mind buzzed as he thought about all of this.
He clenched his fists as his body pulsed with silver brilliance over and over again.
Beside him, Serena stared at the screen of the Interstellar Beast Master reading out the verdict of the Council as she voiced out silently.
"They say violence begets violence... and maybe they’re right. Maybe we’re all caught in the echo of the first blow ever struck, repeating it over and over until there’s nothing left but blood and ruin. I know this. I’ve lived it. We are living it now. And still... I want Valentine Bateman to burn. I want him to feel every ounce of terror he’s inflicted on my mother. Martial Law? A Pylon Gateway slicing the Metropolis in two? Okay."
...!
Her gaze was defiant.
She looked towards Damian as if even this did not change anything as she continued!
"Violence begets violence... and I want that violence now more than anything else. So tell me, Judge."
...!
She looked at Damian as she said this.
As she called him the Judge.
"Tell me what we need to do from here!"
...!
Even though such shocking changes were about to be instated across the Ebonreach Metropolis, Serena wanted to forge ahead!
And she was not the only one.
Damian’s expression was heavy as his response to the actions of blatant massacre by the Masked Guardians led to all of this.
He knew this.
But if he could go back in time and choose not to attack the Masked Guardians as they continued to butcher everything in sight, he knew that he would not be himself!
So he did not regret.
He knew that he would do the same thing again and again if given the chance.
So when it came to what they had to do right now, the only solution lay in him gaining more and more power.
And the answer to this was something that he had just experienced earlier today.
Entropic Rifts!
"We need to get stronger— I need to get stronger. And Entropic Rifts are the fastest way to do that!"
Regardless of the chaos occurring around them.
Regardless how big the changes were about to be in between Skyglass Heights and the Hollow Stacks.
Strength... would be the most critical!