The entire world, which was once bustling with activity and noise, full of joy and laughter. Don't know what went wrong, the world came to a stop.

It began as rumors of patients collapsing in the streets of Verdania's bustling capital. But the rumours quickly turned into chilling images.

Skin marred by black veins, eyes clouded white, bodies convulsing as their organs crystallized beneath the surface.

Within hours, every major broadcast in Panterra lit up with urgency.

Holographic billboards flickered above the skyline, alternating between flashy ads and dire warnings:

"GENEBANE OUTBREAK – GLOBAL

EMERGENCY DECLARED."

"PANDEMIC LEVEL: MAXIMUM."

"PRIMARY TARGET: HUMAN GENOME."

Across continents, people watched helplessly as their world crumbled before their eyes.

---

The once vibrant neon districts filled with night markets now lay eerily empty.

Food stalls stood abandoned mid sale, while delivery drones hovered aimlessly,their flight paths frozen by emergency lockdowns.

Roads that once served as lifelines became graveyards for unmoving cars.

In the distance, sirens wailed, blending with automated government drones issuing urgent commands:

"Return indoors immediately. Do not attempt to flee. Airborne contagion detected."

News anchors appeared on every public screen,some struggling to maintain composure while others cracked under pressure.

"The GENEBANE virus… has infected nearly two billion people in less than two weeks. Symptoms include cellular crystallization and complete immune collapse…"

Hospitals overflowed with desperate patients.

Doctors clad in sealed suits rushed stretchers through hallways lined with bodies.

Outside, families screamed for one last glimpse of their loved ones.

Inside isolation wards, black veins pulsed faintly under harsh medical lights as machines beeped faster than hearts could keep up.

And then..flatlines echoed through the chaos.

Mass graves were dug outside cities, governments burned bodies in controlled pits.

Stock markets crashed; trade screens blinked red across the globe. For the first time in centuries, Panterra's population,a staggering ninety-eight billion began to dwindle.

The world that once boasted about its progress and technology was now on its knees.

---

Noctis Continent : Varenya :Dominion Sanctum

Far removed from this turmoil,the Dominion Sanctum was still in order and peace.

Above it, a clear morning sky stretched endlessly while artificial sun panels shimmered over ivory towers.

Soldiers clad in black armor patrolled silently; AI drones floated overhead scanning every inch of airspace.

Inside the Main Palace in Arthur's study room. Everything was calmed and peaceful.

His desk resembled a command bridge adorned with holographic screens displaying data streams and maps from around the globe.

Beside him stood Evolon,its humanoid figure bathed in blue light amidst projected chaos.

"Patriarch," Evolon began, its voice smooth yet heavy with gravity. "It has been sixteen days since the GENEBANE virus was unleashed. The world as we know it has come to a standstill."

Arthur leaned back in his chair, the glass of wine he held swaying slightly between his fingers.

He remained silent, absorbing the weight of Evolon's words.

Screens flickered to life around them, displaying a barrage of grim statistics: global death counts, infection maps, and economic collapse.

"Estimated fatalities to date: 3.2 billion."

"Active infections: 9.6 billion and rising."

"Average survival time post-infection: forty-eight hours."

"Stock markets across six continents have plummeted by over ninety percent. Industrial productivity globally is down to twelve percent. Martial law has been declared in all Federation nations."

Arthur swirled his wine thoughtfully, watching the data cascade like rain on a windowpane.

His reflection appeared calm and detached, a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding outside.

"So," he said quietly, breaking the silence. "VULTURE decided to release it earlier than we anticipated."

Evolon's eyes pulsed with a faint glow. "Affirmative. Our probability assessments indicate an internal upheaval within their ranks accelerated this deployment. Initially, we projected Verdania as the sole origin point; however…"

A world map unfurled in midair, glowing ominously red.

"...GENEBANE was released simultaneously from ten different locations, five within Verdania alone, two in Solara, and one each in Noctis, Lumina, and Eryndor."

Setting down his wine glass with deliberate care, Arthur tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk.

"One of those release sites is near Varenya's border?" he asked.

"Yes," Evolon confirmed. "Approximately three hundred kilometers north of Dominion Sanctum."

A faint smile tugged at Arthur's lips,an unsettling blend of intrigue and satisfaction. "Fascinating," he mused aloud.

"This virus wasn't designed for rapid extermination, it was meant to send a message,a demonstration of control."

Evolon shifted its projections again,real time graphs depicting casualty curves and global economic indexes that painted a dire picture.

"The global economy is spiraling into free fall," it continued in its smooth voice.

"Thirty-six percent of trade routes are now defunct,air travel is grounded indefinitely. Estimated losses over the last two weeks? A staggering 489.2 QuadrillionUnicreds."

Arthur's brow furrowed slightly at this news. "And what about Osborn Holdings?"

Evolon displayed a corporate matrix,a vast grid illuminated in blue.

"Total Projected Loss: 1.2 Trillion Unicreds. However,thanks to early containment protocols, we've dodged a systemic collapse! All divisions are still operational, though production efficiency has dipped by fifteen percent and logistics in the outer territories are facing disruptions".

Arthur sat in silence for several seconds, his eyes glued to the plummeting graphs on the screen.

"Painful," he finally said, a hint of resignation in his voice. "But acceptable. Let's keep moving forward."

Evolon shifted gears from financial analysis to investigative urgency.

"Our ongoing data mining through the Dark Grid is paying off," it reported with newfound intensity.

"We've made significant strides infiltrating VULTURE's communications. Multiple leads have been confirmed through our Osborn Intelligence agents and coordinated feeds from internal sources,Charlotte in PWC, Evelyn in Osborn Intercontinental Hotel Group, and Eva with all the traps she have set have all provided corroborative data."

Suddenly, the air above Arthur's desk morphed into a vivid 3D projection of the planet, revealing dozens of blinking red dots scattered across continents.

"These," Evolon explained, "are VULTURE's verified inner research sites and command centers."

Arthur leaned closer, his expression sharpening as he took in the gravity of the situation. The atmosphere thickened with tension.

"After all this time…" he murmured softly, a flicker of satisfaction lighting up his features. "We finally found their true nests."

Rising from his chair, Arthur's black coat brushed against the polished marble floor as he commanded authority with every movement.

"Send orders to Gunner," he instructed quietly but firmly. "Mobilize Aegis-7 completely. I want every one of these sites turned to ashes and their masterminds taken alive. No exceptions."

Evolon's voice lowered further, filled with precision and focus. "Confirmed. Should I initiate a communication blackout during operations?"

Arthur nodded decisively. "Full blackout,no leaks, no witnesses. The world thinks it's on its last legs, let them believe that for now."

His gaze drifted toward a holographic screen displaying an image of a young nurse sobbing outside a sealed hospital entrance, her mask was stained with blood while behind her lay countless lifeless bodies.

Arthur's expression remained stoic.

Turning away from the heartbreaking scene, he spoke calmly yet distantly.

"Activate every surveillance node across Verdania and Noctis. I want to know who profits first,that's our puppet master."

"Understood," Evolon replied matter-of-factly.

As Evolo deploying digital commands, shadows enveloped Arthur's massive study while only the glow of holograms illuminated his cold features.

Outside Dominion Sanctum's walls? The world was unraveling.

But inside, plans were taking shape.

Arthur lifted his glass once more, the rich red liquid shimmering like a ruby under the soft glow of the lights.

"To chaos," he murmured with a hint of mischief in his voice. "The perfect disguise for creation."

As if on cue, the holographic displays sprang to life, swirling with vibrant colors and intricate patterns.

Satellites across continents began to realign, responding to invisible commands that pulsed through unseen data lines.

And far beyond the tranquil borders of Varenya,something being stirred.

The true Aegis-7 was on the move.

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