NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43: The Race for Power – A World in Motion
[Date: March 13, 2025 | Time: 3:15 PM | Location: Ashvattha Guild City – Guild Hall, 8th Floor]
The warm golden rays of the afternoon sun filtered through the towering Ashvattha Guild Hall, casting long shadows on the polished stone floor. The newly constructed guild city stood still, humming with latent mana, as Ankush and Soymojit stood at the entrance of the Tower Dungeon, preparing to step in for the first time.
Soymojit adjusted his jacket and let out a deep breath, still trying to process everything that had happened. "Man… I swear, this is the most surreal day of my life. One moment, I'm just your college buddy struggling with exams, and the next, I'm walking through a city built by a guy who single-handedly changed the entire world's power structure."
Ankush smirked but remained silent, watching as the massive dungeon doors loomed ahead of them. But before they could enter—
A world notification exploded across the sky.
A holographic screen materialized before them, its golden letters radiating an unmistakable aura of authority.
---
[Universal System Announcement – Global Broadcast]
[Notice: The second Guild has been established! Recognized by the Universal System.]
[Country: United States of America]
[Guild Name: Titan's Dominion]
[Guild Master: Alexander Voss]
[Status: Tier D-]
[Level: 50]
[Class: Titan Berserker]
---
Soymojit's eyebrows shot up as he read the message. "Ah. There it is. We had a two-day head start, but the big boys are here now."
Ankush tilted his head slightly, his eyes calm and calculating. "Alexander Voss, huh? Makes sense the US would go all-in. The guy's a former special ops legend, and his class? Titan Berserker? Sounds exactly like something the US would produce."
Before they could even react, another notification followed.
---
[Universal System Announcement – Global Broadcast]
[Notice: The third Guild has been established!]
[Country: China]
[Guild Name: Dragon's Ascent]
[Guild Master: Li Wenhao]
[Status: Tier D-]
[Level: 48]
[Class: Divine Fire Mage]
---
Soymojit crossed his arms, his lips curving into a smirk. "Damn, China wasn't going to sit around and let the US get ahead. Figures they'd show up right after."
Ankush nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Li Wenhao… he's the rumored Fire Lord of China, isn't he? His ability to control divine flames is said to be on par with the mythical phoenix."
Soymojit exhaled. "So, just like that, we've got two monsters stepping into the ring."
And then—
---
[Universal System Announcement – Global Broadcast]
[Notice: The fourth Guild has been established!]
[Country: India]
[Guild Name: Mahadev Consortium]
[Guild Master: Vikram Rajput]
[Status: Tier D-]
[Level: 47]
[Class: Celestial Guardian]
---
India had officially joined the race.
Soymojit let out a low whistle, rubbing his temples. "Well, well… I was wondering when our country's richest companies would make a move."
Ankush's expression darkened slightly. "Mahadev Consortium… That's the Mukherjee Group's pet project. They own almost every major tech and magic-based industry in India. If they've stepped into the game, that means they've got an insane amount of financial and political backing."
Soymojit sighed. "So basically, it's a megacorporation trying to dominate the new world order. Great."
Ankush's lips curved into a smirk. "Let them try."
The announcements didn't stop there.
One after another, the world's most powerful nations established their own guilds, each backed by an elite powerhouse.
---
[Universal System Announcement – Global Broadcast]
[Notice: The fifth Guild has been established!]
[Country: Russia]
[Guild Name: Winter Sovereign]
[Guild Master: Ivan Petrov]
[Status: Tier D-]
[Level: 52]
[Class: Frost Emperor]
---
[Universal System Announcement – Global Broadcast]
[Notice: The sixth Guild has been established!]
[Country: Japan]
[Guild Name: Shogunate of the Rising Sun]
[Guild Master: Ryuji Takeda]
[Status: Tier D-]
[Level: 46]
[Class: Moonlight Samurai]
---
[Universal System Announcement – Global Broadcast]
[Notice: The seventh Guild has been established!]
[Country: United Kingdom]
[Guild Name: Avalon's Keep]
[Guild Master: Eleanor Sterling]
[Status: Tier D-]
[Level: 49]
[Class: Arcane Paladin]
---
Soymojit groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Dude, this is getting ridiculous. Every single one of these guild leaders is a freaking legend. This is basically an international arms race at this point."
Ankush stayed quiet, his mind analyzing every announcement.
---
[Universal System Announcement – Global Broadcast]
[Notice: The eighth Guild has been established!]
[Country: Germany]
[Guild Name: Valkyrie's Order]
[Guild Master: Wolfgang Krause]
[Status: Tier D-]
[Level: 51]
[Class: Thunder Warlock]
---
[Universal System Announcement – Global Broadcast]
[Notice: The ninth Guild has been established!]
[Country: France]
[Guild Name: Arcane Dynasty]
[Guild Master: Jean-Luc Moreau]
[Status: Tier D-]
[Level: 50]
[Class: Royal Magister]
---
[Universal System Announcement – Global Broadcast]
[Notice: The tenth Guild has been established!]
[Country: South Korea]
[Guild Name: Phoenix Rebirth]
[Guild Master: Kang Seung-ho]
[Status: Tier D-]
[Level: 47]
[Class: Blazing Spear Master]
---
[Universal System Announcement – Global Broadcast]
[Notice: The eleventh Guild has been established!]
[Country: Brazil]
[Guild Name: Verdant Guardians]
[Guild Master: Thiago Monteiro]
[Status: Tier D-]
[Level: 45]
[Class: Jungle Titan]
-----------
[Universal System Announcement – Global Broadcast]
[Notice: The first global guild competition will begin in 30 days!]
---
A final notification rang out, shaking the entire world.
Soymojit gaped. "Holy crap, a tournament!?"
Ankush exhaled, his lips curling into a smirk. "This was bound to happen. The system isn't going to let things stay stagnant. They want chaos… and this is how they get it."
Soymojit shook his head. "So what now? Are we entering?"
Ankush chuckled. "Not yet. But we'll be watching closely."
With that, they turned towards the Tower Dungeon, stepping into the unknown as the world around them plunged into an era of power struggles.