Chapter 130: The Gathering Storm
Theme: "Shadow Masquerade" by Shiro Sagisu – heavy strings and slow ominous organ building to reverent chaos
The chapter begins inside of Mujin's office the Seoul president , a dim chamber carved from shadowed marble and ancient wood, was unusually still. The windows remained shuttered against the morning light, casting elongated silhouettes across the polished obsidian table at the room's center. Behind his desk, the Akebi his Associates stood in silence, fingers steepled beneath his chin, the weight of unspoken fears pressing behind his gaze
Across from him stood Sakamoto, his dark jacket torn at the shoulders, the hem charred and crusted with the soot of unseen conflict. Beside him was Asger, her crimson hair unbound and swaying gently like a living flame, her expression unreadable
"We need to talk." Sakamoto said,
Mujin's eyes sharpened. He raised a hand and snapped his fingers toward Akebi.
"Summon Rajesh. Jayesh. Thomas. Daisuke. Frozen. Madagascar. Bring every S Rank in Seoul to this office. Now."
Without a word, she vanished like a gust of breath.
Mujin turned to Sakamoto, eyes scanning him like a father worried for his son.
"How did you escape the Alcatraz incident?"
Sakamoto glanced to the side, nodding at Asger.
"Her."
Mujin gave a small bow of respect.
"Thank you. You've done us all a great favor. And Sakamoto… you've always been innocent. I knew it we caught the man responsible for all of this but unfortunately we couldn't force the truth out of him and he lost his life in the process."
The room settled as the minutes passed. Soon, the door opened one by one—Rajesh, Jayesh, Thomas, Daisuke, Frozen, and Madagascar filled the chamber. All eyes were on Sakamoto.
He took a breath.
"Alright then… here we go."
But before he could say more, a voice stirred inside him—familiar, powerful.
Jushin.
"Let me speak."
"How?" Sakamoto asked internally.
"Touch your hand to mine. I'll handle it."
Sakamoto obeyed.
Suddenly, his hand lifted, and in that instant, a blast of wind burst outward from his chest. Papers flew. Furniture shook. Shadows flailed.
His eyes turned jet black.
The room fell into dead silence as Sakamoto's body stood—but a different presence spoke. A voice that echoed like a forgotten god. Deep. Reverent. Ancient.
"My name is Jushin. I have urgent news."
Everyone stood still. Even Rajesh narrowed his gaze.
"What news?" he asked.
Jushin's voice thundered with authority.
"Lord Arcade has returned. His resurrection… was successful."
A chill swept the room.
"Impossible," Daisuke muttered.
"I have fought him before. I know the essence of his Shen. It is weak now, but it is him. And make no mistake—he will not wait. Arcade does not plan. He strikes. Warn your global leaders. A war is coming."
Mujin bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Jushin. We'll act immediately."
Jushin withdrew. Sakamoto collapsed into the chair, blinking as his vision returned.
Jayesh leaned forward, stunned.
"What… was that? Who was that speaking through you?"
Rajesh answered in his place.
"That… is the last hybrid. Jushin."
Far away, in the underground sanctuary of The Ten, a gathering of monsters stood in reverent silence.
Lord Arcade—reborn in Draven's body, now fully possessed—stepped onto the raised platform. His voice cracked like thunder across the marble chamber.
"A good squad you've assembled, Huey. But it will not be enough."
In the crowd, whispers stirred.
"They say he's not even at full strength…"
"And yet, we can't even look him in the eye."
"What happens when his power returns?"
Arcade raised a hand.
"Raise your heads, my beloved children. You face no ordinary war. You face reclamation. I have cheated death itself. And now, we shall cheat fate."
His words poured like scripture.
"For my resurrection to be complete, we must recover the origin of all Shen…"
"*The God Tree—Yggdrasil ."
The room hushed.
"Stolen by the weak, hoarded by the unjust. But we shall reclaim it. We shall take what once birthed the Earth's energy. Prepare yourselves. The war for divinity begins with a root."
Huey stepped forward and called five names:
"Kazuki. Hirito. Jabari. Jabo. Sasori."
They came forward, kneeling.
Arcade stood and raised his palm above them.
"You five shall be my hands. You shall be known as… my Omegas."
In an instant, their ragged clothing shifted—now replaced with ecclesiastical robes stitched with black crosses, layered with tunics and liturgical elegance. They looked like priests of war.
To the rest of the inmates:
"Obey them as you would obey me."
Then, turning to Huey, Silas, Napoleon, and Caesar, he declared:
"I name you… my Alphas."
They bowed—and their garments shifted as well, matching the same divine rank as the Omegas. A council of gods now stood.
Later, Jabo and Kazuki discussed their mission quietly.
From behind, Jabo whispered to Kazuki, "Yggdrasil … the tree that birthed Shen. It was planted by gods. They say… one day, those same gods will return to reclaim what they gave us."
Kazuki scoffed. "You believe in bedtime stories now?"
Jabo smirked. "Not bedtime stories but I'm African and we believe in roots so Of course I do what I just told you."
Kazuki laughed. But they both knew—they were heading toward something much older than war.
Back at SUHA Headquarters, the Knight Chamber was assembling.
The doors to the Grand Chamber slammed shut.
Knights of SUHA had assembled.
First entered Sir Varion – The Crimson Gauntlet. His jet-black tactical armor gleamed dully beneath a torn red cloak, dragging like a revenant's shroud. Only his golden clawed gauntlet glimmered with life—a warning to all.
Next came Siddha Dronachaiya – The Tree-Born Sage, his bare shoulder draped in sunlight, bark-skin arms folded with ancient patience. His eyes, deep and leaf-laced, carried the stillness of eons.
Then entered Sir Caelum Veyne – The Chainsmile, casual and unsettling. His black suit flowed with moving chains, alive and whispering, their rattling silence echoing like laughter in a coffin.
All three took their seats before the dais of obsidian, where the Sovereign Union Minister stood.
Minister Ivar, tall and bald, cleared his throat as shadows lengthened around him.
"As you must have heard…" he said slowly. "Fendro… is dead."
The words echoed like a funeral bell.
Silence followed.
And from that silence, war began to whisper.