CHAPTER 252: BUILDING SOMETHING

After testing his new gear and confirming every function down to the last detail, Adyr sent the spare set to Twilight Land for his other body. Then, without hesitation, he activated his wrist device, scrolled through the contact list, and tapped on a name.

The call connected almost instantly.

Henry Bates’ face appeared on the screen, flashing his usual heartfelt smile.

"Calling me right after causing a public spectacle, huh?" He chuckled. "So, what’s next on the agenda?"

"You seem pleased with my performance," Adyr replied with a faint smile of his own, but his tone quickly shifted to something colder, more direct. "Tell me, Mr. Bates... how much influence do I currently hold over the Twelve City Administration?"

The question made Henry pause. His smile faded. He understood exactly what Adyr was implying—and it sobered him.

"Adyr... Since the apocalypse, in the 215 years that followed, no one has stood before the world apart from the Twelve City Managers and promised a new era for humanity... until you. So this isn’t about political influence anymore. This is about the weight of your promises. And those promises—what you’ve done—have already placed you in a position far beyond what you realize."

His voice grew firm and deliberate.

"Just tell me what you want. And I swear I’ll do everything in my power to make it happen." He hesitated for only a moment, then added with a bitter note: "Except for arranging a meeting with the Mad Scientist. You know as well as I do—he’s beyond our reach. Beyond anyone’s control."

Adyr nodded slightly, unsurprised. That man had always felt like a final boss—a presence that demanded more than just status to approach. For now, it was enough.

"I want a summit arranged here," he said calmly. "In Shelter City 9, inside the Player Headquarters. All Twelve City Managers must attend. In person."

Henry blinked. But Adyr wasn’t finished.

"I also want every head of research from all twelve cities present, along with the most promising minds from their academic and experimental divisions. No exceptions."

He let the silence linger, watching Henry absorb the weight of his words. Then, calmly, he carried on.

"And I want every active player available at the time from all cities to attend—especially Selina, Victor, and Eren. Oh, and bring Cannibal too. I’ve got a use for him."

As Adyr kept talking, Henry’s expression shifted from surprise to disbelief and finally to understanding.

"Can I assume you’ve decided to take the reins?" He asked.

There was only one logical reason Adyr would organize such a meeting: he was preparing to take control—or at least tighten his grip on it.

Adyr simply smiled. It wasn’t reassuring, nor was it ominous. Just... neutral.

"I’m going to build something."

Henry didn’t press. His curiosity simmered quietly under the surface. So far, Adyr’s methods—whether ruthless or not—had delivered results. That was all that mattered. So, swallowing his questions and trusting he’d eventually see the outcome, Henry responded in a firm tone:

"Give me 6—no, 5 hours. It’ll be done."

Once the call ended, Adyr didn’t leave the room. He lay back on his bed and shut his eyes, using the silence to rest and go over his plans.

In his former life, he’d been unbound—someone who fed on pain and chaos for pleasure. Now, in this new world, he realized his desires were shifting. And as he stared at the ceiling, those pitch-black pupils seemed to darken even further.

"This life has something more to it," he murmured.

"And I’ll be right at the heart of it."

It wasn’t arrogance. It wasn’t some teenage fantasy. It was the declaration of a man searching for meaning—a man determined to give shape to something lasting.

—

"My bro really needs a wife who can actually keep him under control," Victor said with a lazy smile, his glowing crimson eyes scanning the grand hall as he stepped through the entrance.

The room was filled wall to wall with silent faces—players, researchers, and figureheads—all seated, waiting with tightly held anticipation.

Not long ago, Adyr had thrown the entire world into chaos with a single broadcast. Now, just hours later, the fact that he had managed to gather the planet’s most powerful individuals into one room only added weight to the shock he had already caused.

"I doubt he’s the type of man anyone could control," a voice answered softly behind him.

Selina walked in, her footsteps steady, her face calm. Under the low lighting of the hall, her midnight-purple hair shimmered like strands of moonlight woven into silk, immediately drawing the attention of everyone present. For a moment, the air seemed to pause, as if even the act of breathing might disturb her presence.

Yet it was not she who truly captivated the room.

The moment the figure behind her came into view, every head turned toward him in unison.

A towering man, at least two and a half meters tall, stepped forward with a quiet grace that defied his size. His bronze-metallic skin reflected the ambient light like polished steel, giving him the appearance of something forged rather than born. His emerald eyes burned with an unnatural brightness, and wherever his gaze landed, a cold pressure followed, leaving unease in its wake. His overwhelming stature only amplified the primal fear that clung to the room like static.

"He doesn’t need control," said a deep voice, loud enough to echo through the chamber like a warning to anyone who might pose a threat. "Whatever he’s planning, we’re here to support him."

It was Eren.

But even those who had known him before had to look twice. His appearance had changed dramatically. Where his scalp had once been shaved smooth, thick black hair now grew wildly, falling over his shoulders like an untamed mane. A short, well-shaped beard framed his face, giving his features a sharper, more predatory edge.

His presence no longer resembled that of an ordinary man. It was as if a lion had been forced into human shape—his posture, expression, and aura radiated a raw, instinctive dominance that demanded attention and offered no comfort.

"Yeah, yeah, I was just joking. Why do you have to be so serious all the time?" Victor raised his bandaged hands with a bored expression, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

His hands hadn’t fully healed since they returned from Shelter City 8, but at least now they seemed to be functioning properly again.

Under the watchful gaze of the room, the trio walked forward and made their way through the tiered seating area, eventually finding their assigned seats among the segmented sectors.

"I didn’t expect there to be this many players still around," Victor said as he glanced over his shoulder at the rows of faces behind him.

There were only 13 players present, some of them hailing from the same city. Considering that Shelter City 9 had only five players left—including Adyr—and Shelter City 8 was now down to just Evangeline Ravencourt, it was surprisingly clear that the other cities hadn’t suffered as badly as he had assumed.

Still, the numbers suggested that most shelters had only managed to send one or two players at best, making Shelter City 9 the one with the largest remaining team.

Not long after, Evangeline arrived and quietly took a seat near them. Even though no one was left to protect her body in the other world, she had clearly decided the importance of this meeting was worth the risk.

Once all the players, researchers, high-ranking officials, and city representatives had taken their places, the main doors opened again. Everyone instinctively turned their attention toward the entrance as a new group of familiar faces stepped inside.