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Dear Citizens,

We, at the Grand Martial Union, deeply apologize for our negligence. We know that a lot of things have happened in these past few months, and we were doing our best to stay on top of everything. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.

No excuses will ever be enough for this, we are at fault, and for that, feel extremely regretful and apologetic for all the pain and suffering these events caused you.

We wrote this letter to inform you what happened to the missing children.

As of 08:00 am yesterday, we have received reports of missing people. Some said that they just disappeared; some saw them being swallowed up by something unrecognizable.

This occurred everywhere in human civilization, and it alarmed us greatly that we hurriedly asked for the assistance of the Martial Gods to investigate what happened.

Our investigation brought some results...

From what we gathered so far, those who disappeared are all 18 and below. Not only that, we also discovered that those who were taken have reached mid Bone Forging to peak Marrow Cleansing Stage Martial Artists. Those who didn’t fit this criterion were spared.

The good news is that our honorable martial gods found them. They told us that our children are safe, albeit scared by the suddenness of their abduction. They also confirmed that they will return.

The bad news is that they can’t get them out anytime soon.

The children have been taken to a realm that’s considered an ’Ancient Trial Ground’—it’s an old and nearly forgotten realm that had been destroyed by world wars. It contains archaic history and forgotten legacies.

This trial ground operates with its own set of rules, such as only permitting those who are under 18 and below with Bone Forging to Marrow Cleansing Stage strength. Anybody who’s weaker or stronger will be repelled.

Our martial gods can force their way in, but risk destroying the trial grounds and, with it, the children trapped inside as well. This is why we tell you that even though the children have been located, we can’t get them out yet.

As it’s called a trial, it goes without saying that the participants—willing or not—will be tested.

What those trials are, we don’t know yet. It’s still too early for us to know. The Martial Gods said that the children just arrived and nothing has started yet by the time we are writing this letter to you.

But the Martial Gods did confirm that all those who have been taken will eventually return alive.

They discovered that the trial does not mean to kill the participants. It’s only searching for an inheritor of the prime legacy that was left in it.

As for how long it will take, the Martial Gods estimated that it will take a year, at minimum, but definitely no more than two. They said that they will continue to monitor the situation and give us updates when they discovered something new.

This is all we know so far. Rest assured, we will definitely do our best to monitor the situation and ensure the children’s safety.

Once again, we deeply apologize for our negligence. This was something that we should’ve seen coming, but we didn’t, hence our current situation. We’re not trying to make excuses.

All we can say is that we will do our best to rectify this situation.

We will release more public statements about this situation once something new comes up.

- Grand Martial Union.

**

The Imperial Court also released a similarly sounding statement. The difference is that it’s the emperors speaking to their loyal subjects. Plus, they also decided to give out care packages to those who were affected by this situation.

Whether this was a political move or not, people are free to openly debate about it. But it doesn’t change the fact that pretty much all of the rising geniuses of human civilization were taken into that trial without their consent.

Reaching Bone Forging or Marrow Cleansing on or before 18 years of age? That would make that child a budding prodigy; they will be the focus of families, clans, cities, and communities.

Anybody who could reach those levels that early is pretty much guaranteed to enter Pulse Awakening before 25 years old. Hell, they might even step into the Inhuman Realm—which is already enough to make them leaders of their own families and clans.

Them being taken all of a sudden due to the negligence of the authorities was, obviously, an outrage! That’s the future of the human race right there! They’re the cream of the crop, the next generation of leaders and the continuation of the human legacy.

If it’s only one or two, nobody would’ve said a word, but all of them? Every single one taken without their consent and the authorities not being able to give anybody a heads up or even a warning before it happened?

How can some letter make this sudden abduction acceptable?

Of course, a lot of people stormed the GMU and the Imperial Court, demanding an explanation. Most of these people were related to those who were missing. Some were family heads, clan leaders, teachers, masters, trainers, etc.

All of them were here for one thing, and that is to know more. If the Martial Gods found where the children were, surely they could also take them there.

With so many people here, surely they can think of a way to get their children out of there, right?

The abduction was so sudden so everybody has the right to be concerned. Some of those who were taken didn’t even manage to bring their gear with them.

They said that the children will be in there for a year minimum...what about food? Do they have shelter? Water? Will they last? Will they be fine on their own?

Although the martial gods confirmed that everyone would return alive, that doesn’t mean that the children were immune to harm. Just because they can’t be killed doesn’t mean that they can’t be harmed.

The children didn’t have time to prepare. They are defenseless in there. Even if they will eventually return alive, will they ever be the same?

That’s why even though the GMU and the Imperial Court released a statement, it’s not enough. Those who are affected need to know more and want to do more than just sitting down and twiddling their thumbs.

The future generation of humanity has been taken and is trapped somewhere, in a place where they are completely vulnerable and weakened. Of course they will do their best to do something.

**

"How was it, Dad? Did they tell you anything useful?"

Alex saw his father returning from his trip with a stoic expression and instantly felt his heart sank. Still, he asked because they might be a piece of good news at least.

Alas, Mikel shook his head in dismay, causing Alex to feel weak.

"The Martial Gods appeared before us," Mikel stated, "both the Azure Saint and the Verdant Matriarch. They said that the place is located between the fabrics of spacetime. It’s a place that only transcended beings could go to."

"They could take us there, yes, but they can’t promise that we’ll live. Getting there alone takes some effort even for the martial gods themselves, and so we’re monitoring the status of the children."

"They’re basically telling us that we could only rely on their word of what’s going on in there."

It wasn’t until the news made it public that they were informed that Ren was taken.

He was the only one but also the most important. He’s probably the most talented descendant the clan ever produced in a century. And although they’re trying to take it easy on him, Ren never hides his brilliance from them at all.

Hence, it’s normal for them to be concerned. Although Ren never expressed his desire to lead the clan, he’s still the clan’s future. And it’s evident that he too wanted the clan to rise with him.

He was of great importance to the clan. Beyond that, he’s Mikel’s nephew, the last piece of his sister left in this world. How can he be alright with him being abducted all of a sudden?

And he wasn’t the only one who felt this way; the others who were affected by this event were the same. It’s the reason why they went all the way to the Grand Martial City to demand an explanation from them. Even the Imperial Court wasn’t spared.

But despite facing the wrath, dissatisfaction, and indignation of basically the entire human civilization, the concerned parties could only leave with their heads down and try another day.

There’s nothing they could do other than to pray and hope that the children will be fine.

The only saving grace is that, at least, the children will return once the time is up. They will return alive. Whether well or not. That depends on what they experienced in those mysterious trial grounds.

Mikel had hope. He knew his nephew. That child is more mentally and physically resilient than most kids his age.

If there’s anybody who could return from there safe and sound, it would be him.