NOVEL WEB Chapter 317: aftermath
The pyramid detonated.
A column of incandescent energy white-hot, threaded with violet veins of unstable magic erupted upward, swallowing Odin in an instant. Stone turned to vapor. Time itself seemed to stall as the explosion consumed everything in a hundred-meter radius, scorching the very sky.
The ground heaved. Cracks spiderwebbed through the desert floor as sand turned to glass.
At the heart of it all stood Odin for a heartbeat longer, his silhouette locked in place as the magical inferno surged around him. He raised his arm—defiant, immortal.
And then he vanished in the light.
The pyramid cracked apart like brittle bone. Blocks of ancient sandstone lifted into the air before shattering mid-flight, hurled outward in waves. The wards that had held it together for millennia buckled under the strain and burst with thunderclaps, sending sheets of arcane shrapnel in every direction.
And just like that—
the pyramid was no more.
In its place was a crater, deep and jagged, filled with boiling sand and magic still clawing at the edges of the world.
Smoke towered into the heavens like a funeral pyre. The illusion was gone. So were the defenders.
And at the heart of the blast, there was nothing.
No gods.
No mortals.
Just death.
***
CNN Breaking News (Mundane World)
Headline: Another Historical Landmark Reduced to Rubble—Terrorism Suspected in Destruction of Ancient Pyramid
Cairo, Egypt – In a stunning and tragic development, satellite imagery confirms the complete destruction of the Pyramid of Khafre, one of Egypt's most iconic and ancient monuments.
At approximately 03:17 local time, witnesses in the surrounding area reported a "blinding flash of light," followed by a massive seismic shockwave that shattered windows across Giza and sent tremors through the city.
As of this morning, aerial reconnaissance confirms that the pyramid has collapsed entirely, leaving behind a crater of molten sand and scorched debris. The Egyptian government has declared a national emergency and is calling for international cooperation in the investigation.
"We are treating this as a potential act of terrorism," said Interior Minister Safwat Adly. "The energy signature and magnitude of the event exceed any known natural explanation."
This marks the third major historical site to suffer mysterious devastation in the past year, following the collapse of an underground temple in Turkey and the fire that consumed the Tibetan monastery of Lingshi.
No group has yet claimed responsibility.
The Daily Prophet
Headline: Catastrophe at the Second Anchor—The Battle for the Pyramid Ends in Fire
By Correspondent Elara Wren
GIZA What was meant to be the final stand against the gods turned into an unspeakable tragedy, as the Second Anchor hidden beneath the ancient Pyramid of Khafre was obliterated in a magical explosion of unprecedented scale.
Sources within the Unified Defense Command confirm that a battle took place beneath the veil last night between Earth's defenders and forces aligned with Odin, whose incursion reportedly cracked the fabric between realms.
What we know so far:
• Odin and his army breached the veil, descending directly onto the pyramid under cover of violent magical weather and illusions.
• The defenders, including prominent figures such as Morpheus, Herpo the Foul, Albus Dumbledore, Tenzin the head of the ICW, and many others, were seen holding the pyramid at all costs.
• At the climax of the battle, a massive magical detonation destroyed the entire anchor complex, reducing the pyramid to dust and creating a crater that scorched magical and non-magical space alike.
"They tricked him," said an unnamed Healer with the Tenzin Battalion. "We were ordered to portkey out. It wasn't just an evacuation—it was a setup. The whole pyramid was rigged to blow. Morpheus used himself as bait."
Another Auror confirmed:
"We saw Odin strike at Morpheus—but it wasn't really him. Just an illusion. A second later, the whole sky turned white."
The Ministry of Magic has yet to issue a formal statement but has raised global magical security levels to Crimson—the highest possible threat level.
International responses are pouring in. The French Ministry called the explosion "a necessary sacrifice." MACUSA has classified the event as a Tier One Veil Breach, the first in modern history.
Unconfirmed casualties include:
• Odin – Unknown fate
• Multiple commanders presumed deceased
• Anchor itself – destroyed?
Many questions remain. Was the anchor's destruction planned? Has Odin truly fallen? And most importantly what happens now that one of the last anchors is gone?
The Whispering Quill
Headline: "Morpheus Did It Again—The Gods Walked Into a Trap"
The dust hasn't even settled, and already whispers flood the magical underworld. Morpheus, the man cloaked in myth, may have pulled off the greatest tactical deception since the Fall of the Dark Lord.
Leaked floo correspondence from battlefield healers suggests Morpheus ordered full evacuation mid-battle, maintaining the illusion of resistance to lure the gods into a kill zone.
Some say the explosion was powered by the anchor itself weaponized during the transfer rituals only Flamel and Morpheus understood.
We've lost contact with dozens of sources. The crater is radioactive with arcane instability no one can approach. Some say the veil there is "thin as dragon skin," and flickers with colors no wandlight can explain.
If Odin survived, he's not speaking.
If Morpheus survived, he's gone silent.
But one thing is clear: the rules of the war just changed, we will keep you updated.
***
Morpheus placed the bundle of newspapers on his table, across from his sat Arcturus Black and Cassieopia black, along with his brother.
"Do you still see a path to victory, no matter how you try to spin this into a victory it is undeniably a loss," Herpo spoke first
Morpheus scoffed, "Dont be such a downer, Odin and his army have been reduced to rubble. Yes we are down but we didn't lose much."
Arcturus nodded, "This war is getting dangerous, the mundane world is taking note."
Cassi snorted, "what are they going to do?"
"Don't be arrogant, the nonmagicals have progressed beyond our reach scientifically. They have weapons that do far more damage than the average spell." Morpheus replied while pouring himself another glass
Herpo rasped in laughter, "Where do you imagine they will strike next?" he asked while greedily snatching Morpheus's bottle
Morpheus scowled before turning back to the map, "Well they have two options, the hard option or the easy option. I'd venture they take out our anchor in Asia first."
"Well then, what do you need from us?" Arcturus asked
Herpo thought for a moment, "if I remember correctly the anchor in Asia is near a large body of water?" he asked while looking at Morpheus
Morpheus nodded, "Indeed, there is a group of merpeople living there."
Herpo nodded, "well then, Arcturus I think both of us need to focus on bonding the factions in Europe."
"Why are you so focused on Britain? Shouldn't we be thinking about defending Asia?" Cassi asked
Both Morpheus and Herpo let out a small sigh, "Because, Britain is the most important place in the world for us. The anchor here does more for the veil than anywhere else."
"Especially now."