Chapter 12 – “Marriage or Termination”
The sun rose peacefully over the Tower's horizon, but its warm light carried an ominous countdown.
Across the globe, every Awakener duo heard the same thing at the exact same time.
---
[System Notification – Global Alert]
[Day 365 Since System Activation: Mandatory Marriage Contract Enforcement Begins Now.]
[All Unmarried Duos Must Finalize Their Contracts Within 24 Hours.]
[Failure to Comply Will Result in Immediate Duo Termination.]
---
"Twenty-four hours?" Kaito blinked, staring at the blinking red text hovering in the air.
Aya choked on her tea.
"Excuse me?! We had over two months! What kind of glitchy fast-forward bullsh—"
[Timer Adjusted Due to System Update Synchronization. This is Totally Fair. Thank You.]
Kaito squinted. "Did the system just sass us?"
Aya narrowed her eyes. "It's been hanging around you too long."
---
Meanwhile – All Around the World…
The announcement sent shockwaves through every zone.
Some duos had already married. They were fine — hugging, kissing, and sometimes making out in front of others just to brag.
Others scrambled to file the System's Marriage Contracts like they were tax forms on the last day of the year.
Then there were the "complicated" pairs:
Dev Rajan and Meera Sharma had been dancing around the subject for weeks.
Meera finally marched up to Dev, punched him in the chest, and said, "Say yes or die."
Dev blinked… then nodded. "Yes."
The system dinged happily.
Elijah Voss had written a 10-page proposal for Xenovia Kael involving philosophical metaphors, a Latin poem, and a time-locked vault with the ring.
Xenovia skimmed the poem, sighed, and signed the contract.
"This better be part of a long-term genome experiment," she muttered.
Dmitri and Anya?
No words. Just a smirk, a nod, and a bear hug that nearly crushed a drone.
Marriage: Confirmed.
But not everyone was so lucky.
---
[System Warning – 23 Hours Remaining for Duo #Mexico-B034]
[One Partner Has Refused Marriage. Compatibility Deemed Fatal.]
[Initiating Termination Protocol.]
In a remote zone in South America, a couple screamed as black light engulfed them.
And then… nothing.
Silence.
Two spots on the map turned gray.
Terminated.
---
Back at the Tower Base...
Kaito and Aya sat in awkward silence in their shared apartment.
Kaito broke it with a cough. "Soooo…"
Aya glared at him. "Don't start with some joke."
"I was just gonna say 'you look really marriageable today.'"
She stood up with a sigh. "Give me the contract."
Kaito blinked. "Wait… really?"
Aya avoided eye contact as she pulled up the holographic interface. "Let's just get it over with. It's not like I want to die."
"…So romantic," he whispered.
"I will end you before the system does."
Kaito raised his hands. "Alright, alright."
They both stared at the screen.
A big green button.
[Confirm Marriage Between: Aya Shirogane & Kaito Yamada]
Aya hesitated.
"Do you… want to?" she asked suddenly.
The question hit harder than he expected.
He looked at her — silver hair now tied up loosely, eyes tired but strong, body bruised from battle but somehow… softer now.
"I don't hate the idea," he said honestly. "You've seen the worst of me. And you still cook breakfast for us every morning."
"I cook for survival, not affection."
He grinned. "I know."
They both reached for the button at the same time.
---
[System Notice: Marriage Confirmed – Duo #Japan-A001]
[Welcome, Newly Registered Spouses.]
[Marriage Buff Activated: +10% All Stats When Fighting Together.]
[Optional Honeymoon Dungeon Unlocked.]
"…Honeymoon dungeon?" they both echoed.
Kaito leaned back, smiling wide. "I swear this system's got jokes."
Aya covered her face.
"This is the dumbest apocalypse ever."
---
As the 24-hour countdown continued, couples were tested.
Some confessed love for the first time.
Some cried.
Some laughed hysterically under pressure.
A few tried to fake it — but the system knew.
Twenty-seven more duos were terminated before the deadline.
Some cities held group wedding ceremonies.
In Tokyo, a bizarre reality show streamed: "Married to Survive!"
The world watched as humanity adapted to love under pressure.
---
24 Hours Later
The timer hit zero.
A final chime echoed across the world.
---
[System Announcement – Marriage Phase Concluded.]
[All Surviving Duos Are Now Married. Congratulations.]
[Next Global Event Countdown Begins Soon.]
---
But before it ended…
Another private message blinked for Aya and Kaito.
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[Private Duo Notice – Japan-A001]
[Thank you for complying with the Marriage Mandate.]
[New Private Room Unlocked: Spouse-Only Quarters.]
[Optional: Activate Romance Route – Consent Required From Both Parties.]
Aya stared at it.
Kaito stared at her.
She looked like she was about to murder the interface.
He wisely stood up and went to do laundry.
"Hey Aya, I think I figured out the washing machine!"
BZZZT
CRASH
"Nope, still a boss fight."
Aya sighed… then smiled.
"…Idiot."
---
End of Chapter 12