So you defeat Labtech X, but only temporarily; he's just as attuned to the Null Crystal as you are. He retreats back to his fortress and keeps quiet. Meanwhile the Animated keep coming, and people keep using rings, and the rift keeps widening.
The townsfolk of Barton say they're going to get to work on researching this rift and stopping the labtechs, but very few people take them seriously. Nothing visible has changed, and almost no one knew that there was anything wrong in the sea in the first place. This isn't helped by Gambino refusing to believe X survived, refusing to waste money on any expeditions down into the ocean. Then Johnny dies, and anything that might bring controversy to the Gambino name is strictly banned. The frustrated people who know what really happened are forced to be discreet, but without being allowed to give a reason for the research they need, most scientists laugh them off. People are growing used to the Animated, developing ways of avoiding the aggressive ones and even domesticating some of the more passive ones, such as fluffs.
Meanwhile, people are still using rings. With the added issue of the vampires in Deadman's Pass and Shadow, and the Von Helson twins threatening and luring explorers into fighting them for them, rings are being used more than ever. And Animated are appearing more than ever. The rift is widening, beyond what even Labtech X can control. He's been siphoning some off to further his experiments, looking for a new way to use Ghi to control the world, but what was once a scratch on the surface of the planet has slowly widened into a sizable gash. And the power that is leaking out is stronger and more potent, more vital to Gaia's survival. People are beginning to notice.
Unfortunately, not the right people.
More and more powerful beings are being attracted to Gaia, the planet leaking lifeforce into the cosmos. Gods and spirits are battling with renewed strength. Don Kuro knows nothing of Ghi or the rift, but he knows something's up. This something is what leads him to dare try summoning Nyx, and this something is why it actually works as it never would have before the Event. And still there is Ghi leaking out....
Somebody needs to figure out how to deal with the rift soon. Because otherwise, Gaia is in big big trouble.
...This was originally planned to be a snarky post about how they left zOMG at a horrible point storylinewise and kind of developed.
