The sky stretched endlessly above Kaelen.
Clear.
Calm.
Deceptively peaceful.
Each step he took toward Valhalla carried weight—not physical, but intentional. His presence alone felt heavier now, like the world itself subtly acknowledged him.
The Hero.
Not by title.
But by action.
Kaelen walked along a high ridge overlooking the vast lands below—cities, forests, distant dungeon scars carved into the earth.
His hand rested lightly near Axiomfall, not out of caution…
But habit.
"…Feels like something's watching."
He stopped.
Not tense.
Just aware.
Then—
CRACK.
Space fractured beside him.
A portal tore open violently, its edges unstable, flickering like broken glass stitched together by force.
And then—
"YO—!"
THUD.
A body slammed face-first into the ground.
Dust rose.
Silence followed.
Kaelen blinked once.
Then looked down.
"…You good?"
The figure groaned, pushing himself up slowly.
"…Man… I hate when he does that."
Kaelven stood, brushing dirt off his clothes, cracking his back like nothing just happened.
Behind him—
The portal still hovered.
And within it—
A familiar silhouette stood casually.
Hands in pockets.
Calm.
Unbothered.
John.
"Hey kid," John said lazily, glancing at Kaelen. "Nice to see you've evolved."
His eyes flickered briefly—acknowledging everything.
Alyth's heart.
Circuit growth.
Presence.
All of it.
Then he nudged his head toward Kaelven.
"Take this idiot with you."
A pause.
"I'm tired of seeing him."
Kaelven's eye twitched.
"BRO—"
The portal snapped shut.
Gone.
Just like that.
Silence.
Kaelen nodded slightly.
"…Understood."
Kaelven sighed deeply, dragging a hand down his face.
"Man… do they have to throw me out like that every time?"
Kaelen smirked faintly.
"You get used to it."
Kaelven looked at him.
"…You sound like you've been through it."
Kaelen didn't answer.
He just kept walking.
Kaelven followed, hands in his pockets again.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then—
Kaelen glanced at him.
"You've gotten stronger."
Kaelven froze for a second.
Then groaned dramatically.
"…Don't remind me, please."
Kaelen raised a brow.
Kaelven sighed.
"Every day."
"Non-stop."
"Beaten."
"Destroyed."
"Rebuilt."
He rubbed his neck.
"That guy didn't train me…"
"…He tortured me."
Kaelen let out a small breath of amusement.
"It's John."
Kaelven pointed at him instantly.
"EXACTLY."
He looked ahead.
"When I first came to this world…"
"My double count was one million."
Kaelen listened.
"It rose to two million after adapting."
A pause.
Kaelven's expression shifted slightly.
"…Now it's at one billion."
The air around him subtly warped.
Not aggressively.
But dense.
Heavy.
Controlled power.
Kaelen nodded.
"…Makes sense."
Kaelven glanced at him.
"That's it?"
Kaelen shrugged.
"You survived John."
"That alone explains everything."
Kaelven stared at him for a second.
Then burst out laughing.
"Yeah… you get it."
They walked a few more steps.
Then—
Kaelen stopped.
"…This is boring."
Kaelven tilted his head.
"Hm?"
Kaelen looked up at the sky.
"How about we fly?"
A pause.
Then Kaelven grinned.
Wide.
Excited.
"…Now that sounds like a good idea."
Flight
No countdown.
No signal.
BOOM.
The ground beneath them shattered.
Both of them launched upward simultaneously—
Pure physical force.
No wasted motion.
The air screamed as they broke through it.
CRACK—!
The sound barrier shattered instantly.
Clouds tore apart as they ascended.
Wind bent around them violently, trailing behind like torn fabric.
Kaelen flew smoothly—
Controlled.
Precise.
Gravity bending subtly around him.
Kaelven?
Wild.
Explosive.
Like a missile barely contained.
"Try to keep up!" Kaelven shouted.
Kaelen vanished.
Appeared ahead.
"…You talk too much."
Kaelven blinked.
"…Oh nah."
BOOM—!
He surged forward.
Second break.
CRACK—!!
The sky distorted.
The land below blurred into streaks.
Mountains became lines.
Rivers became threads.
They weren't flying anymore.
They were tearing through space.
Kaelen's eyes sharpened.
He angled forward—
Third acceleration.
CRACK—!!!
The third sonic break shattered the skies themselves.
Clouds exploded outward in rings.
The heavens roared.
From the ground—
People looked up.
Shocked.
Awestruck.
Two streaks of light cut across the sky.
One calm.
One chaotic.
Heading toward one destination.
Valhalla.
Far away—
Within the towering citadel—
June Agustus walked down a long corridor.
His steps echoed calmly.
Controlled.
Measured.
He reached a massive door.
Paused.
Then—
Opened it.
Inside—
Seven figures.
Each positioned differently.
Each carrying presence.
One sat like royalty, legs crossed, chin resting on their hand.
Another leaned against the wall, arms folded.
One crouched low, grinning faintly.
A woman sat on the window frame, staring outside.
Another stood still—silent.
Observing.
Waiting.
Their faces remained hidden.
But their presence?
Undeniable.
June walked in.
Hands behind his back.
"I don't know when Kaelen Veystrum will arrive…"
He glanced around.
"…but let's not make any mistakes."
A pause.
"We need him."
The room reacted subtly.
One scoffed.
"'Need him'?"
Another clicked their tongue.
"Tch… calling someone we've never met 'number one'?"
A third remained silent.
Watching.
A woman spoke softly.
"…If he's truly worthy, we'll see."
Another voice—
Low.
Amused.
"…Or we'll break him."
Silence.
Tension.
June didn't react.
Then—
One of them laughed.
Light.
Almost playful.
"…Relax."
They turned slightly toward the door.
"…We already know when he's coming."
A pause.
Then—
BOOOOOOM—!!!
The entire building trembled.
Outside—
A massive crater formed.
Stone shattered.
Dust erupted into the sky.
Silence fell inside the room.
Then—
Slowly—
One of them smiled.
"…Right on time."