The valley trembled.
Not from the Herald.
From Hiroto.
The scar beneath the land pulsed again louder this time, like the heartbeat of something ancient waking up.
Hiroto slowly stood inside the crater the Herald had forced him into.
Blood dripped from his chin.
His arms shook.
But the shadow around him no longer flickered.
It flowed.
The Herald's wings folded slightly as it observed him.
"Energy source remains unidentified."
Hiroto wiped the blood from his mouth.
"…Good."
He stepped forward.
The ground rose with him.
Stone lifted like ribs forming beneath his feet, building a jagged path upward.
Akari stared in disbelief.
"…The land is moving."
The Watcher whispered:
"…He's not just using the scar."
"…The valley is responding to him."
Yui gripped her cloak tighter.
"…Like it recognizes him."
The Herald raised its hand again.
This time the air itself folded inward.
Gravity crushed down.
The stone pillars around Hiroto shattered.
He dropped to one knee again.
But this time the ground cracked outward.
Shadow burst from the fractures like dark roots.
Hiroto pushed himself back up.
"…Not enough."
The Herald's head tilted.
"Resistance continues beyond expected parameters."
Hiroto suddenly vanished.
He reappeared in front of the Herald.
His fist slammed into its chest.
The impact exploded like thunder across the valley.
The Herald moved half a step back.
Half.
The soldiers gasped.
"…It moved!"
Even the Enforcer looked surprised.
"…Not bad, kid."
But the Herald raised its hand again.
A blast of pure light struck Hiroto point-blank.
The explosion threw him across the battlefield.
He smashed through three stone pillars before skidding to a stop.
Yui screamed again.
"Hiroto!"
Akari clenched her teeth.
"…He can't win like this."
The Watcher nodded slowly.
"…Because the Herald isn't fighting seriously yet."
Across the battlefield, Hiroto forced himself upright again.
His breathing was ragged.
Shadow cracked along his arms.
But the scar beneath the valley pulsed again.
Stronger.
The land answered again.
Stone lifted behind him like rising mountains.
The Herald watched carefully now.
"Anomaly increasing."
Hiroto lifted his head slowly.
His eyes looked different now.
Darker.
Not just shadow.
Something deeper.
"…You keep saying I'm an anomaly."
The valley shook again.
"…Maybe the problem isn't me."
Shadow erupted across the battlefield.
"…Maybe it's the sky."
The Herald spread its wings fully now.
Energy gathered across the valley like a rising sun.
"Correction will proceed."
The soldiers felt it instantly.
If that attack landed The entire valley would disappear.
Akari realized it first.
"…Everyone fall back!"
But Hiroto stepped forward instead.
Shadow spiraled around him like a storm.
The scar beneath the land pulsed louder than ever.
And deep underground Something answered.
The Herald paused.
"Unknown response detected below."
Hiroto clenched his fists.
"…Then let's wake it up."
The valley cracked open.
To be continued…