The valley split open.
At first it was only a crack beneath Hiroto's feet.
Then the crack widened.
Stone tore apart like paper as a deep rumble echoed from far below the earth.
Everyone felt it.
Not just the soldiers.
Not just Akari.
Even the Herald stopped moving.
"Subterranean anomaly detected."
The ground shook harder.
Massive fractures spread across the battlefield like lightning crawling through the earth.
The Watcher's voice trembled.
"…That shouldn't be possible."
Yui grabbed his arm.
"What's happening?!"
He stared at the ground in disbelief.
"…This valley… it was sealed centuries ago."
Akari's eyes widened.
"…Sealed?"
The Watcher nodded slowly.
"…Something was buried here."
The Herald raised its wings.
Energy gathered around it again.
"Unknown entity emerging."
"Correction protocol accelerating."
Hiroto stood in the center of the collapsing valley.
Shadow spiraled violently around him now.
The scar beneath the land pulsed faster than ever.
Not once.
Not twice.
But like a heartbeat racing toward awakening.
Hiroto looked down at the cracking earth.
"…So you're finally responding."
The Enforcer watched from a distance, arms crossed.
"…This is getting out of control."
Suddenly the ground exploded upward.
A massive pillar of ancient stone burst from beneath the valley floor.
Runes carved into it glowed faintly with old power.
More pillars followed.
One.
Then three.
Then dozens.
The valley transformed into a forest of colossal stone spires.
The Herald finally moved.
It raised its hand and released its attack.
A beam of celestial light tore through the valley, vaporizing half the pillars instantly.
The explosion blinded everyone.
Shockwaves ripped across the battlefield.
Hiroto was thrown backward again.
But something stopped him.
The shadow beneath him hardened.
Stone rose behind him like a shield.
The beam faded.
Smoke filled the valley.
When the dust cleared the pillars were still standing.
And the ground beneath them was still rising.
The Herald's voice echoed again.
"Ancient seal confirmed."
The Watcher whispered the truth.
"…It's not a weapon."
"…It's a guardian."
Another explosion of stone erupted from the earth.
This time the ground didn't just crack.
It opened.
A massive shape slowly began rising from beneath the valley floor.
Not fully visible yet.
Just fragments.
Ancient armor.
Stone plates the size of buildings.
Eyes carved into a massive head began glowing faintly beneath layers of rock.
The soldiers stared in horror.
"…What is that…"
Akari tightened her grip on her spear.
"…Whatever it is…"
She looked at Hiroto.
"…it's responding to him."
The Herald spread its wings wider.
For the first time Its voice changed.
Not calm.
Alert.
"Priority escalation."
"Terminate Shadow-Bearer immediately."
Hiroto stood slowly again.
Bloodied.
Exhausted.
But smiling faintly.
"…Too late."
The ground beneath the valley roared like thunder.
The ancient guardian continued rising.
And the battlefield was about to become much larger than a war.
To be continued…