Silence fell after the explosion.
Fragments of celestial light drifted through the air like dying stars.
At the center of the ruined valley Hiroto stood barely.
His arms trembled.
His breathing was uneven.
The shadow around him faded in and out, struggling to remain stable.
Behind him, the ancient sentinel slowly lowered its massive arms, its glowing eyes dimming slightly after the clash.
For a brief moment…
Everything stopped.
Then—
The sky darkened again.
Akari felt it first.
"…No…"
Yui looked up.
"…It's not over…"
High above, the Herald spread its wings fully.
This time It didn't stay in the sky.
It began to descend.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Each movement crushed the air itself, sending waves of pressure across the valley.
The soldiers dropped to their knees again.
"…It's coming down…"
The Watcher's voice was heavy.
"…This is bad."
The Enforcer exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
"…Now it's serious."
The Herald landed.
Not with an explosion.
Not with force.
But with absolute authority.
The moment its feet touched the ground, Everything froze.
The wind stopped.
The dust settled instantly.
Even the sentinel paused.
The Herald looked directly at Hiroto.
"Correction attempt insufficient."
"Direct intervention initiated."
Hiroto tried to step forward but his legs gave out.
He dropped to one knee again.
"…Damn it…"
Akari rushed to his side.
"You've done enough!"
He shook his head weakly.
"…Not yet…"
The Herald took one step forward.
The ground beneath it didn't crack.
It simply gave way.
The pressure it carried was beyond force.
It was law.
The sentinel reacted.
Its massive arm lifted again but before it could strike The Herald raised one hand.
The sentinel froze.
Completely.
Its glowing eyes dimmed.
The runes across its body flickered.
The Watcher's eyes widened in shock.
"…It just suppressed it…"
Akari felt cold fear run through her.
"…Even that thing…"
The Herald spoke again:
"Ancient construct identified."
"Authority override applied."
The sentinel stopped moving.
Like a puppet with cut strings.
Hiroto's eyes widened.
"…No…"
The Herald continued walking toward him.
Unstoppable.
Unchallenged.
Yui stepped forward instinctively.
"Stop!"
The Herald didn't even look at her.
A wave of pressure knocked her backward instantly.
"Hiroto!" she cried out.
Akari stood in front of him, spear raised.
"…You're not touching him."
The Herald finally looked at her.
For a brief second the air tightened.
"Irrelevant."
Akari attacked anyway.
She dashed forward, her spear glowing with concentrated energy.
Her strike was fast.
Precise.
It hit the Herald directly.
The impact echoed across the valley.
For a moment Nothing happened.
Then The Herald raised its hand.
And caught her spear effortlessly.
Akari's eyes widened.
"…What…"
The Herald pushed.
Akari was thrown backward violently, crashing into the ground.
Hiroto clenched his fists.
"…AKARI!"
The Herald stood before him now.
No distance left.
No barrier.
No army.
Just him.
"Shadow-Bearer."
"Correction will now be completed."
Hiroto tried to stand again.
His body refused.
But his eyes burned with defiance.
"…Try it."
The Herald raised its hand.
Energy gathered.
Not massive like before.
Not explosive.
Just enough to end one person.
Precise.
Absolute.
The battlefield held its breath.
To be continued…