The moment the dimensional Crack sealed completely, the world grew quiet.
Not peaceful.
Not calm.
But sealed.
The last sliver of white light vanished, and the warped forest swallowed the place where the opening had been. The barrier between realms snapped shut like a closing jaw.
And in that same breath—
Cain felt it.
A pressure that had been coiled tightly around his heart, his veins, his very blood, loosened.
Then it disappeared.
His eyes widened.
He lowered his hand slowly, staring at his palm.
The shackles of the Blood Contract were gone.
Not weakened.
Not dimmed.
Gone.
For a moment, he simply stood there, blood tentacles writhing behind him as they tore apart the last few charging monsters. The creatures fell one by one, split and crushed, their roars fading into wet thuds on the twisted ground.
He did not look at them.
He was listening inward.
Feeling.
Testing.
He circulated his blood mana once, then twice.
Nothing restrained him.
