The wasteland burned.
Smoke drifted through the air as the Nest Guardian loomed over Lucian and Karn.
Unharmed.
Unshaken.
Watching.
---
Lucian wiped blood from his mouth.
"…Okay."
He tightened his grip on his sword.
"This thing's tough."
Karn stood beside him, eyes sharp.
"…Not just tough."
"It's protecting something."
Lucian blinked.
"Huh?"
---
The ground trembled again.
Not from the Guardian this time.
From below.
Deep below.
A low, rumbling sound echoed upward.
Like something massive…
Moving.
---
Karn's expression changed.
"…We need to end this quickly."
Lucian grinned.
"Now you're talking."
---
The Nest Guardian roared.
Its body began glowing again.
Dark energy gathered in its chest—
But this time—
Lucian moved first.
BOOM
He shot forward, faster than before.
"HEY!"
"LOOK AT ME!"
He jumped high—
And slammed his sword down onto its head.
CRASH!
The impact shook the creature.
Its attack misfired—
Blasting sideways into the wasteland.
---
Karn didn't waste the opening.
He rushed forward.
His blade glowed faintly with dark energy.
"…Now."
He aimed for the same spot Lucian struck.
CLANG!
The armor cracked.
Just slightly.
But enough.
---
Lucian landed and laughed.
"There we go!"
"Again!"
---
They moved together now.
Not perfectly—
But enough.
Lucian attacked wildly.
Drawing attention.
Taking hits.
Laughing through the pain.
Karn moved like a shadow.
Precise.
Striking the same cracked spot over and over.
---
CRACK.
The armor began to break.
The Nest Guardian roared louder.
More violently.
---
Then—
The ground beneath it exploded.
BOOOOOOOM
Everything stopped.
Lucian and Karn both jumped back.
The Guardian staggered.
Its massive body shifting—
As something burst out from beneath it.
---
The earth split open.
A massive black limb shot upward.
Piercing through the Guardian's body.
CRUNCH.
The Guardian froze.
Its roar cut off instantly.
Then—
It collapsed.
Dead.
---
Silence.
---
Lucian stared.
"…What the hell?"
Karn's eyes widened.
"…That wasn't the real threat."
---
The ground continued to break apart.
A massive creature began to emerge.
Slowly.
Terrifyingly.
A colossal body.
Covered in thick, jagged scales.
Multiple eyes opening one by one.
Glowing deep crimson.
A mouth splitting open across its entire torso.
Filled with rows of teeth.
Too many.
Too unnatural.
---
The air itself felt wrong.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Ancient.
---
Lucian's grin faded.
"…Okay."
"Now THIS is bad."
---
Karn stepped back slightly.
His voice was low.
"…Ancient-class."
Lucian blinked.
"…You're kidding."
Karn didn't answer.
Because he wasn't.
---
The creature fully emerged.
Towering over everything.
Its presence alone crushed the air.
The wasteland trembled beneath it.
---
Far away—
At the settlement—
Rai's eyes sharpened instantly.
The moment that presence appeared—
His Danger Sense screamed.
Louder than ever before.
"…That's not something they can handle."
Ruun looked at him.
"…Then we move?"
Rai stepped forward.
"Yes."
---
Back at the battlefield—
The creature's many eyes locked onto Lucian and Karn.
They froze.
Not from fear—
But from instinct.
Something deep inside them screamed:
RUN.
---
The creature moved.
Just slightly.
But the ground shattered under its weight.
---
Lucian exhaled slowly.
Then—
Grinned again.
"…Alright."
He lifted his sword.
"Guess we fight."
---
Karn glanced at him.
"…We won't win."
Lucian laughed.
"Yeah."
"That's what makes it fun."
---
The creature opened its massive mouth.
Dark energy gathered inside.
Far stronger than before.
Far more dangerous.
---
Then—
A voice echoed across the battlefield.
Calm.
Cold.
Familiar.
"Step back."
---
Both Lucian and Karn froze.
Then looked up.
---
Rai stood above them.
On a broken piece of stone.
Dark energy faintly swirling around him.
His eyes glowing slightly.
---
Lucian grinned widely.
"Took you long enough!"
Karn exhaled quietly.
"…Good."
---
Rai looked at the creature.
His expression didn't change.
"…Ancient-class."
The creature roared.
The sound shook the sky.
---
Rai stepped forward.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
"Stay back."
---
Lucian protested instantly.
"HEY—!"
Rai didn't look at him.
"You'll die."
Lucian paused.
Then smirked.
"…Fair."
---
Karn nodded slightly.
"…Understood."
---
The creature fired.
A massive blast of dark energy shot toward Rai.
---
Rai didn't move.
He raised his hand.
Dark Dominion expanded.
BOOOOOOM
The blast collided with his aura.
The ground shattered.
But Rai stood firm.
---
His eyes turned slightly darker.
"…Now."
The air around him changed.
Again.