The battlefield was quiet.
Too quiet.
---
The flames had finally died down, leaving behind only smoke and the bitter scent of destruction. The city outskirts of Elyria were no longer a battlefield—
They were a graveyard.
---
Broken walls.
Collapsed buildings.
Cracked earth stretching endlessly.
---
And in the middle of it—
Students who had just witnessed something they were never meant to see.
---
Gods.
Power beyond limits.
And a boy who stood against it.
---
Kael walked slowly through the ruins.
Each step heavy.
Not just from exhaustion—
But from thought.
---
"…Chosen…"
He muttered under his breath.
---
The word didn't sit right with him.
---
Behind him—
Lyra followed.
Quiet.
Unusual for her.
---
"…You're thinking too much again," she said finally.
---
Kael didn't stop.
"…That obvious?"
---
Lyra stepped beside him.
"…Yeah."
She crossed her arms slightly.
"…You always make that face."
---
Kael smirked faintly.
"…Didn't know I had one."
---
"…You do."
A small pause.
---
"…And I don't like it."
---
Kael glanced at her.
"…Why?"
---
Lyra looked forward.
"…Because it means you're about to do something stupid."
---
Kael chuckled softly.
"…That's not very reassuring."
---
"…I'm serious."
She stopped walking.
---
Kael slowed.
Turned.
---
"…You don't have to carry everything alone."
---
Silence.
---
The wind passed between them.
---
Kael looked at her for a long moment.
Then—
"…I know."
---
But even as he said it—
He wasn't sure if it was true.
---
"Oi, stop getting emotional over there."
Rex's voice cut in.
---
He walked toward them, hands behind his head.
Same as always.
But his eyes—
Were sharper now.
---
"…We're heading back soon," he said.
"…Orion called everyone."
---
Aurora stood a bit further away, already waiting.
---
"…Something's wrong," she said quietly.
---
Kael frowned.
"…What do you mean?"
---
Aurora looked at the sky.
---
"…The gate didn't fully close."
---
Silence.
---
Rex blinked.
"…You're joking, right?"
---
Aurora shook her head.
"…No."
---
Kael's expression darkened.
---
"…That means…"
---
"…More are coming," Aurora finished.
---
The air grew heavy again.
---
"Great," Rex muttered.
"…Just when I thought we were done."
---
Lyra tightened her grip on her weapon.
"…We're not done."
---
Kael turned toward the horizon.
---
He could feel it now.
---
Faint.
But there.
---
Something was watching.
---
Something—
Waiting.
---
---
Back at the academy—
The atmosphere had changed completely.
---
Students whispered.
Instructors moved quickly.
Barriers were reinforced.
---
Fear had spread.
---
Because news traveled fast.
---
"A god appeared…"
"Kael fought it…"
"The gate is still unstable…"
---
Rumors twisted reality.
But the truth—
Was already terrifying enough.
---
---
Inside the main hall—
Orion stood at the center.
---
Everyone gathered.
---
Silence filled the room.
---
"…Listen carefully," Orion said.
---
His voice echoed across the hall.
---
"What happened today…"
"…Was not an isolated event."
---
The tension increased instantly.
---
"The boundary between realms…"
"…Is weakening."
---
Aurora's eyes narrowed.
---
"…How fast?" she asked.
---
Orion didn't hesitate.
---
"…Faster than predicted."
---
Rex clicked his tongue.
"…Of course it is."
---
Lyra frowned.
"…What does that mean for us?"
---
Orion's gaze swept across everyone.
---
"…It means this academy…"
"…Is no longer just a place for training."
---
A pause.
---
"…It is now the frontline."
---
Silence.
---
No one spoke.
---
Because they understood.
---
This wasn't preparation anymore.
---
This was war.
---
---
Kael stood near the back.
Quiet.
Listening.
---
But his focus wasn't on Orion's words.
---
It was on something else.
---
That feeling.
---
Stronger now.
---
Closer.
---
"…It's here…" he muttered.
---
Aurora heard him.
---
"…What is?"
---
Kael didn't answer immediately.
---
Then—
"…Something's coming."
---
Before anyone could react—
---
BOOOOOOM
---
The entire academy shook violently.
---
Screams echoed.
---
The ground cracked.
---
Energy surged.
---
"…What was that?!" Rex shouted.
---
Aurora's eyes widened.
---
"…The barrier—"
---
"It's been breached."
---
Orion disappeared instantly.
---
"…Everyone, move!" Lyra shouted.
---
Kael ran.
---
Not away—
---
Toward it.
---
---
The source of the explosion—
Was the outer barrier.
---
And it was gone.
---
Completely destroyed.
---
Standing in its place—
---
A figure.
---
Tall.
Wrapped in dark energy.
---
Not divine.
---
Not demonic.
---
Something else.
---
Something worse.
---
"…Another one?" Rex muttered.
---
Aurora shook her head slowly.
---
"…No…"
---
"…This one is different."
---
The figure stepped forward.
---
Its presence spread instantly.
---
Heavy.
Oppressive.
---
Even Kael felt it.
---
"…Who… are you…?" Lyra asked.
---
The figure stopped.
---
Then—
It spoke.
---
"…So this is the place…"
---
Its voice was calm.
Almost bored.
---
"…Where the 'God Slayer' is being raised."
---
Silence.
---
Everyone froze.
---
Kael stepped forward.
---
"…You're looking for me."
---
The figure turned its head slightly.
---
"…So you're the one."
---
A pause.
---
Then—
---
"…Disappointing."
---
Kael's eyes sharpened.
---
"…You can leave."
---
The figure chuckled softly.
---
"…No."
---
The air twisted.
---
"…I came to see something…"
---
Its gaze locked onto Kael.
---
"…worth killing."
---
The ground beneath them cracked again.
---
Energy surged.
---
This time—
---
Different from anything before.
---
Not divine.
Not demonic.
---
Something—
Corrupted.
---
Ancient.
---
Kael clenched his fists.
---
The glow appeared again.
---
Stronger.
---
Stable.
---
Ready.
---
"…Then try."
---
The figure smiled.
---
"…Good."
---
And in that moment—
---
Everyone realized—
---
This wasn't just another enemy.
---
This was something new.
---
Something that didn't belong to any realm.
---
And it had just declared war—
---
On Kael.