Morning arrived slowly.
The first rays of sunlight stretched across the broken landscape, revealing the destruction left behind from the previous night.
Entire sections of the hills had collapsed, the earth split apart by the clash between the Void Fragment and the old man's sealing formation.
The caravan mission—
Was over.
No one said it directly.
But everyone understood.
Nothing about this situation remained normal anymore.
⸻
The surviving escorts gathered quietly near the remains of the camp.
Some were injured.
Some were still shaken.
But all of them looked at Kael differently now.
Not with fear.
Not exactly.
But with awareness.
Because from the moment the Void Fragment appeared—
Everything had revolved around him.
⸻
Daren approached first.
His expression was serious.
"We'll return to Azure City."
Kael nodded slightly.
Reasonable.
The mission could no longer continue.
Sera crossed her arms nearby.
"And you?"
Kael looked northward.
Toward distant mountains barely visible beneath the morning mist.
"I'm leaving."
Daren frowned.
"So soon?"
Kael nodded.
"The old man's warning wasn't meaningless."
If Void truly hunted Origin Bearers—
Then remaining in one place was dangerous.
Not only for him.
But for anyone around him.
⸻
Sera studied him quietly.
Then sighed.
"…You really attract disasters."
Kael almost smiled.
"Seems that way."
Daren shook his head.
"You fought monsters stronger than us and survived twice."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"You're abnormal."
Kael didn't deny it.
There was no point pretending anymore.
⸻
The group remained silent for a moment.
Then Sera stepped forward.
"You're heading north because of that token?"
Kael pulled the blue token out briefly.
The symbol of stars and sky glimmered faintly beneath the sunlight.
"Yes."
Sera whistled softly.
"If that old man gave you something personally…"
Her expression became serious.
"…then wherever you're going won't be simple."
Kael already knew that.
⸻
After a brief farewell—
The paths separated.
The escort group returned south toward Azure City.
Kael turned north.
Alone once again.
⸻
The road ahead stretched endlessly through mountains, forests, and distant valleys.
For the first time since leaving Iron Flame Sect—
Kael truly felt the size of the world.
Azure City had only been a small corner.
A beginning.
Beyond it—
Countless sects, kingdoms, hidden clans, and unknown dangers existed.
And somewhere within that massive world—
Void followers moved in the shadows.
Waiting.
Watching.
Searching.
For him.
⸻
Kael walked steadily along the mountain path.
The wind moved quietly around him.
His breathing remained calm.
But his mind was active.
Thinking.
Reviewing.
The fight against the Void cultivator had revealed weaknesses.
Against normal opponents, his adaptability gave him an advantage.
But against higher realms—
Against ancient powers—
It wasn't enough.
He needed deeper mastery.
Better control.
A stronger foundation.
⸻
The Origin Core pulsed softly.
Stable.
Yet more alive than before.
Ever since the encounter with the Void Fragment—
Kael occasionally sensed strange reactions within it.
Subtle resonance.
Like distant echoes.
As if something ancient had awakened alongside him.
⸻
Hours passed.
The mountain road eventually narrowed into a forest trail surrounded by enormous ancient trees.
The deeper Kael walked, the quieter the world became.
Too quiet.
Kael slowed slightly.
His eyes sharpened.
His Origin Sense spread outward.
Nothing obvious.
But—
Something felt wrong.
Like hidden eyes lingering just beyond perception.
Kael continued walking normally.
But internally—
He became alert.
⸻
Far above the forest—
Hidden among the branches—
A cloaked figure watched silently.
Dark markings crawled faintly across his arm.
Void energy.
Weak compared to the previous enemies.
But unmistakable.
The figure stared at Kael below.
Then slowly lifted a black crystal.
The crystal flickered.
A faint image appeared within it.
A symbol.
A swirling void eye.
The cloaked figure spoke quietly.
"We found him."
⸻
Deep underground—
Far away from the northern mountains—
Inside an enormous chamber filled with black chains and ancient ruins—
Several figures stood in silence.
Each cloaked in darkness.
Each radiating terrifying void energy.
At the center—
A throne of black stone.
Empty.
But pulsing faintly.
The crystal's message echoed through the chamber.
"We found him."
Silence followed.
Then—
One figure stepped forward.
Tall.
Thin.
Eyes glowing faint violet beneath the hood.
"…The Origin Bearer."
The chamber darkened further.
The figure's voice became colder.
"Do not lose him."
⸻
Back in the forest—
Kael suddenly stopped walking.
The wind shifted.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
He looked upward toward the trees.
Silence.
Stillness.
Then—
The hidden presence disappeared instantly.
Retreating.
Fast.
Kael frowned.
"…So it begins."
He continued forward.
But now—
The feeling was clear.
He was no longer wandering aimlessly.
Something had started moving in the shadows.
And soon—
It would reach him again.