The moment Kael and the entity disappeared—
The world went silent.
No sound.
No movement.
Only a deep, suffocating pressure remained in the air, pressing down on everything like an invisible ocean.
Then—
BOOM.
They reappeared midair.
Clashing.
Kael's fist collided with the entity's arm, releasing a shockwave so powerful that the clouds above them split apart. The rain that had once poured endlessly was blown away in an instant, leaving a hollow space in the sky.
Below, the Hunters stared upward in disbelief.
"…They're… fighting in the air?"
"That's not possible…"
But it was happening.
Right before their eyes.
Kael twisted his body midair and struck again—faster, sharper, his movements no longer human. Shadows followed every motion, stretching, bending, responding as if they were alive.
No—
They were alive.
The entity blocked again.
But this time—
It slid back.
A small distance.
Barely noticeable.
But enough.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…So you can be pushed."
For the first time—
He had the advantage.
The entity tilted its head.
That same unnatural curiosity.
"You have changed."
Kael smirked faintly.
"…Yeah."
His voice was calm.
Steady.
But now, there was something else beneath it.
Something heavier.
"…I got stronger."
He vanished again.
Shadow Step.
But this time—
The darkness didn't just swallow him.
It expanded.
For a brief second, the sky itself dimmed.
Then—
Kael appeared above the entity.
But not alone.
Dozens of shadow fragments surrounded him—each one mimicking his posture, his movement, his intent.
Abyss Echo.
"…Try blocking this."
They all moved at once.
A storm of attacks descended.
The entity reacted instantly.
Its body shifted.
Twisted.
Moved in impossible ways, blocking, deflecting, countering—
But it wasn't enough.
One strike slipped through.
Then another.
Then three more.
For the first time—
Its body cracked.
A thin fracture spread across its armor-like surface.
Dark energy leaked out like smoke.
The Hunters below gasped.
"…It's taking damage…!"
Kael landed a few meters away, breathing steadily.
His eyes locked onto the entity.
"…You're not invincible."
The entity looked down at the crack.
Then back at Kael.
Silence.
Then—
The air changed.
"Correction."
Its voice echoed deeper than before.
Heavier.
Colder.
"You are approaching our level."
Kael's smirk faded slightly.
"…Our?"
The entity raised its hand.
The Gate behind them pulsed violently.
Then—
The sky turned red.
Not slowly.
Not gradually.
Instantly.
The clouds darkened.
A crimson hue spread across the horizon like blood seeping into water.
Every Hunter froze.
"…What is happening now…?"
Devices began to malfunction.
Screens flickered.
Signals distorted.
From every direction—
Mana surged.
Wild.
Uncontrolled.
The system reacted violently.
[Global Anomaly Detected][System Interference Rising][Emergency Protocol… Failed]
Kael stared upward.
"…This isn't just the Gate anymore."
The entity's presence expanded.
Far beyond its body.
Far beyond the battlefield.
"The boundary is weakening."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…You're breaking through."
No response.
Only silence.
Then—
The Gate expanded.
Again.
But this time—
It didn't stop.
The crack in reality stretched across the sky like a scar.
Growing.
Spreading.
Endless.
From within—
More presences emerged.
Not one.
Not two.
Many.
Shapes moved in the darkness beyond the Gate.
Watching.
Waiting.
The Hunters panicked.
"This is a breach—!"
"No—this is worse than a breach!"
One of them shouted into a device:
"Requesting immediate S-Rank support! This is an emergency—!"
The signal cut off.
The sky pulsed again.
Kael clenched his fist.
"…So this is your plan."
The entity looked at him.
"This world is not meant to remain closed."
Kael's expression hardened.
"…Yeah?"
The shadows around him surged violently.
"Too bad."
He stepped forward.
"I live here."
The air trembled.
The ground cracked further.
Every shadow in the area began to gather.
Not just from him—
From everything.
Buildings.
Debris.
Even the faint darkness beneath the Hunters' feet.
All of it—
Pulled toward Kael.
The entity moved.
Faster than before.
Stronger.
More aggressive.
But Kael didn't retreat.
He stepped forward—
And met it head-on.
BOOM!!
Their collision shook the entire city.
The sky cracked with it.
Red lightning spread across the horizon.
The Gate pulsed wildly.
And from within—
Something began to descend.
Slower than the others.
But far more terrifying.
A presence that made even the entity pause.
Kael felt it immediately.
His body tensed.
"…What is that…?"
No answer came.
Even the system—
Remained silent.
For the first time—
It had nothing to say.
Below—
The Hunters could no longer stand.
The pressure forced them to their knees.
Daniel struggled to breathe.
"…Kael…"
His voice barely escaped his lips.
"…Don't lose…"
Above—
Kael stood alone.
Facing not just the entity—
But something far worse.
The sky continued to bleed red.
And in that moment—
The entire world crossed a line.
Because what was happening here—
Was no longer a hidden event.
Across the country—
Across the world—
People began to notice.
The sky.
Turning red.
And somewhere—
Far away—
A pair of eyes opened.
Watching.
Interested.
"…So it has begun."
Back in the ruined city—
Kael raised his head.
His eyes burned.
"…Then come."
Darkness exploded around him.
And for the first time—
He didn't feel like a player.
He felt like something else.
Something the world—
Was not ready for.