Nysera lowered her hand.
The crimson energy surrounding her condensed into a single point.
The air itself screamed.
Kael's instincts took over.
"Everyone, move!"
The beam erupted.
A pillar of crimson light tore through the ancient city.
BOOM!
The ground exploded beneath them.
Stone shattered.
Entire buildings vanished in an instant.
The shockwave threw Kael across the ruins.
He rolled to a stop, coughing as dust filled his lungs.
His ears rang.
For several seconds, he heard nothing.
Then—
Screams.
He forced himself to his feet.
The city had changed.
A massive trench now split it in two.
Ancient towers that had stood for thousands of years were gone.
Reduced to rubble by a single attack.
Kael looked toward the center of the destruction.
Nysera hadn't moved.
She simply watched.
Calm.
Almost disappointed.
"Too slow."
Her voice carried effortlessly through the dust.
Orion landed beside Kael, breathing heavily.
"That wasn't even a serious attack."
Kael stared at him.
"What?"
Aetherion answered.
"She is testing us."
Kael clenched his fists.
"If that's a test..."
He didn't finish the sentence.
Because he already knew.
They weren't ready.
The stranger rallied the surviving hosts.
"Form defensive lines!"
Fire erupted.
Lightning cracked across the battlefield.
Dozens of abilities shot toward Nysera.
She watched them approach.
Then gently waved her hand.
The attacks disappeared.
Not blocked.
Not deflected.
Erased.
Silence fell.
Even the strongest hosts stood frozen.
Nysera tilted her head.
"So this is what remains of humanity's strength?"
There was no hatred in her voice.
Only disappointment.
Kael stepped forward.
His blue energy flared.
"I'm still here."
Nysera finally looked directly at him.
A faint smile crossed her face.
"The heir."
She took one step.
The pressure doubled.
"You have courage."
Another step.
"But courage alone cannot save a dying star."
Kael's Core ignited.
Blue flames surrounded him once more.
Aetherion's voice echoed within his mind.
"Synchronize."
Kael closed his eyes.
For a heartbeat—
Everything became still.
When he opened them again—
The blue flames had turned white.
Even Orion looked surprised.
"Impossible..."
Nysera's smile faded for the first time.
"So..."
She whispered.
"It has begun."
Kael raised his hand.
White starlight gathered in his palm.
The ruined city trembled.
Every surviving host watched in stunned silence.
The battle had entered a new stage.
Not because Kael had become stronger.
But because something inside the Last Core...
Had finally awakened.
Far beyond Earth...
Across the darkness between galaxies...
Ancient eyes opened.
One after another.
They all looked toward the same distant world.
Toward the same rising light.
Toward the Last Core.
The war was no longer hidden.
The universe had noticed.
And it was coming.