The air hadn't settled.
Even after Kael left—
The tension remained.
Like a storm waiting to fall.
Arka kept walking.
Calm.
Silent.
Lyra walked beside him this time.
Not behind.
"…That guy."
She spoke.
"…Kael."
A pause.
"…He's not normal."
"…I know."
Arka didn't even look at her.
"…He's stronger than them."
Lyra frowned.
"…Them?"
Before Arka could answer—
BEEP!
[System Alert]
Arka stopped.
Lyra immediately noticed.
"…What is it?"
A screen appeared.
[High-Level Threat Approaching]Count: 5Class: Elite Hunters
Silence.
Lyra's expression darkened.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Arka looked forward.
"…They're here."
Moments Later
Five figures appeared—
Walking out of the shadows.
Each one—
Different.
But all—
Dangerous.
Their presence alone—
Was enough to pressure the surroundings.
"…Target confirmed."
One of them spoke.
"…Arka."
Another stepped forward.
"…Surrender."
Lyra scoffed.
"…Yeah, not happening."
The hunters didn't react.
Cold.
Professional.
"…Then we proceed."
Weapons drawn.
Magic ignited.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Lyra cracked her neck slightly.
"…Five elites…"
A small grin appeared.
"…Now this is interesting."
Arka stepped forward.
"…Two of them are yours."
Lyra blinked.
"…What?"
"…The rest are mine."
Silence.
Then—
Lyra smirked.
"…Heh."
"…Don't die."
The Battle Begins
BOOM!!!
They moved at the same time.
Lyra dashed left—
Intercepting two hunters.
CLANG!!
Her blade met theirs.
Fast exchange.
Explosive.
Meanwhile—
Arka stepped forward.
Three hunters.
Three elites.
Watching him carefully.
"…He's different from the report."
"…Stay sharp."
Arka exhaled.
"…Good."
[Adaptive Evolution – Passive Active]
His body shifted slightly.
Not visibly—
But internally.
Everything—
Optimizing.
Arka vs Three Elites
WUSH!!
One rushed in.
Fast.
Arka moved—
Minimal motion.
CRACK!!
Counter.
Direct.
The hunter was sent flying.
"…!!"
The other two reacted instantly.
Magic attack—
Close-range strike—
Arka dodged.
Then stepped in.
THUD!!
Elbow to the ribs.
SLASH!!
Follow-up strike.
Clean.
Efficient.
No wasted energy.
"…He's reading us—!"
Too late.
Arka's eyes sharpened.
"…Slow."
BOOM!!!
A burst of force exploded outward.
All three were thrown back.
Meanwhile – Lyra's Side
CLANG!! CLANG!!
Fast-paced battle.
Lyra smiled.
"…Now this is more like it!"
She spun—
Avoided a strike—
Then countered.
SLASH!!
One elite staggered.
But the second—
Cast magic instantly.
BOOM!!
Explosion.
Lyra jumped back.
"…Tch—!"
"…Good teamwork."
They pressed harder.
Faster.
Stronger.
But—
Lyra didn't fall behind.
She adapted.
Improvised.
Fought like a predator.
Back to Arka
The battlefield—
Was already decided.
Three elites—
Down.
Not dead.
But defeated.
Arka stood in the middle.
Untouched.
His gaze shifted—
Toward Lyra.
She was still fighting.
But—
Struggling.
"…Two is her limit."
A step forward.
Then—
WUSH!!
He vanished.
Final Exchange
Lyra blocked—
Barely.
"…Damn—!"
One elite raised his weapon—
Ready to strike.
Then—
CRACK!!
He froze.
Arka's hand—
Gripping his arm.
"…Enough."
Silence.
The other elite stepped back.
"…Impossible…"
Arka's gaze was cold.
"…Leave."
No threat.
No emotion.
Just—
Command.
The elites hesitated.
Then—
Slowly—
They retreated.
Because they understood.
This fight—
Was already lost.
Aftermath
Silence returned once more.
Lyra exhaled deeply.
"…Okay…"
"…That was insane."
She looked at Arka.
"…You handled three elites alone."
Arka turned away.
"…They weren't enough."
Lyra stared at him.
"…You're scary, you know that?"
A small pause.
"…Good."
Then—
[System Notification]
Both of them looked.
[New Evolution Path Unlocked]Condition Met: High-Level Combat Analysis
Arka's eyes sharpened.
"…So it begins."
🔥 END OF CHAPTER 20