The world didn't notice it at first.
A crack here.
A distortion there.
Small.
Easy to ignore.
Until—
It wasn't.
Multiple Locations – Simultaneous
A city skyline—
Clear.
Normal.
Then—
CRACK.
The sky split.
In another place—
A dungeon collapsed inward—
Not destroyed.
Consumed.
In the middle of the ocean—
The water twisted.
Like something beneath—
Was pushing up.
All over the world—
The same phenomenon.
Tears.
Rifts.
Openings.
And from them—
They came.
Void Entities
Unseen before.
Unrecorded.
Unnatural.
The hunter system—
Failed to classify them properly.
Panic spread.
For the first time—
Hunters didn't understand their enemy.
Global Broadcast – Emergency Level
"This is not a dungeon outbreak."
"…Repeat."
"…This is not a dungeon outbreak."
Silence.
"These entities—"
"…are not bound by system rules."
A pause.
"…We are entering an unknown crisis."
Back to Arka
He felt it.
Before seeing it.
The Void inside him—
Reacted.
Stronger than ever.
"…They're coming."
Lyra looked at him.
"…You can feel it?"
A small nod.
"…Everywhere."
Silence.
That wasn't normal.
That wasn't human.
But—
Right now—
It was useful.
A New Rift Appears
Right in front of them.
CRACK!!!
The air shattered again.
Larger than before.
Much larger.
Lyra stepped back.
"…That's not the same size as earlier…"
No.
This one—
Was bigger.
More stable.
More dangerous.
Something stepped out.
Then—
Another.
Then—
More.
"…You've got to be kidding me…"
Five.
No—
Seven.
Void Entities.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then—
All at once—
They moved.
Battle: Duo vs Void Entities
"Split!"
Lyra moved first.
Fast.
She intercepted two—
SLASH!!
Her blade passed through—
But not fully.
"…Tch—still half-physical!"
She adjusted instantly.
Meanwhile—
Arka stepped forward.
Five entities—
Approaching him.
His eyes sharpened.
"…Good."
[Void Resonance – Synced]
This time—
No instability.
Only—
Alignment.
He moved.
BOOM!!!
First strike—
Connected.
The entity shattered partially.
Second—
Third—
Each hit—
Landing.
Each movement—
Sharper.
Faster.
Like he was made—
To fight them.
Meanwhile – Lyra
She adapted quickly.
Switching rhythm.
Changing timing.
"Come on—!"
CLANG!! SLASH!! THUD!!
She landed hits—
But it wasn't enough.
"…They're regenerating?!"
The entities reformed.
Slowly—
But surely.
"…Great."
Critical Moment
One entity broke past her.
Heading straight—
Toward Arka.
But—
Arka didn't dodge.
Didn't move.
He raised his hand.
"…Stop."
[Void Command – Unlocked]
Silence.
The entity froze.
Mid-motion.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"…What did you just do…?"
Arka stared at it.
"…I don't know."
But it worked.
The entity trembled.
Then—
Collapsed.
Gone.
Momentum Shift
Arka stepped forward again.
Now—
Different.
Not just fighting.
Controlling.
Each movement—
Dominant.
Each presence—
Overriding.
The remaining entities—
Hesitated.
For the first time—
They showed something.
Fear.
"…They're backing off…"
Lyra whispered.
Arka didn't chase.
He watched.
And then—
They retreated.
Back into the rift.
Gone.
Aftermath
The tear—
Slowly closed.
Leaving silence behind.
Lyra exhaled deeply.
"…Okay."
"…That was definitely worse."
She looked at Arka.
"…And you…"
A pause.
"…You just commanded them."
Arka stared at his hand again.
"…Not them."
"…The Void."
Silence.
Lyra frowned.
"…That's somehow worse."
[System Update]
[New Ability Acquired]Void Command (Partial)
[Effect: Influence over Void Entities][Warning: Unknown Consequences]
Of course.
There was always a price.
Final Scene
Far beyond—
Beyond the rifts.
Beyond the world.
Something watched.
Not like the others.
Not like the entities.
Something—
Higher.
"…He used it."
A voice.
Cold.
Ancient.
"…Accelerate."
Silence.
Then—
Multiple eyes opened.
Across the Void.
All—
Looking at one point.
Arka.
🔥 END OF CHAPTER 25