The Arkhan Forest had become unnaturally silent.
Even the wind no longer moved.
Only the sound of burning wood echoed softly through the ruined residence as two terrifying figures stood facing one another beneath the crimson moon.
Uncle Star.
And Codename SJW #005.
Red could feel the overwhelming pressure radiating from both of them.
It was suffocating.
As if the entire forest itself feared what might happen next.
SJW #005 slowly lowered their hand.
"...I did not expect to encounter someone from the old generation here."
Uncle Star gave a small laugh, though there was no humor behind it.
"And I didn't expect Justice Group to start interfering directly."
Neya whispered quietly toward Keya.
"What is Justice Group exactly…?"
Keya's expression remained tense.
"I only heard rumors."
Her eyes stayed fixed on SJW #005.
"They are said to be judges who operate outside every kingdom."
"Judges?" Red asked weakly.
Keya nodded slowly.
"They eliminate individuals considered threats to the balance of the world."
The moment she finished speaking, SJW #005 calmly replied.
"An accurate description."
The flames around the ruins suddenly dimmed.
Then—
A black object slowly materialized beside SJW #005.
Red's eyes widened.
A weapon.
No.
Something far stranger.
It resembled a massive floating blade covered in glowing silver symbols. Chains extended from its center while dark energy pulsed around it continuously.
Neya instinctively stepped backward again.
"...That's terrifying."
SJW #005 placed one hand against the floating weapon.
"Silentium."
The symbols across the blade suddenly lit up brighter.
BOOOOMM!!
A violent shockwave exploded outward instantly.
Several nearby trees were cut apart in a single moment despite never being touched physically.
Red froze.
He had not even seen an attack happen.
Uncle Star narrowed his eyes slightly.
"So you brought your Judgment Relic."
SJW #005 stared at him silently.
"You already know why I came."
For the first time since arriving, the mysterious figure looked directly at Red again.
"The Red Moon child cannot remain free."
Red clenched his fists.
"I'm not some object you can just take!"
SJW #005's glowing eyes narrowed slightly.
"Whether you accept it or not changes nothing."
The floating blade beside them vibrated violently.
"Your existence alone threatens the balance."
A sudden anger rose inside Red.
Ever since meeting Keya and Neya, strange people kept appearing, speaking about destiny and bloodlines as if his life already belonged to someone else.
He was tired of it.
"I don't even know what any of this means!"
Crimson energy suddenly flickered around Red again.
Unstable.
Wild.
The air around him distorted slightly.
SJW #005 observed carefully.
"...His synchronization rate is increasing."
Uncle Star immediately stepped forward.
"Enough."
The pressure around him suddenly changed.
The ground beneath his feet cracked slowly.
Red's eyes widened again.
Uncle Star's usual relaxed smile had disappeared completely.
In its place was something colder.
Older.
For a brief moment, Red no longer recognized the man standing before him.
SJW #005 remained calm.
"You intend to protect him?"
Uncle Star answered without hesitation.
"Yeah."
Silence followed.
Then
"Very well."
The floating blade suddenly pointed toward the sky.
The crimson clouds above began swirling violently.
BOOOOOMMM!!
Dark lightning erupted across the heavens.
Neya gasped in fear.
"He's going to destroy the entire forest…?!"
SJW #005's voice remained emotionless.
"If the vessel cannot be secured peacefully… force becomes acceptable."
Red immediately stepped forward despite the fear consuming him.
"No!"
The crimson energy around his body surged wildly again.
The ground beneath him cracked as unstable power leaked endlessly from his body.
Pain shot through his chest.
But this time
He remained standing.
SJW #005 quietly observed him.
Then unexpectedly
The mysterious figure smiled slightly.
"...Interesting."
Without warning, the floating blade vanished instantly.
The storm above suddenly stopped.
Everything became quiet again.
Even Uncle Star looked surprised.
"...What are you doing?"
SJW #005 turned away slowly.
"The awakening remains incomplete."
The golden-eyed figure glanced once more toward Red.
"We will meet again soon."
The flames surrounding the ruins began swirling violently around their body.
"But next time… the Aurelius Circle will not be the only enemy searching for you."
Red's eyes widened.
"What does that mean?!"
SJW #005 did not answer.
Instead
Their body slowly dissolved into black particles beneath the crimson moonlight.
Before completely disappearing, one final sentence echoed through the burning forest.
"The world has already begun moving toward ruin."
And then
Silence.
Complete silence.
The terrifying pressure vanished instantly.
The storm disappeared.
Only the burning ruins remained.
Neya slowly exhaled shakily.
"...I hate tonight."
For the first time in a while, Uncle Star laughed softly again.
"Yeah… me too."
But Red could not laugh.
Because deep inside his chest
The crimson energy was still there.
Awake.
Watching.
Waiting.
And beneath the blood-red moon above Arkhan Forest…
Fate quietly continued its march forward.