The destroyed palace entrance stood silent.
Dust drifted through the air.
Broken stone covered the ground beneath the shattered doorway where Isumi had been kicked through moments ago.
Then—
footsteps echoed from inside.
Slow.
Calm.
Controlled.
A man stepped through the smashed palace doors.
He was tall.
About 6 feet.
Charismatic appearance.
Crimson eyes that carried an unnatural calmness.
A red shirt.
Red pants.
Not a scratch on him despite the destruction surrounding the palace.
The atmosphere around him felt strange.
Not overwhelming like Eon.
Not violent like the Round Table.
But dangerous.
Like something hidden beneath still water.
The members of the Black Sun Syndicate stared at him.
Then Eryndor spoke.
"So you're the one they served…"
"The voice of the palace."
The man smiled faintly.
"That's right."
He stepped over broken rubble casually.
"They owed me their lives so it's only right for them to serve their time."
Stellar's expression darkened instantly.
"You sick bastard."
Prince Luther laughed softly.
Not offended.
Not angry.
Just amused.
"So what's it gonna be?"
He spread his arms slightly.
"Together or—"
Eryndor:
"No need."
Everyone looked toward Eryndor.
Eryndor stepped forward calmly.
"I am enough."
Silence.
Then Luther smiled wider.
"Oh?"
"Whenever you're rea—"
CRACKKKK.
Before Luther could even finish speaking—
blue lightning mixed with dark storm energy exploded around Eryndor's body.
The ground beneath his feet shattered instantly.
BOOOOM.
Eryndor launched himself forward like a living bolt of lightning.
The distance vanished instantly.
Luther's crimson eyes widened slightly.
Eryndor spun sideways through the air and kicked directly toward Luther's chest.
WHAAAAAM.
Luther blocked using both arms.
But the force behind the kick was monstrous.
The palace exploded apart behind him as both of them blasted straight through the structure.
Stone and debris flew everywhere.
The entire palace shook violently.
Then—
BOOOOOOOM.
Both of them crashed through the rear side of the palace and shot into the barren lands outside the City of Dawn.
Far away from the civilians.
Far away from the destroyed streets.
At the palace ruins, Kaelus stared toward the distance.
Wind brushed against his white hair.
"He's got the pressure of a High God…"
Kaelus narrowed his eyes slightly.
"But it feels much darker than Eon."
Darius folded his arms.
"Yeah."
"That guy's dangerous."
Rein cracked his knuckles.
"I kinda wanna fight him too."
"You'll die," Stellar said immediately.
Rein looked offended.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
Meanwhile—
at the barren outskirts outside the City of Dawn—
BOOM.
Luther landed and slid backward across the empty ground before stabilizing himself.
Eryndor landed several meters away.
Storm energy rotated around him continuously.
Luther exhaled once.
"Won't even let me finish."
Eryndor smirked.
"Words are useless."
He immediately attacked again.
Eryndor used his left foot and kicked toward Luther's head.
Luther ducked under the kick smoothly.
Wind pressure exploded behind him from the missed attack.
Eryndor instantly pushed himself off the air itself and spun backward to create distance.
Both of them stared at each other.
Neither smiling now.
Only focus remained.
Luther slowly fixed the sleeves of his red shirt calmly.
Eryndor floated slightly above the ground while lightning danced around his body.
The barren lands trembled from the pressure leaking from both of them.
Then Luther slowly raised one hand toward Eryndor.
Nothing happened.
No energy.
No magic circle.
No visible attack.
Eryndor frowned slightly.
Then suddenly—
his instincts screamed.
He instantly moved his head to the side.
BOOOM.
Something invisible tore through the space beside him.
The air distorted violently.
The ground behind Eryndor exploded apart several hundred meters away.
Eryndor's eyes narrowed.
"Huh…"
"What was that?"
Prince Luther smiled calmly.
"You can't see it…"
"But you can feel the presence of my unseen hands."