The Shadowlands have never felt this heavy.
The usually cold air has now turned hot, as if the world's own breath is gasping under the pressure of something that has just awakened.
The creature stood in the middle of the crimson fissure.
Tall.
Huge.
And with every passing second, the aura emanating from its body grew more oppressive.
Aurelia stood before it.
Not stepping back.
Not wavering.
But within her.
The Blood Pact bond trembled more powerfully than ever before.
She was not the only one who felt this.
Kael let his casual smile fade.
Ragnar stopped laughing.
And Orion.
For the first time since they had met.
Tensed up.
"He is not merely a creature…"
Orion murmured softly.
Kael added,
"He is something that… was once locked away."
Ragnar grinned.
"And now it's free."
The creature slowly moved its neck.
Like someone who had just woken from a long sleep.
The crimson fissures on its skin glowed brighter.
"Finally…"
Its voice was deep.
"…the air of this world."
It took a long breath.
As if savoring every moment.
Then—
Its gaze returned to Aurelia.
"And finally… you."
Aurelia narrowed her eyes.
"Stop talking as if you know me."
The creature laughed softly.
A sound that made the ground shake.
"I do not know you…"
It took one step forward.
BOOM.
The earth cracked beneath its feet.
"…I have been waiting for you."
In an instant.
Crimson energy exploded from its body.
Waves of heat struck in all directions.
Ragnar moved forward at once.
"Enough!"
He shot forward at full speed.
His massive fist blazed with brutal power.
BOOOOM.
The punch struck the creature's chest.
But.
There was no effect.
The creature did not even shift its stance.
It only stared at Ragnar.
With one simple movement.
It raised its hand.
CRASH.
Ragnar's body was sent flying as if weightless.
Slamming into the ground dozens of meters away.
Aurelia moved immediately.
Lunar energy exploded from her body.
Golden light illuminated the darkness.
She leaped into the air.
Striking the creature from above.
BOOOOM.
The collision of energies created a massive shockwave.
The earth around them cracked.
But when the dust settled.
The creature still stood.
Uninjured.
Unfazed.
Only… smiling.
"Not bad."
It said softly.
Aurelia landed on the ground.
Her eyes glowed brighter.
"He's different…"
Kael appeared beside her.
"Yes."
He said softly.
"And I don't like it."
Orion stood on the other side.
"Direct attacks aren't enough."
Ragnar rose from the distance.
Blood streamed down his forehead.
But he was smiling.
"Good."
He walked back over.
"It's been a long time since I've felt like this."
Aurelia took a slow breath.
She focused herself.
Analyzing.
The creature.
Not like a Wraith.
Not like the previous commanders.
This was not something bound to an external source.
This… stood on its own.
The creature raised its hand.
Crimson energy gathered.
"Now…"
It said softly.
"…my turn."
BOOOOM.
An explosion of energy struck the ground.
The shockwave swept across the entire field.
Aurelia leaped backward immediately.
Kael vanished.
Orion dodged with precision.
Ragnar braced himself with his body.
But was still pushed back.
The earth around them shattered.
A large crater formed.
The creature stepped out from the center of the destruction.
As if nothing had happened.
Aurelia narrowed her eyes.
"He has no limit to his energy…"
Orion nodded.
"Like a source in itself."
Kael let out a soft sigh.
"This is starting to be a problem."
Ragnar laughed.
"This is just getting fun!"
Aurelia raised her hand.
"Enough."
All eyes turned to her.
She stared at the creature.
Then spoke softly.
"We can't defeat him separately."
A moment of silence fell.
Kael smiled slightly.
"Finally you said it."
Orion nodded.
"Full synchronization."
Ragnar grinned.
"That's what I've been waiting for."
The Blood Pact bond trembled.
But this time.
Not as a warning.
But as a… connection.
Aurelia could feel them.
Their positions.
Their movements.
Even…
Their intentions.
She took a deep breath.
The Lunar energy in her body began to change.
Deeper.
Wider.
"Attack together."
One command.
And they moved.
Ragnar advanced from the front.
His brutal punches struck head-on.
Kael emerged from the shadows.
Swift attacks from all directions.
Orion struck at vital points with precision.
And Aurelia..
Set the rhythm.
Connected everything.
BOOOOM.
Collision after collision occurred.
The creature finally.
Was pushed back one step.
For the first time.
Its eyes narrowed.
"Hmm…"
It stared at them.
"Interesting."
Ragnar laughed loudly.
"Ha! There we go!"
Kael smiled broadly.
"Now we're talking."
Orion stared sharply.
"It worked."
Aurelia stood at the front.
Her breathing was slightly heavy.
But her eyes still blazed.
The creature touched the fissure on its body.
Looking at the dark crimson blood on its hand.
Then.
It smiled.
Wider.
Deeper.
"Good…"
Its voice was soft.
"…very good."
The fissures on its body began to seal back together.
Aurelia realized it at once.
"He's regenerating…"
Orion narrowed his eyes.
"And faster than before."
Kael sighed.
"Of course."
Ragnar raised his fist again.
"Then we'll destroy him again."
But the creature raised its hand.
"Enough."
Crimson energy suddenly spread out.
But this time..
Not to attack.
But to.
Suppress.
BOOM.
A great pressure struck them.
Aurelia felt her body being held in place.
As if gravity had intensified.
The creature stared at them one by one.
"For the first time…"
It said softly.
"…I feel a threat."
It stared at Aurelia.
"You truly are the key."
Silence.
Then.
It smiled faintly.
"But not yet."
Crimson energy swirled around it.
Mist began to gather again.
"It is not yet time."
Aurelia stepped forward.
"You are not leaving."
The creature laughed softly.
"We will meet again, Luna."
It retreated into the crimson fissure.
"And when that time comes…"
Its eyes glowed brighter.
"…you will understand who I truly am."
The fissure closed.
The energy vanished.
Silence descended.
The battle was over.
But.
No one felt like they had won.
Aurelia stood still.
Her eyes still fixed on the place where the creature had disappeared.
The Blood Pact bond still trembled.
But now.
With one clear message.
This was not over.
This was only the beginning.
And something far greater.
Was waiting beyond the darkness.