Three days passed.
The night finally arrived.
The sky was dark, moon hidden behind heavy clouds.
Hundreds of heroes stood assembled in silence.
No one spoke loudly anymore.
This was it.
Sebastian stood at the front.
Behind him — warriors from every continent.
Power users.
Elemental fighters.
Strategists.
Monsters in human form.
Asher stood slightly apart, tightening his gloves.
Footsteps approached him.
Three unfamiliar figures stopped nearby.
A tall, massive man with a body like steel. His presence alone felt immovable. Scars crossed his arms like battle trophies.
He extended a hand.
"Name's Darius. They call me the Titan."
His voice was deep, steady.
"I'll be the shield in this fight."
Next to him stood a blonde woman.
Long golden hair flowed over her shoulders. Her eyes shimmered with unnatural light.
She was breathtaking — calm but powerful.
"Elena," she said softly.
"I specialize in high-tier magic."
Arcane symbols faintly glowed around her fingers before fading.
Beside them stood a younger man with sharp eyes and a confident smirk.
"Riven. Close combat specialist."
He cracked his knuckles.
"Heard you're the red-haired anomaly."
Asher gave a faint smile.
"Guess word travels fast."
Darius crossed his arms.
"Stick close when things break. I'll hold the frontline."
Elena looked at Asher carefully.
"There's a storm around you."
Asher's eyes darkened slightly.
"Yeah… I feel it too."
They began moving.
The march toward the cave was silent.
Only boots against stone.
The cave entrance appeared like the mouth of a beast.
Cold.
Ancient.
Waiting.
Sebastian raised his hand.
Everyone stopped.
He turned toward them.
His voice echoed in the night.
"Listen carefully."
"This battle will cost us."
Faces hardened.
"There will be losses."
Silence deepened.
"But trust yourselves."
"Trust each other."
"We are not alone."
He raised his blade.
"Together."
Hundreds of powers ignited.
"MOVE!"
They charged.
The ground shook as they stormed into the cave.
Darkness swallowed them.
Torches and energy lights illuminated massive stone walls.
Then—
They saw them.
At the center of the cavern stood two figures.
Ernos.
And Lord.
Lord's eyes widened slightly.
"This… how is this possible?"
He hadn't expected the entire world to respond.
Asher stepped forward.
Their eyes met.
The moment their gazes locked—
Something shattered inside Asher's mind.
Flashes.
Blood.
Fire.
Screams.
Chains.
A throne.
Pain exploded in his skull.
He grabbed his head.
"No—"
Memories that weren't fully his flooded him.
Lord's voice echoed in his mind.
"Asher…"
Darkness consumed him.
He collapsed.
Julia caught him before he hit the ground.
"Asher!"
She dropped to her knees, holding him.
"He's unconscious!"
Lord stepped back slowly.
His expression changed.
This wasn't part of the plan.
Ernos stepped forward instead.
Flames ignited around him.
"If you want him…"
"Come through me."
Sebastian drew his weapon.
His voice thundered through the cave.
"ATTACK!"
The battle exploded.
Darius roared and charged first, smashing into the ground like a living fortress.
The shockwave shattered stone.
Riven dashed forward in a blur, striking from the side.
Elena lifted her hands.
Golden magic circles formed in the air.
Arcane chains shot toward Ernos.
Flames and steel collided.
The cave trembled.
Heroes rushed from all sides.
Fire dragons erupted from Ernos' hands, crashing into the frontline.
Darius took the hit head-on, skidding back but not falling.
Elena countered with a massive sealing spell, glowing runes pressing down from above.
Sebastian moved like lightning toward Lord—
But Lord vanished into shadow.
Retreating.
Watching.
Calculating.
Meanwhile—
Asher lay unconscious in Julia's arms.
Her voice trembled.
"Asher… wake up…"
But inside his mind—
The red was spreading again.
And something deeper was beginning to awaken.