BOOM!
A pillar of black energy erupted into the night sky.
The peaceful atmosphere of Starfall City shattered instantly.
Screams echoed through the streets.
Cultivators rushed from every direction.
Alarm formations activated throughout the city.
Red warning lights illuminated the skies.
⸻
Inside the Hall of Echoes—
Kael felt the disturbance immediately.
The Origin Core pulsed violently.
Not in fear.
In warning.
⸻
The spirit's expression had become grave.
Far graver than before.
"They came much sooner than expected."
Kael looked toward the sealed entrance.
"The Hollow Hunters?"
The spirit nodded.
⸻
"They are not ordinary Void followers."
"They are executioners."
"Specialists created for one purpose."
⸻
The old spirit's golden eyes narrowed.
⸻
"Hunting Origin Bearers."
⸻
Silence filled the hall.
⸻
Kael stood slowly.
The newly acquired Origin knowledge was still settling within him.
Fragments of ancient techniques flashed through his mind.
Unfinished.
Incomplete.
Yet powerful.
⸻
The spirit looked directly at him.
"Leave."
⸻
Kael frowned.
⸻
"If they find you here, they'll destroy this Hall."
⸻
The spirit smiled faintly.
⸻
"This Hall has survived ten thousand years."
"It can survive one more night."
⸻
Then his expression hardened.
⸻
"But you cannot stay."
⸻
BOOM!
Another explosion rocked the city.
Closer.
Much closer.
⸻
Kael turned toward the entrance.
⸻
The giant doors slowly opened.
⸻
Cold night air rushed inside.
Along with a familiar energy.
⸻
Void.
⸻
Powerful Void.
⸻
Kael stepped outside.
⸻
The city had become chaos.
⸻
Cultivators battled in the streets.
Defensive formations activated overhead.
Blue barriers stretched across entire districts.
⸻
And standing atop a nearby tower—
Was one of the Hollow Hunters.
⸻
Black robes.
Black blade.
Glowing violet eyes.
⸻
The Hunter looked directly at Kael.
⸻
Then smiled.
⸻
"We found you."
⸻
The pressure exploded outward.
⸻
Unlike previous Void followers—
This figure felt terrifyingly refined.
Every movement.
Every breath.
Every ounce of power.
Controlled.
⸻
The Hunter vanished.
⸻
Kael's instincts screamed.
⸻
Origin Flash!
⸻
Golden light erupted.
⸻
BOOM!
⸻
A black blade appeared where Kael had been standing.
The stone street beneath him vanished completely.
Not broken.
Not shattered.
Gone.
⸻
Erased.
⸻
Kael reappeared several meters away.
His eyes narrowed immediately.
⸻
Dangerous.
Far more dangerous than the previous Void cultivators.
⸻
The Hunter tilted his head.
⸻
"You reacted."
⸻
His voice carried genuine surprise.
⸻
"Interesting."
⸻
Then—
Three more Hollow Hunters appeared.
⸻
One atop a rooftop.
One within the street.
One standing casually upon a floating platform.
⸻
Four.
⸻
Kael's expression darkened.
⸻
Too many.
⸻
Suddenly—
A wave of blue energy swept across the battlefield.
⸻
BOOM!
⸻
The nearest Hollow Hunter was forced backward.
⸻
Lyra appeared.
⸻
Silver robes flowing.
Blue energy illuminating the street.
⸻
For the first time—
Kael saw her fighting aura fully unleashed.
⸻
The surrounding space itself distorted.
⸻
The Hollow Hunter's smile vanished.
⸻
"…Azure Star Heir."
⸻
Kael noticed something.
Not Lady Lyra.
Not Senior Lyra.
⸻
Azure Star Heir.
⸻
Lyra's eyes were ice cold.
⸻
"You should have stayed hidden."
⸻
The Hunter laughed.
⸻
"And let the Origin Bearer escape?"
⸻
Darkness surged.
⸻
The city trembled.
⸻
More powerful cultivators began arriving.
⸻
Figures descended from flying ships.
Sect elders.
Clan protectors.
Northern experts.
⸻
The attack on Starfall City had drawn everyone's attention.
⸻
And yet—
The Hollow Hunters showed no concern.
⸻
Because their mission was not destruction.
⸻
It was Kael.
⸻
One Hunter pointed his blade toward him.
⸻
"Target confirmed."
⸻
Another stepped forward.
⸻
"Permission to eliminate?"
⸻
A voice echoed from above.
⸻
Cold.
Ancient.
Filled with hatred.
⸻
"Granted."
⸻
The sky darkened.
⸻
Every Hollow Hunter knelt instantly.
⸻
Kael looked upward.
⸻
A massive shadow stood atop the clouds.
Watching.
⸻
Not fully present.
Only a projection.
⸻
Yet the pressure alone made countless cultivators cough blood.
⸻
Lyra's expression changed.
⸻
For the first time—
Kael saw concern in her eyes.
⸻
"…Void Lord."
⸻
The title sent chills across the battlefield.
⸻
Even the elders who had arrived stiffened.
⸻
The shadow's violet gaze locked onto Kael.
⸻
Silence followed.
⸻
Then—
The projection smiled.
⸻
"Origin has returned."
⸻
The city's temperature dropped instantly.
⸻
"Good."
⸻
The smile widened.
⸻
"This time…"
⸻
"We will finish what we started."
⸻
The projection vanished.
⸻
But the threat remained.
⸻
The Hollow Hunters rose simultaneously.
⸻
Their killing intent exploded.
⸻
Kael clenched his fists.
Golden energy surged around him.
⸻
The Origin Core pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
⸻
Something deep within the inheritance began responding.
⸻
The newly acquired Origin Art.
⸻
For the first time—
It stirred.
⸻
And Kael realized something.
⸻
Tonight—
Would not be a battle of survival.
⸻
It would be the first true war between Origin and Void since the ancient age.
⸻
Host: Kael Veyron
Realm: Origin Awakening Stage 2
Abilities:
• Origin Sense
• Origin Flash
• Origin Pulse
• Origin Perception
• Origin Resonance
• Origin Art (Awakening)
Equipment:
• Ring of the First Pulse
• Azure Star Token
Status:
• Surrounded by Hollow Hunters
• Void Lord has noticed you