The silence after the Herald's disappearance did not bring relief.
It brought fear.
The sky above the city remained fractured, thin cracks of darkness spreading like veins across reality. The Abyss Gate had stabilized, but instead of closing… it pulsed rhythmically, like a living heart.
Waiting.
Watching.
Preparing.
Arata stood still, his eyes fixed on the sky.
That presence—
The Herald—
It wasn't like the Abyss General.
It was calmer.
Smarter.
And far more dangerous.
Behind him, Ren let out a long breath.
"…I hate enemies that talk like that."
Lyra didn't smile.
"Because they're usually the ones who mean every word."
Kaito stepped forward, his gaze scanning the entire area.
"We don't have time to stand around."
His voice was sharp now.
"That thing wasn't lying."
Arata turned toward him.
"You think it'll come back?"
Kaito shook his head.
"No."
Then his eyes darkened.
"It won't come back alone."
---
### Emergency Summit
Within hours, an emergency meeting was called.
Not just within Shadow Academy—
But globally.
For the first time in decades, multiple powerful factions gathered in one place.
A temporary command base was established on the outskirts of the city.
Inside a massive reinforced hall, a circular table stood at the center.
And around it—
Sat the strongest defenders of humanity.
Arata, Ren, Lyra, and Kaito entered the room.
The moment they stepped in—
All eyes turned toward them.
Or more specifically—
Toward Arata.
Ren whispered,
"…Great. Now everyone's staring."
Lyra remained calm.
"They know who he is."
At the head of the table stood a tall man with silver hair and piercing blue eyes. A faint storm aura surrounded him, crackling softly like distant thunder.
"This is him?" the man asked.
Kaito nodded.
"Yeah."
"The successor."
The man stepped forward.
"I am Viktor Volkov."
His voice carried authority.
"I lead the Eastern European defense forces."
Arata nodded slightly.
"Arata Kurogane."
Viktor studied him carefully.
"…You're younger than I expected."
Before Arata could respond—
A voice interrupted.
"Well, power doesn't exactly come with age."
A woman leaned back in her chair, her silver eyes glowing faintly.
Her aura felt sharp—like a blade.
"I'm Elira Vance," she said.
"Western Division."
Ren muttered quietly,
"…Everyone here feels like a boss fight."
Lyra added,
"They are."
Across the table, another figure spoke.
A man wearing a black mask, his body surrounded by a flickering red aura.
"We don't have time for introductions."
His voice was low.
"Three gates have already destabilized."
The room went silent.
Kaito crossed his arms.
"…How bad?"
The masked man replied,
"Eastern Europe has fallen."
Viktor's expression darkened.
"My team was wiped out."
Arata clenched his fist.
"Wiped out…?"
Elira leaned forward.
"That's not the worst part."
She tapped the table.
A projection appeared.
A massive image of a destroyed city.
Dark creatures filled the streets.
And at the center—
A towering shadow.
"Another Herald has appeared," she said.
The room grew tense.
Ren whispered,
"…Another one?"
Lyra nodded slowly.
"They're multiplying."
Kaito sighed.
"…Of course they are."
---
### The Truth About the Heralds
Viktor spoke again.
"We've analyzed the energy from these entities."
"They're not just commanders."
He paused.
"They're extensions."
Arata frowned.
"Extensions of what?"
Silence filled the room.
Then—
Kaito answered.
"…Something above them."
Everyone turned toward him.
Kaito's expression was serious.
"The Abyss General was a soldier."
"The Herald…"
"…is a messenger."
Arata felt a chill run down his spine.
"A messenger for who?"
Kaito didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He looked up.
As if remembering something.
"…For the one who commands the Abyss."
The room fell silent.
Because everyone understood what that meant.
There was something stronger than the Herald.
Something far more terrifying.
---
### The Plan
Elira stood up.
"Enough talk."
She pointed at the map.
"We divide and contain the gates."
The masked man shook his head.
"That won't work."
"Not anymore."
Viktor crossed his arms.
"He's right."
"They're adapting."
Kaito nodded.
"The Herald isn't just attacking."
"It's setting a stage."
Arata stepped forward.
"Then what do we do?"
All eyes turned toward him.
Kaito looked at him calmly.
"We hit back."
Ren smirked slightly.
"Now that sounds better."
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
"Care to explain?"
Kaito pointed at the largest gate.
"This one."
The map zoomed in.
A massive distortion.
Larger than all the others.
"It's the center," Kaito said.
"If we destroy this…"
"…the entire network collapses."
Viktor nodded.
"That's our best chance."
Elira looked at Arata.
"…And he'll lead it."
The room went silent again.
Arata didn't hesitate.
"…I will."
Ren sighed.
"Guess we're going all in."
Lyra nodded.
"We don't have a choice."
---
### Night Before the Battle
The base had grown quiet.
Preparations were complete.
The strongest fighters in the world were ready.
But even then—
The tension remained.
Arata stood alone outside, staring at the sky.
The cracks were spreading slowly.
The world was breaking.
Inside his mind—
The Ancient Entity spoke again.
*You are approaching the next threshold.*
Arata clenched his fist.
"…The Third Gate?"
The voice responded.
*Yes.*
*But this time…*
*The cost will be far greater.*
Arata closed his eyes.
"I don't care."
The voice remained silent for a moment.
Then—
*You will.*
---
### Meanwhile – The Abyss
Deep within the endless darkness—
Multiple Heralds stood in silence.
And before them—
A massive throne.
A figure sat upon it.
Unmoving.
Unseen.
The Herald from the city stepped forward.
"The successor is growing stronger."
The figure did not respond.
Another Herald spoke.
"The humans are gathering their forces."
Silence.
Then—
The figure finally moved.
A single glowing eye opened in the darkness.
"…Good."
Its voice echoed like a nightmare.
"Let them come."
The shadows twisted around the throne.
"Because this time…"
"…we will erase them all."
To be continued...