Outside Blackreach.

A massive translucent black barrier covered the land, enveloping an enormous traditional estate within its boundaries.

Outside the estate, numerous Sorcerers stood guard in secret.

Inside the estate, Zephyr and Sylas waited in silence for the birth of Rite Hand’s inheritor, prepared to react at any moment.

Zephyr looked bored.

"If three Special Grade Sorcerers still can’t stop the enemy," he said lazily, "then the Sorcerer World is probably doomed for real."

In truth.

It had already been destroyed many times before.

They just did not know it.

The wind stirred Sylas’s empty left sleeve as he muttered quietly,

"I’ve got a bad feeling about this."

Zephyr fell silent for a moment.

He understood exactly what Sylas meant.

There was probably only one person left in this world capable of making them feel genuine dread.

That bastard who had vanished for ten years.

"Hopefully it isn’t him."

Otherwise...

They might end up dying again.

The moment Zephyr finished speaking, the barrier covering the estate began trembling violently.

Then came the sharp sound of glass shattering.

The barrier collapsed instantly.

Both men immediately turned serious.

"He’s here!"

At the same time, warning cries erupted outside the estate.

"Enemy attack!!!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A chain of explosions followed.

Several Sorcerers hidden around the perimeter stretched their necks curiously, trying to see who had destroyed the barrier.

Honestly, this was the first time they had ever seen a barrier shattered by force.

Unlike the tense Sorcerers nearby, these few looked completely relaxed.

One of them even pulled out binoculars and scanned outside the barrier enthusiastically.

Yet he still could not spot anyone.

"Huh? Nobody there?"

Only players could possibly be this lacking in tension.

"Who cares?" one player said casually.

"There are three whole Special Grade Sorcerers here. Doesn’t matter who’s attacking, we’re guaranteed to win. Just don’t rush to the front."

"Exactly. We’ve got the advantage."

"Hm? Something’s flying this way!"

Boom!

A gigantic jade like sphere of Cursed Energy tore through the battlefield, carving a massive trench across the earth while annihilating everything in its path.

The slacking players were instantly vaporized.

"..."

"..."

The remaining Sorcerers stared at the enormous trench in horror.

What the hell was that thing that just flew past?!

Was that really an attack a Sorcerer could unleash?

What kind of joke was this?!

"How many enemies are there?!"

"One!"

"What?!"

"It looks like... just one person!"

The terrified Sorcerers shouted at the top of their lungs, as though yelling loudly enough might suppress the fear consuming them.

Beneath the shattered barrier, Caelum walked forward calmly.

Alone.

Yet the pressure and terrifying Cursed Energy pouring from him felt suffocating.

He had not even approached yet.

But the Sorcerers were already turning pale, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Most of them could barely move a finger, let alone fight back.

Only a handful of Sorcerers with exceptionally strong wills still managed to maintain their fighting spirit.

One Grade One Sorcerer quickly formed hand signs.

Enduring the crushing pressure radiating from Caelum, he gritted his teeth.

"I’ve never felt pressure this terrifying even from Special Grade Sorcerers."

"Yeah, it’s insane!"

"But pressure doesn’t equal strength!"

Several nearby Grade One Sorcerers answered.

Then they launched their techniques at Caelum without hesitation.

"Move!"

"Stop him!"

Caelum gave them a glance of approval.

"Impressive courage."

Then.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Bloody mist exploded skyward, dyeing the air crimson.

In an instant, every Sorcerer guarding outside the estate was wiped out.

"Radiant Thunder Spear!"

"Cascade Severance Art!"

Familiar voices rang out.

A colossal spear of lightning and a raging torrent attack surged toward him, only to be shattered by a single glance from Caelum.

The violent burst of Cursed Energy crushed both techniques instantly.

Zephyr and Sylas appeared before him.

Looking at the carnage around them, both men sighed.

Too late again.

This bastard was still just as brutal as ever.

"You damn monster. Ten years gone and you’re still alive."

"Long time no see."

Despite standing as enemies, the two greeted Caelum immediately.

Caelum sounded almost nostalgic.

"It really has been a while. Though this isn’t exactly the right setting for catching up. I’m a little short on time."

"You two idiots, stop talking and fight back already!"

At that moment, a figure rushed past Zephyr and Sylas.

Roaring furiously, the man completed his hand signs instantly and charged directly at Caelum.

"Domain Expansion!"

Zephyr covered his face.

He genuinely could not bear to watch.

If this were a normal enemy, would he and Sylas really be wasting time chatting?

They were stalling precisely because they knew they could not win.

Apparently this Special Grade Sorcerer had not recognized Caelum.

Otherwise, he would never have rushed in like this.

Expanding a Domain in front of that monster?

He probably would not even understand how he died.

Unfortunately, it was already too late to stop him.

The Special Grade Sorcerer activated his technique in front of Caelum, attempting to drag him into his Domain and decide the battle there.

Then Caelum casually slapped downward.

Before the Domain could fully form, Origin Reversion Technique erased it completely.

The Sorcerer himself exploded into a cloud of blood.

Another Special Grade Sorcerer died on the spot.

Buzz!

Caelum had no intention of continuing the conversation with Zephyr and Sylas.

Violent Cursed Energy erupted from his body in a shockwave that distorted both the air and vision itself.

Boom!

The massive shockwave spread outward.

A young woman fled from the far side of the estate in panic, clutching a newborn baby tightly in her arms while over a dozen Sorcerers escorted her away at full speed.

Whoosh!

Caelum appeared directly in front of her, cutting off her path instantly.

"Protect Rite Hand...!"

The escorting Sorcerers’ expressions changed drastically.

Before they could even react, every single one of them exploded into bloody mist.

The young woman nearly collapsed in terror.

Snap.

Caelum snapped his fingers.

The woman immediately lost consciousness and collapsed.

The baby in her arms cried nonstop.

Caelum reached out and gently touched the infant’s head.

The crying stopped at once.

Caelum was ruthless when necessary, but he was not deranged enough to slaughter a newborn child.

All he wanted was Rite Hand.

The baby’s life was never in danger.

Origin Reversion Technique activated.

Caelum effortlessly extracted the fragment of Risei’s bloodline and soul, obtaining Rite Hand.

The baby calmly sucked on its fingers and drifted into peaceful sleep.

Then.

Caelum vanished.

At the same time.

Elsewhere outside Blackreach, a colossal mushroom cloud rose into the sky.

Seratra burst out from within the shockwave, landed smoothly, and departed without looking back.