In front of the corridor:

"Hmm..." Holak let his gaze wander slowly across the surroundings for several seconds, carefully inspecting the combat formations, checking each squad, each position, making sure that nothing was out of place and that every unit stood exactly where it was supposed to be.

A wide, almost greedy smile gradually spread across his face.

The leader hadn’t told them the reason behind doubling the army for today, but honestly, he didn’t need to. Someone like Holak could already guess. Most likely, the intention was simple... they were expected to double their prey as well.

And judging by what he was seeing now, with this scale, with this preparation, with this overwhelming presence...

They might actually be able to capture 200 nascent space beasts today!

"Good!" Holak clapped his hands loudly, the sound echoing with excitement, then turned toward the corridor with visible eagerness, stepping forward without hesitation, "Hey, mister Asir, everything’s been ready for over an hour now, the rune masters and the rest of the support squads have already withdrawn, the arrays are stable... we can begin at any moment."

"..." Guardian Asir glanced back over his shoulder, his brows slightly furrowed, his expression showing mild annoyance, "Why are you telling me? I’m waiting just like you."

Every single time, Robin would open the corridor the moment the support teams pulled back and the formations were aligned. That had always been the pattern.

But this time... he had delayed far longer than usual.

Still, there was no real reason to question it. Asir could clearly see Robin sitting at the edge of the cliff in the distance, casually playing cards as if nothing of importance was happening. For someone like him, it was impossible not to be aware of everything going on around the gate.

If he wanted to open it, it would open instantly, no reminders needed.

"Why don’t you remind the boss?" Holak stepped closer again, leaning in until he was almost pressed against Asir’s side, watching the space beasts alongside him, "Maybe he’s distracted or something," then suddenly his eyes sparkled with excitement, "Ooooh, look at that one over there, that fat one... Ohhh my!"

"I’m the one who should tell him?" Asir raised his hand without hesitation and shoved Holak’s face away from him, "I’m just a delegate from the cosmic academies, while you’re his personal guard. Which one of us is supposed to go?!"

"..." Holak retreated a few steps, scratching the back of his head awkwardly, his excitement dimming slightly, "I don’t want him to suddenly remember something and hang me up again... I barely got free after a whole month."

After that incident, the leader had allowed him to release himself and leave. And what did Holak do immediately after? He went straight to Krstan and latched onto his neck so tightly that his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. But the moment he heard about the benefits the empire gained from the Sun Seal Box, he let him go and didn’t proceed with the countless tortures he had been imagining in his mind every single day.

"That’s your problem," Asir waved his hand dismissively, clearly uninterested, "It’s only a matter of time anyway."

In truth, Asir was among those who most wanted the hunt to finally begin.

He practically had nothing to do here.

His role was simple, almost trivial... to prevent space beasts from leaving the planet. That was it.

But hunt after hunt, attempt after attempt... he had barely contributed anything of real significance.

The rapid-support vessels, combined with the overwhelming presence of the soul masters, made it nearly impossible for any beast to escape. And that was assuming any of them could even get past the so-called imperial guard beasts in the first place.

His presence here, every time the corridor opened, had become nothing more than a formality, a symbolic role without real value.

So naturally, he wanted this to end as soon as possible so he could leave.

"Heh~" Thinking about it, Asir let out a quiet sigh and glanced toward Holak, "Alright, listen, I’m going to—"

Bzzzt

Before he could finish his sentence, a space portal abruptly opened right beside them, the air distorting violently for a brief moment.

Step Step

The first figure to emerge from it was instantly recognizable to Asir. His eyes widened in shock, opening to their fullest extent, "Academy Mistress!"

"I am no longer a head of an Academy, Asir," Althera replied calmly as she continued walking forward toward the corridor, a faint, composed smile resting on her lips, "You should update your information."

"That’s fine," Asir’s expression softened into a genuine smile upon seeing her, "What brings you here, esteemed member of the Stellar Academies’ Board of Directors?"

"I came at someone’s request," Althera’s gaze sharpened as she looked through the opening of the corridor, her eyes filled with a fierce intensity that contrasted her calm demeanor, "or rather... under a direct order, if I’m not going to sugarcoat it."

"A direct order?" Asir repeated, clearly surprised, his brows knitting together slightly.

Bzzzt

The gate opened once more, its edges distorting space as a mature woman stepped out with calm, measured steps. She wore a long black gown that flowed behind her with quiet elegance. Her skin was pale, almost porcelain-like, yet her eyes and lips were as dark as ink, creating a sharp contrast that made her presence impossible to ignore.

"Lady Morgana?" Asir’s surprise surfaced once again, his brows lifting as he instinctively turned toward Althera, "What exactly is going on here?"

Althera and Morgana... they were not just important figures. They were the twin pillars of the newly restructured cosmic academies system. Under normal circumstances, they didn’t even have the luxury of rest. Any issue that arose in any cosmic academy, no matter the location, no matter the scale, no matter the cause... the responsibility ultimately reached them. And they handled everything personally.

Their schedules were relentless, their roles critical, their presence irreplaceable.

Some whispered that they hadn’t truly filled Qarun’s place. That the fear and reverence once commanded by the Council of Thrones had yet to be matched. People said it was due to their current level of power... and their lack of experience compared to the ancient figures of the past.

But those people overlooked something far more important.

Althera was already a Monarch who controlled a major fundamental law, and there were growing rumors that she was preparing to ascend further, to become a Mid level Monarch. Morgana, meanwhile, had shattered records, becoming the fastest soul master in history to reach seven stars.

And both of them... were still considered young when compared to the veterans of the Council of Thrones.

Their potential... was not just great. It was limitless.

And now... both of these pillars stood here together?

Did the cosmic academies no longer need them elsewhere? Had something happened that forced both of them to move at once?

Bzzzt

The sound of a third arrival cut through the air again, sharper this time, more abrupt. Asir turned immediately—only to freeze in place, his surprise escalating into genuine shock.

The one who had just stepped out was a man unlike the others. His skin was smooth and gleaming, tinted in a deep shade of blue that reflected light faintly. Two flesh-like whiskers extended downward along the sides of his face, swaying slightly with his movement.

He was unmistakable.

A member of the Stellar Academies’ Board of Directors. A Mid-level Monarch.

Blukan.

Asir’s shock deepened even further, his thoughts racing uncontrollably...

Althera had been present since the first opening of the gate. Morgana was known to be one of Lord Robin’s closest followers... but Blukan?

What was he doing here?

Was this planet no longer a secret... or had something changed at a level beyond his understanding?

"Amazing..." Blukan stepped forward slowly, almost reverently, like a starving man who had suddenly stumbled upon a grand feast. His eyes were wide, his breathing uneven, his entire attention fixed on what lay beyond, "...is this... what exists beyond the Wall of World’s End?"

"...?" Asir instinctively stepped aside, allowing Blukan to take position at the very front of the corridor. Then, without hesitation, he moved toward Morgana, his voice lowering slightly, "Hey... what’s happening here?"

But Morgana did not respond.

She didn’t even acknowledge him.

Her gaze remained fixed toward the peak of the mountain in the distance, her expression soft, almost serene... a faint, dreamy smile resting on her lips, as if she was watching something only she could truly understand.

"..?" Asir frowned more deeply now, unease settling in his chest. He turned toward Althera instead, seeking an answer, "What happened here?"

"I want the answer to the same question as you." Althera replied without looking at him, her arms crossing as her sharp gaze remained locked onto the peak of the nearby mountain, "Lord Robin... everyone is here now. What comes next?"

There was a brief moment of silence.

Then all eyes, whether consciously or not, shifted toward the same direction...

Far in the distance, near the edge of the mountain, Robin sat calmly beside a small table.

Without any sign of urgency, without any concern for the gathering of such powerful figures, he gently placed a single card onto the surface, aligning it perfectly with the others.

Only then did he turn his head slightly toward the corridor.

"You will begin the hunt..." his voice carried effortlessly across the distance, calm, certain, absolute. "...of course."