Kayla returned home.

Her hair had returned to its shade of black, and the seal had been reinforced once again.

She had returned to being an ordinary mortal.

The seal couldn’t be completely removed. The only way to remove it entirely...

The old man paused in his thoughts, studying Kayla for a moment longer.

With another sigh, he blended into the shadows.

From the moment Kayla arrived in this lower realm, he had been the one guarding her.

Protecting her.

Watching over her from places no eyes could reach.

However, he could sense that his strength was dwindling. His lifespan had long since reached its twilight, and he knew he would not live for much longer.

Surprisingly, just as he had entered the final vestiges of his life, Amon’s talent exploded forth.

The old man had been impressed.

Speechless, even.

Never in his wildest imaginations had he believed that such a terrifying genius could be born within a lower realm.

With how rapidly Amon was growing, the old man knew it was only a matter of time before he surpassed him.

Then he would be free to die in peace.

With no regrets left in his heart.

’I just hope he can become strong enough before they arrive...’

The old man slowly shook his head, another weary sigh escaping from the darkness.

Then he returned to guarding her in secret silence.

A place where no one could sense his existence.

...

Having wiped out the Demon Infant Organization, Amon glanced across the ruined battlefield.

Recalling the Demon Lord from before, he couldn’t help clenching his fist.

Previously, he thought he was strong enough.

At S-rank, he had believed there was nothing left that could threaten him.

That he would easily destroy the organization.

Only now did he truly understand a saying he had read in his previous life.

’There’s always someone stronger.’

Amon slowly exhaled.

’In that case, I’ll just have to keep getting stronger and stronger.’

A glint of determination surfaced within his eyes.

Another realization had dawned on him as well.

Just a god had been able to erase his existence.

Just a god had been capable of preventing him from protecting his family.

Then what if there was something above godhood?

Amon let out a long, measured breath.

Initially, he had wanted to take a few days to rest.

Now he couldn’t afford to.

He needed to become stronger.

And fast.

His SSS-rank Danger Sense seemed to flicker faintly ever since his encounter with the mysterious woman who had saved his life.

It was as though an imminent crisis lingered beyond his perception.

Something his Danger Sense could not fully penetrate.

Amon guessed it was likely due to its rank being too low.

He would have to upgrade it again.

The thought of the coming crisis only strengthened his resolve.

As a father, it was his duty to ensure that his family remained safe.

Amon cast one final glance at the devastated battlefield.

Close Yet So Far activated.

Space folded aside.

He vanished.

A moment later, he silently appeared back in Cold Moon District.

...

In the ruined location where the Demon Infant Organization had once stood, a few experts finally summoned the courage to approach.

The instant they arrived, their blood ran cold.

A terrifying killing intent lingered throughout the area.

Heavy.

Oppressive.

Like an endless abyss swallowing everything around it.

A single, razor-thin line stretched across the entire length of the organization.

Everything along its path had been erased.

"All this was done by a single person?"

Although they had seen a vague silhouette earlier, they had been far too distant to identify who it was.

"Perhaps the organization attracted the attention of someone they shouldn’t have provoked. Most likely one of the hidden organizations with an SSS-rank powerhouse."

"A destruction of this magnitude is unprecedented. We need to alert our members to remain silent for the next few days. A lot of things seem to be happening lately."

"Right. I even heard the A-rank dragon, Levi, arrived today from Neverland."

"Levi? Neverland is incredibly far away. What is he doing here?"

Murmurs continued to spread among the gathered experts.

Eventually, everyone departed.

However, the calamity they had witnessed had already been engraved into their hearts.

...

At Cold Moon District.

Peace had returned.

Moon was still at B-rank.

However, he stood at the threshold of A-rank.

While Amon had gone to deal with the headquarters of the Demon Infant Organization, Moon had been tasked with eliminating every branch hidden throughout Cold Moon District.

Now there was no trace of the organization left.

Amon’s heart finally felt at ease.

This was one less threat lurking around his family.

As he gazed over Cold Moon District, an unusual calm settled within him.

He began planning his next course of action.

The district was relatively safe for now.

However, his strength remained insufficient.

He still remembered the little girl whose sister had become trapped within an SSS-rank dungeon.

If the rank above SSS-rank truly was God Rank, the same level as the Demon Lord he had encountered, then Amon clearly wasn’t strong enough to clear such a dungeon.

Within an SSS-rank dungeon, the final boss would likely be a god.

Clearing it would be unimaginably difficult.

However, once he reached SSS-rank himself, it wouldn’t be impossible.

The only issue was finding the girl.

She was crossing through countless timelines.

Amon could only hope that she would eventually return to this timeline and meet him again.

He lingered for a few seconds before taking another casual step forward.

The world blurred.

In an instant, he stood before his home.

A faint warmth entered his eyes.

Glancing at the door, Amon gently opened it and stepped inside the cozy apartment.

His SSS-rank Danger Sense vaguely tingled.

Instinctively, his gaze swept across the room.

It was warning him about something.

Yet the feeling remained distant and muffled, as though hidden behind layers of fog.

Amon couldn’t identify the source.

He frowned slightly before shaking his head.

His wife was asleep on the couch, exhaustion visible on her face.

A few meters away, Ciara sat on the floor.

Her head rested against the side of the couch as she slept quietly.

A faint chuckle escaped Amon.

He had never seen Kayla sleeping in such a manner before.

’She must have played with Ciara until she exhausted herself.’

The thought brought a small smile to his face.

Carefully, he bent down and lifted her into his arms before heading toward their bedroom.

Kayla muttered softly in her sleep.

Her brows furrowed tightly as though trapped within an unpleasant dream.

A trace of concern appeared in Amon’s eyes.

"It’s alright... I’m here... I’ll always be here..."

His voice was little more than a whisper.

Gentle.

Steady.

Reassuring.

The tension in Kayla’s face gradually eased.

Her brows relaxed.

Almost instinctively, she clutched the front of his shirt and leaned closer into his embrace.

Amon lowered his gaze toward her sleeping face.

For a brief moment, the burdens weighing upon his shoulders seemed distant.

The apartment was quiet.

Peaceful.

Yet the faint warning from his Danger Sense still lingered.

Subtle.

Persistent.

"Hey everyone, meet the butcher."

Levi gestured toward Amon as he introduced him, drawing the attention of the entire group toward the two of them.

The room fell silent.

Nine pairs of eyes settled on Amon.

Some were curious.

Some were cautious.

Others openly scrutinized him.

Amon remained unmoved beneath their gazes.

The silver-haired woman was the first to speak.

"So that’s the famous butcher?"

Her sharp eyes swept across him.

The grinning man immediately laughed and said in a light, joking tone, "I expected someone uglier."

His gaze lingered on Amon’s mask.

Amon’s expression remained hidden beneath the mask.

His silence only made the atmosphere more awkward.

Levi rubbed the back of his neck.

"The president isn’t back yet?"

The stern middle-aged man shook his head.

"No."

His fingers tapped lightly against the table.

"Communication was established a few hours ago. The dungeon has entered its final stages."

A faint gleam flashed through Levi’s eyes.

"In that case, he should return soon."

Hearing the words, Amon hesitated ever so slightly.

He wanted to head straight to the dungeon, but there was no point in being hasty. He decided to wait for some more time.

Meanwhile, the group continued muttering amongst themselves.

The butcher’s reputation had spread across multiple countries.

Yet standing before them was merely a masked man who didn’t appear particularly threatening.

At least on the surface.

The giant’s eyes narrowed as he spoke.

"Mind if I ask something?"

Amon turned toward him, staring at him in curiosity.

Taking this as a cue, the giant folded his arms and asked curiously, "Are you really D-rank?"

The question immediately drew the attention of everyone present.

Even Levi looked over.

Although he believed Amon possessed strength beyond ordinary hunters, nobody had ever officially confirmed his rank.

"S-rank."

Amon thought for a bit and felt that there was no need to keep his strength from everyone.

In fact, it would instead aid him in getting what he wanted.

However, the moment his words faded, five of the A-rank hunters stood up abruptly.

The other four shrunk their pupils in shock and terror.

S-rank?

How was that possible?

Not to talk of A-rank, even B-rank was completely unbelievable!

It was absurd!

One had to know that just barely a week ago, they’d received the news that the butcher was at D-rank, and now he was already at what? S-rank?

A few found it hard to believe. However, Levi had already begun accepting the truth.

He recalled now why the president of Cold Moon District had asked him not to offend the butcher in the slightest.

’So this is the true depth of his strength?’

It was no wonder there was always this overwhelming pressure being exuded from him at all times.

Before anyone could continue the discussion, Amon’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

His Danger Sense stirred, and a faint ripple spread across Neverland.

The movement was subtle.

Extremely subtle.

Ordinary hunters wouldn’t notice it, yet Amon felt it immediately.

His gaze drifted toward the ceiling, and the others noticed the change almost instantly.

"What is it?" Levi asked, but Amon didn’t answer immediately.

His senses expanded outward.

Far away.

Beyond the headquarters.

Beyond the city itself.

Something was approaching.

Fast.

Very fast.

The pressure radiating from it far exceeded anything he had sensed since arriving in Neverland.

The nine hunters immediately became serious.

Although they couldn’t sense what Amon was sensing, they could feel the shift in his demeanor.

A few moments later, a smile appeared beneath the mask.

"Interesting."

Levi felt his heart tighten.

"What’s interesting?"

Amon lowered his gaze and voiced his guess.

"The president."

Hearing his words, the room instantly erupted.

"He’s back?"

"You sensed him already?"

"Impossible."

Even the old man’s calm expression wavered slightly.

Amon ignored their reactions, and his senses remained locked onto the approaching presence.

It was powerful, steady, and unyielding.

If his guess wasn’t wrong, only the president could possess such a presence that could command so much attention and aura.

The aura carried the weight of countless battles.

Unlike the nine hunters before him, this individual genuinely stood at S-rank.

For the first time since arriving in Neverland, Amon felt a trace of anticipation to meet the so-called president.

Several seconds later, a loud vibration echoed throughout the building.

The transparent walls trembled faintly.

Outside, countless employees raised their heads as a massive shadow descended from the sky.

The hunters around the table stood up almost simultaneously.

Levi’s expression brightened almost immediately.

"He’s here."

Amon calmly turned toward the window.

Through the glass, he saw a colossal aircraft emerging from the clouds.

The vessel dwarfed everything around it.

Its metallic frame reflected the sunlight, casting enormous shadows across the city below.

As it descended toward the headquarters, countless lights illuminated across its surface.

The atmosphere within the room grew noticeably heavier.

Not because of the aircraft.

But because of the man inside it.

The strongest hunter in Neverland.

And the reason Amon had come all this way.

A faint smile appeared beneath the butcher’s mask.

Finally.

The person carrying the soul skill was here.

The aircraft continued descending.

Its enormous frame eclipsed the sunlight for several moments before gradually settling atop one of the massive landing platforms connected to the headquarters.

A deep mechanical hum reverberated throughout the surrounding structures.

Then silence followed.

Everyone in the room unconsciously straightened their backs.

Even the most relaxed among them became noticeably more attentive.

Amon quietly observed everything.

The influence of the president was evident.

He hadn’t even stepped inside yet, and the atmosphere had already changed.

Several moments later, the doors at the far end of the room slid open.

Footsteps echoed through the corridor.

They were steady and calm, and the figure walked at a measured pace.

The nine hunters immediately rose to their feet.

Amon’s gaze shifted toward the entrance as a tall man entered.

His appearance was surprisingly ordinary.

He wore a simple black coat over a fitted combat suit.

His dark hair was neatly combed back, revealing a mature face that carried faint traces of exhaustion.

There were no flashy weapons or extravagant clothing.

Nothing that would immediately attract attention.

Yet the moment he stepped into the room, he naturally became its center.

The surrounding space itself seemed to acknowledge his presence.

His eyes swept across the room, and his gaze was sharp, observant, and experienced.

Years of battle had left invisible marks upon him.

Then his gaze landed on Amon.

The room suddenly became quiet.

The president’s eyes lingered on the butcher for several seconds.

Amon did the same.

Neither of them spoke or looked away.

The pressure within the room slowly intensified.

The nine hunters exchanged nervous glances.

They could feel it.

Two S-rank hunters silently observing one another.

Neither side yielding or intimidated.

Finally, the president smiled.

It was a genuine smile.

"I’ve wanted to meet you for quite some time."

His voice was calm and steady.

"I didn’t think you’d grow so much during this short time."

Amon went straight to the point, not interested in pleasantries.

"I came because I heard you possess a soul skill."

The room instantly froze, and several hunters nearly choked.

Others stared at Amon as though he had lost his mind.

Levi covered his face.

He suddenly regretted bringing the butcher here, but in the end, he didn’t have a choice in the first place.

The president himself looked momentarily surprised.

Then he burst into laughter.

The sound echoed throughout the room.

"Hahaha!"

The nine hunters stared blankly.

It had been a long time since they had seen the president laugh like that.

After several moments, he finally calmed down.

"You certainly don’t waste time."

Like an unseen storm gathering beyond the horizon, waiting patiently for its moment to arrive.