A thin mist of smoke lingered over the ruined cityscape. The battle that had ended all battles was over. Leopold's ashes had barely cooled, yet the world seemed to hold its breath.
Lee Seong-jun stood amidst the silent wreckage, his crimson eyes dimming as the fire around him flickered out. The system notifications hovering before him felt distant, like echoes from another world.
[You have defeated Leopold, Emperor of the World Returners' Union.]
[A new science has been established — history will remember your name.]
[Special Quest: The Emperor's Path — Progress exceeds 50%. Bonus reward granted.]
[Level Up! Current Level: 270.]
[Sixth Job Advancement Unlocked.]
The golden light of progression enveloped him, washing away the grime and blood of battle. Yet, instead of joy, a quiet weight pressed against his chest.
It's over… but not finished.
His gaze drifted toward the blackened horizon where Leopold had vanished. There was no satisfaction in victory — only a reminder that each ascent demanded another step into the unknown.
Elsewhere, in the fractured remains of a ruined building, Frederick coughed weakly, brushing soot from his tattered coat.
"That monster…" he muttered, staring up at the fading glow in the sky. "He's not human anymore."
The explosion had shaken the earth itself. Had he tried to intervene, he would have been consumed by the flames like the rest. He had lived — barely.
"I never thought I'd see Leopold fall," he said bitterly, his voice rough with disbelief.
The realization came slowly, like a blade sinking in — it wasn't just Leopold who had lost. It was the entire world's illusion of balance.
"Lee Seong-jun… you've crossed the line no one else could."
The memories of that red blade, cleaving through reality itself, replayed in his mind — a power that didn't just destroy, but rewrote existence.
Even with all his knowledge, Frederick couldn't fathom how far Seong-jun could still go.
The future has changed… the timeline itself might be fracturing.
He gritted his teeth, a cold sweat running down his temple. Whatever peace this victory brought, it was fragile. Something greater was coming — something only monsters like Seong-jun could face.
"We'll need to be ready," he whispered to the empty air. "Because he's not the end… he's the beginning."
In a quiet underground facility far from the battlefield, Anna sat motionless, her hands trembling slightly.
Through her connection with Seong-jun, she had felt it — the overwhelming surge of power, the terrifying precision of his will. It was beyond anything human.
So this is the strength of someone who defies gods themselves.
She clenched her fists, anger and admiration warring inside her.
"I was useless again…" she whispered, biting her lip.
She had wanted to fight beside him — not watch from the sidelines. Yet she had been too weak, too afraid to reach the level where he stood.
That can't happen again.
Closing her eyes, she began to circulate her mana, her breath growing rapid. Energy pulsed through her body like an untamed storm, tearing at her from within. Pain lanced through her heart, but she endured it, teeth gritted.
Then — light.
A new current of power flooded her veins, cool and sharp as ice. The air around her rippled as her mana stabilized, resonating perfectly with her core.
When she opened her eyes, they glowed with draconic radiance.
"I'll catch up to you," she said softly. "No matter how far ahead you go."
Her lips curved into a calm smile — filled with determination and longing.
The world above had already moved on.
News reports spoke of tremors, strange energy readings, unexplained weather patterns — but no one knew the truth. The great battle that had decided the fate of humanity was hidden from public eyes.
In his living room, Lee Seong-jun sat quietly, flipping through the channels with a faint smirk.
"To think they're still debating what caused the blackout," he muttered.
Every headline avoided his name. Every trace of the war was erased. Only those at the highest level understood what had truly happened — and they all feared it.
That's fine, he thought. The less attention, the better.
He exhaled softly, leaning back against the sofa as a new holographic menu appeared before him. The familiar glow of the system reflected in his eyes — the next step awaited.
[6th Job Advancement Quest Unlocked.]
He smiled faintly. "Let's see what you've got for me this time."
The light from the screen illuminated his face — calm, confident, and ready.
The man who had slain an emperor now stood at the edge of a higher realm.
The Sixth Ascension had begun.