"What's the basis for your report?"
"They were clearly heading for Korea," Anna replied, her voice steady but sharp, "but suddenly they changed course. And this time, they're concealing their movements. That can only mean one thing—they've decided that an all-out war is too much for them right now."
"You're saying they're avoiding a fight," Seong-jun muttered.
Anna nodded. "Exactly. If their goal was simple slaughter, Undru Port would've been wiped off the map. The city's damaged, yes, but the civilian casualties are surprisingly low."
That fact alone made her uneasy. If they weren't attacking to kill, then their actions carried a far darker purpose.
"Maybe," Anna murmured, brow furrowed, "he's using fear to rule—to cement his place as emperor."
The word hung between them. Emperor.
It wasn't the first time Seong-jun had heard it. Since the Great Cataclysm, the title had reappeared countless times across the world's chaos. Yet, his expression didn't flicker.
"Names and titles hold power," he said quietly. "Real power."
Anna gave a small, bitter laugh. "Exactly. Many have called themselves emperors. But only a few ever wielded the true might that comes with the name. You can fool others—but unless you prove your worth, that power won't answer your call. Conversely, once you prove it, the world itself acknowledges you."
"In other words," Seong-jun concluded, "the creature leading the monsters is proving his worth through fear and domination."
"That's right. He's earning his crown in the language of terror."
Seong-jun let out a slow breath, his gaze hardening. "Then he's just struggling. Gaining a title doesn't change the truth. In the end, it's still meaningless."
Anna's eyes glinted. "All the more reason to end it quickly. If we leave him alone, countless innocents will suffer."
They exchanged a silent nod and turned toward the battlefield, where the remnants of the monster legions still lingered. Their hunt had begun.
Far away, within a realm shrouded in darkness, a storm was gathering.
Erendir—the fallen elf and loyal captain of Allerua's guard—watched in awe and dread as black smoke coiled around his emperor's rising form. Fear, despair, murder, and grief—every negative emotion from countless worlds converged into a single, pulsing sphere of darkness.
It floated above the ground like a miniature sun of shadow.
"What… what is this?" Erendir whispered.
The sphere shuddered once—then shot downward, merging into Allerua's body.
The impact shook the air itself. When the light dimmed, Allerua descended gracefully, his dark hair brushing against the cold wind. At first glance, nothing seemed different. But Erendir could feel it—the suffocating, all-encompassing presence that filled the world.
'His power… it blankets everything.'
There was no energy signature to sense. No aura to track. Only the weight of existence itself, pressing down on every living thing.
Every monster in the legion dropped to one knee, trembling.
"Congratulations!" someone cried. "Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
Allerua didn't answer. He only clenched his fist, his crimson eyes gleaming.
"So this… is the power of an emperor."
It was intoxicating. The world felt clearer, more obedient, as if every element bowed to his will. His senses extended beyond the physical, touching truths that no mortal could perceive.
"I've… transcended," he murmured.
The truth was undeniable. He had ascended beyond the High Elves' limits. A being spoken of only in ancient legends—a Grand Elf.
'Absolute.'
Power surged through his veins, a boundless storm of energy and confidence. He could destroy or create with a thought. Yet celebration was meaningless. His gaze turned cold, fixed on a single name etched deep in his mind.
Lee Seong-jun.
The human emperor. The obstacle to his dominion.
"Eliminate the seeds of resistance," he commanded, voice resonating like thunder. "Legion—begin with Korea. Eradicate all humans on Earth."
The monsters roared as one.
"I obey His Majesty the Emperor!"
At the former ceasefire line, guards of the Hunter Association manned the towering defense walls. It had once been the most dangerous post in the world. Now, it was a coveted position—overtime pay, national pride, and above all, safety.
After all, Korea had become humanity's fortress.
But complacency is the first step toward tragedy.
"What… is that?" a sentry stammered.
In the distance, thin black lines streaked across the sky—too fast to count, too sharp to comprehend. The killing intent they carried was suffocating.
"Request support! Now!" he yelled, slamming the emergency alarm.
The alarm blared. But before the echoes faded, a dark flash swept past—
Crack!
—and his head burst like a balloon, red mist painting the wall.
Above the battlefield, Erendir hovered in the air, his black blade gleaming.
"It is His Majesty's command," he declared coldly. "Korea—kill every human."
The corrupted elves of the legion surged forward, wings of shadow unfurling. They struck like lightning, erasing the watchtowers one after another. The intricate traps laid by the Association crumbled under the force of enchanted arrows.
Erendir's bow thrummed again. "Fall."
The arrow struck the earth—
KWA-KANG!
—and the defensive line collapsed.
He smiled as screams filled the air. "Die in despair. The stronger your fear, the greater our Emperor's power."
He drew again, ready to unleash another volley—
Until a flash of blue energy intercepted it midair.
BOOM!
The explosion rippled across the battlefield. A man clad in azure light soared upward, laughter booming through the sky.
"Hahaha! That's quite a shot! You've got my attention!"
Erendir's expression darkened.
The newcomer raised his blade, energy swirling around him like a storm. "Let's make this interesting. The name's Baek Mu-jin!"
The Hunter Association's defenses reignited, lines of blue mana forming a wall of resistance. Hunters poured in from all directions, their battle cries echoing across the ruined sky.
Erendir watched, a twisted smile forming. "Yes… struggle. Fight with everything you have."
He raised his sword. "And then realize how futile it is."
Baek Mu-jin charged, blue light flaring. Erendir met him mid-air, their weapons clashing in a thunderous explosion of black and blue energy.
KWA-RUNG!
The shockwave tore through the heavens, signaling the beginning of a war between gods and men.