The city was quiet but charged. Jinwoo stood on the edge of a skyscraper, the boy by his side, their shadows stretching across the rooftops. The faint blue glow beneath the child's skin pulsed steadily, and Jinwoo could feel it resonating with the mana in the surrounding city. Something was stirring, subtle but undeniable. The energy of the first S Rank beasts had already begun to ripple outward, and now traces of something stronger were forming in the distance.
Igris knelt behind him, scanning the city with precision. "Master, readings show at least four separate clusters of ES Rank potential appearing in the outskirts. Their energy is faint but growing. Civilians are being evacuated from these zones."
Jinwoo's gaze remained fixed on the horizon. "Good. We watch. Observation comes first. Acting too soon will alert Agnorath to our presence. Timing is everything."
Beru hovered above them, wings folding slightly as he landed on the edge of the building. His eyes reflected the faint glow from the boy, as though he could sense the energy's importance. Even the shadows beneath Jinwoo shivered in recognition of the growing pulse of mana.
---
Meanwhile, hunters coordinated quietly in the city streets. Small groups monitored low-level anomalies while maintaining safe distances from the ES Rank readings. Civilians were kept in temporary shelters, unaware of the brewing storm just beyond their doors. The E, D, and C Rank beasts that had been appearing over the last few days were becoming more organized, almost instinctively moving toward the stronger ES Rank energy fields.
Hyunwoo's voice came through the comm system. "Jinwoo, the patterns are clear. The ES Rank manifestations are linked. The beasts and lower ranks are converging in response to the same signal. The boy is at the center. If the energy continues to grow, larger and more coordinated appearances will follow."
Jinwoo nodded silently. "We are not engaging yet. Keep monitoring, keep civilians safe. Everything is connected, and we cannot afford mistakes. The Second Wave is subtle but deliberate."
---
The boy stirred, sensing the growing energy around him. His eyes glowed brighter, and faint tendrils of mana drifted outward. "Master, I can feel them. They are moving faster now. The ones I felt yesterday… they are stronger today. Something is pushing them forward."
Jinwoo crouched beside him, voice calm but firm. "I know. That is why we remain cautious. Observation before engagement. Understanding before confrontation. Everything has a rhythm, and we must follow it."
Igris nodded. "Master, the largest ES Rank cluster is forming near the industrial sector. It appears to be aware of the boy's presence. It is cautious but intelligent. This may be the first real test of his influence over these beasts."
---
In the industrial sector, a tall, humanoid ES Rank creature materialized from a flickering portal. Its body was wreathed in shadow and faint flames, and its eyes glowed like molten metal. Even at a distance, hunters could feel the oppressive weight of its mana.
System Message: Detected Entity – Shadow Ember, Type ES Rank Beast.
The creature moved slowly, observing its surroundings, testing the response of nearby E and D Rank beasts. Those lower-ranked creatures trembled and shifted positions instinctively, drawn by its commanding presence. It stopped briefly, sensing the boy's energy from afar. Its eyes glowed brighter, and for the first time, it moved with purpose toward the source.
Jinwoo observed from the rooftops, shadows ready at his command. He did not strike. Instead, he watched, learning. "Even at this stage, the link between him and the creatures is undeniable," he murmured. "Agnorath's influence is subtle but precise. Every emergence is orchestrated. We must understand it before reacting."
---
Back at the apartment, Jinwoo contacted his sister. "Jin-ah, remain vigilant. Do not leave the safe zone. The boy's energy is growing, and it will draw attention. We are observing, not attacking. Any unnecessary engagement will alert Agnorath prematurely."
Her voice was calm but worried. "Jinwoo, I feel it. The energy… it is stronger than the anomalies before. Please, be careful."
"I will," Jinwoo replied. "No one moves without my orders. Shadows and I are watching. This is preparation, not battle."
---
As night fell, the faint pulse of mana in the city became more pronounced. Hunters reported minor disturbances across multiple districts, but the ES Rank entities remained mostly passive, testing their surroundings. Small S Rank beasts continued to move in patterns directed by the larger ES Rank energies.
The boy's aura flared slightly as he reacted to each new emergence. "Master, they are listening. Watching. They know I am here."
Jinwoo placed a protective hand on his shoulder. "Exactly. That is why we wait. Every pulse, every movement, is teaching us something. We will strike when the time is right. Not a moment sooner. The true Second Wave is approaching, and we must be ready."
---
Far beyond the city, in a realm of shadows and swirling mana, Agnorath observed. His influence stretched like invisible threads across the world, pulling the beasts and demons into motion. ES Rank thresholds were forming, carefully measured, testing the hunters, testing Jinwoo, and testing the boy's connection to the emerging storm.
Back on Earth, Jinwoo's shadows shifted around him, alive and ready, but he remained patient. The calm had not yet broken. The energy was rising. The subtle warning signs were everywhere. And when the real storm finally arrived, every beast, every demon, every rank would converge in a battle that would reshape the world.
Jinwoo's voice was quiet, resolute, and full of authority. "We wait. We observe. We prepare. Nothing more. The Second Wave has begun, and we will face it on our terms. Every emergence, every surge of mana, every shadow of a beast — it will be ours to control when the time comes."
And as the boy's glow pulsed faintly in the darkness, Jinwoo knew that the true challenge, the one that would test everything he had learned and built, was still waiting beyond the horizon.