The dawn after Whisper City’s fall was ghostly quiet. The light that bled across the sky was pale and fragile, casting long shadows over the ruins that used to be filled with life.William stood on the highest broken tower left standing. From there, he could see the desolation he had created — streets torn apart, buildings reduced to ash, and the faint traces of the ancient fog retreating toward the mountains.He had won the battle.But deep down, he knew the war had only just begun.Behind him, Mira leaned against a cracked wall, still wiping blood off her blade. Her usually calm eyes were troubled.“You felt it too, didn’t you?” she asked quietly.William didn’t look back. “Yeah. The energy didn’t fade completely. Something’s still down there.”Tarek, sitting on the rubble with his axe resting on his shoulder, snorted. “If you say ‘down there,’ it means we’re going underground again, doesn’t it?”Luna, who was healing h

The sun dipped behind the ruined skyline of Aerth, casting a crimson glow across the battlefield. The distant sound of horns echoed like a call to arms, while smoke rolled from the direction of the northern outpost — the same place William and his group had set up camp two nights ago. The moment the first explosion erupted, William’s senses sharpened. His system’s interface flashed briefly in his mind, but he ignored it, already sprinting through the streets. Behind him, the clatter of armored boots followed — Kale, the warrior with crimson tattoos glowing faintly under the twilight, and Serah, the white-haired mage whose staff was already pulsating with light. “William!” Serah shouted, catching up. “The outpost is burning! The scouts say the demons came from underground — they tunneled through!” William didn’t answer. His eyes narrowed as they reached the northern ridge. From afar, the camp had turned into a warzone — flames, screams, and broken bodies scattered everywhere. The

The morning sun filtered through the hotel curtains, laying a warm glow across the room. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, William lay still. No roars, no smoke, no blood. Only silence.He turned his head slowly, staring at the white ceiling. The memories of Aerth still flashed behind his eyes—the screams, the fire, the endless fog. The faces of Kale, Serah, and the others who had fought beside him still lingered in his thoughts. He took a deep breath and sat up, running a hand through his hair.“Another world saved,” he muttered softly, his voice steady but tired. “Another set of people gone.”The sound of city life outside reminded him he was back in his own world—horns honking, people laughing, the faint music from a nearby café. Normalcy. Something he hadn’t felt in weeks.He stood and walked to the window, pulling the curtain aside. The streets below were bustling with life. People walked freely, unaware of the battles he had fought to keep such peace possible.Wi

The impact of their clash tore through the heavens.A shockwave blasted outward, flattening entire streets and sending flaming debris raining across the ruined city. For a moment, even sound seemed to vanish—then came the roar.A thunderous, world-splitting roar.William was hurled backward, his body slamming through the side of a fallen tower. He rolled across the broken ground, coughing out blood. His hands trembled as he steadied his sword, eyes locked on the massive silhouette that now stood before him.The Lord of the Rift had fully emerged.The creature’s body was made of pure shadow and fire, yet its outline held shape—a humanoid form easily over a hundred meters tall. Black chains hung from its limbs, burning and clattering with every movement. The ground beneath it melted into a red, glowing pit, like the earth itself was terrified to hold its weight.“...So, you’re the one pulling their strings,” William muttered, dragging h

The sun bled across the sky like a wounded beast, painting Aerth in shades of red and gold. The land was quiet—too quiet. The usual hum of distant creatures and echoing winds was gone, replaced by a stillness that made even the bravest hesitate.William stood at the edge of a crimson valley, his cloak fluttering in the breeze. Behind him stood his allies—Alyndra, Lio, and Gareth—each weary from the endless battles that had followed since the fall of the Stonefang Tribe.Before them loomed a monstrous structure—the Crimson Fortress, said to be built from the bones of fallen gods and painted with the blood of their worshippers. Dark energy seeped from its towers like mist, twisting the sky above into a storm of black and scarlet.Alyndra’s voice broke the silence. “That’s where the demon lord hides.”Her tone carried both fear and determination.William nodded slowly, his gaze locked on the massive iron gates ahead. “Then that’s where we en