AT THE SAME TIME OUTSIDE THE GUILD AT NIGHTHUANThe air felt wrong, not dangerous, not hostile, just waiting. We had just stepped out, the tavern noise still behind us. Charlie still talking."I am just saying, if I get promoted again, I want a cooler title, something like 'Chaos King' "Charlie continued."Denied." Serena said instantly."I didn't even finish."Charlie said."Still denied."Serena said."Unfair."Charlie said.Then everything stopped, not the world, not the others. Me."Condition met." The system pulsed. "Level threshold exceeded."I didn't move, because I already knew. This wasn't a normal update."Evolution Phase initiated."The system said."Oh no." Charlie said immediately."What." Garrick asked."He's doing the thing again."Charlie said."What thing?" Dorin asked.The pressure dropped. No it collapsed. The air around us bent, like something invisible had weight."Leader?" Dorin stepped forward."Do not interfere." I said.Too late, it started. Pain sharp, controlled

AT THE SAME TIME, GUILD TAVERN AT NIGHTHUANThe air hadn't settled, not after the system, not after her.Not after everything. Then the doors opened."Oh no."Charlie turned first."Everyone ready."Serena didn't need to look.Dorin stepped forward, Shield instinctively shifting, Kieran's eyes narrowed."Three."He said."...Yeah… those are not normal people."Garrick exhaled.Henry said nothing, but he moved slightly closer to me. I didn't turn immediately, because I already knew."Royal presence confirmed."The system pulsed once.Of course. I looked and standing at the entrance was King Xavier Bloodstone, behind him Luan Bloodstone and Juan Bloodstone. No guards, no army, just them, which made it worse. The tavern fell silent. Because even those who didn't understand felt it. Rosalie froze beside me."You came." She said quietly.The king didn't answer her. His gaze was on me, only me.He stepped forward, once, twice, no hesitation, no command."Huan."He said.My name.The room held it