"...!"
A single silver star, solitary beneath the night sky, had erased the presence of all other moons and stars.
Known as the 'Silver Clock', that star radiated a fierce aura as if to deny the very existence of all else around it.
Annihilation.
An intense force that seemed to embody even a wicked desire to exterminate everything in the world.
'What the hell is going on?'
Isaac hurriedly looked around.
What met his eyes, despite the darkness of the night, was the familiar scenery of Evergard where he normally lived—his mansion, the garden, the road visible past the gate, the merchant tents stretched along the streets.
Though it was so late at night that not a single soul could be seen, it was unmistakably Evergard.
'I wasn't dragged into the Abyss Realm.'
He briefly wondered if the recent appearance of Manwoo had been a trap, bait to lure him in. But recalling Manwoo's death, that didn't seem to be the case.
If Manwoo had merely been bait, he wouldn't have died as a swordsman; he would've fought to the bitter end as a Transcendent.
Which meant the answer was clear.
"The Silver Clock… did it come to our side?"
Could that even be possible?
No—if that had been possible, the Transcendents would've done it long ago.
After all, it was the Silver Clock that had transformed their land into what is now known as the Abyss Realm.
So perhaps they used a different method.
'Stars… There are no other stars or moons.'
The constellations and the crescent moon were nowhere to be seen in the sky.
It wasn't the sky of the human world—it was the sky of the Abyss Realm.
'They've transferred their sky here?'
Permanence would be impossible.
It would have to be temporary, and even then, only in a limited area.
'At most, maybe all of Evergard. Or perhaps… not even the whole of it.'
One question remained.
Why?
In most rituals, there's the matter of efficiency.
From Isaac's perspective, this ritual was horrendously inefficient.
It consumed tremendous power, but the immediate damage it caused was not that great.
It couldn't even be maintained for long. It was nothing more than a preview.
Just because the Silver Clock appeared didn't mean Evergard would be destroyed on the spot.
The Abyss Realm hadn't fallen in an instant either—it had slowly withered away, dried up by the Silver Clock.
So only one conclusion made sense.
Symbolism.
Those who had come here were ready for the end—this had to be a symbolic gesture of some kind.
'They want the Silver Clock to witness this.'
In that brief moment, Isaac understood why this was happening.
From the darkness, he sensed movement.
They moved swiftly and silently in the shadows.
With only a single silver star illuminating the entirety of Evergard, there were plenty of places for them to hide.
The Transcendents.
They began a sudden assault, hiding in the shadows untouched by the silver starlight.
And naturally—
They surrounded the Barony of Logan.
Transcendents of various appearances encircled the mansion, while Isaac calmly steadied his breath.
'Ink-Blood Sword' and 'Baekseol'—the two swords at his waist.
That alone was enough to dispel his fear.
And he wasn't alone, either.
Boom!
With a loud crash, the mansion doors burst open—out stepped Silverna.
"Hoo, the air's seriously foul."
With the rise of the Silver Clock, the atmosphere of Evergard had become the same as the Abyss Realm's.
Naturally, that woke everyone in the mansion.
Next came Sharen and the Grandmaster.
"Ugh, why does it always have to be now?! I was about to fall asleep!"
"Whew, I thought my neck would stretch out from waiting."
Sharen had just lain down to sleep, while the Grandmaster rotated her stiff shoulders.
And finally—
"Hoo."
Liana appeared, walking forward with a greatsword strapped to her back.
The Transcendents flinched at the sight of those emerging from the mansion.
They had expected the Grandmaster, perhaps—but never imagined powerhouses like Silverna and Liana would also be staying at Isaac's home.
"Hah."
A man let out a mocking chuckle as he strode into the garden.
Even among the other Transcendents—towering beings larger than any human—he stood out with his enormous size.
The muscles beneath his black robes rippled as if alive, and the great blade slung over his shoulder was both longer and thicker than any standard weapon.
A horn once protruding from his forehead had been cleanly severed. His gaze was locked solely on the Grandmaster.
"I thought only Number Ten would be here, but the big fish are coming out one after another."
The Master of Crimson Valley.
He was Mugan—also known as the Grandmaster and Mu-myeong's teacher.
"Your master has come today… to receive your answer."
"I was under the impression you didn't care for verbal sparring."
"Aah, but this isn't a discussion. It's simply to confirm the answer."
Crack.
Mugan cracked his knuckles, as though he might charge in at any moment.
"Number 10, the day you happened to sever my horn and left, I became certain."
"..."
"You, who saw potential in humans and left, were surely filled with expectations—only to be disappointed."
"..."
"And soon, to fall into despair."
Isaac glanced at Mugan's condition as he listened to the conversation.
Something was off.
Veins bulged on Mugan's forehead, where his broken horn used to be. He looked as if he were on the verge of exploding with rage, barely able to contain it.
It was as If he was enduring this conversation with sheer, forceful patience. The very air and earth around him seemed to tremble.
'Why is he so angry?'
This was the moment they had planned for—the start of their assault. And yet, what had provoked him this much?
Not knowing the reason or his intentions, that inexplicable rage only made Isaac more uneasy.
And of course, he wasn't the only one who noticed.
"But you don't look fit for even a proper conversation, let alone a debate. Even if you're excited for war, acting like a dog with its tail on fire is quite disgraceful for someone claiming to be a master's disciple."
With the Grandmaster's mocking tone, the ground beneath Mugan cracked as if it had caved in.
The tension in his body was so intense that even his hair seemed to float. Killing intent poured out of him like a tangible force.
"Hmmm."
Even the Grandmaster, who had provoked him, found Mugan's state strange. Mugan had always been one to harbor deep hatred toward humans—but now, there seemed to be more to it.
'Could it be that he's strengthened himself through some kind of sorcery?'
But there were no obvious physical changes to support that. He simply looked like someone overwhelmed by his own emotions. Like when Liana had once succumbed to her bloodline's berserker transformation…
"Emotion?"
Isaac murmured without realizing. As he stared at Mugan, Mugan gave a twisted smile. But even that grin radiated pure rage.
"Sharp one, aren't you?"
Thud!
Mugan stepped forward and drew his massive greatsword.
"Yes, emotion. That's the price we paid for this war. That bastard Helik demanded sacrifices from us."
"Then…"
"Rage. This body holds nothing now but rage."
And its target was clear.
Vwoom!
"It refuses to cool. Everything else inside me is being consumed—leaving only fury behind."
The wind from his swinging greatsword was searing hot, as though infused with that very rage—it was suffocating just to stand near it.
"How delightful."
Unlike the Sword Demons, this fight didn't begin with a graceful Iaido. But the pressure was overwhelming nonetheless.
'If the Sword Demons fought like swordsmen, then this guy… he's a monster.'
A battle with a Transcendent.
Mugan kicked off the ground and flew forward head-on.
KRAAAANG!
The Grandmaster's own greatsword was drawn in an instant.
The Primordial Transcendent—her own master—Mugan.
Facing him, the Grandmaster clenched her teeth.
"You've always been that way. Spouting nothing but hate and rage… and wanting us to become like you."
"It was righteous fury."
"I won't argue its validity."
The Grandmaster was overpowered and thrown back. She landed deftly, using her tail for balance, and glared at her former master with icy eyes.
"But if that rage of yours dares to spill over onto my precious child… I'll simply block the path."
She gave Isaac a quick glance—a signal to get moving, not to stay trapped here.
The battle had begun in earnest.
And if Mugan, one of the Primordial Transcendents, was here alone… that must mean other places had already been attacked.
For example—
'The royal palace.'
Mugan's presence felt almost spectral. His greatsword swung endlessly. While being pushed back, the Grandmaster still observed the situation coolly.
Should she go?
Could she really face this man alone?
As she struggled with that question—
"Crimson Flame Wave!"
A crimson blast erupted from Sharen's arm, breaking Mugan's rhythm and creating an opening.
The Grandmaster didn't miss the chance. Her blade sliced across Mugan's chest, leaving a long gash—
"Guh!"
—but he didn't even flinch. Eyes gleaming, he glared at the two women.
"I-I'll help! So Isaac, go!"
At Sharen's shout, Isaac nodded. He believed in her—she had grown strong.
And with that faith, he stepped forward.
"Stop him!"
"End him here!"
"Kill him!"
The Transcendents who had surrounded the mansion charged in.
But before they could reach Isaac, two figures closed in beside him—
Liana and Silverna.
One on each side, they cut through the enemy, clearing a path for Isaac to move forward.