After finishing the second wave, the dimensional rifts began closing with crystalline chimes that echoed across the battlefield.
Ethan stood among the scattered remains of hundreds of territorial challenge entities, his Platinum-rank capabilities having turned what should have been desperate defense into systematic elimination. His subjects had performed admirably, but the bulk of enemy forces had fallen to individual transcendence rather than organized resistance.
The silence that followed carried weight beyond simple combat completion. Reality itself seemed to pause as invisible forces assessed their defensive performance against predetermined criteria.
Then the messages began.
[TERRITORIAL DEFENSE COMPLETED]
[FIRST SANCTUARY DEFENSE RECORD BROKEN]
[Previous Record: 20 minutes, 45 seconds]
[New Record: 2 minutes, 4 seconds]
[Record Holder: Lord Ethan Brandon]
