The cloudy sky echoed with the sound of clashing steel and roaring explosions. Each strike rippled through the air, scattering flocks of birds from the forest below the mountain.
On the summit, the battle neared its end. Haruto's students lay sprawled across the ground, their school uniforms torn and dirt-streaked. Only Renji and Takumi remained on their knees, breathing hard, eyes sharp but dulled by fatigue.
"I… I… I'm sorry… Renji…" Takumi whispered before collapsing face-first into the dirt.
Renji turned his head weakly, glancing at his partner.
(I don't blame you, Takumi… We never stood a chance against Teach.) His consciousness wavered — fading, then snapping back.
From the smoke and shattered terrain, Haruto stepped out of a massive crater. His expression was calm, unreadable. Around him, the mountaintop was devastated — giant craters, burning fissures, and curling smoke marking every impact from the fight.
Renji's vision blurred as Haruto approached, each step echoing in the silence.
(I can't lose like this… Teacher's been giving us everything to grow stronger. I… No, we can't disappoint him!)
Lying on the ground, Renji clenched his fists. Summoning the last of his strength, he reached out toward Haruto with an open hand.
(I'll put everything I have into this attack!)
Haruto paused mid-step. His golden eyes narrowed as a strange blue aura began to rise from Renji's body, flickering like lightning across his limbs.
"Huh… What's this?" Haruto murmured, stepping closer.
Golden sigils flared briefly before his eyes — Seraphina's presence manifesting in shimmering order. Her voice resonated in his mind like layered chimes.
> [Notice: Renji is undergoing evolution — from Awakened Human to High Human.]
"Why so sudden?" Haruto asked quietly.
> [The stress of battle, combined with his overwhelming desire to grow stronger, has triggered a breakthrough.]
Haruto exhaled slowly, calm but thoughtful. "I see… Then why did I have to die to evolve?"
> [Master, your evolution into the Spider Emperor surpassed the limits of humanity entirely. It required complete reconstruction — the rebirth of your soul and form to accommodate your new nature.]
"…Oh," Haruto said softly, his gaze returning to Renji. "Then this is his first step."
Suddenly, blue lightning surged across the battlefield. The air twisted — space itself bending — until a black hole bloomed in front of Renji, crackling with unstable gravity. Loose boulders and debris lifted, spiraling toward the singularity as it expanded.
Renji's arms dropped, his strength finally giving out, but the black hole continued its pull. Unconscious bodies nearby slid helplessly toward it.
Haruto's expression remained calm, though his tone was quietly serious. "That's dangerous."
He inhaled once — deeply. Then exhaled.
The air rippled. With a single controlled breath, the black hole shattered apart, collapsing into nothingness as if reality itself obeyed his command.
The mountain fell silent once again.
Haruto raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Instantly, the devastated terrain healed — craters filled, smoke vanished, and the students' uniforms restored. The world rewound to calm, as if the battle had never happened.
Haruto surveyed his unconscious students and smiled faintly.
"Seems they're ready," he said quietly.
He turned toward the cliff's edge. Below, in the distance, the faint glimmer of his city stretched beneath the clouds — waiting.
---
The night sky shimmered above Haruto's capital. The giant gray moonlight streamed through the window of his dark office. Haruto sat in his chair, back to the window, elbows resting on armrests, hands supporting his chin.
(What a mess… spies are trying to infiltrate my nation, but Vhalzareth and Liora are keeping them in check.)
"How do I solve this?" he murmured to himself.
Haruto closed his eyes, letting his mind search for a solution.
(Killing them is useless… it won't stop them from coming back. Instead, I must prevent them from gaining information or Authority within my nation.)
He sighed deeply.
(If that's the case, I should create more Serivans — place them in the highest positions: police, hospitals… everywhere that matters.)
Suddenly, his expression darkened, and he covered his face with his hands.
"It happened again… I adapt to any situation… I've already adapted to Velmaria's pregnancy," he whispered.
(I hate this… but it's what's allowed me to come this far. If it keeps happening, I'll become colder than I already am.)
Even so, he straightened and drew a deep breath. (At least I'm not in my original world anymore… I should take advantage of this.) Haruto walked to the window, stopping to gaze at the night sky.
"I'm sorry… Mother. I couldn't live up to your expectations, but… I won't break the promise I swore," he murmured.
"You're changing," said another Haruto, appearing behind him.
"I know," Haruto replied without turning.
"Hmm… don't lose yourself again," the other Haruto said.
Haruto turned slightly to face him.
"Huh… is that… worry?" he asked.
"I guess so. All I want is for you not to leave me… or erase me," the other Haruto said, lowering himself onto the desk.
(Even if we are both cold-hearted, we care. We love Ronóva… and our dear sisters.) His lower body began dissolving into black mist.
The other Haruto extended his hand. Haruto accepted it without hesitation.
"That's very true," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Your adventure is just beginning… and it will be rough," the other Haruto warned, disappearing fully.
"Yes… I wonder what mysteries this world will show me," Haruto whispered, lowering his hands.
---
The colossal tower rose endlessly into the storm-darkened sky, its blackened spires clawing toward a blood-red vortex swirling above. The air thrummed with oppressive energy — thick, cold, heavy with despair. Chunks of the tower floated and crumbled away, defying gravity.
At its base, twisted iron gates and shattered walls were covered in vein-like tendrils pulsing with faint crimson light. Ancient runes glowed weakly along cracked stone, whispering remnants of forgotten incantations.
Eira's eyes widened, shock etched across her face.
"W… what is this place?" she whispered, voice trembling.
Selena glanced at her, tilting her head slightly.
"It's the Crave of Heroes," she said calmly, tone steady despite the oppressive atmosphere.
"The Crave of Heroes? Like… dead bodies lying here?" Elion asked, shifting uneasily, hand brushing the hilt of his dagger.
"No," Alistair replied, stepping forward, eyes scanning the swirling portal.
"The Crave of Heroes is where all weapons wait — for their chosen wielders, and for those lost to time."
The three moved toward the tower entrance. The black portal seemed to pull at them, gusts of wind whipping their hair and clothes as if the tower itself were alive.
"So… it's free weapons for everyone?" Elion asked, squinting against the wind, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
Alistair shook his head slightly, faint smile on his lips.
"Yes… and no. The tower has infinite floors — each a separate dimension. Every tenth floor houses a boss monster. Defeat it, and you receive a weapon suited to you. To get something truly powerful, you must climb higher. There are also… ways to bypass the tower's path."
Eira's brows furrowed, a suppressed feeling tugging at her chest.
"Skip the tower's trial?" she asked quietly, hands clenching.
"Yes," Alistair said softly, eyes narrowing.
"Only a divine-tier weapon can choose someone personally. That's when the tower's rules don't apply."
The three paused, stunned.
They stepped through the black portal. Alistair went first, followed by Eira and Elion. As Selena's feet passed halfway, she vanished — teleported instantly.
On the other side lay a vast, windswept plateau overlooking the sea. Three colossal swords jutted from stone like ancient monuments. A beam of light descended onto the ground between them, illuminating the battlefield.
Alistair's blue eyes scanned the area, tension tightening his jaw.
"Impossible…" he muttered.
"Where's Selena?" Eira asked, panic flickering in her voice, gripping her staff tightly.
"Didn't she come through with us?" Elion asked, shoulders tense.
"No… I'm guessing she was chosen," Alistair replied, still focused on the beam of light.
Elion's jaw dropped, a low whistle escaping him.
"Wha… she's so lucky!" His tone carried playful jealousy, knuckles white around his weapon's hilt.
"She is," Alistair said calmly, "but we shouldn't focus on her." He gestured toward the plateau, signaling caution.
Huh? Eira frowned, hands on her hips, shifting uneasily.
"What do you mean, Master?"
Before Alistair could answer, Elion tensed, pointing down the hill.
"Guys… something's coming toward us," he warned, voice trembling slightly.
Eira's gaze followed, eyes widening in horror.
A towering skeletal beast thundered up the hill, jagged crimson-tipped spines protruding from exposed bone plating. Its glowing red eyes and massive claws could rend mountains — a Morvak.
Beside it, a shadow-drenched figure moved with equal speed. Elongated claws, jagged teeth, a sinewy body wrapped in darkness — its eyes glimmered faintly with malice. A Cravemind.
Alistair's crystal-blue eyes narrowed. He clenched his fists, stance firm against the wind.
"Who would've thought we'd encounter a Cravemind and a Morvak, each capable of destroying a country… on the very first floor?"
Elion let out a nervous chuckle, shifting defensively.
"If that's the case, it won't be a problem. It's like stepping on ants," he said, trying to mask his tension as the wind tugged at his hair and cloak.
"Yes," Eira said softly, gripping her staff tighter, though doubt flickered in her voice.
The vast hall shimmered between light and shadow. Mist coiled around two colossal spectral figures — one radiant, one dark — their spears crossed midair, tension humming between them.
Selene froze, stepping back until her heel scraped against stone. Her breath caught as the dark figure's voice rolled through the chamber, deep and divine.
"You have been chosen by Excalithoth, the Hero's Twilight — one of the ten divine-tier weapons in existence. If you wish to wield it… prove your worth."
Her heart skipped. "Huh…?" The word barely left her lips.
The air split with a metallic crack. The dark figure's spear halted inches from her face, its tip gleaming with killing light. Selene's pupils widened — shock, fear, disbelief — all at once.
Then, silence.
Both figures dropped to one knee, spears lowered, heads bowed. Between them, a soft glow bloomed — and from that light, a girl stepped forward.
She couldn't have looked more out of place in such a divine hall — emerald-green hair cascading in soft waves, golden eyes glowing faintly beneath shy lashes. Clutched tightly against her chest was a large plush shark, almost hiding half her face.
"Um… c-could you maybe let her skip this?" she asked timidly, her voice trembling as her fingers twisted the edge of her white silk robe.
The two figures bowed lower.
"As you wish… your majesty."
A flash — and the girl vanished.
Selene gasped as she reappeared before her, so close their hair almost brushed.
"Who are you?" Selene asked quietly, confusion flickering in her eyes.
"I… don't have a name anymore," the girl murmured, lowering her gaze. "I had one once, but when my master's existence was erased… so was everything about him. Even my name."
Her grip on the plush tightened. "You can call me… Twilight."
Selene blinked, disbelief softening into faint understanding. "Twilight, huh…"
Twilight hugged her shark a little tighter, voice trembling. "I want to make a deal with you."
Selene tilted her head, guarded but curious. "A deal?"
"Yes… I need your help to find my master," Twilight whispered. "Until then… I'll lend you my power."
Selene's brow furrowed. "Find your master?"
Twilight nodded, her voice almost breaking. "It's been… twenty thousand years since he disappeared." She pressed her face into the plush, a small, lonely tremor in her breath.
Selene's eyes softened. (She's waited twenty thousand years…)
She straightened, resolve returning to her voice. "Alright. I accept."
Twilight's lips trembled into a faint smile. "Th-thank you…" she whispered, her cheeks tinged pink as she placed her hands gently against Selene's chest.
A sudden warmth bloomed. Selene looked down—
An elegant sword was forming through her body. Its silver blade gleamed with red accents, floral engravings winding across the hilt like vines. A tassel swayed gently, light catching on its metal ornaments.
The spectral figures behind them burst apart — one into white sand, the other into black mist — both streams twisting together, drawn into the sword. The air pulsed with power as their essence merged into the weapon.
A blue beam of light descended from above, engulfing Selene completely.
When she opened her eyes again—
The mist, the hall, the figures — all gone.
She was standing on the first floor of the tower where her teammates were '
.