The ground cracked beneath Karl's boots as he took a lazy step forward.
Smoke curled from the broken gate behind him. Monster corpses sizzled in the aftermath. The scent of blood, ozone, and burnt flesh hung in the air.
Karl tilted his head at Garos, Eron, and Athena—unbothered.
"Three SSS-rankers?" he muttered, voice light. "Nice. This might actually be fun."
His aura expanded. Thick. Crushing. Like gravity gone wrong.
Lucy stepped back again, eyes flicking between Karl and the others. Even she could feel it now. This wasn't normal power. It wasn't something a human body was built to carry.
Garos's armor clicked as he stepped forward, drawing his massive sword from behind his back. His eyes were calm but alert.
"You're not leaving," Garos said.
Karl grinned. "Wasn't planning to."
The earth trembled.
Then they moved.
BOOOM!!!
