BOOOOMMM!!
An explosion rocked the side of the building with brutal force. Streaks of purple and red cut through the night sky of Makazhar, casting distorted reflections of the battle atop the tower across the windows of neighboring skyscrapers.
A massive, black, gorilla-like creature clad in armored plates roared, both its arms surging with dark energy, smashing and tearing apart everything around it.
The creature growled, eyes locked onto a single point—a hooded young man wearing a black mask, his gaze sharp as a crescent moon.
Al.
He stood at the edge of the rooftop, one foot placed on the ledge, his long cloak flapping in the wind like a war banner.
"This creature can affect the real world…" he murmured.
"Interesting."
The creature raised its massive right arm and swung it down like a giant hammer toward him.
Al vanished.
In a split second, he had already moved to the creature's side, leaving only a black afterimage where he once stood.
His hands danced swiftly, drawing symbols in the air. A series of glowing red runes spiraled around the monster.
"Bind."
A burst of light exploded into chains that wrapped around the beast, freezing it in place—temporarily.
But the creature let out a deafening roar. Dark pulses rippled from its body—one surge of negative energy shattered Al's rune trap in an instant.
It launched a frenzied counterattack, swinging its colossal arms wildly, smashing parts of the rooftop and destroying public facilities in the process.
Al leaped back and landed lightly on the rooftop's steel railing.
"Your destructive force increased… but those huge arms make you slower," he said flatly.
Then, he raised his hand—still showing faint blackish stains left from the technique he had used on Yolanda.
A black-and-red blade formed from thin air—not quite a sword, not quite a spear, something in-between—alive and pulsing like an organic creature.
"It ends here."
With a single swing—no dramatic motion, no flashy effects—the monster was cleaved from chest to belly. Its body was split in two and collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
Al simply watched, breathing steady.
"I didn't expect resonant beasts to appear this frequently these days," Al murmured casually, as if it was nothing more than a passing thought.
He raised one hand, issuing a silent command—his tone relaxed, yet his eyes carried a subtle sharpness that betrayed his awareness of the situation.
"Clean this mess up," he ordered firmly.
Two men in black uniforms stepped forward.
"Yes, Master."
---
The night wind blew softly, brushing loose strands of Al's hair that peeked out from behind his mask.
He sat silently on the rooftop's edge—a high-rise building in the heart of Makazhar—allowing the chill of the night to sweep over his body, still marked by battle.
His fingers gently wiped dried red stains from his mask. Not human blood—something thicker, metallic in scent, and unfamiliar.
Behind him, the corpse of the massive creature lay frozen. Its enormous body sprawled, bones like twisted steel shattered by raw force.
The rooftop showed clear signs of destruction, but the damage slowly began to fade—thanks to the restoration magic performed by the two men behind him. A faint glow shimmered across the surface as repair spells worked their magic.
Al took a deep breath and looked up at the Makazhar sky. Tonight, it was clear—no stars, only a crescent moon dimly reflected in the city's mirrored windows.
"That energy…" he whispered, barely audible.
"Yolanda… David... why are you meddling with that power?"
Memories of the earlier battle flashed through his mind.
Yolanda, wielding strange powers. A massive energy surge—wild and dangerous.
A black wave had burst from her hands, swirling with chaotic currents—powerful enough to corrode a magic barrier.
It wasn't ordinary energy. It was…
Helos.
A type of energy native to the Djinn race. An energy inherently negative and harmful to humans. One born from sin and suffering.
Al narrowed his eyes. The silence of the night didn't ease the storm in his mind.
Yep… this is the world I live in.
This planet was called Blue Star—a world with two dimensions: the visible... and the hidden. And between them... a system of energies that shaped the fate of everything.
He raised a finger and traced a small pattern in the air. A glowing rune flickered briefly, then vanished.
This world wasn't just built on logic and the laws of physics...
But upon divine energy, gifting magical power to its creatures.
Humans in the visible dimension possessed three primary energies—Entra, Vita, and Arma—along with secondary types that could either aid their growth... or lead to their destruction.
In the distance, a patrol siren wailed—a normal sound for civilians. But for someone like Al, it was just meaningless background noise.
And for the Djinn, who lived in the hidden dimension known as Azzaleth, they were given an energy called Helos—the negative mirror of human energy. Power that humans were never meant to use.
Al leaned back, relaxing beneath the night sky.
A new chapter... had begun.
Footsteps echoed softly behind him, followed by a calm yet firm voice.
"Master, the area is secured," reported one of the uniformed men, his face hidden behind a half-mask.
The rooftop had returned to normal. The strange creature was gone. The restoration magic had done its job—no trace of the battle remained.
Al slowly stood up.
The two men in uniform followed, standing in their usual disciplined formation.
"What do you think about what happened earlier?" Al asked.
The taller one, Sebastian, was the first to respond.
"For now, we can't give any definitive answer, Master. We're still in the middle of investigation. But that energy's appearance—something that usually belongs only to shamans or people like us—is truly baffling."
The shorter yet more muscular one, Michaelis, added,
"Almost everything was unexpected. How those elite kids actually fought using magical energy at that level… and the emergence of that Helos Energy—which seems to have been extracted through some unknown method—was completely shocking, Master."
Al nodded.
"I suppose competitions are the peak ground for elites to express their power more freely. So, whatever the competition is, they'll use it. Whether it's to gain fame, gamble, or simply show off their ability." he said.
Both of them nodded at his words, and Al continued,
"It'd be different if they'd experienced real street battles—or even something further, like us—fights where danger is real. If they had, they'd probably see these competitions as nothing but child's play."
"You're right, Master," said Michaelis.
"And about that Helos energy…" Al added,
"It's quite shocking that it could be spread among normal humans. For now, I assume whatever method they used to channel it is still experimental. The energy isn't stable yet. The only thing that doesn't make sense is how it doesn't corrupt the user's soul."
Sebastian nodded.
"It does seem that way, Master. So far, our investigation only found that the girl obtained it after consuming a pill. But even with just that much, the amount of energy she gained was absurdly high. We still don't know how they extracted it—or who did. We'll dig deeper."
Al nodded again, stretching his arms slightly.
"I see. Then, I guess I need to check on that liar. He's the only suspect left now," he said.
"As for you two, take a rest. You must still be drained after setting up those barriers at the school."
Michaelis glanced at Sebastian for a moment before grinning at Al.
"Hehehe, you're right, Master. Creating a barrier that could hold the entire hall from above while blocking the Helos energy from below… that was exhausting."
Sebastian also nodded.
"I feel the same. Even though my illusion barrier only covered the battle arena, the backlash when it got hit by Helos was intense," he said.
Al nodded once more, glancing down at his hand with the dark stains.
They're right. Just from absorbing the leftover Helos energy from Yolanda, my hand still hasn't recovered from the side effects. If I had absorbed it all, it might've melted entirely, he thought.
"Even you're complaining tonight, Sebastian. Heh. Alright then, that's enough for tonight," Al muttered as he pulled up his hoodie.
And with that, he decided to end the night's activities.
"Dismissed."
In an instant, the three of them vanished into the shadows of Makazhar, merging with a city that had yet to awaken.
---
It was 4:03 AM when Al silently slipped through the back corridors of the Virellano estate.
His body glided like a whisper of wind. No security sensor reacted, no surveillance camera recorded his presence.
His figure blended into the shadows, merging with the darkness so completely that even the estate's state-of-the-art security system failed to register him.
The area was dimly lit, illuminated only by faint garden lamps outside. Their weak glow stretched long shadows across the ground, painting the hall in shifting patterns of dark and light.
Each of Al's steps landed without a sound, but inside his chest his heartbeat drummed steadily, its rhythm standing in stark contrast against the still silence surrounding him.
He was heading toward a room he rarely cared about—David's room.
Tonight, he intended to uncover something more: clues about David's connection to the ominous Helos energy, hints of what kind of power the boy was hiding, perhaps even evidence of what he had been absorbing from the members of the Virellano family.
If possible, Al wanted to see for himself exactly what David had absorbed from the family members… or at the very least, find something of use.
The moment he reached the vicinity of David's quarters, an unsettling aura brushed against his senses. Even for someone of Al's level—a grandmaster level entity—the atmosphere was enough to raise goosebumps along his arms. The air felt colder, heavier, as though the very walls were holding their breath.
Strange. I've been staying in this house for a month now. I've felt something off about this area for quite a while, but this is the first time I'm actually taking the time to check it out. Guess I underestimated David... hmph, he muttered inwardly.
Alright then, let's start from here first.
He stopped in the shadows, deciding to observe from a distance first. His eyes narrowed, and with a flicker of focus, he activated his magical detection.
At once, layers of barriers shimmered faintly before his eyes. And beyond them, hidden in the darkness, were many figures cloaked in shadow magic.
Al counted at least twenty. He couldn't tell if they were guarding David or keeping him under surveillance, but their magical levels were not ordinary.
Most of them were at the Adept Level, several had reached the Practitioner Level, and two stood out as Expert level—one in the early stage, the other already in mid-stage.
Al's shoulders tensed involuntarily. His hand curled slightly into a fist, his body instinctively preparing to face an unseen threat. His face, however, remained expressionless. Only his eyes betrayed the tension he forced down.
I never expected a force this strong, one that managed to slip past my detection, to be stationed here. If there are expert levels posted outside, then what exactly lies within? he thought.
He was stunned, curiosity surging in his chest. With a flash, he activated his Dimensional Eye, hoping to pierce through the veil and uncover the identity of these hidden individuals—especially the strongest among them.
But just like the phenomenon surrounding David, his vision was blocked. Something—some invisible barrier—interfered with his ability, as though deliberately preventing him from seeing.
Al's brows furrowed. His lips pressed into a thin line. A flicker of frustration welled within him, but it was quickly replaced by a spark of intrigue.
Interesting, he thought, suppressing a smirk.
Clearly, I could sense the presence of the Adept levels from the moment I arrived here, but not the Expert levels or those above them. If the problem isn't with my detection ability, then that's it. That must be the reason I only managed to perceive them now, after my level advanced.
Shaking his head, he refocused on his true goal—David's room.
Because of the strict surveillance—and not wanting to cause a commotion—Al chose to use a stealth technique that suppressed his energy signature.
Rather than relying on his Elemental Shadow Skill, which would easily be detected by someone at the Expert level.
In the blink of an eye, he had already reached the balcony outside David's room. Here, however, he was forced to move with extreme caution. Any excessive magical fluctuation could trigger the barriers.
He weighed his options carefully. Countless possibilities ran through his mind—unexpected alarms, a sudden escalation in security, or even a draining battle that could stretch into the dawn.
At this hour, with the clock already slipping past four in the morning and exhaustion weighing heavily on him, Al chose the simplest approach: to sneak in patiently, searching for the smallest gap in their defenses.
The cool dawn wind brushed against his face, carrying the scent of dew mixed with faint dust. The silence amplified his heartbeat, making it echo faintly in his own ears.
As he crept closer, he felt the oppressive barrier field around the room. Even with his high-level stealth, it threatened to expose him.
Irony tugged at him.
At first, I thought all these shadow creatures were family watchers. But it seems… they only station themselves near David. Or rather—were they David's subordinates? His personal property, maybe? That's why, of all places, David's room is the most heavily protected one in the entire estate, he thought.
And sure enough, upon a closer look, not a single one of them was near any other family member. Not even Father or Mother. Their chambers only have basic protective magic wards—which were installed by... who knows?
Al exhaled quietly and extended a finger, brushing it against one of the barrier layers. A thin film of his own energy coated his fingertip as he examined it.
"Strong… but sloppy. Too many flaws," he muttered under his breath. "Whoever set this up has power, but lacks refinement."
His eyes narrowed, the corner of his lips curving slightly—almost like a mocking smile. Then he found them. The weak points hidden within those layers of barriers.
Got you! These flaws are big enough for two people to pass through at once. Seems like the person who made it focused more on quantity than quality, he murmured in his mind.
He walked forward, slipping through with ease.
As expected, he bypassed the detection and reached the nearest restricted area, searching for an entry gap.
Now… just how do I get into this room? he thought.
And after a few careful steps, he spotted what he had been searching for—a narrow gap where the window wasn't fully shut.
He leaned in, peering through the opening.
His pupils dilated instantly.
What he saw inside froze him on the spot.
David—seventeen years old, the exchanged son—was asleep, his arm wrapped around the body of a young woman lying beside him.
Her long hair spilled across the pillow, her slender figure half-hidden beneath a thick blanket.
Al recognized her immediately. His eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. He had to clamp a hand over his mouth to keep from making a sound.
It was Nayala.
Woah... David is sleeping with Nayala?!
His fiancée—or at least, still technically his fiancée, though the family had already planned to shift the engagement to David soon.
Al exhaled sharply through his nose, but not in anger. He felt no interest in Nayala, not at all. What struck him instead was a kind of bitter amusement at the recklessness of youth.
Wait… isn't David underage? he thought grimly.
With a long sigh, he tore his gaze away, eyes uncomfortable with what he had just seen.
Hah. Young people. The scandals of the wealthy never end, he mused.
But his mission wasn't over yet. He moved closer, placing his hand on the window frame—
TINGGG!
A surge of powerful energy resonated from the glass. Dark, ancient… and strangely familiar.
The shock rattled through him, destabilizing his stealth for a split second before he forced it back under control.
What is this…? Al frowned, unease stirring in his chest.
The tension rose. His lungs felt heavy. He held his breath, staring at the window as if it were the eyes of an invisible enemy.
Then, movement.
A shadow shifted inside the room.
Time seemed to slow. Al's instincts screamed. He whipped his head away, body recoiling backward. Every fiber of his being urged him to retreat—this was not the time to fight.
Damn it. This is as far as I can go. My body's too weak for a fight at this level… and both of my hands still aren't ready, he thought.
In an instant, he vanished into the darkness, his figure slicing through the night air like a fleeting phantom.
Moments later, he was back in his room. The unease lingered in his chest, yet at the corner of his lips, a faint smile appeared.
"Interesting. I never imagined I would be the one retreating… from a fellow Grandmaster Level." His voice was calm, but his mind replayed the dark figure he had glimpsed.
He peeled off his black attire, exchanging it for casual clothing before settling into his small bed.
Lying on his back, staring at the ceiling lamp, his thoughts churned.
"A Grandmaster Level… just serving as David's bodyguard? And not even tied to this family? No way he's directly under David, since that kid is still only a Adept level. That means someone else assigned him. Someone far stronger."
He then halted his finger mid-air, and as if by magic, the light went out. At the same moment, he opened his dimensional room and stepped inside—lost in thought.
"But is it possible… that there's an organization out there where even Grandmaster Levels are reduced to bodyguards? Where do they obtain such power? Or… are they entities similar to me? But I can't read their energy essence in detail. Most likely… it's Helos energy. And that guy's at Catastrophe Level," he whispered, his eyelids growing heavy.
With one last sigh, he dismissed the thoughts and let sleep claim him.
---
Meanwhile, inside David's room, the shadowed figure stood by the half-open window. Their eyes flicked to the boy and the young woman asleep in each other's arms, their exhaustion evident.
They reached out, gently pushing the window shut again.
"Perhaps it was just my imagination," they murmured softly. Their gaze drifted toward the distant moon, already sinking toward the horizon. There was doubt in his eyes, but their posture remained calm—accustomed to intrusions that defied explanation.
Dawn would arrive soon.
---