Cherl was still in City Central, clearing the last of the frost damage, hauling injured civilians to safety, and making sure no one was left behind.
Meanwhile—
Chhhhh…
A chilling streak cut across the skies. Devil Frosbeil. Its massive, frost-covered body moved with eerie grace, wings beating against the cold wind. It was heading straight toward the destroyed sector.
Tomp…
When it landed, its clawed feet cracked the frozen earth Slowly, it approached a strange formation of frost crystals that gradually grew out with each step it took. Each shard was massive, Y-shaped, and positioned in a perfect circle — like some cursed ritual site.
Frosbeil stepped into the center.
Its hand began to swell grotesquely, the skin splitting into cracked, gray plating. The disgusting transformation ended with the limb looking more like a monstrous fungus than actual flesh.
The Devil slammed both hands into the ground.
A low, unnatural hum echoed, reverberating through the frost itself as cyan light started scanning through his arms.
Unknown Zone – Shadow
"YOU BLOODY PESTS! JUST HOW FUCKING ANNOYING DO ALL OF YOU WANT TO BE?!"
Shadow roared as he cut down another Frost Devil, his violet flames consuming their crystalline bodies. Every one he obliterated simply reformed — the frost crystals around him glowing brighter, feeding the endless cycle.
"If killing you one by one won't work… I'll just blow the whole damn sector up!"
He kicked one Devil halfway across the battlefield, split another in half with a blazing slash — only for the frost to fuse and birth more.
Shadow leapt high into the air, shadow blades igniting in a deadly violet blaze.
"Shadow Inferno!"
He dove like a meteor, violet fire trailing in his wake.
BOOOOM!
A massive explosion tore across the zone. Frost crystal after frost crystal detonated, vaporizing into the frozen wind. The endless swarm finally stopped.
Shadow scoffed. "Tch… annoying."
He stood in the smoky field,
but he barely had time to dust himself off before his comm flared to life.
"SHADOW!" The assistant's voice was sharp with panic.
"Yeah? Is the newbie in trouble now? I just finished mopping these bastards up. I'll head there—"Shadow responded.
"NO, NO — actually… surprisingly, that newbie took down one of the first Devils alone. He cleared City Central."The assistant spoke with amusement.
"Oh?" Shadow's brow rose.
The assistant quickly snapped back on track. "O-OK, I'm going off-topic! The point is — something's very wrong! The Frost Devil from earlier? It's in the destroyed sector — where Alien Baruzo was wiped out. It's inside some weird crystal formation… and it's absorbing the life force of the Earth!"
" I'll be right there. Hang in."Shadow said calmly.
"We're trying to reach Phantomblade and the other Elite Fives. Until then, we're sending any nearby elite hero to intercept!" The line cut.
City Central – Aftermath
Cherl exhaled, wiping frost from her gloves. "Yeah… that should be all of them."She looked at all the citizens around her as they chant her name.
Brrrr….
The ground suddenly shuddered, a deep rumble shaking buildings and knocking people off their feet.
"WOAH! What the—" Cherl braced herself.
Office Building – Shijun
"OH— MUM!" Shijun caught his mother before she could fall.
While holding her steady, his mind continued to scramble for a convincing excuse. An idea clicked.
"Mum, really… just go home first. It's not safe here. The Hero Corp wants to… uh… interrogate me on some things I saw about the frost crystals that might help them. I'll be fine."
Still shaken, she almost refused. But hearing he'd be with the heroes made her relent.
"Ah… I-I see. Alright. Maybe you should stay with them until this is over, to be safe."
"Sure, Mum. Don't worry about me — go to the others, OK?"
She started toward the rescue area. "Wait, son — which hero's taking you— huh?"
He was gone.
"How the…?" she muttered, bewildered.
Rooftop
Shijun re-transformed, standing on the roof. "Sorry if I scared you, Mum… but—"
He stopped mid-sentence when he spotted Cherl streaking through the air at light speed.
"WAIT, CUPID!" he shouted. "WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!"
She halted, turned midair. "Not your business, Beyond! There's a Frost Devil absorbing the Earth's energy! I need to go now."
"Then let me—"
"NO!" she snapped, cutting him off. "You've already caused enough fuss in the Corp just by showing up here! Stay out of this — Elite and above only."
"JUST LET ME COME ALONG! PLEASE! I can take these Frost Devils too. I can help!"
Cherl was about to reject him again… but paused. Truthfully, he wasn't wrong. Any good help was useful — and for a newbie, he was strong.
"Fine. But if the Corp punishes you, you're on your own."
Shijun grinned. "Deal."
They blasted off toward the destroyed sector together.
—Destroyed sector—
Huuuuuu…
The eerie sound of energy draining from the Earth's core echoed across the frozen wasteland.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Screams rang out beyond the ritual circle.
The ground was ringed by enormous Y-shaped frost crystals, each one radiating a deathly glow. Every time an elite hero tried to approach, a blast of frost energy lashed out, forcing them back.
"JUST WHAT IS THIS WEIRD-ASS RITUAL LOOKING THING?!" one hero barked before being caught by a frost blast, the impact sending him rolling across the ground, badly injured.
As the heroes regrouped, the crystals pulsed again — their glow intensifying — and then—
BURST!
Blue mist exploded into the air, swirling together until it solidified into dozens of Frost Devils.
These weren't small. Each was pure white, its jagged ice body lined with blue crystal spikes jutting from elbows, knees, and shoulders. Ice horns curved wickedly from their heads.
"ROAR!"
The devil army charged.
"HUH—?!" The elites barely had time to raise their fist and weapons before the wave hit.
The battlefield turned into chaos. Fist clashed against ice, energy blasts shattered frozen armor, and yet… every Frost Devil that fell was instantly replaced by another. The ritual crystals kept feeding them — an endless tide.
The entire sector has turned into a war zone.
As the elite heroes continued to clash against the frost devil's,in the middle of the fight, two streaks of light tore through the clouds — one pink, one purple.
Cherl hit the ground first, spinning midair as she summoned her attack. "CUPID HEART RING!"
The massive spiked heart of pink energy sliced through a cluster of Frost Devils, cutting through them like butter under a blowtorch.
"Cupid!" The elites cheered.
Cherl nodded. "Sorry I'm late, guys."
But before she could even breathe, another voice rang out—
"My turn!"
Shijun came down,his kicking a frost devil,he followed up with a barrage of kicks each strike ripple out a mauve energy eventually making the devil implode.
He dusted himself off casually as he landed. "And that's one."
An elite hero glanced over mid-battle, smirking. "Who'd you bring with you, Cupid?"
Cherl sighed, facepalming. She didn't even know where to start explaining.
"I'm a new hero — name's Beyond." Shijun ducked a Devil's swing and countered with a kick that sent it skidding across the ice. "Figured I'd be useful."
"BEYOND, YOU—" Cherl gritted her teeth but held back. Now wasn't the time.
Another elite raised a brow. "A newbie? And you brought him here? Cupid… you sure he won't die?And isn't this against protocol?"
Cherl muttered, "Tougher than he looks."
While slapping her head.
"Yeah, what she said," Shijun added, brushing ice shards off his arm.
"Sure…" another scoffed.
"ARE THEY..LOOKING DOWN ON US?" Minus growled in Shijun's head.
"We'll deal with them later" Shijun replied. "Right now, we handle this mess."
"FINE. But if they survive without becoming human popsicles, we sparring with them IMMEDIATELY after this." Minus sneered.
"You can talk to yourself later newbie,right now?If your gonna be here?Help out and be useful!"a hero shouted.
"Right!"
Shijun when off and started unleashing his energy blast onto the devils wiping a few out.
"Minus Soura beam!"
He formed the M shape around his chest before thrusting his hand forward unleashing the blue and purple energy beam
Slicing through the frosty horde.
The other heroes followed suit as they each unleash their own attack to eliminate the devils.
Cherl wasn't about to lack behind either.
"Cupid arrow!"
She yelled out as she summoned a pink bow and arrow unleashing barrages of energy arrows eliminating more devils.
As the heroes fought, a strange light suddenly caught Cherl's attention.
At the center of the ritual, Devil Frosbeil's body began to glow with an eerie green radiance.
"What the…?" Cherl's voice tightened.
The battle paused for a split second as everyone turned toward the center.
As the green energy intensified,the earth suddenly shook and seems to collapse for a moment.
"GAH!THE EARTH!"
Cherl gritted her teeth.
Shijun's eyes narrowed. He shoved Devil he was fighting aside and bolted toward the glow.
"GUYS, DON'T WORRY, I GOT IT!"
"WAIT, BEYOND—!" Cherl shouted, but too late.
Multiple crystals fired at once, frost blasts slamming into him mid-charge.
"GAH!" Shijun caught off guard,was hit and crashed to the ground, coughing as he wiped his mouth.
Cherl dropped beside him, helping him up. "Will you stop rushing in like that?!You are acting too rashly all the time!"
"You got a better plan? That glow doesn't look friendly."
Another elite hero joined in. "Yeah, well, none of us can get past the formation — especially not with this many Devils spawning on top of it."
Shijun wasn't listening. He staggered to his feet, muttering, "Waiting around is boring. I need some action—"
Out of the blue,
A deep, commanding voice cut through the air. "Stand down. I've got this."
Every hero turned — including Shijun.
"Phantomblade!" they shouted in unison.
The rank 5 Hero descended from the sky, emerald hair whipping in the cold wind. His arms were folded, his expression unreadable.
He landed and fixed his gaze on Shijun. "Why the hell are you here?"
"I was just trying to help—"
"I don't care." Phantomblade's glare shut him down instantly. "You're going to get yourself killed. I warned you earlier already."
"Come on, it's not like you—"
"What?" The single word froze Shijun in place.
Phantomblade stepped closer. "You think being a hero is for fun? For the thrill? You rush in without thinking of the consequences. Sure, sometimes you get lucky. But when the stakes are real, luck won't save anyone. A true hero carries responsibility — a weight you clearly don't understand. Now… stand back and watch how a real hero works."
Shijun clenched his jaw but stayed silent.
The next time he blinked, the battlefield was empty. The Frost Devils were gone.
"What the fuck— how did he—"
An elite hero clapped him on the shoulder. "Not so cocky now, huh, newbie?"
Shijun stared at Phantomblade, stunned.
Next moment,
A burst of violet flames erupted from the outskirts of the battlefield, slamming into the ritual circle. The Y-shaped frost crystals shattered under the impact, the formation breaking apart in a cascade of shards.
Inside the circle, Devil Frosbeil recoiled, its absorption interrupted. It screeched in pain, yanking its mutated arm from the ground.
Cherl's eyes widened. "Shadow!"
Other heroes echoed her shout.
Shijun stayed quiet, eyes locked on the man approaching.
"What did I miss?" Shadow asked casually, stepping into the circle.
Phantomblade answered without turning his head. "Teaching the newbie a lesson."
Shadow smirked. "Tch… then let's show him what the Elite Five can really do."
Phantomblade smirked,then cracked his neck. Without another word, the two began walking forward, their combined auras shaking the frost-covered ground.
—————
Frosbeil roared and charged.
TCHHHHH!
The icy earth split apart as Shadow and Phantomblade vanished — their acceleration making light speed look slow.
SLASH!
Twin arcs of power carved across the Devil's thigh: the glowing purple edge of Shadow's blade, followed by the ghostly emerald slash of Phantomblade's sword.
ROOOAAAR! Frosbeil staggered, pain flashing through its crystal-lined eyes.
Before it could even turn, Phantomblade was already behind it. He swung his blade in a wide arc, launching a green energy wave that smashed into the Devil's torso and sent it crashing into the ground.
Shadow followed instantly, his body igniting in violet fire.
"SHADOW INCINERATION!"
He slammed into Frosbeil's body like a living comet. Chunks of ice exploded off the Devil's frame.
"Woah… s-so fast…" Shijun muttered, almost forgetting to breathe.
Snarling in rage, Frosbeil pushed itself up. Its jagged jaws opened, foaming with the same cursed mist that had slaughtered multiple elites earlier.
Phantomblade glanced at it without concern. "That mist again."
"Are they not even going to dodge?!" Shijun asked, baffled.
"This is why you're still an embarrassment using my body, dumbass," Minus chimed in.
"Shut it," Shijun shot back.
The mist poured forward, thick and suffocating. The two elites didn't move.
"HEY! THEY JUST WALKED INTO—"
Cherl's hand landed on his shoulder. "Relax. Trust me."
Shijun turned back toward the battlefield — just in time to see a shadowed hand clamping over Frosbeil's mouth, cutting off the attack entirely.
Shadow's violet aura flared, burning away the mist before it could spread. "Y'know… I thought you'd be more of a threat. Now your just boring."
Frosbeil thrashed, slamming its claws into Shadow, but the violet flames burned every strike.
From behind, Phantomblade suddenly gripped the Devil's massive tail in one hand,lifting it up.
"Hey, dipshit… ever seen the stratosphere?Well,your about to."
His emerald aura flared violently as he began spinning — faster, faster — until the Devil's huge frame blurred.
With one final rotation, he hurled it upward.
The air pressure shattered as Frosbeil was launched beyond the clouds, disappearing into the black void.
"What the hell…?" Shijun's eyes were wide. He knew he was nowhere near their level, but the sheer gap in power was incomprehensible.
CRASH!
Frosbeil slammed into the moon's surface, a massive crater blooming from the impact. It roared in pain, crystal dust scattering into the void.
It can't even recover.
Shadow and Phantomblade appeared above it in the next instant.
"Phantom Outburst." Phantomblade's voice was ice-cold. His sword ignited with spectral emerald energy before releasing a shockwave that began dissolving the Devil's body on contact.
"You're not having all the fun." Shadow's blade expanded, violet energy swirling along its edge. With one decisive slash, he cut what remained of Frosbeil in half.
The Devil's screech echoed into the depths of space before its body exploded into shards that scattered like dying stars.
...…..
A few moments later, the two elites descended back into the destroyed sector.
The moment they touched down, cheers erupted from the gathered heroes as expected.
Shijun didn't move. He was still replaying Phantomblade's words in his head. The weight behind them.
Cherl noticed his silence. "Beyond? Why are you standing there like a mannequin?"
Shijun's only answer was
"I'll be stronger."