The timer struck 00:00:00.
Somewhere in the darkness—
Something opened its eyes.
---
The angel hovered high above the merging field, smiling as if hosting a grand performance.
"Marvelous," he praised, clapping slowly. "You have all prepared so diligently."
Golden light gathered behind him.
Then—
Space distorted.
A massive shape manifested.
Gasps erupted across the field.
Behind the angel stood a three-tailed fox, its body nearly as large as a mountain. Silver-white fur shimmered like burning starlight. Its three enormous tails swayed slowly, each one large enough to flatten entire battalions.
Glowing golden chains wrapped around its limbs, neck, and tails, anchoring it midair.
The angel spread his arms dramatically.
"Allow me to introduce your opponent."
His smile widened.
"The Three-Tailed Fox."
He paused.
"A creature from the ■■■■■■■ Zone."
The zone name distorted— erased by the system.
"Level: 10,000."
A collective wave of dread passed through the players.
"Originally, it was a Nine-Tailed Fox."
The angel's tone became almost playful.
"Level: 100,000."
Silence.
"But I weakened it."
He placed a hand over his chest.
"Out of pity."
His eyes curved in amusement.
"Good luck."
With that, he ascended higher into the sky.
The golden chains began to fade.
One by one.
When the final chain dissolved—
The Three-Tailed Fox roared.
The sound alone shook the ground.
---
"Remember the strategy," James said immediately.
His voice was firm.
"No frontline engagement. We observe first. Move out."
Ark nodded and signaled the others.
They retreated toward the far edge of the battlefield, keeping distance.
Other players weren't as cautious.
Both universes charged.
Spells filled the sky.
Arrows streaked forward.
Blades ignited with mana.
For half a second—
It looked like humanity might overwhelm it.
Then—
The fox's eyes flashed crimson.
"ROAR!"
A wave of invisible force exploded outward.
Skill Activated: Fear
Every player on the field froze.
Bodies locked in place.
Weapons mid-swing.
Spells halted halfway.
Thirty seconds of forced immobilization.
Even those with high resistance stats could only reduce it to ten.
James gritted his teeth.
"Ten seconds…" he muttered as the pressure weighed on him.
The fox's tails rose high.
Skill Activated: Infernal Domain
The ground within a one-kilometer radius ignited.
The field transformed into a blazing sea of fire.
Screams filled the air as players burned, scrambling once the immobilization faded.
The fox moved.
Despite its size—
It was fast.
Terrifyingly fast.
Its tails swept behind it, crushing players attempting flanks.
Its claws carved through the frontlines.
The efficient strategy became obvious quickly—
Attack from all directions.
Force it to divide attention.
Confuse its targeting.
But even then—
The level gap was suffocating.
James activated his title effect.
> First Unique Achiever — Slow Debuff Application
A slowing curse wrapped around the Three-Tailed Fox.
Its movements dipped slightly.
Just slightly.
But even slowed—
It was still devastatingly fast.
Then—
The fox leaped back.
Its massive head lifted.
Its jaws opened.
Energy began to gather.
An enormous sphere of condensed destruction formed in its mouth.
The air trembled.
Mana distorted violently.
"Get back!" someone screamed.
Too late.
The energy ball fired.
A beam of catastrophic force tore across the field—
Explosion.
The shockwave flattened dozens instantly.
Smoke and fire swallowed entire groups.
James' eyes widened.
While forming…
He noticed it.
During the charging phase—
The fox didn't move.
Its body remained still.
Focused on compression.
That's the window.
Vulnerable.
Defenseless.
If they could strike during the charge—
They might interrupt it.
James was about to speak—
When Gob's calm voice cut through.
"I know a way to restrain it."
James turned sharply.
"What?"
Gob stepped forward slightly, watching the battlefield with unnerving composure.
"I've seen this before."
Ark looked at him suspiciously. "Seen what?"
Gob didn't hesitate.
"I'm a regressor."
He said it casually.
In the middle of chaos.
Like announcing the weather.
James used his skill— Eye of scale
[Player's Name: Gob Adsnoc]
[Player's Background: A regressor, finding a way to escape this now new reality, regressed five times specifically but failed to save those timelines.]
[Alignment: Devotee of the Calamity God ■■■■■■■]
John stared at him. "You're saying that again now?!"
Gob kept his eyes on the fox.
"I've fought this creature."
James narrowed his eyes.
"And?"
Gob finally looked at him.
"We can bind it again."
The energy sphere began forming in the fox's mouth once more.
The battlefield trembled.
James had one hour until Martis' ascension completed.
And now—
A self-proclaimed regressor claiming he'd done this before.