Silver light exploded through the underground prison.
The suppression array, dormant for countless years, awakened completely under Krishak's connection with the seventh core. Ancient runes ignited across every wall, pillar, and corridor like constellations reborn beneath the earth.
The effect was immediate.
Above them, the cracking black sphere stopped splitting apart.
The remaining silver chains tightened violently around the imprisoned creature.
Darkness recoiled.
And for the first time since entering the ruins..
The ancient invader roared in genuine anger.
The sound shook the entire mountain.
Far above the valley, corrupted beasts throughout the forest howled in panic as waves of silver energy surged outward from the underground prison.
At the Bureau outpost, soldiers stared in shock as black mist retreated from the trees like a living tide being forced backward.
Even the skies above the valley began clearing slightly.
But beneath the mountain
The true battle had only begun.
Krishak remained seated before the crystalline pillar, eyes closed as the seventh core floated before him.
Silver runes rotated around his body continuously.
The pressure on his consciousness was enormous.
Through the suppression array, he could now feel the prison directly.
Every crack.
Every damaged formation line.
Every pulse of corruption pressing against the seal.
And beyond it all
The creature.
Its presence filled his mind like endless darkness.
Ancient.
Malicious.
Overwhelming.
Yet Krishak remained calm.
In his previous life, he had faced beings far stronger than this.
The difference now was his current body lacked the strength to fully support his soul.
That imbalance created tremendous strain.
Thin streams of blood began flowing from the corners of his mouth.
Ananya's expression changed immediately.
"Krishak!"
"I'm fine," he said quietly, though his voice was strained.
Dev looked unconvinced.
"You look terrible."
"He's carrying the entire suppression array through spiritual synchronization," Ishita said grimly. "The burden is crushing his mind and body simultaneously."
Lunafang remained pressed against Krishak's side, silver moonlight surrounding both of them continuously.
Without the wolf's support, the corruption would already have reached Krishak's consciousness.
The imprisoned creature laughed darkly inside his mind.
"Interesting..."
The crimson eye appeared once more within Krishak's spiritual sea.
Only now it seemed much clearer.
Much closer.
"A mortal body carrying such an ancient soul."
Krishak's expression did not change.
The creature continued speaking.
"You are not truly of this age.
For the first time since awakening, the invader sounded genuinely curious.
Outside the mental space, the suppression array trembled violently again.
The creature was testing the seal.
Searching for weakness.
Krishak responded calmly.
"You will remain imprisoned."
The invader's laughter echoed endlessly.
"No prison lasts forever."
Visions surged through Krishak's consciousness again.
This time clearer than before.
Ancient Earth beneath skies filled with stars brighter than modern humanity had ever seen.
Towering cultivation sects floating above mountains.
Massive spirit beasts roaming untouched wilderness.
Gateways between worlds opening across the planet.
Then-
Darkness descending.
Worlds colliding.
An army of corrupted beings emerging from shattered space itself.
The Great War.
Krishak finally witnessed fragments of Earth's forgotten past directly.
Outside the mental connection, the suppression chamber became increasingly unstable.
The silver runes were active....
But the corruption inside the prison fought back constantly.
Shadow creatures continued emerging from dark corners of the chamber, drawn toward Krishak instinctively.
"He's vulnerable while connected!" Raghav shouted.
Dev immediately intercepted two shadows with sweeping spear strikes while Skyrend tore through several more from above.
Ishita reinforced barrier formations rapidly around the central pillar.
Ananya remained near Krishak
continuously, using restoration techniques to stabilize his physical condition.
Meanwhile, Lunafang's moonlight aura grew brighter with every passing moment.
The silver wolf's eyes glowed intensely
now.
Almost unnaturally.
As though something inside his bloodline was awakening further under pressure.
Then suddenly-
Lunafang howled.
The sound resonated throughout the entire chamber.
Silver moonlight erupted outward in a massive wave.
Every shadow creature touched by the light dissolved instantly.
Even the corruption surrounding the suppression pillar retreated several meters.
Dev blinked in shock.
"He got stronger again?"
Krishak sensed it immediately through their bond.
The pressure from the ancient prison
Was stimulating Lunafang's bloodline evolution.
Moonstar energy and corruption were natural opposites.
And under extreme conflict, the wolf's latent potential was rapidly awakening.
The imprisoned creature noticed as well.
For the first time
Its voice lost some calmness.
"That beast.."
The crimson eye narrowed.
"Impossible."
Krishak's eyes sharpened slightly.
Interesting.
The invader recognized Lunafang's bloodline.
Or feared it.
The creature's hostility toward the wolf intensified immediately.
Dark corruption surged violently toward Lunafang through the suppression array.
The silver wolf growled fiercely but refused to retreat.
Moonlight and corruption collided directly.
The entire chamber shook.
Then-
A symbol appeared on Lunafang's forehead.
A complete silver crescent moon.
The moment it manifested, overwhelming moonlight flooded the chamber.
The suppression array stabilized dramatically.
Even the prison sphere above stopped trembling entirely.
The invader roared furiously.
"Moon Sovereign bloodline?!"
Shock filled its voice for the first time.
Krishak's eyes narrowed.
Moon Sovereign?
That title did not exist in Earth's current records.
Which meant Lunafang's origins might be far more extraordinary than expected.
The suppression array brightened further.
Ancient runes across the chamber began repairing themselves slowly under the combined resonance of star energy and moonlight.
Silver chains reformed around the prison.
The creature was being forced deeper back into containment.
For now.
But Krishak could already feel the truth clearly.
This was not victory.
Only delay.
Earth's spiritual awakening had already begun.
Ancient prisons would continue weakening.
Hidden ruins would continue emerging.
And eventually.
More threats from the forgotten age would awaken alongside them.
The real battle had not yet started.
This was merely humanity's warning.