Few moments later—
Germio was sitting on the unconscious bodies of Lila, Grimori, and Kel.
The cabin—no, the entire building—had been obliterated.
Germio (thinking): Why isn't Wedgermio answering my telepathic calls? Hasn't he finished that kid yet? Crocus too… no report.
He glanced at Kel lying nearby.
With a cold expression, he kicked Kel in the face, forcing him back to consciousness.
[Germio]: Where is that friend of yours? The one fighting Wedgermio?
Kel coughed harshly.
Then… he smirked.
[Kel]: What? Don't tell me he already defeated that guy. I thought that fight would drag longer.
Germio's response was immediate.
A punch—sending Kel crashing away.
Germio (thinking): This is bad. No matter what, I need to check it myself. As for Crocus—
[Grimori]: Hey, lost soul. That lizard you guys summoned? Pratik already took him down.
Silence.
Those words alone were enough to shake Germio.
[Germio]: What?! That's absurd. Even at ten percent power, he was a Hunter Dragon! No Apprentice can defeat him!
[Grimori]: First stage of loss—denial, I guess. The news is everywhere. Herto Company is broadcasting it live. Check it yourself.
Germio dashed to a nearby screen.
He activated it.
And saw the truth.
BROADCAST—
Anchor Jun: This is a shocking development from the Dragon Empire. The Hunter Dragon—feared across realms—has been unsealed.
Guest Jan: Oh my God! This must be a disaster for the Dragon Empire, right, Anchor Jun?
Anchor Jun: Surprisingly… no. A rising sorcerer has defeated the Hunter Dragon while simultaneously protecting the planet.
Guest Jan: What?!
Anchor Jun: The sorcerer used an unrecognized Range Shiftling to cover the entire planet—healing civilians and preventing mass destruction. After that, he engaged the Hunter Dragon alone and defeated it. The only collateral damage reported is the destruction of a single city.
Here is the footage—
The screen displayed Pratik's final clash.
His punch.
The collapse of Shadow Lord.
The vaporization of the city.
Guest Jan: That level of power… from an Apprentice? What was his bounty?
Anchor Jun: Before this battle, it was relatively low—5,500 Karo. However, according to the latest update from Herto Chief, it has now increased to 198,000 Karo.
Guest Jan: Looks like we might be witnessing the rise of a new Team GATSKAL—
CRACK!
Germio shattered the screen before the sentence could finish.
Germio (thinking): A new Team GATSKALTT? Nonsense.
His aura darkened.
Germio (thinking): I won't allow such monsters to roam freely in the Dragon Empire.
He took out his earbud.
His voice turned sharp—commanding.
[Germio]: All Calamities—listen carefully. New objective.
A pause.
[Germio]: Eliminate Pratik. I repeat—eliminate Pratik!
*
Deep space—
A spacecraft door opened.
The Four Calamities stood within.
Zeg—the strongest. A bear-faced beast in a humanoid form.
Beni—a red wasp-like female, the fastest among them.
Termin—a towering ogre with mastery over air.
Urano—an insectoid, resembling a dragonfly.
[Zeg]: Seems the plan has changed. Lord Germio wants us to eliminate a kid instead of the Immortalus Society Leader.
[Beni]: Is that kid even worth it? Defeating a weakened Hunter Dragon isn't impressive. If it were in its prime… that would be different.
[Termin]: She's right.
[Zeg]: Eliminating a threat while it is still weak—that is wisdom. Our enemy just proved that. Only fools would ignore such a chance.
Suddenly—
A presence emerged from the shadows.
A bull-like humanoid figure stepped forward.
"That is correct. You four have grown well."
The moment they heard that voice—
All of them bowed.
Tai had arrived.
[Tai]: That child must be erased. I shall ensure Germio deals with the others beneath his grasp.
*
Elsewhere—
The Asura Knights—Grim, Rado, Rezen, and Kelmon—began to move.
Their orders were simple.
Eliminate Pratik.
*
The skies tore open—
Spacecrafts of the Sorcerer Hunter Marshals entered the Dragon Empire.
All five Marshals had been deployed.
Marshal A, B, C, D, and E.
Their identities? Classified.
Behind them—
An army.
One hundred million Sorcerer Hunter sepoys.
[Marshal A]: Rising sorcerer, Pratik… quite the fame for a mere boy.
[Marshal B]: That's Herto Company exaggeration. But the order is clear. Lord Karnakasur himself has commanded his elimination.
[Marshal A]: A wise decision. We hesitated once… and Team GATSKALTT was born. We won't repeat that mistake.
A deep scar marked Marshal C's face.
[Marshal D]: Of course. All thanks to the blunder of Marshal C.
He chuckled lightly.
Marshal E remained silent.
Because they all knew—
This was the point of no return.
*
Dragon Empire, Bluenos Planet—
Kae and Kara walked through the temple gardens.
The Temple of the Sleeping Deity.
Kae's temple.
A calm smile rested on his face, as always.
He had come… for reasons only he understood.
Suddenly—
A figure lunged from the shadows.
A sword aimed at Kae.
CLANG!
Kara intercepted it instantly.
It was Griho—the Sorcerer Hunter Commander.
Kae… giggled softly.
Kara forced Griho back.
[Griho]: What's so amusing, sorcerer?
Kae's smile deepened—ancient, knowing.
[Kae]: Sorcerer, you say…? No, child. I am but a passerby… wandering through echoes of time.
[Griho]: A passerby… in the middle of war?
[Kae]: War, peace… they are but fleeting tides. What endures… is how one chooses to walk through them.
Kara stepped forward, fury blazing.
[Kara]: Insolent wretch! Kneel before Lord K—
Kae's gaze shifted.
Just slightly.
Kara froze instantly.
A pause.
[Kae]: Take this one… and cast him into the storm that rages afar. I shall offer my respects here.
[Kara]: As you command.
[Griho]: Like I'd allow that!
Griho transformed into a massive dragon and lunged at Kae—
—but Kae had already vanished.
Kara struck Griho aside and shot into space.
Griho followed.
Teleportation after teleportation—
They reached Planet Gen.
And then—
Kara disappeared.
Griho landed, irritated.
Then—
He saw her.
Sunita.
Carrying Mala.
Sunita from Team GATSKALTT.
She smirked.
[Sunita]: Look at that. Our little sepoy grew into a commander.
Griho's expression twisted.
He charged his fist with Dragon Breath and attacked—
—but Sunita vanished as well.
Griho (thinking): This is ridiculous. Everyone treats me like a child. Is this… Planet Gen?
His walkie-talkie activated.
An order came—
Marshal D.
Eliminate Pratik.
And just like that—
All eyes turned toward one place.
Planet Gen.
Asura Knights.
Calamities.
Tai.
Marshals.
Sepoys.
Griho.
Everyone.
Target—
Pratik.
*
Herto Company reporters flooded the Dragon Empire.
Cameras.
Drones.
Broadcast units.
The final showdown was about to begin.
*
Pratik… slowly opened his eyes.
His body screamed in pain.
He could barely stand.
Broken arm.
Burned skin.
Torn muscles.
Still—
He brought his hands together.
Clapped once.
Then placed them over his face.
Closed his eyes.
Opened them again—
With resolve.
The war…
Starts now.
---
EXTRAS:
New Bounties—
1)Pratik – 198,000 Karo
2)Mala – 110,000 Karo
3)Lila – 45,000 Karo
4)Grimori – 50,000 Karo
5)Kel – 44,580 Karo