The ruins were no longer silent.
Something had changed.
The air itself felt unstable.
After the Collapse
Raizen stood still.
The broken domain around him flickered.
"…It didn't disappear."
Kagen looked around carefully.
"…No."
A pause.
"It cracked."
Meaning of a Crack
Raizen's eyes narrowed.
"…That means…"
Kagen finished it.
"…They can lose control."
New Possibility
For the first time—
There was a weakness.
Not just in the enemy—
But in their system.
Sudden Distortion
Without warning—
The space shifted.
Violently.
The ground twisted.
The shadows broke formation.
Unexpected Change
Raizen stepped back.
"…What is this?"
Kagen's expression changed.
"…This isn't their doing."
A New Presence
Something else had entered.
Not controlled.
Not stable.
Rift Opens
A tear formed in the air.
Small—
But growing.
Darkness poured out.
Not like shadows.
Something deeper.
Emergence
From the rift—
A figure appeared.
Distorted.
Unstable.
Recognition
Raizen froze.
"…This feeling…"
Different from everything before.
Kagen Reacts
Kagen stepped forward instantly.
"…Stay back."
His voice—
Serious.
Unknown Entity
The figure moved.
Jerky.
Unnatural.
Like it didn't belong in this world.
Pressure Spike
The air collapsed inward.
Raizen struggled to breathe.
"…This is worse than the domain…"
First Movement
The entity looked at them.
Then—
It attacked.
Impact
Faster than anything before.
Kagen blocked—
Barely.
He was pushed back instantly.
Shock
Raizen's eyes widened.
"…It overpowered Kagen?"
Not a Normal Enemy
The entity didn't stop.
It attacked again.
Unpredictable.
No pattern.
Chaotic Power
Raizen moved.
"Second Form— Night Step."
He dodged—
But barely.
No Control
"…It's not controlled…"
A realization.
"…It's pure chaos."
Kagen's Warning
"…Don't try to understand it."
A pause.
"…Just survive."
Fight Intensifies
Both attacked together.
But—
Every strike felt ineffective.
The entity didn't react normally.
Unstable Body
Cuts didn't matter.
Form shifted constantly.
Adaptation Fails
Raizen stepped back.
"…My techniques aren't working."
Critical Moment
The entity appeared in front of him.
Too fast.
A strike came—
Direct.
Interception
Kagen blocked.
But—
He was thrown back again.
Hard.
Turning Point
Raizen's breathing changed.
Faster.
Deeper.
The shadow reacted.
New Decision
"…If it's chaos…"
A pause.
"…Then I won't fight it normally."
New Approach
Raizen stepped forward.
Not attacking.
Not defending.
Connection Attempt
He extended his shadow.
Not to control—
But to connect.
Unexpected Reaction
The entity paused.
For a moment.
Opportunity
Raizen moved.
"Fifth Form— Void Break."
A direct strike.
Impact
The entity staggered.
For the first time—
It reacted.
Instability Increases
Its form flickered violently.
The rift behind it shook.
Retreat
Without warning—
It pulled back.
Returning into the rift.
Closure
The tear closed.
Slowly.
Then—
Gone.
Aftermath
Silence returned.
But not peace.
Realization
Raizen stood still.
"…That wasn't from the Circle."
Kagen nodded.
"…No."
A pause.
"…That was something worse."
Final Scene
Raizen looked at the place where the rift disappeared.
His eyes sharper than before.
Ending Line
When a new enemy appears—
It means the war was never just one-sided.