The moment the figure stepped forward—
Everything changed.
The battlefield, once filled with chaos and clashing energy, fell into absolute silence. Even the wind seemed to stop, as if the world itself acknowledged the presence that had just descended.
Kael stood still.
But inside—
His instincts screamed.
Danger.
Not like before.
Not like the bandit leader.
This was something else entirely.
The man walked down from the hill slowly, each step calm, unhurried. His gray robes moved lightly with the air, yet the pressure around him grew heavier with every step.
No one dared to speak.
Not the bandits.
Not the escort team.
Even Daren lowered his weapon slightly, his expression tense.
"…This is bad," he muttered.
Sera didn't respond.
Her eyes were locked on the newcomer.
Because she understood.
This man had stepped beyond the level they could handle.
⸻
The bandit leader bowed his head slightly.
"Senior."
The word alone explained everything.
Respect.
Hierarchy.
Power.
The man ignored him.
His gaze was fixed entirely on Kael.
"So," he said calmly.
"You're the one."
Kael didn't respond immediately.
His golden eyes remained steady.
But his body…
Had already tensed.
Every instinct told him the same thing.
I can't win this.
Not now.
Not at his current level.
The man stopped a few meters away.
Up close—
The pressure was suffocating.
Like standing beneath a mountain.
"You handled yourself well," the man continued. "For someone at your stage."
Kael spoke.
"And you came to kill me?"
The man tilted his head slightly.
"No."
A pause.
"Not yet."
The answer didn't bring relief.
It made things worse.
Because it meant—
This wasn't random.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"Then why are you here?"
The man smiled faintly.
"To confirm something."
His gaze shifted briefly to Kael's hand.
To the ring.
Then back to his face.
"You carry something… interesting."
Kael said nothing.
The air grew heavier.
The man stepped forward again.
Just one step—
But Kael felt it.
The pressure increased instantly.
His body reacted.
Golden energy flared around him automatically.
The Origin Core pulsed, resisting the pressure.
The man's eyes flickered with interest.
"…So it's true."
Kael clenched his fist slightly.
He knows.
The bandit leader stepped back further, not daring to interfere.
This situation had already gone beyond him.
⸻
The man raised his hand slowly.
Not to attack.
But to test.
A small movement.
Barely any energy.
But to Kael—
It felt like the world was pressing down on him.
Kael moved instantly.
Origin Flash.
He disappeared from his position—
And reappeared several meters away.
The ground where he had been standing—
Collapsed.
Completely crushed.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
That wasn't even serious.
The man lowered his hand.
"…Good reaction."
Kael exhaled slowly.
His breathing remained controlled.
But his mind was calculating rapidly.
Fight?
Impossible.
Run?
Difficult.
Very difficult.
But not impossible.
The man seemed to read his thoughts.
"You're thinking of escaping."
Kael didn't deny it.
"Yes."
The man chuckled softly.
"Then try."
The moment he said that—
The pressure intensified again.
Kael moved.
Instantly.
Origin Flash.
Golden light streaked across the battlefield as he shot toward the distant hills.
Fast.
Faster than he had ever moved before.
The wind roared past him.
His body pushed to its limit.
Behind him—
Silence.
Then—
The man moved.
No flash.
No sound.
Just—
Appearing.
Right in front of him.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
Too fast.
He stopped abruptly, sliding across the ground.
The man stood there calmly.
Blocking his path.
"You won't get far," he said.
Kael straightened slowly.
Golden energy surged again.
Not to attack.
But to resist.
To endure.
His eyes burned with determination.
"…Then I'll make an opening."
The man smiled faintly.
"That's the spirit."
But deep inside—
Kael knew.
This wasn't a fight he could win.
This was survival.
And one mistake—
Would be the end.