The battlefield erupted instantly.
The corrupted humanoids surged forward from every direction, distorted whispers filling the cliffside once more while crimson light pulsed violently beneath the underground structure. Black tendrils exploded across the shattered stone, forcing the silver-ranked adventurers into immediate defense as the entire area descended back into chaos.
But Ayan barely noticed any of it.
Because the moment the crimson-eyed man moved—
Everything else became irrelevant.
Too fast.
Ayan's instincts screamed before his mind fully processed the movement.
CLANG.
His sword barely intercepted the strike aimed directly at his throat.
The impact exploded through his entire body.
"…GH—!"
Ayan was launched backward across the cliffside, boots tearing through stone as he desperately stabilized himself before crashing into one of the broken pillars.
The crimson-eyed man stood exactly where Ayan had been less than a second earlier.
Completely calm.
Not even slightly strained.
"…Your reactions improved."
Ayan's chest tightened.
That attack—
Hadn't been casual.
The difference in strength between them felt overwhelming.
And somehow—
The man still looked disappointed.
Like Ayan wasn't performing at the level he expected.
Ayan steadied his breathing while tightening his grip around the sword.
"…I'm really getting tired of monsters acting superior."
The crimson-eyed man tilted his head slightly.
"…Monster."
He repeated the word quietly.
Then shook his head.
"…Still clinging to emotional classifications."
The moment he finished speaking—
He vanished again.
Ayan moved instantly this time.
Not because he saw the attack.
Because he predicted it.
BOOM.
The crimson-eyed man's fist shattered the pillar behind him instead of his chest as Ayan twisted sideways before slashing directly toward the man's ribs.
The strike landed.
Or should have.
CLANG.
Ayan's blade scraped across black armor-like flesh hidden beneath the man's clothes, sparks erupting from impact alone.
No damage.
The crimson-eyed man glanced down briefly.
"…Primitive weapon dependency."
Then his knee drove directly into Ayan's stomach.
CRACK.
Pain exploded through Ayan's body as the air left his lungs violently.
He barely managed to leap backward before another strike could reach him.
"…Tch—!"
Too strong.
Too durable.
Too controlled.
This wasn't like fighting unstable evolved creatures anymore.
This man knew exactly how to fight.
Behind them the silver-ranked adventurers struggled against the corrupted humanoids flooding from the underground entrance.
The shield user blocked three tendrils simultaneously while the mage reinforced barriers around the injured dual-blade fighter. The archer continuously targeted creature heads with explosive arrows, each shot temporarily slowing the regeneration.
But despite their skill—
They were being overwhelmed slowly.
More humanoids kept climbing upward.
Aelira erased several with crimson energy instantly before turning toward the crimson-eyed man.
The atmosphere shifted sharply.
The man finally looked genuinely interested.
"…You continue interfering."
Aelira's voice remained cold.
"…You continue existing."
For the first time—
The man smiled slightly again.
"…Interesting."
Then both of them disappeared simultaneously.
BOOOOOOM.
The cliffside exploded apart from the collision.
Crimson shockwaves tore through the battlefield as Aelira and the crimson-eyed man clashed at speeds even Ayan struggled to follow fully.
Stone shattered.
Air distorted.
The man blocked one of Aelira's attacks directly before black tendrils erupted from his arm toward her.
Aelira erased them instantly.
Then her crimson energy pierced directly through his chest.
Ayan's eyes widened.
But the man simply looked down at the hole through his torso calmly.
Then regenerated instantly.
No instability.
No delay.
Complete regeneration.
"…Impressive."
He sounded genuinely sincere.
"…Your structure remains independent despite prolonged exposure."
Aelira's expression darkened.
"…Unlike you."
The man's eyes narrowed faintly.
Then suddenly—
The ground beneath Ayan pulsed violently.
His instincts exploded.
Too late.
Black tendrils burst upward from beneath the cliffside, wrapping around his arms and legs instantly before slamming him against the stone ground.
"…GH—!"
Ayan struggled immediately, slicing apart several tendrils while more replaced them.
The crimson-eyed man's gaze shifted toward him.
"…You resist instinctively."
He stepped closer slowly.
"…But your synchronization rate continues increasing regardless."
Ayan gritted his teeth while cutting through another tendril.
"…Shut up."
The man crouched slightly near him, crimson eyes glowing brighter.
"…Do you know why the network recognizes you?"
Ayan froze slightly.
Because honestly—
Part of him wanted the answer.
The man noticed immediately.
"…Curiosity."
A faint smile returned.
"…A predictable human weakness."
Ayan's expression hardened instantly.
"…And becoming emotionless like you is supposed to be better?"
For the first time—
The crimson-eyed man paused.
Only briefly.
But enough.
"…Emotion was not removed."
His voice lowered slightly.
"…Only refined."
Ayan stared at him.
Then laughed bitterly despite the pain.
"…That's the most insane thing I've heard so far."
The tendrils tightened harder around him.
The man's expression remained calm.
"…You misunderstand."
"…Humanity fears evolution because it mistakes suffering for identity."
His glowing eyes locked directly onto Ayan's.
"…But suffering is not necessary."
Ayan's chest tightened slightly.
Because the way he spoke—
The certainty—
Felt terrifyingly genuine.
Like he truly believed he had saved humanity.
The man slowly extended one hand toward Ayan's chest.
"…Once synchronization completes…"
"…You will understand."
The crimson light beneath the cliffside intensified violently.
Ayan immediately felt it.
The network.
Trying to connect.
Trying to pull at something inside him.
The crystal hidden at his side pulsed painfully hot.
Visions flashed through his mind instantly.
Underground structures.
Countless crimson lines.
People standing motionless within glass chambers connected directly into the network.
And somewhere deep below—
A massive structure pulsing like a living heart beneath the world.
Ayan's breathing roughened sharply.
The crimson-eyed man noticed immediately.
"…There."
His voice softened slightly.
"…You can already hear it."
Ayan's thoughts blurred for half a second.
The network felt—
Close.
Familiar.
Like something trying to welcome him.
Then suddenly—
A hand grabbed his shoulder.
Aelira.
Crimson energy surged through him instantly.
The visions shattered.
The tendrils binding him exploded apart violently.
Ayan stumbled backward breathing heavily while Aelira stepped between him and the crimson-eyed man.
Her crimson eyes burned colder than before.
"…Do not touch him."
The cliffside fell strangely silent for a moment.
The crimson-eyed man looked at Aelira quietly.
Then finally—
"…So that is your choice."
Aelira's expression never changed.
"…I made it long ago."
A faint silence followed.
Then unexpectedly—
The man sighed softly.
Almost disappointed.
"…Then you truly learned nothing from the previous failure."
Ayan's heartbeat slowed slightly.
Previous failure.
The earlier anomaly.
The one before him.
Aelira's gaze sharpened dangerously.
"…You abandoned him."
The crimson-eyed man's expression remained calm.
"…No."
His glowing eyes shifted briefly toward Ayan.
"…He abandoned humanity first."
And somehow—
That statement frightened Ayan more than the battle itself.