[The Desolate Plain – 15 Minutes to Opening]
Goto turned his cold gaze toward the center of the formation, his eyes softening only slightly. "The only person here I don't consider an insect is the Goddess of Flame," he stated, his voice dripping with arrogance. "The rest of you are just fodder for the rift."
Lapis didn't even look up from the autograph book he was signing. "You're calling us insects," he said coolly, "but from where I'm standing, you're the one crawling in the dirt. You're nothing but an insect with a loud mouth."
Goto's face twisted into a mask of rage. "What?! You want to fight, brat? I'll show you why I'm the leader of this vanguard!"
"You wouldn't even be able to touch me," Lapis replied, finally closing the book and tossing it back to Saina.
With a roar, Goto launched a massive, mana-infused strike toward Lapis's face. But the hit never landed. A blur of blue and white light intercepted the blow. Techyon had stepped in, his bare hand catching Goto's massive fist with a sickening thud that cracked the ground beneath them.
"Bro," Techyon said, looking back at Lapis with a calm expression, "don't waste your time on this useless trash. We have a universe to save."
"How dare you call me trash, you son of a—!"
Before Goto could finish his insult, the atmosphere changed. The temperature didn't just rise; the air itself seemed to turn into a solid, burning wall. Cynthia had finally reached her limit.
She didn't move a muscle, but her aura expanded like a supernova. The pressure was absolute. One by one, the Z-Rankers—Siyo, Saina, and even the stoic Kokoi—were slammed into the ground by the sheer weight of her mana. Even Techyon and Alya felt their knees buckle, their bodies pinned to the black rock as if gravity had increased a thousandfold.
Goto gasped, his lungs burning as he was forced onto his hands and knees. Through the haze of heat, he looked up and realized one person was still standing perfectly still.
Lapis remained upright, his magenta aura shimmering in a tight sphere around him. He hadn't resisted the pressure; he had simply warped the space around his body, allowing the "Goddess Pressure" to slide right past him into the void.
"Shut up," Cynthia hissed, her eyes glowing with a terrifying, white-hot intensity. "This is a matter of survival. If you want to fight, then go to hell and fight the demons—do not do it in front of me."
The silence that followed was deafening. The Z-Rankers didn't dare breathe. They finally understood: in the presence of a Z+ Rank, they were all just guests in her world.
[The Desolate Plain – 10 Minutes to Opening]
Ruta, the Arcon of Flame, gritted his teeth as his knees finally stopped trembling. Incredible, he thought, sweat beading on his brow. Even my primordial essence was buckling. Her aura is just too much for this physical plane.
"Cynthia, calm down," Neweland urged, his voice resonating with the steadying power of the tides. "If you increase your power any further, this entire universe will pop like a balloon. We need a battlefield left to fight on."
"Fine," Cynthia replied, her white-hot eyes fading back to their smoldering amber. The crushing weight lifted instantly. "Stand up, everyone. We have visitors."
Yoru , who had to stay upright, wiped her forehead. "I think someone is missing from the council. We're still short one pillar."
"Yeah," Nefa added, scanning the horizon. "Where is the Geo Arcon? She's usually the first one to arrive when the ground starts shaking."
Fraxy noticed everyone looking her way and threw her hands up. "Why are you looking at me? I'm a healer, not a GPS! How should I know where she is?"
"Mr. Ruta," Captain Carod asked, his metallic voice echoing. "Do you have eyes on her?"
Ruta didn't answer with words. Instead, he slowly raised a massive, scarred finger toward the darkening sky. "She is already here. Look up."
Techyon shielded his eyes, gasping as a shadow the size of a city block swept over the plains. "What... is that?!"
High above, a colossal dragon forged from jagged obsidian rocks and shifting tectonic plates roared, its voice sounding like mountains grinding together. And perched atop its head, standing with the regal poise of an ancient empress, was the Geo Arcon.
[Character Profile: The Geo Arcon — Gaia]
As the dragon descended, the figure of the Arcon became clear, radiating a majestic and ethereal power that rivaled the stars.
Hair: She has stunning, long silver-white hair tied into a high, intricate ponytail with a braided section. A sharp, golden crescent hairpiece adorns her head, glowing with celestial energy.
Eyes: Her eyes are a piercing, molten gold, holding the wisdom of the earth's deepest cores.
Outfit: She wears an elegant, high-collared teal and white gown with gold trimmings and fur-lined edges. The dress features flowing, wide sleeves and a high-slit design that reveals white stockings and ornate, fur-tufted high heels.
Presence: She is surrounded by a golden, geometric halo and floating shards of amber light. She looks less like a warrior and more like a Goddess of the Earth, refined and untouchable.
The dragon landed with a force that sent a seismic shockwave through the black rock, but the Arcon stepped off as lightly as a feather.
"The tectonic plates whispered of a Z+ disturbance," she said, her voice smooth and echoing like a deep cavern. "I hope I haven't missed the opening act."
Gaia stepped forward, her golden eyes reflecting the violet glow of the Z+ Gate. She ignored the trembling Z-Rankers on the ground, her focus shifting directly to the center of the group.
"Hello, everyone," she said, her voice carrying a melodic, crystalline resonance. She paused, bowing her head slightly toward the woman in red. "Especially you, the strongest adventurer on Earth. Cynthia, it is a true honor to meet you."
Cynthia inclined her head, her expression stoic but respectful. "Nice to meet you too, Gaia. Your presence makes the ground feel a bit more solid."
Gaia turned to her fellow pillars, a soft, nostalgic smile playing on her lips. "So, Ruta, Neweland... what's going on? It has been a very long time. I believe the last time we stood together like this was during the Second Great War, fifteen years ago."
Ruta let out a gruff, fiery laugh, his armor clanking. "Yeah... fifteen years. A lot has changed since then. We've all gotten older, and the world has gotten more dangerous."
"Fifteen years of peace," Neweland added quietly, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "It seems that peace has finally reached its expiration date."
Gaia's smile faded as she looked around at the assembled powerhouses. Her gaze lingered on the empty space in the formation where a fifth Arcon should have stood. "If she was here, everything would be so much simpler. Mayanee, the strongest Arcon of today... her light would have pushed back this void effortlessly."
The mention of the name caused a ripple of silence. Techyon flinched, his heart aching at the thought of his aunt.
Neweland placed a heavy hand on Gaia's shoulder. "You know the truth, Gaia. She sealed herself away with the Monarch of Destruction one year ago. She did it to save us—to give the world a fighting chance. Don't be sad. Her sacrifice is the reason we are still standing here to face this gate."
"I know," Gaia whispered, her golden eyes shimmering. "But a world without the electro Arcon feels... cold."
Suddenly, the ground didn't just shake—it screamed. A high-pitched, frequency-shattering wail erupted from the center of the Z+ Gate. The violet rift began to tear open, revealing a world of jagged purple crystals and shadows that defied physics.
"The wait is over," Cynthia announced, her flames erupting in a pillar of white heat. "The gate is opening!"