BOOM!
The ever-steady and dangerous mana storm, which had connected the ground and the dark sky for years, finally changed for the first time.
Its dark grey hue suddenly began to deepen into a beautiful yet ominous purple, and its size doubled in an instant.
It didn't stop spinning. Rather, the whirling increased twofold with reckless abandon.
The darkness in the sky expanded further, the ground rumbled awake, and the Ruinborns' eyes snapped open as if they had always been asleep all this while.
A fragment of the storm detached itself, spiraled down with intense speed, and wrapped around Baines. His body trembled as he was lifted a few inches off the ground.
The process continued for a good five minutes, and unfortunately, Baines was unaware of his surroundings.
In his meditating state, one thing entered his mind. It wasn't a word like before he entered the master level, or a person of some sort.
It was a picture.
A perfect depiction of this place: dark sky, cracked land, and a towering storm connecting the two. However, the storm in this image was a deep purple, the same as his Ashenfall energy.
That was when his eyes snapped open, only to behold the transformed landscape.
It was just like the picture in his mind, dark purple, but something was wrong.
'Wait, this isn't right.' Baines stared at the storm.
Duum…
The storm expanded again.
Baines' eyes widened. "Fuck…I need to get out of here." Panic surged through him as he scrambled to his feet and rushed into the open throne room.
Thankfully, he had already prepared beforehand. He didn't know exactly when he would form the fifth star, but he knew he would hit the time limit, so he had packed most of his belongings into his pocket space: plants, weapons, technique books, and food, leaving only the essentials.
Without a moment to say goodbye to the home he had known for six years, he dashed toward the opposite exit and began his descent down the mountain.
'Fuck…Fuck…Fuck.'
He cursed in his mind as he maneuvered his way down the mountain.
In the few minutes he had spent running, the storm had doubled in size once more.
'What is happening?' he repeatedly asked himself, but he didn't try thinking of the answer or even looking at it.
He was already thinking of a way out, 'Bartos said something about underground…'
When he reached the foot of the mountain, he frantically searched his surroundings. Then, he saw it, a small hole a few meters away from his position.
It was too small for passage, but he knew he was in the right place.
With a heavy stomp, he struck the ground, forcing another opening a few meters away to cave in.
Without hesitation, he dove inside, and the hole sealed itself behind him just as instantly.
The underground path stretched endlessly before him, and he ran without stopping.
After what felt like three hours, the tunnel finally came to an end.
And how did he know? A light was lit at the end of his path.
With a final burst of aura around his feet, he broke through the exit.
Light.
Except for the dim light for seeing, he hadn't seen such light. Normally, it would affect him, but Eye instantly went to work.
He gasped for air, his chest heaving as he took in his surroundings.
Old couches, cracked hanging pictures, a fireplace—
"A house?"
He scanned the room with a glance. There was no one.
He sighed in relief, realizing that. But before he could gather himself, distant voices echoed from outside the house.
Those voices were filled with fear and horror.
'Outside…'
Baines swallowed hard as he stepped towards the door and emerged outside.
He didn't feel relief at finally seeing people or the sun warming his body. No, all of it was drowned out by the sight before him.
The storm, once a 1,000-meter-wide monstrosity, had now expanded to a terrifying 10,000 meters. Though now distant, it was still visible.
But that wasn't all.
He could feel it, his heart responding to the storm.
WHIIIRRRR…
At that point, the storm seemed to have reached its tipping point.
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM…
It exploded.
The ground trembled, the sky quaked, and terror-stricken screams filled the air.
Yet, the explosion was unnatural.
Unlike normal explosions that consumed everything outward, this one only expanded up to the edge of the dark sky before stopping.
The cries of horror quieted as people stared, bewildered by the scene.
Now, a thick, dark purple fog stood just right before the darkness had ended.
For about ten minutes, everyone went back and forth trying to see what was beyond the veil. But even the knight level struggled to see through it, and none of them dared step closer.
Something primal within them screamed that if they went near, their bodies would be ripped apart.
Except for one.
Step… Step…
Baines unconsciously found himself moving forward, drawn to the fog.
"Oi, oi!"
Then, a firm hand gripped his shoulder, yanking him back, and before he could protest—
Neigh…
The loud sounds of hooves echoed through the air, drawing everyone's attention.
A blazing insignia, a burning sun with a flaming sword piercing through its tip.
"T-Thank god."
"T-The Solaris army."
"We're saved."
The residents cheered in relief as the soldiers arrived.
"Everyone, step back!" A powerful voice, charged with aura, commanded the crowd.
Baines scanned the approaching forces.
'A five-star master and 20 four-star sword knights and a squad of the Solaris army? They were probably in charge of this town.' He forced his expression to remain neutral, but not before stealing one last glance at the purple fog.
'Looks like I won't be able to enter again. The soldiers will begin researching this, and the entire area will be under lockdown. They might even relocate the entire village.' His eyes flickered toward the old house he had come from, then back to the sword master.
"We will be holding a hearing on what happened here. Everyone, follow me!" the sword master ordered, and his soldiers moved to guide the villagers.
The residents were led back to their station while five knights remained to monitor the surroundings.
***
Unknown to Baines, the villagers, and even the sword master, the explosion sent ripples far beyond what anyone could have imagined.
Across the world, they felt it.
The gods, the demons, the isolated powerhouses, and even the most obscure species all trembled at the sensation.
Fear. The kind of fear they hadn't experienced in centuries.
That power whose origin they didn't know of.
That dangerous and unknown power.
Without hesitation, they moved. They dispatched their subordinates, awakened their hidden weapons, and rallied their armies.
They wanted it.
And if they couldn't have it, no one would.
They would kill them all.
Unknown to Baines, he had triggered a world crisis.