The nine-headed black dragon Chthon had conjured with his full might was split cleanly in two by a single stroke of Susanoo's blade.
Chthon's eyes widened. His heart was torn between fury and disbelief.
The power Senju Haruto wielded was already far beyond anything that could be considered the domain of a sorcerer. Even the Sorcerer Supreme—the so-called greatest protector of Earth—could never command such strength.
Haruto's strength exceeded that of the Sorcerer Supreme by an entire tier.
He was, without a doubt… a walking Elder God.
As that thought burned inside him, Chthon's avatar began to unravel. His form dissolved, scattering into nothingness until he was gone completely.
Boom!
A catastrophic explosion blossomed above New York. It wasn't just destruction—it was a terrible, beautiful display of energy, rippling outward like fireworks painting the sky.
Every single New Yorker froze where they stood, their breath stolen away by the sight.
The very foundations of their understanding of the world were torn to shreds.
And unlike the Broadway incident, which had been quickly managed by the military and S.H.I.E.L.D. before it could spread too far online, this time was different.
This time, the entire city had seen it.
They didn't need the internet.
All anyone had to do was look up at the sky to witness the spectacle—an explosion like a miniature sun, suspended in the heavens, waves of heat rolling outward like a burning ocean.
Below, the Nameless Bar was reduced to rubble. Not even its remaining magical wards could withstand Haruto's overwhelming might.
Haruto's eyes shifted from his Eternal Mangekyō to the Byakugan, giving him a flawless, 360-degree vision and the ability to pierce through all concealment.
And on his forehead, the Eye of Agamotto opened, its light scanning for any trace of black magic across the Earth.
Only after confirming, again and again, that Chthon's avatar and Viper's body had been utterly erased did Haruto finally retract Susanoo's wings and begin to descend slowly from the sky.
By then, countless sorcerers had already gathered below.
Not only those from New York's Sanctum, but from Shanghai, London, and even Kamar-Taj itself.
Each had sensed Chthon's power. Each had felt the looming threat. They had come through portals, prepared for the battle of the century.
In their minds, in their hearts, they had believed this night would mark a legendary struggle against Chthon.
Even the oldest masters of Kamar-Taj had been convinced: this fight would decide humanity's survival. Many had steeled themselves to die.
And yet…
This was it?
They hadn't even had the chance to borrow white magic from the Vishanti, to combine their forces in some desperate grand ritual.
They hadn't spoken a single incantation. Hadn't cast a single spell.
Instead, they had watched Senju Haruto obliterate the God of the Abyss with Susanoo's sword—like a warrior cutting down an enemy in a single, unreasoning strike.
The legendary death god.
The being whose name was carved deep into the history of black magic.
A dimensional master rivaling even the Vishanti themselves.
Gone in an instant.
The scene was so surreal it bordered on dreamlike.
Especially considering that only days ago, when Haruto first arrived at Kamar-Taj, he had been unable to even control the immense power inside his own body.
At least, that was what every sorcerer besides Haruto and the Ancient One had believed.
And the firmer their conviction had been, the greater the shock now.
Just how much of a prodigy was Haruto?
How monstrous was his talent?
Compared to the Ancient One herself—who was truly stronger now?
Huff… huff… huff…
As Haruto floated gently down from the sky, every sorcerer around him exhaled deeply, staring at him as though beholding a savior.
Haruto, however, felt nothing of the sort.
Perhaps Chthon was indeed stronger than Mephisto or Dormammu.
But this was not his dimension.
Without the reinforcement of his own dimensional laws, without his true body free, how much power could an avatar truly wield?
In the end, Chthon was nothing more than this.
Susanoo's armored toes brushed the earth. The chakra shroud around Haruto's body dispersed. The markings of Sage Mode faded from his face.
Finally, he landed firmly on the ground.
And in that moment, New York erupted.
"Haruto!"
"Haruto!"
"Haruto!"
The cheers thundered across the city.
Every sorcerer who had ever stepped through the gates of Kamar-Taj knew Haruto's name. Now, they shouted it in unison, as if they were his most loyal followers.
Especially after having just felt the crushing despair of Chthon's black magic, the hopelessness of standing before a god.
The greater their despair then, the stronger their relief now.
Haruto glanced around and understood their feelings.
They needed a release, a way to expel the pressure that had just crushed them.
And chanting the victor's name was as good a way as any.
When Haruto allowed a small smile and accepted their cheers, Arthur, Banner, Stark, and Anna stepped forward.
"Haruto…"
Arthur's throat tightened. A moment ago, he had been bursting with things he wanted to say. But now, standing before Haruto, the words refused to come.
Should he thank Haruto for saving his life? Lament his own weakness? Apologize for being useless?
None of it felt right.
All he managed was Haruto's name—before shame forced his head to bow.
Haruto noticed and simply rested a hand on his shoulder.
"You've done well, Arthur. You may still have much to learn on the path of magic, but you already possess a strong heart. I hope you hold onto that."
The words were simple, symbolic encouragement, but they steadied Arthur nonetheless.
Then Haruto looked at the others.
Banner's lips moved as though he wanted to speak but couldn't. Haruto guessed the man was deeply shaken inside.
For so long, Banner had believed the Hulk should not exist—that human intellect was the strongest weapon of all.
But now?
Faced with monsters and gods… he truly needed the Hulk's power.
"The path Haruto chose for me… that is the right one," Banner thought, swallowing hard, his respect for Haruto growing even deeper.
Stark, meanwhile, found himself ever more fascinated by magic.
A new idea sparked in his mind: what if he could fuse magic with technology?
To others, magic might seem mystical, unfathomable.
But to Stark, it was simply science not yet mastered by humans.
Harnessed correctly, it could not only revolutionize the future—it could also keep Haruto from walking the path of a dictator.
And just as the city celebrated Chthon's destruction, just as the sorcerers rejoiced…
Someone appeared.
Someone no one expected.