Kim's breath hitched for a moment.
Just one single moment.
But it was enough.
Enough for a thousand chapters of memories to resurface.
Amon.
That name.
That face.
The person who stood by his side when the entire world stood against him.
But...
Something was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Kim's eyes narrowed.
He began to observe the man.
The facial features.
The posture.
The breathing pattern.
Even the movement of his eyes.
And after a few seconds...
The turmoil vanished from his eyes.
His usual coldness returned.
Because he understood.
This is not Amon.
He resembles him.
Terrifyingly so.
But it isn't him.
Despite everything, Amon carried a warmth in his eyes.
As for this man...
His eyes were empty.
Desolately empty.
As if looking right through the world itself.
In the sky...
The man noticed the change in Kim's gaze.
Then, he smiled.
> "Just as I expected."
>
He whispered softly.
> "I didn't fool you for long."
>
Inside the academy...
The professors began preparing for battle.
Giant magic circles appeared in the sky.
Hundreds of guards arrived.
But the man didn't even look at them.
As if they didn't exist at all.
Then, he raised his head toward Kim.
And said something strange.
> "He has grown to look more like her."
>
Kim froze.
Her?
Who?
His mother?
One of the Outworlders?
The author of the letter?
But before he could ask...
Eldar moved.
For the first time...
He appeared directly behind the man.
Instant teleportation.
Terrifying speed.
Then, an immense power exploded.
*BOOOOOOM!!*
The entire academy shook violently.
A strike capable of killing a legendary dragon.
But...
The man didn't move.
He didn't even turn around.
He merely raised a single finger.
The attack stopped.
Stopped completely.
As if time itself froze for a moment.
Everyone's eyes widened.
As for Eldar...
His eyes narrowed.
Because he understood something.
This person...
Is stronger than him.
Much stronger.
Then, the man sighed.
> "You are still reckless, Eldar."
>
Eldar froze.
Because he hadn't told him his name.
And he had never seen him before.
So how did he know him?
Meanwhile, the man...
Looked up toward the sky.
Then, he whispered.
> "The time has not yet come."
>
And in the next instant...
His body began to fade.
Like mist.
Like an illusion.
But before he vanished...
He looked directly at Kim.
And said a single phrase.
A phrase that made Kim's heart race for the first time since entering this world.
> "When you open the third seal of the sword..."
>
He gave a faint smile.
> "Look for the City of the End."
>
Then, he disappeared.
Disappeared completely.
As if he had never been there.
Silence fell.
Everyone...
Was completely stunned.
But Kim wasn't thinking about the man's power.
Nor about his resemblance to Amon.
He was thinking of something else.
The third seal.
How did he know about the sword?
How did he even know it had seals to begin with?
And who is the author of the letter?
And what is the City of the End?
At that exact moment...
Kim felt something inside his silver ring.
A slight tremor.
Then, a new line appeared inside his mind.
[New coordinate identified.]
[Location: City of the End]
[Status: Locked]
[Required Condition: Unlocking the third seal of the Void Devourer]
Silence fell.
Then, Kim finally smiled.
A small smile.
Cold.
And dangerous.
Because he realized something.
The world he had come to...
Was not just a magical world.
It was a chessboard much grander than he had anticipated.
And best of all...
One of the old players had begun to notice his presence.