The wind was quiet that evening, yet every gust carried the faint hum of energy. Seoul's skyline glowed faintly beneath the setting sun, but beneath its beauty lay a tension no one could explain. The world had changed again, though only a few could sense it. The air rippled with invisible mana currents, subtle but steady, like the beating of a restless heart.
Sung Jinwoo stood on the rooftop of his agency's new base, his black coat brushing lightly against his legs. The city below moved as usual—hunters patrolling, people rushing home, cars weaving through the glowing streets—but Jinwoo's gaze wasn't on them. He stared beyond, far into the distance where faint ripples of power twisted through the atmosphere. His eyes shimmered faintly with the power of his shadows. Something was waking, something vast.
Beru crouched beside him, wings folded neatly, his tone calm but alert. "My liege, the mana fluctuations have increased since morning. The readings are not random anymore. They follow a rhythm."
Jinwoo nodded slightly, his mind turning. "A rhythm means purpose. Someone or something is coordinating it."
Igris stepped forward from the shadows, his crimson armor gleaming faintly beneath the fading sunlight. "Master, the lower beasts have begun to move differently. Packs that once fought one another now move in unison. They are preparing for something."
Jinwoo looked toward the horizon, where faint storm clouds gathered. "Then we wait and watch. The System has patterns we do not yet understand."
The air pulsed faintly. Even without using mana, he could feel it—waves of energy rolling through the world, echoing through his core. Ever since the boy, Okai, had arrived, the System's rhythm had been different. Portals appeared in distant lands without warning. Some closed immediately, others stayed open for days. Hunters across the globe whispered of intelligent beasts giving orders to others.
The Second Wave had begun, but its purpose remained hidden.
Okai stood behind Jinwoo, quiet, his eyes glowing faintly blue. "Master, the energy feels familiar," he said softly. "It feels like something calling to me from beyond the realm."
Jinwoo turned slightly, studying the boy. "From the other realm?"
Okai nodded. "It feels like... a voice trying to awaken something inside me. It's not hostile yet, but it's growing stronger each time the energy surges."
Jinwoo's expression darkened. He understood what that meant. Agnorath was stirring again.
Far away, deep in the unseen world beyond mortal perception, Agnorath sat upon his throne in the dark citadel. The void shimmered around him, and his eyes gleamed faintly like dying stars. He raised his hand, watching black fire swirl around his fingers. The whispers of countless beasts echoed through his mind. He had grown stronger, his presence expanding through the cracks of the realms.
System Message: Agnorath — Current Rank: XX Rank (Progress: 73%)
He smiled faintly. "So, the shadows of the hunter stir again. Let him grow. Let him think he is ready. The more he rises, the stronger his fall will be."
The void trembled as he extended his will. Somewhere in the mortal world, portals flickered open for brief moments—small, unstable, but enough for his influence to seep through. Beasts of higher intelligence began to appear in remote regions. They were not yet powerful enough to challenge Jinwoo, but they carried fragments of Agnorath's command.
Back in Seoul, Jinwoo's shadows stirred restlessly beneath his feet. Even the most disciplined among them could sense the change. Beru tilted his head slightly, his antennae twitching. "My liege, several portals have appeared at once. None of them are stable, but they share a single energy pattern. They are testing the boundaries."
Jinwoo's voice was low. "Agnorath is searching. He wants to know how much I can see."
Hyunwoo's voice came through Jinwoo's communicator. "Commander Jinwoo, several hunter teams are reporting unstable dungeon openings in the southern sector. No casualties yet, but the readings are higher than average."
"Evacuate civilians from the perimeter," Jinwoo replied. "No engagement until I arrive. I want observation data first."
As the call ended, Cha Hae-In approached from the access door, her long hair fluttering lightly in the wind. "You can feel it too," she said quietly, standing beside him. "The air feels alive again. It's like when the first gates appeared years ago."
Jinwoo's eyes softened slightly as he glanced at her. "Yes. Only this time, it's organized. Controlled. Something is pushing the world toward balance or chaos."
She looked at him carefully. "You're not planning to go alone again, are you?"
He smiled faintly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I never go alone. My shadows are always with me."
She sighed softly but didn't argue. "Then let me come with you this time."
He hesitated, then nodded once. "Very well. But we observe only. No fighting unless the threat escalates."
---
The night grew colder as they approached the southern district. The streets were empty, abandoned in a hurry. Cracked windows reflected the faint blue light seeping from a hovering portal. The portal pulsed like a heartbeat, expanding and contracting slowly.
From within, something growled softly.
Igris moved forward, his blade ready but low. "Master, the readings are faint. ES Rank activity detected. It is not yet stable enough to cross fully."
Jinwoo stood still, feeling the energy swirl around him. The beasts were no longer acting on instinct—they were waiting. That made them dangerous.
He extended his hand slightly, and the nearest shadow rippled to life. Dozens of shadow soldiers emerged silently, forming a wide perimeter. Their eyes glowed faintly, reflecting the portal's light.
Cha Hae-In whispered, "What are they waiting for?"
Jinwoo frowned. "For something to arrive. Something that commands them."
The portal suddenly flared, expanding with a violent pulse. A shape emerged, tall and humanoid, covered in black scales that shimmered like obsidian. Its eyes glowed gold, its arms ending in claws that hummed with raw power. The ground cracked beneath its feet as it stepped forward.
System Alert: Detected Entity – ES Rank Beast: Void Reaper.
The creature roared softly, its voice echoing like thunder through the streets. Even from a distance, the pressure was immense.
Cha Hae-In steadied her stance. "It's intelligent. I can feel it analyzing us."
Jinwoo raised his hand slightly. "Do not engage."
The Void Reaper tilted its head, studying them. Then, without warning, it turned and disappeared back into the portal. The rift flickered and sealed itself shut.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Beru hissed softly. "It came to test us, my liege. To measure your strength."
Jinwoo nodded. "And now Agnorath knows how close I am to evolving. That was a message."
He looked up at the sky. The clouds had thickened, faint lightning flickering deep within them.
"The storm is coming," he said quietly. "We are running out of time."
---
That night, back at headquarters, Jinwoo stood by the window, staring out at the city. His reflection looked older, more tired than before, but his eyes still burned with quiet determination. He could sense the world changing again. Every breath of mana, every ripple in the air, every flicker of the System whispered the same truth.
The balance between realms was failing, and only power could restore it.
He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the faint hum of his shadow army resonating beneath him. Then he whispered softly, almost to himself, "If Agnorath rises to destroy the world again, then I will rise to protect it. No matter the cost."
The shadows trembled in silent acknowledgment. Outside, thunder rolled across the horizon.
The storm was no longer approaching. It had already begun to form.