The moment the dimensional breach stirred-
The entire Worldheart Chamber trembled.
Ancient formations across the
underground ruins activated instantly, flooding the darkness with blinding silver light. Thousands of runes ignited simultaneously along the walls while the restored planetary seal pulsed heavily like a living heartbeat.
The corrupted guardian rose immediately.
Its massive body radiated violent spiritual pressure while silver moonlight erupted around its claws instinctively.
For the first time in months-
The creature looked genuinely alarmed.
At the center of the formation, Krishak slowly stood.
Black corruption and silver-gray Origin essence rotated around him continuously while faint spatial distortions flickered near his body from the overwhelming energy density surrounding him.
The old man's expression had become extremely serious now.
"Step back from the breach."
Krishak's eyes remained fixed downward.
The disturbance below had not fully awakened yet.
But something was moving.
Something ancient.
Deep beneath the fractured dimensional seal-
A pulse echoed upward.
Heavy.
Cold.
Alien.
The surrounding corruption suddenly surged violently.
Dark energy slammed against the purification formations repeatedly while fragments of spatial cracks spread briefly through the underground chamber before stabilizing again.
Even the Worldheart itself pulsed faster in response.
As though reacting instinctively to danger.
Then-
Krishak heard it.
Not a voice.
Not exactly.
More like a distant thought echoing through endless darkness.
"....Origin...."
His pupils contracted slightly.
The whisper vanished immediately afterward.
The whisper vanished immediately afterward.
But the pressure lingering behind it remained terrifyingly real.
The old man noticed his reaction instantly.
"What did you sense?"
Krishak remained silent briefly.
Then answered quietly.
"Something beyond the breach noticed the my energy.
The atmosphere froze.
Even the corrupted guardian growled deeply afterward.
Its silver eyes locked onto the dimensional crack below with visible hostility.
The old man's gaze darkened.
"That should not be possible."
Krishak slowly looked toward the silver-gray energy circulating around his hands.
"The breach is weakening faster than expected."
No one denied it.
Because the evidence already surrounded them.
Months earlier, the corruption spilling into Earth had been chaotic and instinctive.
Now-
It felt directed.
Watching.
Searching.
Another tremor shook the underground chamber.
This time stronger.
Several outer formations flickered briefly before stabilizing again.
The old man immediately moved forward, ancient seals activating beneath his feet.
"We cannot allow further resonance."
Krishak nodded once.
Then sat down immediately within the central formation again.
The Primordial Origin Arts activated at full force.
Silver-gray Origin essence exploded outward around him while black corruption surged inward continuously from every direction. The surrounding pressure became so intense that portions of the underground floor cracked apart instantly.
Pain erupted through his body immediately.
Far worse than before.
Because now-
The corruption carried traces of something beyond the dimensional breach itself.
The moment it entered his body, violent whispers flooded his mind.
Endless hunger.
Ancient destruction.
Cold intelligence older than modern humanity itself.
Krishak's meridians trembled violently under the strain while black veins spread briefly across his skin.
Yet he continued refining.
Again.
Again.
Again.
The Universe Origin Body Arts circulated wildly through his body.
His bones glowed silver beneath his skin while refined Origin essence strengthened every organ, nerve, and spiritual pathway repeatedly.
The process nearly tore him apart.
Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
His muscles ruptured under dimensional pressure before healing again instantly.
Even space around his body distorted faintly from the unstable forces colliding within him.
But slowly-
Very slowly—
The violent corruption began stabilizing.
The old man watched silently with visible disbelief.
Because Krishak was doing something that should have been impossible.
He was adapting to dimensional contamination itself.
Hours passed.
Then finally-
The trembling breach calmed slightly.
The whispers faded.
And the underground chamber stabilized once more.
Krishak exhaled slowly.
His entire body ached.
Every breath still burned.
But compared to before-
Something had changed.
The old man stared carefully at him.
"..Your body."
Krishak looked down quietly.
Faint silver-gray markings had spread further across his arms and neck now.
Not corruption.
Not spiritual scars.
Something else entirely.
The Star Forged Body realm had reached completion.
A heavy pulse spread outward from his body naturally afterward.
Stable.
Ancient.
Dense beyond ordinary spiritual energy.
For several moments, silence filled the chamber.
Then the old man finally spoke quietly:
"You've entered the peak of the second realm."
Krishak nodded slowly.
But his expression remained serious.
Because his attention was still focused downward.
Toward the dimensional breach.
That whisper earlier-
It bothered him.
Not because of its hostility.
But because of what it implied.
Something beyond Earth had sensed him specifically.
Or more accurately-
It sensed Origin energy.
The old man seemed to understand his thoughts immediately.
"The Void Tempered Body realm will make that connection stronger."
Krishak remained silent.
Then finally asked:
"What exactly exists beyond the breach?"
For the first time since they met-
The old man hesitated.
The underground chamber became unusually quiet afterward.
Even the guardian remained motionless.
Finally, the old man answered slowly.
"Civilizations.
Krishak listened carefully.
"Some ancient."
"Some monstrous."
"Some no different from humanity."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"And some"
A faint pressure spread unconsciously through the chamber.
"should never reach this world again."
Far above the mountains
Storm clouds gathered silently across the night sky.
And beyond Earth itself-
Something ancient had already begun paying attention.