The air trembled.
Silver-blue light spiraled outward from Kai, not violently… but with absolute presence. Dust lifted from the ground, drifting weightlessly as if gravity itself hesitated.
The Riftborn slowed mid-charge.
Its massive body dragged forward through invisible resistance, claws tearing deep lines across the shattered courtyard. A distorted growl escaped its throat — no longer confident.
Uncertain.
Afraid.
Ryo stared, breathing heavy.
"…That's not normal."
Elias didn't look away.
"No… it isn't."
The pressure surrounding Kai deepened — calm, steady, overwhelming.
Not rage.
Not chaos.
Control.
The Riftborn roared and forced itself forward again, dark energy erupting from its body in a final desperate surge. The ground cracked beneath its weight as it pushed through the invisible pressure.
It was trying to kill him.
Trying to survive.
Trying to escape something it didn't understand.
Kai lifted his hand slowly.
Energy gathered into his palm — condensed, silent, dense like a falling star.
For the first time…
The Riftborn hesitated.
Instinct screamed at it.
Danger.
Death.
Something far beyond its existence.
Kai stepped forward.
One motion.
Calm.
Unavoidable.
"…Starfall Breaker."
He struck.
Light collapsed inward — then exploded outward in a controlled burst of cosmic force.
The impact shattered the ground.
Air tore.
Sound vanished.
The Riftborn screamed — a broken, distorted sound — its body fracturing from the inside as silver cracks spread across its dark armor.
It staggered.
Falling apart.
Dying.
But before it collapsed…
It looked directly at Kai.
And spoke.
Not clearly.
Not fully.
But enough.
A jagged, hollow whisper clawed into the air.
"…Found… you…"
Ryo froze.
"…What did it say?"
The Riftborn's body began disintegrating into fading shadow, but its voice continued — weaker, fragmented.
"…He… will… come…"
Elias' eyes narrowed.
"…Who?"
The Riftborn's hollow gaze remained locked on Kai.
Fear.
Recognition.
Submission.
"…The… God… Killer…"
Silence fell.
The creature shattered into nothing.
Gone.
The pressure vanished.
Kai's aura faded slowly, the silver light dissolving into the air as the courtyard returned to stillness.
He stood there… quiet… breathing steady.
Ryo walked forward slowly.
"…Kai."
Kai didn't answer.
Elias stepped closer, voice low.
"That thing wasn't speaking randomly."
Kai finally spoke.
"…I know."
Ryo frowned.
"The 'God Killer'… you ever heard that before?"
Kai's eyes lifted toward the sky — where the rift was slowly closing.
"…No."
But deep inside…
Something stirred.
A faint memory.
A burning sky.
A shadow watching from beyond the stars.
Waiting.