The silence in the area didn't last long as the air ripped.

Not with sound—but with intent.

Kael's back arched slightly, and then—

Shrrrk.

Black wings erupted from his shoulders, scales folding outward into vast, draconic pinions edged with faint crimson veins.

They unfurled in a single smooth motion, spanning more than three meters in length.

This was the biggest wings anyone had ever seen him summon in his human form, but it wasn't uncalled for, as he was carrying two humans along with him.

Seraphina, however, didn't react like others, who were used to Kael's form and knew his race.

She stared.

Her heart skipped violently as the impossible conclusion she had crushed moments ago clawed its way back to the surface of her mind.

'No… that isn't possible...'

Kael, on the other hand, bent his knees once, his wings flexing once, blowing the dust in the surroundings away.

Then, he launched upward.

The street cratered beneath him as he whooshed, the twins still locked in his hands, their bodies dangling helplessly as the town shrank below in a rush of wind and cloud.

Seraphina hesitated only a fraction of a second.

Then Kael glanced over his shoulder mid-ascent, golden eyes cutting toward her.

"Coming," he asked flatly, "or staying?"

Hearing his words, her teeth clenched.

The barrier above parted just enough—like reality holding its breath—and Seraphina surged after him in a flash of white mana.

The three figures waiting beyond the dome didn't move to intercept.

Didn't try to enter.

Their attention was fixed solely on Kael.

........................

Below.

Silence slowly reclaimed the street.

Evethra stared upward, fists clenched so tightly her nails bit into her palms.

"…We were useless," she muttered.

No one contradicted her.

Druvarn's button eyes dimmed slightly.

Lyra gritted her teeth.

Alenia lowered her hands, which were raised to attack, her knuckles white.

They were strong.

In the eyes of normal people, these people were monsters, as even Lyratheia had found it astonishing how so many strong people were gathered in one place.

But this—

This was a different world.

In front of those people who came suddenly, they felt like pebbles.

However, unlike Evethra and the group, there was someone who wasn't just feeling weak but was doubting his life.

It was Aldric, standing rigid, his face pale.

For the first time in decades, something close to fear settled in his chest—not of Kael, but of his own ignorance.

'They are all strong beyond what I can imagine...' He muttered as he stared up at the sky.

It might sound the same as what others were thinking, but it was different for him.

After all, he was someone who had thought that he was among the strongest people existing.

He was among the people hailed as the strongest in the human domain.

He had thought himself near the ceiling of power.

And even when he met Kael, he thought that Kael was an anomaly.

But now, with so many people strong beyond belief, he realized that the ceiling he thought was in his grasp wasn't even visible.

He felt like his whole life was a joke, as he had worked so hard to reach that position.

Unfortunately, no one was interested in the thoughts of a defeated old man.

........................

High above the barrier, Kael snapped his wings once and came to a halt in midair, the pressure of his presence rippling outward as he shut the dome behind them.

The twins gasped as the town vanished below, replaced by open sky and three waiting figures.

Kael turned.

The ones watching him weren't humans this time, but demihumans.

At the front stood a towering Lionoris—a lion-man with hair like a mane of molten gold and eyes like burnished amber. His physique radiated overwhelming physical might, every breath heavy with contained violence.

Kael's gaze flicked instinctively.

'SSS-rank,' he concluded.

This was the second SSS-rank person he had met today, and as he observed the guy more, he realized that he might be stronger than Seraphina.

Still, for some reason, as he glanced at Seraphina, whose eyes never once left his wings, he felt like she could defeat this Leonaris.

"…Whatever," Kael muttered. Then his eyes slid to the other two.

Twins again.

A wolf demihuman with ash-gray hair and calm, sharp eyes.

And beside him—a wolf demihuman with similar-colored hair tied high, tail swaying lazily behind her as she leaned forward with open interest.

Kael groaned.

"Twins again?" He muttered. "Just why are there so many of you?"

The wolf-woman grinned, sticking her tongue out playfully. "Hey, can you blame us? We heard the human side's 'super twins' were coming."

Sarcasm was clear in her voice when she said 'super twins,' and her eyes flicked toward Caelis and Caelia, who were still struggling weakly in Kael's grip.

"…But now?" She laughed softly. "They don't look that super."

Her brother nodded calmly. "Disappointing."

Kael could tell that they were underestimating him. But it was better for him if they were to underestimate him, so he ignored them.

His gaze locked onto the Lionoris, who was most likely the leader.

"What do you want?" He asked.

The wolf-woman blinked, then pouted dramatically. "Wow. Ignored already?"

But then she leaned forward. "But you know, you're actually really handsome."

She tilted her head, eyes roaming shamelessly. "Like… dangerously handsome. I kinda want to date you. Or at least see how you are—"

Kael didn't even flinch.

"…in bed," she finished, biting her lip.

Her brother sighed. "Rina, control yourself."

"Can't," she replied cheerfully. "He's the best-looking guy I've ever seen."

Kael still didn't look at her.

The Lionoris floated forward slightly, his mane-like hair shifting with the movement.

"My name is Ragnar Ashmane," he said evenly. "And we came to stop the humans from taking you."

Seraphina finally turned toward the guy as she heard his words, her eyes narrowing.

Ragnar continued, unbothered. "But it seems that won't be necessary."

His gaze flicked briefly to the struggling twins, then back to Kael.

"Humans are our enemies," Ragnar said. "An enemy of an enemy is a friend. We will not harm a friend."

Kael stared at him for a long second.

Then he shook his head once.

"Noted."

He turned slightly—just enough—to face Seraphina again.

"Good," he said. "Then let's finish this."

Even as he spoke, his eyes never left the demihumans.

Trust was not something he gave easily.

Above all, he was sure that they were here to recruit him just like the humans, and if he had rejected them, then they would also be fighting him.

But there was no need to get into that for now, as even he wasn't sure if he would be able to take all six of them at once.

So, for now, he decided to let them stay at the side and observe, because that's what they wanted to do.

They were trying to use this opportunity to gauge his strength.

Because, unlike their condescending attitude on the outside, they knew that neither the 'super twins' nor Seraphina was weak, and if Kael could put the twins in those conditions, then he must be worth more than they had thought.

Behind him, the wolf-woman smiled wider.

"Oh, I really like him," she whispered, as if sensing his wariness.

Kael hovered in the open sky, black wings beating slowly, deliberately.

His hands were still locked around the twins' necks.

Caelis and Caelia dangled there, feet kicking weakly, mana sputtering as they struggled just to breathe.

Kael's golden eyes ignored them completely as he looked past them—straight at Seraphina.

"This is it," he said calmly. Too calmly. "Last chance."

The wind howled around them, carrying the pressure of his presence outward like a warning.

"If you really want to fight this out," Kael continued, his voice low, "we can. But understand this—nothing ends well after that. Not for you. Not for them."

His grip tightened just enough to make the twins choke. "No matter who wins."

Seraphina met his gaze.

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Inside, calculations raced.

'Two SS-rankers already compromised.'

'Three demihumans watching.'

'And I'll have to fight an anomaly whose limits I still cannot see.'

Her jaw tightened.

'Even if I win this fight, I will for sure not be able to save the twins.'

Finally, she exhaled.

"...No," she said. "We end this here."

The words tasted bitter.

"We will withdraw."

Kael studied her for a moment longer, then nodded once.

"Good."

He released his grip—and hurled the twins toward her like discarded weapons.

"Take them," he said flatly. "And don't ever come back."

Seraphina caught them with a surge of white mana. The twins floated beside her, gasping violently, clutching their throats as air finally filled their lungs.

For half a heartbeat, there was silence.

Then—

"You think this is over?!?!" Caelis roared, his eyes bloodshot. "Don't underestimate us!"

Caelia's mana flared wildly. "Astraea won't allow something like you to live!"

Before Seraphina could react, magic circles ignited—raw, unstable, and forced into shape through sheer will.

"Stop!" She shouted.

But it was too late.

Crimson and black beams tore forward, released in less than a second—faster than they had ever cast before, fueled by rage and desperation.

Seraphina moved, trying to stop Kael, who she was sure would move.

But Kael vanished.

Space folded.

He reappeared behind the twins.

They barely had time to widen their eyes.

Black-scaled arms wrapped around their heads.

And then—

CRACK.

Kael smashed their skulls together with overwhelming force.

The impact echoed like thunder.

Bone shattered.

Blood and fragments sprayed outward as their heads collapsed into ruin, bodies going limp instantly.

The attacks dissipated harmlessly into the open sky.

Kael released the corpses. They fell, lifeless, tumbling through the air.

He stared at them for a moment, wings unmoving.

Then he muttered, his voice cold and final—

"I already gave you guys two chances."

Above them, the sky remained silent.

And Seraphina Vaelcrest stood frozen, staring at how she failed to stop the only thing she didn't want to.

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