Eldrin suddenly stopped moving.

His calm expression tightened for the first time in a long while.

"…Silvar," Eldrin said quietly. "Did you sense that?"

Silvar had already turned his head, eyes sharp and focused. He nodded once. "Yes."

His gaze shifted toward the depths of Demon Gate Island. "That aura belongs to them."

Eldrin's brow furrowed. "Bastor and Varyn."

Silvar's voice was low. "They have awakened."

Eldrin closed his eyes briefly, sensing more carefully.

His calm breathing slowed even further. "But this is strange."

Silvar's eyes narrowed. "They are not simply awake."

Eldrin opened his eyes again. "…They are fighting."

The two stood still for a moment, letting the pressure ripple through the land.

The air itself felt disturbed, like something heavy had been pulled out of place.

Silvar clenched his fist slightly. "Could the gate be reacting?"

Eldrin shook his head. "No. This feels different."

He looked toward the distance. "If the gate were breaking, the aura would be chaotic."

Silvar frowned deeper. "Then that means…"

Eldrin nodded. "It should be the humans I told you about."

Silvar turned to him sharply. "A human?"

He scoffed quietly. "I still have a hard time believing a human like that could appear."

Eldrin did not argue.

He kept watching the distant clash. "Normally, I would agree with you."

He paused, then added, "But judging from the aura both sides are using… this is a very close battle."

Silvar's eyes narrowed. "You're saying Bastor and Varyn are not overwhelming him."

"Yes," Eldrin replied. "They are being pushed."

Silvar clicked his tongue. "Unacceptable. They only just awakened."

Eldrin nodded. "That is exactly why we must move."

He turned his body toward the source of the disturbance.

"If this continues, Bastor and Varyn will grow weaker right after awakening."

Silvar took a step forward as well, his presence turning sharp and heavy.

"And if that human keeps pushing them…"

"The balance will tilt," Eldrin finished.

Silvar's voice hardened. "Then we stop them first."

Eldrin nodded again. "We do not interfere to kill."

He stepped forward, the ground beneath him responding. "We interfere to prevent loss."

Silvar looked once more toward the distance. "Whether human or beast…"

His eyes flashed coldly. "No one is allowed to damage the seal."

Without another word, the two ancient beings moved, their figures vanishing as they headed straight toward the battlefield.

---

Arden wiped the blood from his arm and looked up at the massive beasts in front of him.

Instead of fear, a slow smile spread across his face.

"…So you really are strong," he said, breathing hard but steady. "Good."

He straightened his back and rolled his shoulders once.

Green light pulsed faintly beneath his skin as his breathing synced with the land.

"I was hoping for this."

The ground around him trembled slightly as natural mana gathered.

"I think it's a good time to test something."

The tortoise shifted its weight, claws digging deeper into the earth.

The serpent lifted its head higher, water pressure thickening around its body.

Arden took one step forward and raised his hand.

Then he clenched it.

"Come out," he roared.

[Plant Soldiers]

The earth exploded with life.

Trees twisted unnaturally fast, their trunks reshaping and bending as branches fused together.

One figure rose.

Then another.

Then dozens more.

Humanoid soldiers formed entirely from plants stepped out of the ground, their bodies made of hardened wood, layered vines, and glowing green veins.

Each one stood tall, eyes shining with the same calm focus as Arden's.

Dion, watching from far behind, sucked in a breath. "You're kidding me…"

Arden flexed his fingers, and every plant soldier moved with him.

"Each one of them," Arden said calmly, "has the same physical strength as me."

The serpent hissed sharply, water swirling faster. "Absurd."

The tortoise's eyes narrowed. "Creating bodies is one thing. Sustaining them is another."

Arden grinned wider. "Then let's see how long you last."

He swung his arm forward.

The plant soldiers charged.

Their footsteps shook the ground as they rushed in waves, fists swinging, roots anchoring their strikes into the earth.

Some leapt forward, others slammed down with crushing blows, while vines lashed outward to bind and restrict movement.

Water blades sliced through several soldiers, shredding them apart.

But more immediately replaced them.

Earth spikes crushed others into splinters.

But even as they fell, new roots surged and rebuilt them.

Arden felt the strain hit his body all at once. His muscles burned. His breath grew heavier.

But he did not stop.

He laughed through clenched teeth. "Good. That's it."

Green light flared brighter around him as [Nature Body] pushed his regeneration harder, keeping him standing.

"Handle this," Arden shouted, eyes burning. "Or get buried under it."

The plant soldiers surged again, fists slamming down, vines tightening, and roots cracking the ground as they attacked from every side.

Then a voice cut through everything.

"Stop."

Arden froze.

His eyes widened slightly as every plant soldier halted at once.

Arms stopped mid-swing. Vines froze in the air. Roots stopped growing.

"What…?" Arden muttered.

He tried to move his hand.

Nothing happened.

The connection was still there, but something stronger had pressed down on it.

Then the air shifted.

A pressure far different from before spread across the battlefield.

Arden slowly lifted his head.

From above, two figures descended.

One was a massive dragon formed from azure-colored wood.

Its body looked alive, bark and leaves flowing together naturally, eyes calm and ancient.

Beside it, a huge white tiger stepped through the air itself.

Its fur was pure white, its eyes cold and sharp, and every movement controlled and precise.

Arden took a step back despite himself.

"Why are there two more beasts appearing now," Arden said under his breath.

"Did I really step on every possible landmine at once?"

Behind him, Dion swallowed hard.

"Goddammit," Dion muttered, gripping his bottle tightly. "This just keeps getting crazier."

He leaned forward, eyes wide. "First the portal. Then those two. And now this?"

Dion shook his head slowly. "Two more beasts just showed up, and they feel just as strong as the tortoise."

Arden clenched his fists, green light flickering faintly around his body.

"…Looks like this island really doesn't want its secrets touched," he said.

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