The temple trembled. Shattered debris floated mid-air, suspended by fractured space itself as the battle between Po, Jinwoo, and the Architect reached its climax.
But the Architect no longer stood tall.
With blood trailing from its cracked stone frame and a crater beneath its twisted limbs, it was Po who dealt the final blow. A single punch — clean, sharp, and layered with decades of Kung Fu mastery — crushed the statue's defenses, shattering its faceplate into dust.
Jinwoo stood beside him, breathing steady, his muscles twitching as he lowered his fists. The chaotic rhythm of the Architect's combat had been overwhelming at first. But with Po tanking the worst of the attacks, Jinwoo learned, adapted, and countered. Each second sharpened his instincts like a blade against stone.
The Architect twitched, its final whispers lost in static magic. Then — silence.
And then…
[A memory fragment has been secured.]Would you like to access stored data?(Y/N)
The prompt hung in the air before the two.
Without hesitation, both warriors answered as one: "Yes."
The world around them twisted. Color drained from the temple. Sound stretched, then fell silent. And in the blink of an eye—
—they stood in another realm.
A violet sky, deeper than twilight, blanketed the heavens. Beneath it sprawled an endless army of creatures—Ice Elves, High Orcs, Goblins, Giants, and more, all lined in war formations. The stench of power and tension coiled in the air.
Jinwoo's eyes widened. "What... is this?"
Beside him, Po crossed his arms, brow raised. "Now this is new."
Despite his meta-knowledge, seeing it firsthand—feeling it—was another level altogether.
The hordes of monsters stared in one direction, unified by a single threat.
At the sky.
Cracks webbed through the air like shattered glass, light bleeding through the fractures. Then, the heavens split.
Descending from the rift came an army of silver-winged beings—majestic and radiant, each one armed with luminous spears and ethereal armor. Their eyes glowed with celestial intent.
Jinwoo narrowed his gaze.
"If this army of Ice Elves, High Orcs, Goblins, Giants, and many other magic beasts were to break out of a gate all at once… humanity wouldn't stand a chance. But these monsters weren't after the humans."
The first spear fell.
A scream echoed.
"It didn't take me long to figure out what would happen next..."
The skies wept fire as war ignited.
Clashes rang out like thunder. Magic lit the air in pulses of color. The angelic soldiers surged with precision and brutality, cutting through monsters like divine executioners.
The ground was painted red.
Then—change.
"Arise."
The word echoed across the plane.
A presence so vast it chilled the soul swept over them. From the blood-soaked battlefield, shadows twitched—then rose.
Soldiers once slain stood again, eyes gleaming purple-black, armor reformed from void.
The first Shadow Monarch stepped forth.
Jinwoo's heart raced. "That… that's my power."
Po stood silent. Yet the aura around him grew. His chi pulsed — cold, focused, and immense.
Jinwoo suddenly staggered, feeling his own power fluctuate and rise—as though in sync with the vision. But at the same time, a far heavier pressure descended.
He turned. His jaw clenched.
Po was glowing. Chi, shadow energy, and a hint of something older churned within him, dwarfing even the Monarch's presence.
"Dammit, Po… how much stronger are you?"
Below, the Shadow Monarch charged into the fray atop a shadow-born steed, brandishing blades forged from pure oblivion. Every swing claimed lives, every death became a new soldier.
Jinwoo saw it. Felt it. Commander's Authority, Shadow Extraction, Black Heart. He recognized every move.
But even with all that power, the Monarch was not alone.
From the edges of the battlefield, another army emerged. Different armor. Different energy. Rulers.
And the heavens trembled again.
Meanwhile, back in the real world—outside the Cartenon Temple—three of Korea's greatest S-Ranks arrived.
Choi Jong-In stared up at the colossal gate, his jaw clenched. "This mana… It's enormous."
Woo Jinchul nodded, tapping at his tablet. "We've confirmed it. Jinwoo and Po entered about an hour ago."
Cha Hae-In narrowed her eyes at the pulsing threshold. "But this isn't their mana… This feels ancient. Malevolent."
The gate creaked open.
Inside lay devastation—statues shattered, walls scorched, and mana residue thick enough to choke a normal Hunter.
But before they could enter, a voice greeted them.
"Welcome, new guests."
The Architect, reborn for a final curse, materialized amidst floating runes. Its power surged unnaturally — an echo of the system's core. It didn't hesitate.
Three agents, flanking the trio, were torn apart in an instant. Their blood sprayed like ink on parchment. Their dying words: "Jinwoo... Po... they're... watching..."
Indeed, Jinwoo and Po stood nearby, eyes glazed, entranced by the memory.
The Architect hissed.
"They shall make for fine offerings… for the kings."
And the Gate pulsed again—once more.
This time, wider. Hungrier.