A week had passed since the catastrophic battle that shook the city. During that time, peace had seemingly returned, and no new curses had appeared. However, for those who had lost loved ones, the wounds still bled.
Akanza and Hwang walked along the city corridor, which was once again bustling with daily activities. They talked, but their faces clearly showed their lingering sorrow.
"Where's Syiro?" Akanza asked, glancing at Hwang.
Hwang let out a heavy sigh. "He's still crying… ever since Dzeth was gone. Honestly, I still can't believe we lost him."
Akanza remained silent. He wasn't good at expressing his emotions. But inside, his heart was in turmoil.
BOOM!
Suddenly, the sky above them trembled. A bright red portal appeared in the middle of the street, causing widespread panic among the civilians. From within the portal, a massive entity emerged a Paladin Curse with an overwhelming presence.
It was Void Paladin, a being of Grade ExS, a power beyond human comprehension.
Akanza immediately prepared for battle. "Everyone! Get back now!"
But Void Paladin showed no mercy. It darted toward Hwang with blinding speed. Before Hwang could react, a powerful grip closed around his neck.
"Ukh !"
In the blink of an eye, his head was torn from his body, and blood splattered across the pavement.
"HWANG!!!" Akanza roared, his eyes wide with fury and despair.
Void Paladin only laughed, its menacing voice echoing across the city, spreading even more fear.
Without giving Akanza a moment to grieve, Void Paladin lunged at him. Akanza swiftly drew his Iron Sword, blocking the first attack. Dust and debris exploded into the air as their powers clashed.
Their battle raged on fiercely. Void Paladin attacked with impossible speed, forcing Akanza to stay on the defensive. Every time their weapons met, the resulting shockwaves demolished the buildings around them.
Akanza slashed toward Void Paladin, but his enemy dodged with inhuman agility. Before Akanza could recover, Void Paladin landed a devastating blow to his stomach, sending him soaring through the air before crashing into a wrecked car, reducing it to rubble.
Yet, Akanza refused to stay down. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself back onto his feet. With every ounce of strength he had left, he attacked again. Blow after blow, strike after strike yet Void Paladin remained unfazed.
Meanwhile, Akanza was beginning to weaken.
Blood dripped from his lips, his breathing grew heavier.
"This… can't go on like this…" Akanza muttered. He had no choice.
His eyes flickered. His entire body was engulfed in a crimson aura, his form shifting into that of a terrifying dragon his strongest Awakening Mode.
Void Paladin smirked. "Interesting."
The battle escalated into complete devastation. Their attacks now obliterated buildings without mercy. The sky darkened, lightning crackled, and shockwaves from their blows reduced the city into ruins.
But even in his dragon form, Akanza still wasn't strong enough.
Void Paladin fought back even more viciously. One piercing strike punctured Akanza's wings, sending him crashing to the ground with a thunderous impact.
Void Paladin approached him, grabbed the exhausted Akanza by the throat, and lifted him into the air.
BOOM!
With one final strike, Akanza's neck was slashed open.
From afar, Syiro could only watch helplessly through a live broadcast. Tears streamed down his face.
"No… Akanza too…"
His heart screamed, but all he could do was watch as one by one, his comrades were lost.
-
The World's Response
In response to the crisis, the President of the United States immediately issued a global emergency. Reports were sent out, and three International Grade S Hunters, the strongest warriors on the planet, were summoned to confront the threat.
Elm (1st Grade S International) – Master of Elementumkinesis (Control over all elements)
Thorra (2nd Grade S International) – Master of Terrakinesis (Absolute manipulation of earth and terrain)
Lopus (3rd Grade S International) – Master of Locuskinesis (Control over spatial location and movement)
The three elite hunters arrived at the battlefield, which was now nothing but ruins.
Without hesitation, they attacked.
Elm summoned firestorms and lightning, launching devastating elemental barrages. Thorra shattered the ground, creating massive rock formations to crush Void Paladin. Lopus warped the battlefield itself, attempting to trap their enemy in a separate dimension.
But even with all their might...
Void Paladin remained completely unscathed.
"What is this thing?!" Elm shouted, sweat dripping from his forehead.
The battle raged on, growing more intense. The last remaining buildings collapsed, the ground cracked open, and flames engulfed the city.
Despite their overwhelming power, the three hunters were beginning to falter.
One by one, they fell.
Lopus was the first. His body was sliced clean in half.
Thorra followed. His head was crushed with a single blow.
Lastly, Elm, their strongest warrior, was struck directly in the heart, blood gushing from his chest.
The three strongest hunters in the world had fallen.
Void Paladin merely laughed.
"Pathetic."
He opened a portal to his own dimension, preparing to return.
But the moment he stepped inside
Void Paladin froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"W-what… who… WHO DESTROYED MY ENTIRE KINGDOM?!"
To be continued...