The morning air in the city carried a strange stillness. It was not quiet in the usual sense. There was movement, tension under the surface, something imperceptible yet undeniable. Sung Jinwoo stood on the rooftop of a building, the boy by his side, observing the streets below. The faint glow under the child's skin had grown slightly brighter overnight. Jinwoo could feel the energy pulsing in subtle waves, stretching across the city like invisible tendrils.
Igris appeared silently behind him, scanning the city with sharp precision. "Master, the S Rank disturbances from yesterday have increased. Several small clusters are forming. Civilians remain safe for now, but the readings suggest something stronger may soon emerge. Possibly ES Rank thresholds."
Jinwoo's gaze remained fixed on the streets. "Then we observe. We do not act until necessary. Each movement, each ripple of energy tells a story. Agnorath's influence is at work, and we must understand it fully."
Beru circled above, wings casting faint shadows over the rooftops. His eyes glowed softly, reflecting the blue light of the boy's energy. Even the shadows at Jinwoo's feet quivered subtly, responding to the faint pulses of mana.
---
Meanwhile, hunters on the ground monitored small anomalies. E and D Rank beasts still appeared in scattered clusters, but the S Rank activity had grown slightly more coordinated. Small groups moved with purpose, testing, observing, as though drawn toward the boy.
Hyunwoo's voice came through the comm system. "Jinwoo, the readings show at least three S Rank entities moving toward the city center. They are slower, more cautious, but their energy is stronger than yesterday. Civilians are being evacuated."
Jinwoo nodded silently. "Keep them contained. Do not confront unless absolutely necessary. The true fight has not begun. We watch and wait."
---
The boy stirred beside him, his eyes flickering as he whispered, "Master, I feel them. They are close. Stronger than the last ones. Something is pushing them forward."
Jinwoo rested a hand lightly on the boy's shoulder. "I know. And we will manage it. The boy's energy is drawing them, but that is exactly what we need to observe. We do not rush. We learn."
From across the city, faint rumbles began to shake the ground. The first ES Rank manifestation emerged in the distance, subtle at first, a silhouette of a humanoid figure wreathed in shadow and fire. Its presence alone caused the weaker beasts in the area to scatter, their movements erratic.
System Message: Detected Entity – Ember Phantom, Type ES Rank Beast.
The creature's eyes glowed faintly as it moved through the streets, drawn in the direction of the boy. Jinwoo's shadows shifted beneath him, forming protective tendrils along the rooftops. He did not strike. Observation, timing, and control were essential.
---
Later, Jinwoo contacted his sister Yoo Jin-ah. Her concern was evident, but her voice remained steady. "Jinwoo, I can feel the energy. It is stronger now, more intense. You must be careful. Please do not overextend yourself."
"I will be fine," Jinwoo said quietly. "No one moves without my orders. But we must watch closely. These are early stages. ES Rank is appearing, and it will escalate. The patterns are deliberate. Agnorath is behind it, and the boy is the focal point."
The boy's faint glow pulsed again. "Master, there are more… hundreds, maybe thousands, following. Some are small, some strong. They are drawn to me."
Jinwoo crouched beside him, voice low but firm. "Then we prepare. You must remain calm. Every surge, every creature is part of a larger plan. We will see this through, but we cannot rush. The storm is gathering, but it has not yet broken."
---
In a nearby industrial area, the Ember Phantom paused and turned. Its glowing eyes scanned the environment, sensing the boy's energy. Small tremors radiated outward, affecting nearby S Rank beasts, causing them to move toward the same direction. Even the city itself seemed to respond to this subtle amplification of mana.
Jinwoo observed from a rooftop, his expression unreadable. "The ES Rank thresholds are forming naturally. Agnorath is orchestrating this carefully. We are watching the pieces move before the board is fully set."
Igris remained silent, his armor glinting faintly in the dim light. "Master, the energy is spreading. It is no longer localized. If left unchecked, more ES Rank entities may emerge across multiple cities simultaneously."
Jinwoo nodded. "Then we must remain vigilant. Shadows, prepare for immediate containment if necessary. The boy's energy is the key. We protect him, observe the creatures, and act only when timing is perfect."
---
The night deepened, and across the city, the faint hum of mana became more pronounced. Jinwoo's family, friends, and the hunters remained in protective positions, aware that the calm was deceptive. Small groups of S Rank beasts prowled the streets, and a few minor ES Rank manifestations flickered briefly in distant alleys, testing the strength of the defenses without fully engaging.
From the rooftop, Jinwoo looked at the boy. His glow was faintly pulsing, almost as if he were in tune with the creatures around them. "The Second Wave has begun, but this is only the beginning. Agnorath is moving, and the true escalation will come soon. We wait, observe, and prepare. Nothing more. Timing will be everything."
---
In the shadows of the city, unseen and distant, faint ripples of energy began to converge. Agnorath's influence stretched across realms, observing, orchestrating, and preparing. The ES Rank thresholds, the S Rank beasts, and the boy's energy were all part of a plan that would soon unfold.
And for Jinwoo, the quiet was only temporary. The real storm was coming, and when it broke, the world would tremble.