The city had grown quieter than usual, though the air was heavy with an unseen tension. Sung Jinwoo moved through the streets with the boy walking beside him, his shadow soldiers flanking both of them. The faint blue light under the child's skin pulsed steadily, illuminating the shadows cast across walls and pavement. Every step seemed to resonate with the faint hum of mana that stretched across the city, as if the very world were listening.
Igris stayed close behind, his armored form moving silently, analyzing every disturbance, every fluctuation of energy in the environment. "Master, ES Rank clusters are increasing. They are still scattered, but the readings show coordinated movement. The lower-ranked beasts are converging in response to the stronger entities. It is becoming a pattern."
Jinwoo's gaze remained fixed ahead, calm but alert. "Exactly. The Second Wave is growing, but it is not yet a full storm. Agnorath's hand is in all of this. We must observe, anticipate, and be ready. Every move these creatures make is a clue to his plan."
Beru circled above them, silent, wings folding against his back. His eyes reflected the boy's glow, tracking every flicker of mana in the streets below. Even the shadows beneath Jinwoo stirred subtly, responding to the growing resonance that spread across the city.
---
Across the city, hunters were stationed strategically in anticipation of emerging threats. Small clusters of E and D Rank beasts had increased in number and activity, though they were still manageable. The first S Rank manifestations had been seen, but now there were signs of early ES Rank formations, subtle in appearance yet unmistakable in aura.
Hyunwoo's voice crackled through the comm system. "Jinwoo, we've confirmed at least five separate ES Rank readings within a thirty-kilometer radius. They are isolated, but their energy is concentrated. They are converging slowly toward a central point, and the boy is at its center."
Jinwoo's expression remained calm but intense. "Keep them contained. Observation is our priority. The moment we engage prematurely, Agnorath's plan will adjust. We must remain precise."
---
The boy stirred, sensing the subtle energy shifts around them. "Master, I can feel them. The ones I sensed yesterday… they are stronger now. There is something… more. Something waiting."
Jinwoo crouched beside him, voice quiet but firm. "Yes. That is why we remain cautious. Every fluctuation teaches us something. The ES Rank beings are testing the limits, drawing strength from your energy. We do not act hastily. We learn and prepare."
Igris's voice was low, his tone precise. "Master, the largest ES Rank manifestation is forming near the industrial district. It is subtle, moving cautiously, observing everything. It may be the first entity to actively respond to the boy's presence."
---
In the industrial district, a faint flicker of shadow and light emerged from a broken portal. The figure that stepped through was tall and imposing, humanoid in shape, wreathed in faint shadow flames that licked the edges of the ground. System Message: Detected Entity – Ashen Sentinel, Type ES Rank Beast.
The creature paused, scanning its surroundings with glowing eyes. It sensed the boy's energy instantly and paused, measuring, testing. E and D Rank beasts nearby trembled and shifted their movements in response, recognizing the dominance of the ES Rank aura.
Jinwoo observed silently from the rooftops, the shadows gathering at his feet, ready but restrained. He did not strike. The purpose was observation, understanding, not confrontation. "Even at this stage," he murmured, "the link between the boy and the creatures is undeniable. Agnorath is orchestrating this carefully. Every emergence, every ripple is deliberate."
---
Back in the apartment, Jinwoo contacted his sister, Yoo Jin-ah. "Jin-ah, remain in the safe zone. The boy's energy is attracting stronger entities. Do not engage. No one moves without orders. Everything is in motion for observation, not combat."
Her voice trembled slightly, though her words were steady. "Jinwoo, I can feel the energy… it is stronger than before. Please, be careful. This feels different, like the previous waves, but amplified."
"I will," Jinwoo replied softly. "We watch, we prepare, we learn. That is our priority. The true wave has not yet begun. What we see now are only the first ripples. The Second Wave is approaching, but it is subtle. Patience will be our strength."
---
As night fell, the ES Rank entities began to react subtly to one another, their movements slow but coordinated. Lower-ranked beasts followed the currents of energy without realizing it, moving in patterns that were orchestrated by the unseen hand of Agnorath.
The boy's glow flared faintly as he instinctively responded to the shifting mana around him. "Master, they are converging," he whispered. "There are too many… yet they are waiting. Something is guiding them. It is not random."
Jinwoo placed a protective hand on the boy's shoulder, his eyes scanning the horizon. "Correct. That is why we wait. Every movement, every pulse of energy is part of the plan. Agnorath is testing us, measuring strength and patience. We will not be drawn into reckless action. We observe and respond when the time is right."
---
From a hidden vantage point beyond the city, Agnorath watched. His presence stretched across dimensions, linking the ES Rank thresholds and subtly guiding the S and D Rank entities. The boy's energy acted as a beacon, amplifying the effects and pulling the weaker beasts into a pattern. This was the beginning of his true plan, a careful orchestration designed to test the hunters and awaken something deeper within Sung Jinwoo.
Back in the city, Jinwoo's shadows shifted and lengthened at his feet. He moved silently among them, attuned to the faint tremors of the ES Rank entities. He understood that the calm would not last. The true storm, the real Second Wave, would arrive soon, and when it did, the world would tremble under its force.
Jinwoo's voice was quiet, measured, and resolute. "We wait. We observe. We prepare. Nothing more. The Second Wave has begun in its subtle form. We will meet it on our terms. Every emergence, every surge of mana, every shadow of a beast will be under our control when the time comes."
And as the boy's glow pulsed in response to the surrounding energies, Jinwoo knew that the challenges ahead would test every ounce of strength, wisdom, and patience he had cultivated. The ES Rank entities were only the beginning. The real reckoning, the rise toward SS Rank and beyond, was still waiting just beyond the horizon.