The crack in the sky widened with a sickening screech.
Black fire dripped from its edges like molten tar, sizzling as it hit the air. Every drop that touched the ground burned a hole straight through the soil.
Even Celestine—one of the Starborn Gods—stepped protectively in front of Sohag, her cosmic aura shimmering like a shield.
"This presence…" she whispered, brows tightening. "It is not from our universe."
Lunaria's hand flew to her blade.
Seraphina's voice trembled, "A… being from outside creation?"
Ellarin stiffened. "Those even exist?"
Sohag, silent but focused, simply watched the crack expand.
Lyra clung to his arm, her bloodlust rising. "If it touches Sohag, I'll kill it…"
But even she shook slightly.
Because the aura emerging from the rift—
Felt dead.
Completely, utterly dead.
Not the death of a corpse.
Not the death of a soul.
The death of concepts, laws, existence.
An enemy from beyond creation.
---
A massive claw pushed through the crack—long, shadowy, and burning with black star-fire. The fire consumed even light itself, leaving a void behind.
Then a second claw.
Then a humanoid torso formed from shadows and collapsing galaxies, its chest flickering with dying stars. A twisted horned skull rested above its shoulders, jaw opening unnaturally wide.
A voice echoed, not through air—
But through the soul.
"Sohag."
The creature spoke his name like a prophecy.
"Successor of Haleonar. The final piece of the Primordial Cycle."
"I have come to erase you."
Maya raised her sword, but her hands trembled.
"What… is that thing?"
Celestine answered quietly:
"A Herald of Oblivion."
Every girl except Sohag froze in terror.
Even Lunaria stepped back.
"A Herald…? Those are creatures older than stars… incarnations of destruction…!"
Seraphina dropped to her knees, sweating.
"Why would something like that appear here?! Now!? For him?!"
Lyra hissed, "Because it wants my Sohag DEAD."
The shadow-being tilted its head, empty eye sockets turning toward Lyra.
"Emotions. Attachment. Meaningless."
Its voice crushed the air itself.
The Herald lifted a hand—
Black fire gathered into an orb large enough to vaporize mountains.
"Prepare to disappear."
Everyone panicked.
Except Sohag.
He simply sighed gently.
"…Annoying."
The Herald froze.
Celestine blinked. "Sohag…?"
The black orb fired—
A beam of annihilation—
Something that could erase concepts—
That even gods feared—
Shot directly toward him.
The girls screamed.
"Sohag!!!"
Celestine moved to shield him—
But Sohag gently raised one hand.
Calm.
Effortless.
Almost bored.
A soft ripple of primordial light pulsed from his palm.
Not a spell.
Not a technique.
A reflex.
The annihilation beam touched the ripple—
And vanished instantly.
Not deflected.
Not blocked.
Not countered.
Erased.
The Herald staggered.
"…Impossible."
Celestine gasped. "Sohag… you're already tapping into the Primordial Core?!"
Lyra clung to him tighter, equal parts terrified and proud.
Lunaria whispered, stunned, "His presence… it's overwhelming…"
Sohag walked forward.
Each step was silent, but the earth trembled softly.
Dim primordial light shimmered around him, like the breath of creation itself acknowledging his existence.
The Herald recoiled.
"You… should not be awakening so soon."
Sohag looked up at the creature.
"Noisy."
The Herald attempted another attack—
But Sohag appeared in front of him in a blink.
No sound.
No motion.
Just instant displacement—
As though the universe itself moved him forward.
The Herald panicked for the first time.
"W-WAIT—"
Sohag placed a single finger on the Herald's chest.
Primordial power surged—
SHATTER.
The Herald's entire torso fractured like glass.
The creature screamed, reality distorting around it.
"No… this cannot… the successor is not meant to be this powerful yet—!!"
Sohag pushed lightly.
The Herald imploded into a tiny sphere—
Then vanished from existence.
Silence.
The entire forest went still.
The moon stopped shaking.
The cracks in the sky sealed.
Even the air held its breath.
The girls stood frozen.
Then—
They exploded.
Lyra leaped on him. "SOHAG THAT WAS AMAZING I LOVE YOU SO MUCH—"
Seraphina ran over, eyes wide. "Y-You erased a Herald of Oblivion with a single touch! That's—! That's impossible!"
Maya stared in disbelief. "You didn't even break a sweat!"
Ellarin whispered, "He didn't even try..."
Rynia trembled. "He's… too beautiful… and too strong…"
Lunaria knelt, awe filling her eyes.
"Truly… he is the destined lord."
Celestine smiled warmly, placing a hand over her heart.
"You grow faster than Haleonar predicted… my future Sovereign."
Sohag blinked awkwardly, overwhelmed by the attention.
"…Too close."
The girls all tightened their circle around him.
"TOO CLOSE?! YOU COULD'VE DIED!!" Lyra shouted.
Sohag shook his head.
"I wouldn't die."
Celestine giggled. "Indeed. Even if a thousand Heralds descended, they would not touch him now."
Lunaria smirked at Lyra. "Meaning your jealousy is pointless."
Lyra: "SAY THAT AGAIN SO I CAN KILL YOU."
The two glared face-to-face.
Sohag felt a headache forming.
But above them…
Hidden behind the clouds…
A pair of ancient eyes watched.
A whisper echoed:
"The successor awakens earlier than expected… this will change the universe."
Danger was far from over.
In fact—
This was only the beginning.
---