Far above the city…
Inside the deepest layer of the January System.
A massive chamber of floating symbols and rotating structures glowed with crimson warning light.
The system was recalculating.
Thousands of records shifted across the air like storms of glowing text.
One command repeated across every layer of authority.
ANOMALY: AREN VALE
CONTAINMENT FAILURE
A deeper voice emerged from the system core.
Older than the Hunters.
Stronger.
"Escalation required."
A massive sealed structure at the center of the chamber began to unlock.
Chains of light shattered.
Ancient locks opened one by one.
Inside the chamber stood three figures.
They did not wear armor.
They did not carry weapons.
They simply stood there—motionless.
Watching.
The system spoke again.
"Authority Council awakened."
One of the figures opened its eyes.
"Explain."
The system projected the battle across the chamber—Aren breaking the Hunter's spear, twisting the system's force.
The second figure spoke quietly.
"A fracture inside January itself…"
The third figure looked toward the world below.
"Interesting."
The system delivered its request.
Directive: Erase the anomaly.
But the first figure shook its head slowly.
"No."
The other two looked at him.
He spoke calmly.
"If he defeated a Hunter, he deserves observation first."
The second figure nodded.
"Yes… let him grow."
The third smiled faintly.
"Then we can see how dangerous he truly becomes."
Back in the city—
Aren felt the pressure above him change.
Not hostile.
Not yet.
But far more dangerous.
He looked up at the sky again.
Cael followed his gaze.
"What now?" Cael asked.
Aren answered quietly.
"I think…"
"…the real enemies just woke up."