The VIP room hadn't even fully settled into silence when everything changed in a single heartbeat.
Luka's eyes — which had been lazily half-open until now — suddenly snapped wide.
His pupils shrank.
His breathing stopped for half a second.
Then—
GRAB!!
Before anyone could react, Luka had already crossed the distance and violently grabbed Yome by the collar, slamming him halfway against the wall. The sharp sound of tightening fabric echoed through the VIP room.
Aarna gasped softly.
Feni blinked.
Even Kael froze mid-breath.
But Luka…
Luka's face was pure rage.
His usually calm eyes now burned with a cold fury none of them had ever seen before.
"…You."
His voice came out low… dangerous… trembling with barely suppressed killing intent.
He yanked Yome closer.
"…You're that guy, aren't you… Supreme General."
The temperature in the room plummeted instantly.
For a brief moment, even the air seemed to stop moving.
But the most shocking part?
Yome didn't resist.
Not even a little.
Instead… he sighed softly.
Almost tiredly.
"…You recognized me faster than I expected."
That calm reply only made Luka's grip tighten even more.
The floor beneath his feet cracked faintly from the pressure of his leaking aura.
Feno raised an eyebrow but didn't interfere.
Because he knew—
This moment mattered.
Yome slowly lifted his eyes to meet Luka's furious gaze.
There was no fear in them.
Only quiet, unshakable seriousness.
"…Relax," Yome said evenly. "There is no need to fear me."
Luka's jaw clenched.
"Fear?" he growled. "You think I'm—"
But before he could finish—
Yome dropped the real bomb.
"…What I know about Memory Lord Vicky…"
His gaze shifted slightly toward Vicky's masked figure.
"…is not even ten percent of the true Memory."
Silence.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Even Luka's grip loosened a fraction unconsciously.
Because that statement…
was not normal.
Yome continued slowly, each word landing heavier than the last.
"I didn't come here to fight."
A faint shadow passed through his eyes.
"…I came to warn you."
Now everyone was completely locked in.
Even Vicky's gaze sharpened slightly behind the mask.
The Warning That Froze the Room
Yome's voice dropped lower.
"…They have started moving."
Aarna's fingers stiffened.
Kael blinked.
"…Kaun?"
Yome's next words made the entire atmosphere collapse inward.
"…One by one… they are destroying universes."
For the first time since entering the arena—
complete silence swallowed the room.
Even Feno's playful expression vanished.
Yome looked directly at Vicky.
"…And neither you…"
A pause.
"…nor the current Lori Vicky…"
"…can stop them right now."
BOOM.
The weight of that statement pressed down like gravity itself had doubled.
But Vicky…
still didn't move.
Still didn't react.
Only that faint, unreadable stillness remained around him.
• The Forbidden Page
Yome continued slowly, his voice steady but grave.
"I don't know their true origin."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…But I saw something once."
Everyone leaned in unconsciously.
Yome spoke quietly—
"…In the last forbidden page of the Ancient Book."
Aarna's breath hitched.
Luka's eyes narrowed again.
Yome's next line came out almost like a whisper.
"…A page that was burned by the Infinite Flame."
Even Feno straightened now.
Because that…
was ancient-level danger.
Yome's gaze hardened.
"The only thing written there was this…"
His voice dropped to a near-whisper.
"…In one place, they will be a blessing…"
A pause.
The air trembled.
"…and in another…"
"…a curse."
Cold.
Unsettling.
Wrong.
The kind of wrong that crawls under your skin.
Yome exhaled slowly.
"I was previously spying inside the Paradox Council."
That single sentence shocked half the room.
Kael mouthed silently:
"…Bhai ye banda full risky nikla."
But Yome wasn't done.
"…And believe me."
His eyes turned sharp.
"…they are not the real danger."
That line made even Vicky's aura flicker for the first time.
Because if the Paradox Council wasn't the biggest threat…
then what was?
Yome opened his mouth to continue—
But suddenly—
• THE SKY SHATTERS
KRRRRRRRRRRRRR—!!!
The entire sky above the Underworld Arena tore open like reality itself had been sliced apart.
Everyone's heads snapped upward.
Outside the VIP chamber windows—
A MASSIVE PORTAL was forming.
Not normal.
Not stable.
This thing was enormous.
Reality around it was literally bending.
Kael's mouth fell open.
"…Bro…"
"…This entry is way over budget, man!"
From inside the portal—
something began emerging.
Slowly.
Heavily.
Like a world being pulled into another world.
And then—
it appeared.
• The Chained Giant Arena
A colossal floating arena descended from the portal, its sheer size dwarfing the entire city below. Surrounding its outer rim stood massive ancient statues — giants carved from black celestial stone — each one bound tightly in thick glowing chains that pulsed with ancient suppression runes.
The aura coming from those statues alone…
was terrifying.
The arena itself stretched endlessly, layered platforms spiraling downward into darkness like a battlefield meant for gods rather than mortals.
Even the air trembled under its presence.
Yome finished his sentence quietly—
"…They might be Origin-level beings."
A pause.
His eyes darkened.
"…Or even beyond that."
And right on cue—
the portal EXPLODED with light.
The Arrival of the Powerhouses
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
Like a flood breaking through a dam—
they came.
Hundreds…
Thousands…
No—
LAKHS.
Powerful soldiers began pouring out of the portal like a cosmic army descending from the heavens. Each one radiated terrifying aura pressure that made the very universe vibrate.
The sky darkened.
Stars flickered.
Space itself felt heavy.
Even experienced fighters like Feno and Luka visibly tensed.
Kael whispered weakly,
"…Bhai… refund mil sakta hai kya?"
No one laughed.
Because this…
was war-level presence.
The Invisible Identity Appears
Then suddenly—
space folded.
Silently.
Effortlessly.
And a new voice echoed across the battlefield.
"…Alright, alright, that's enough dramatic entrance."
Everyone froze.
Because the voice came from nowhere.
And everywhere.
Then—
reality shimmered beside Vicky.
And a figure stepped out like he had been there the whole time.
Aerito — The Playful Monster
He looked young… but ancient.
Messy silver-blue hair fell over sharp glowing eyes that shimmered between mischief and terrifying depth. He wore a long asymmetrical coat layered with floating runic threads that flickered like living code. Around his neck hung a broken dimensional compass that kept spinning on its own.
But the most dangerous thing about him?
His smile.
Too relaxed.
Too fearless.
Too familiar.
He stretched lazily and walked straight toward Vicky.
"…Master," he groaned dramatically, "do you have ANY idea how much energy that teleport took?"
He rubbed his shoulder like an overworked employee.
"…I swear, my entire power reserve just evaporated."
Silence.
Pure.
Stunned.
Silence.
Then—
Aarna's eyes widened.
"…Bade bhai?!"
She rushed forward in disbelief.
"…You're still alive?!"
Aerito grinned and flicked her forehead lightly.
"Of course I am, you little airhead."
Vicky tilted his head slightly.
"…Was he also my student?"
Aerito immediately straightened with fake pride.
"THE favorite one, obviously."
Then he leaned closer and spoke softly—
"…But don't strain your memory, Master."
His eyes softened slightly.
"…Once you obtain your first Fragment…"
"…your memories of me will return."
Vicky's aura flickered faintly.
"…Fragment?"
Aerito blinked.
"…Wait."
Slowly…
Very slowly…
He turned his head toward Aarna.
"…You didn't tell him?"
Aarna froze.
Her face went pale.
Inside her mind—
Oh damn — I completely forgot!
Before she could escape—
PINCH!!
Aerito mercilessly pulled her cheek.
"You are STILL careless."
"Aah! Big bro, let go already!"
For half a second—
even in this apocalyptic situation—
Kael whispered:
"…Bro, family drama in full swing, huh?"
But then—
Aerito's playful expression suddenly vanished.
His eyes snapped toward the sky.
Because—
another portal was opening.
Slowly.
Silently.
But the aura leaking from it…
was wrong.
Terrifying.
Ancient.
Even Aerito's voice dropped.
"…Master…"
For the first time—
there was real seriousness in his tone.
"…I don't think…"
A pause.
The portal began widening.
Dark energy spilled out like liquid night.
"…we can stop that person."
The shadow inside the portal moved.
Something…
was about to step out.
And right before the figure could emerge—