The golden symbol floated silently in the air.
Even after the masked man disappeared—
It remained.
Radiating ancient Origin energy.
⸻
Kael stepped closer.
The symbol resembled a circle surrounded by nine interconnected stars.
The moment his fingers touched it—
A surge of information entered his mind.
⸻
A location.
A date.
A message.
⸻
"When the seventh moon rises, come alone."
⸻
The message vanished immediately afterward.
⸻
Mira frowned.
"What was that?"
⸻
Kael remained silent for a moment.
Then answered,
"An invitation."
⸻
Selene's icy gaze lingered on the fading symbol.
"From him?"
⸻
Kael nodded.
⸻
The three returned to Azure Star Sanctuary shortly before dawn.
Yet Kael couldn't stop thinking about the masked Origin Bearer.
⸻
Who was he?
How had he survived?
And most importantly—
Why was he hiding?
⸻
Inside the Sanctuary's main hall—
Lyra listened carefully as Kael explained everything.
The second Origin Bearer.
The Legacy Fragment.
The invitation.
⸻
The moment he finished—
Silence filled the room.
⸻
Even Lyra seemed shaken.
⸻
"Another Origin Bearer…"
⸻
She slowly exhaled.
⸻
"The records never mentioned survivors."
⸻
Kael frowned.
"You knew Origin users existed."
⸻
"I knew they existed."
Lyra replied.
"I never believed one could still be alive."
⸻
Then her expression became serious.
⸻
"If what you saw is true…"
⸻
"…everything changes."
⸻
Before anyone could continue—
A powerful pressure suddenly erupted somewhere within Starfall City.
⸻
BOOOOOM!
⸻
The entire Sanctuary trembled.
⸻
Mira immediately stood.
⸻
"Another fight?"
⸻
A disciple rushed into the hall.
⸻
"Saintess!"
⸻
"Two Convergence participants are fighting!"
⸻
Lyra pinched the bridge of her nose.
⸻
"Who this time?"
⸻
The disciple swallowed.
⸻
"Selene Frostheart…"
⸻
Everyone looked toward Selene.
⸻
The Frozen Moon genius calmly drank her tea.
⸻
"…and Darius Blackstone."
⸻
CRACK.
⸻
The teacup shattered inside Selene's hand.
⸻
Cold energy flooded the room.
⸻
"I told him yesterday."
⸻
Her voice was terrifyingly calm.
⸻
"To stop following me."
⸻
Mira immediately stood.
⸻
"Oh, this will be entertaining."
⸻
Lyra sighed.
⸻
"Nobody is fighting."
⸻
Unfortunately—
Nobody listened.
⸻
Minutes later—
The group arrived at a massive public arena.
⸻
Thousands of spectators filled the surrounding streets.
⸻
At the center—
A giant man stood proudly.
Nearly seven feet tall.
Broad shoulders.
Dark bronze skin.
A massive war hammer rested against his back.
⸻
Darius Blackstone.
⸻
One of the strongest physical cultivators among the younger generation.
⸻
Across from him stood Selene.
Calm.
Cold.
Dangerous.
⸻
The atmosphere crackled with tension.
⸻
Darius grinned.
⸻
"Just one duel."
⸻
Selene's eyes narrowed.
⸻
"No."
⸻
"Why?"
⸻
"Because you'll lose."
⸻
The crowd exploded with laughter.
⸻
Darius blinked.
⸻
Then laughed even harder.
⸻
Meanwhile—
Kael's attention drifted elsewhere.
⸻
The Origin Core had started pulsing again.
⸻
Not toward Selene.
Not toward Darius.
⸻
Toward the sky.
⸻
His eyes narrowed.
⸻
Something was happening.
⸻
Far away.
Very far away.
⸻
Then—
The system appeared.
⸻
[ SYSTEM WARNING ]
[ Void Activity Detected ]
[ Location: Unknown ]
[ Multiple High-Level Void Signatures Gathered ]
[ Threat Assessment: Extremely High ]
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⸻
Kael's expression changed immediately.
⸻
At that exact moment—
Deep beneath frozen mountains—
The Hollow Hunter Commander knelt before the Void Lord.
⸻
Darkness filled the ancient chamber.
⸻
The Commander lowered his head.
⸻
"We have confirmed it."
⸻
Silence followed.
⸻
Then the Void Lord spoke.
⸻
"Confirmed what?"
⸻
The Commander hesitated.
For the first time in centuries.
⸻
"There are two Origin Bearers."
⸻
The chamber froze.
⸻
Absolute silence.
⸻
Then—
Dark laughter echoed throughout the void.
⸻
The Void Lord laughed.
⸻
And laughed.
⸻
And laughed.
⸻
Not because he was angry.
⸻
Because he was delighted.
⸻
"Two?"
⸻
The darkness around him twisted violently.
⸻
"Excellent."
⸻
The Void Lord slowly rose from his throne.
⸻
Ancient seals shook throughout the chamber.
⸻
"Then we shall kill them both."
⸻
BOOOOOOM!
⸻
Across countless miles—
Every Void operative felt the command.
⸻
Hunt them.
⸻
Eliminate them.
⸻
No matter the cost.
⸻
Back in Starfall City—
Kael suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
⸻
A feeling unlike anything before.
⸻
Danger.
⸻
Not immediate.
⸻
But coming.
⸻
Something massive had begun moving.
⸻
And instinct told him one thing.
⸻
The next time the Void attacked—
It would not be a simple assassination attempt.
⸻
It would be war.
⸻
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
[ Main Story Arc Updated ]
Current Arc:
Northern Convergence
Upcoming Arc:
The Origin War
Warning:
The Void has begun large-scale mobilization.
Host Preparation Recommended.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⸻
Kael slowly looked toward the northern horizon.
His eyes calm.
Focused.
Determined.
⸻
Whatever was coming—
He would be ready.
⸻
Host: Kael Veyron
Realm:
Origin Awakening Stage 2
Abilities:
• Origin Sense
• Origin Flash
• Origin Pulse
• Origin Perception
• Origin Resonance
• Origin Step
• Origin Severance
Equipment:
• Ring of the First Pulse
• Azure Star Token
Active Quest:
[ The Second Legacy ]
Major Discoveries:
• Another Origin Bearer Exists
• Ancient Star Vault is a Prison
• Void has begun mobilizing for war