The night was silent, calm, almost comfortable. The room remained warm, and the soft breathing of everyone around me created a steady rhythm that normally would have been enough to keep me in a deep rest. Lyannis was close, motionless, Rai'kanna maintained her firm posture even while sleeping, Vespera rested with her head on my chest, Scarlett and Elara were right beside us, and Liriel, as expected, slept completely surrendered to exhaustion. For a moment, everything seemed peaceful, as if we had finally reached a rare moment without pressure, without urgency, without an immediate threat.
But then I felt it.
It wasn't a sound, nor a movement, nor something that could be perceived through ordinary senses. It was deeper. My consciousness was pulled, as if something had pierced through my sleep and dragged me somewhere else. When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the room. The environment around me was empty, without defined form, without clear colors, only a sensation of light energy moving around me. I recognized that place, or rather, I recognized that feeling.
"You again," I said, without surprise.
The presence of the sword appeared before me, not as a physical body, but as a clear manifestation of its existence. "Time has passed," it said.
"Yes. And you said something was approaching."
"And it is."
The answer came directly, without hesitation. I kept my gaze fixed, trying to extract more than just words.
"It's not a general."
"No."
"It's not the Demon King either."
"No."
I narrowed my eyes slightly. "Then what is it?"
There was a brief pause, something unusual coming from it. "I cannot define it precisely."
That made me think for a moment. The sword did not usually show uncertainty.
"Then it's something you don't recognize."
"It's something that does not fit."
I felt the energy around us fluctuate slightly, as if reinforcing what it was saying.
"But one thing is certain. The danger is real."
I took a deep breath. "Direction?"
"Close."
"Time?"
"Undefined."
I clenched my teeth slightly. "That doesn't help much."
"Prepare yourself."
Simple. Direct. No room for discussion. Before I could continue, the presence began to disappear.
"Wait," I said, but it was already too late.
The space around me began to dissolve and, in the next instant, everything fell back into emptiness once again.
When I opened my eyes again, the scenery had changed, but it was not the room. The air was heavy, dense, filled with a pressure that left no doubt. That was not a neutral space.
It was hostile.
Then I clearly felt that presence.
Direct.
Overwhelming.
Intentional.
I looked ahead, and he was there.
The second general.
I didn't need confirmation. His aura, the pressure, his very existence already made it obvious. He did not advance, did not attack, only observed me as if analyzing every detail.
"So… this is the hero," he said calmly.
"You took your time," I answered without looking away.
He smiled faintly. "And you've grown more than I expected."
I did not respond. I simply remained firm.
He took a step forward, and the space around us seemed to react to his presence.
"I felt it when you defeated the third. It was… interesting."
"If you came to fight, then do it," I replied directly.
He let out a light laugh. "Eager. Direct. Naive."
His gaze changed, becoming colder.
"I did not come to fight."
"Then why are you here?"
He tilted his head slightly, as if he found the question obvious.
"To warn you."
The pressure increased, denser, more present.
"Enjoy things while you can."
I kept my expression unchanged. "Is that a threat?"
"No," he answered calmly. "It's a certainty."
He took another step, and the feeling of danger intensified.
"I will destroy everything you built. Everything you protect. Everything you believe in."
My hand slowly closed into a fist, but I did not step back.
He stopped, keeping his eyes fixed on mine.
"And when that happens… I want you to see it."
For a moment, everything around us seemed to stop.
Then, without any transition, he simply disappeared.
I opened my eyes sharply, back in the room. My breathing was accelerated, my body tense, but the environment around me remained the same. Everyone was still sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of what had just happened. Lyannis, Rai'kanna, Vespera, Scarlett, Elara, Liriel… nothing around me had changed.
Except me.
I stayed silent for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of it settle into my mind.
That wasn't just a warning.
It was a promise.
An invisible deadline, but an inevitable one.
I slowly turned my gaze to the side, observing each of them. They were there, trusting me, following by my side without hesitation.
I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
When I opened them again, there was no doubt.
"I won't lose," I murmured quietly, but firmly. "No matter what comes."
My expression remained steady, without hesitation, without room for uncertainty.
"I'll be ready."
The silence once again filled the room, but now it was different.
Heavier.
More real.
Even so, under control.
And while the night continued and rest slowly returned, a single thought remained clear in my mind.
If he truly comes… I will be ready.