The aftermath lingered.
Not in smoke or rubble—but in silence.
Hunters who had rushed toward the courtyard now stood frozen at its edges, staring. Some whispered. Others simply watched Baek Siheon as if he might disappear again—or worse, do something unimaginable.
Seraphina felt it immediately.
That subtle shift.
People weren't just curious anymore.
They were wary.
"…This is bad," she murmured under her breath.
Lucian, standing slightly behind her, nodded nervously. "Yeah. When Heaven backs off instead of smiting someone, people start asking uncomfortable questions."
Ulfric crossed his arms, completely unbothered. "Let them ask. Fear is honest."
Siheon stood at the center of it all, shoulders relaxed but senses sharp. He could feel the gazes now—pressing, probing, judgmental.
Not celestial.
Not demonic.
Human.
Inside his mind, the systems stirred again—not arguing, but… observing.
〈Celestial Ascension System: Human perception shift detected. Reverence → Suspicion.〉
〈Demonic Sovereign System: Heh. Welcome to being inconvenient.〉
A group of elite hunters finally stepped forward.
At their head was a man in a dark tactical coat reinforced with runic plating. His hair was black, his eyes sharp, posture disciplined to the point of stiffness.
Ulfric clicked his tongue. "Ah. Bureau dogs."
Seraphina stiffened. "Careful."
The man stopped a few meters away and gave a short nod.
"Baek Siheon," he said. "I am Director Han Myung-seok, Eastern Division of the Celestial Bureau."
Lucian leaned over and whispered, "Wow, even his name sounds bureaucratic."
Han's gaze flicked briefly to Lucian—measuring—before returning to Siheon.
"You caused a Class-Unknown phenomenon," Han continued. "You resisted celestial authority. And you returned from an unregistered domain."
Siheon met his eyes calmly. "That's one way to summarize it."
A few hunters bristled.
Han's jaw tightened. "This is not a joke."
"No," Siheon agreed. "It's not."
For a moment, neither man spoke.
Then Han raised a hand.
Two figures stepped out from behind him.
And the air changed.
They didn't radiate overwhelming aura like Ulfric.
They didn't carry divine pressure like celestials.
Instead, their presence was… dense.
Heavy.
Like mountains wearing human skin.
Seraphina's eyes widened slightly. "…Overpowered humans."
Ulfric's grin sharpened. "Oh? You brought those."
The first was a woman—tall, muscular, her arms etched with glowing geometric tattoos that pulsed faintly with power. The second was a man with calm eyes and a massive shield strapped to his back, its surface layered with countless runes.
Lucian swallowed. "Why do I suddenly feel like prey?"
Han spoke evenly. "These are Human Pillars. Independent assets capable of engaging high-tier celestials."
That earned a reaction.
Lilith's eyes glinted with interest.
Ulfric laughed outright.
"Humans who scare Heaven," Ulfric said. "You are ambitious."
The shield-bearing man stepped forward.
"I am Aegis," he said simply. "And you are an anomaly."
Siheon inclined his head politely. "Nice to meet you."
The tattooed woman cracked her neck. "I'm Lucian Vale—"
Lucian nearly choked. "WAIT WHAT?!"
Everyone turned.
"…What?" the woman frowned.
Lucian pointed at himself. "I'm Lucian."
She stared.
"…Huh."
Ulfric burst out laughing. "HAHAHA—of all the names—"
Seraphina sighed. "This is not the time."
Director Han cleared his throat. "Names aside—this is a test."
Siheon raised an eyebrow. "I thought Heaven already tried that."
"This is a human one," Han replied. "We need to know where you stand."
Aegis planted his shield into the ground.
The ground cracked.
"I won't kill you," Aegis said calmly. "But I won't hold back."
Seraphina stepped forward instantly. "This is unnecessary."
Siheon gently stopped her.
"It's fine," he said.
She searched his face. "…Are you sure?"
Siheon smiled faintly. "I need to know too."
He stepped forward, rolling his shoulders.
Inside him, gold and shadow aligned quietly.
Not flaring.
Not raging.
Waiting.
Aegis moved first.
No warning.
The shield came down like a falling continent.
Siheon didn't dodge.
He caught it.
The impact sent a shockwave outward, shattering nearby stone and forcing weaker hunters to retreat.
Aegis's eyes widened—just a fraction.
"…Interesting."
The tattooed woman—Lucian Vale—grinned wildly. "Oh, I like him."
She vanished.
Reappeared behind Siheon.
Her fist glowed—compressed kinetic force screaming for release.
Siheon twisted at the last second, letting the blow graze past him instead of hitting directly. The air detonated.
He slid back several meters—boots carving trenches into stone—but remained standing.
Ulfric's grin widened. "He's adapting mid-fight."
Seraphina's heart pounded. "Siheon…"
Inside his mind—
〈Celestial Ascension System: Threat recognized. Tactical balance optimal.〉
〈Demonic Sovereign System: Break them—or learn from them.〉
Siheon exhaled slowly.
Then he stepped forward.
Not aggressive.
Not defensive.
Intentional.
The ground beneath his feet responded.
Aegis felt it.
"…He's anchoring reality," Aegis muttered. "Like a—"
"—keystone," Lilith finished softly.
Siheon moved.
One step.
One strike.
Not aimed at Aegis's shield—
But the space beside it.
The force redirected, slipping past the shield's defensive runes and stopping a hair's breadth from Aegis's chest.
Silence.
Siheon withdrew his hand.
"I don't want to fight humans," he said calmly. "But I won't be controlled."
Aegis stared at him for a long moment.
Then—
He smiled.
And stepped back.
"…Test passed."
Director Han exhaled slowly.
Lucian Vale laughed. "Yeah, okay. He's fun."
Seraphina finally let herself breathe.
Ulfric clapped again. "The world's in trouble."
High above—
The watchers took note.
And somewhere far away—
Something ancient stirred.