The tension snapped.
Wind howled across Sunrise Cliff.
Three S-Rank Guild Masters stood ready.
Dozens of elite hunters behind them.
Weapons drawn.
Mana flaring.
And at the center—
Kaizen.
Hands in his coat.
Looking… bored.
He glanced back slightly.
At his guild.
"…Go inside."
They froze.
"…Huh?"
Kaizen didn't turn fully.
"…All of you."
"…Inside the base."
One of them stepped forward.
"Guild Master, we can—"
"…You can't."
Silence.
The tone—
Was absolute.
"…You'll just get in the way."
That hit harder than any insult.
Another member clenched his fists.
"…But—"
Kaizen sighed softly.
Finally turning halfway.
"…Trust me."
That was all.
No arrogance.
No explanation.
Just quiet certainty.
"…Go."
Something in his voice…
Made them move.
"…Everyone! Inside!!"
The guild rushed toward the massive base.
Doors slammed shut.
Barriers activated.
From the inside—
They watched.
Outside—
The three guild masters stepped forward.
"So you're finally taking this seriously."
Kaizen cracked his neck slightly.
"…No."
Then—
He vanished.
BOOOOOOM
The sky exploded.
A shockwave tore across the cliffs.
Clouds split instantly.
The ground trembled.
Inside the base—
Every guild member froze.
"…WHAT WAS THAT?!"
They rushed to the windows.
High above—
Figures clashed.
No—
Blurred.
BOOM
BOOM
BOOOOOOM
Each collision shattered the air itself.
The Iron Blood Guild Master swung first—
A massive arc of condensed force.
Kaizen caught it.
With one hand.
The impact—
Split the sky.
"…Too slow."
He disappeared again.
CRACK
The Iron Blood leader was sent flying—
Straight through a cloud layer.
Before he could recover—
The Azure Valkyrie leader appeared behind Kaizen.
Blade glowing.
"Don't look away—!"
She struck.
The blade hit—
And stopped.
Two fingers.
Kaizen held it effortlessly.
"…Better."
He flicked.
SHATTER
Her weapon cracked.
She was launched backward.
Stormfang Guild Master roared—
Transforming mid-air.
Claws.
Fangs.
A beast of pure mana.
"YOU'RE NOT HUMAN—!!"
He lunged.
Kaizen didn't move.
"…Never said I was."
BOOOOOOOM
The sky detonated again.
Inside the base—
The guild members could barely breathe.
"…They're… losing…"
"…No…"
"…They're getting DESTROYED…"
Hours passed.
The sun climbed higher.
Then began to fall.
But the battle didn't stop.
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
The sky never rested.
Each clash louder.
Each shockwave stronger.
Mountains cracked in the distance.
The ocean below churned violently.
Inside—
Silence.
Fear.
Awe.
"…That's our Guild Master…?"
One member whispered,
"…What level is he…?"
No one answered.
Because they all knew—
That wasn't a level.
That was something else.
Above—
Kaizen floated calmly.
Not a scratch on him.
Not even breathing hard.
The three guild masters—
Broken.
Bleeding.
Exhausted.
Seven hours.
And they hadn't landed a single real hit.
The Iron Blood leader gasped,
"…What… are you…?"
Kaizen looked at him.
Eyes calm.
Unreadable.
"…Tired."
They froze.
"…What?"
Kaizen glanced at the horizon.
The setting sun painting the sky gold.
"…I've been holding back for too long."
A faint light flickered around him.
Warm.
Radiant.
Terrifying.
"…Let's finish this."
The air stopped.
For the first time—
The three S-Rank Guild Masters felt it.
Not pressure.
Not fear.
Judgment.
Far below—
Inside the base—
Every member felt their hearts drop.
"…Something's changing…"
Above—
The sky itself began to glow.