A chill ran down Fenric's spine. The sense of death pressed heavily upon him.
Boom—!
The ground convulsed violently. In the next instant, the earth collapsed in waves, turning upside down as a colossal figure clawed its way out.
It was a monstrous Skeleton Demon—a behemoth of bone.
One of its arm bones stretched as long as a passenger plane. When it fully emerged, it stood towering like a skeletal Godzilla, blotting out the heavens. In its grip was a bone blade, tens of meters long, radiating menace.
The students looked on in horror, then turned their eyes to Fenric.
Such a monster—could even the Shura God defeat it?
At that moment, Fenric's arm burned faintly with crimson light. The full moon tattoo on his skin glowed.
"It's midnight," Fenric muttered, before shouting, "Everyone, enter Samsara Space—now! Remember this: once it closes, you'll be forcefully ejected to the same place you entered. Do not exit early, no matter what!"
The implication was clear. Anyone foolish enough to leave prematurely might reappear right in front of the Skeleton Demon and die instantly.
Fenric pressed the glowing tattoo. The others, desperate for safety, rushed to do the same.
Within seconds, everyone vanished into Samsara Space, leaving the howling Skeleton Demon behind, its roar shaking the ruined land.
Inside Samsara Space, Fenric wasted no time. He pulled open his friend list. He needed information.
Among his contacts, only Aurora was always well-informed. Luckily, she was online.
Belle and Arke were also logged in, confirming that they had made it in safely.
Fenric sent a communication request to Aurora, but the system showed she was already in conversation—likely with Belle.
A moment later, Aurora's voice came through:
"Shura, I really appreciate what you did for Belle tonight."
"Between us, don't be so formal," Fenric replied with a faint smile. "Belle is my friend too. Helping her was natural."
Aurora nodded. "Then let's meet face-to-face. Box 2126."
"On my way."
Fenric headed to the teahouse and entered the private room. Inside sat Aurora Morwyn and Belle Morwyn.
"Shura!" Aurora greeted warmly, rising with a smile. "It feels like it's been ages."
Fenric nodded. "Yes. You've been busy."
Aurora sighed softly. "I imagined many possibilities for your true identity. The only one I didn't expect—was that you're still a high school student."
"Not for much longer." Fenric chuckled lightly. Had it not been for the Blacklight Virus and tonight's chaos, he would have finished his college entrance exams already.
"Besides, age means nothing, does it? Surely you're not that superficial, Aurora."
Aurora shook her head. "No. But when I think you're Yuhan's age, I can't help but feel I've wasted my years."
Fenric raised a brow. "You're only twenty-five, if I'm not mistaken. Not exactly ancient."
Aurora laughed, waving it away. "Let's forget age. Friends don't dwell on such things." Then her tone turned serious. "Shura, your identity has been exposed. From now on, your life will change. You may not care, but there are matters you must not ignore."
"Such as?" Fenric asked.
"Your parents. Your family." Aurora's gaze sharpened. "Ordinary Samsaras rarely worry about this. But you're different—your talent, your strength… it will draw envy. Countless eyes will be watching you. Some will be vile. If they can't reach you, they'll target your loved ones."
Fenric nodded. "I've already considered that."
"Even so," Aurora pressed, "bring your parents to Jade Capital. The security there is unmatched. Certain communities can provide at least some protection."
Fenric exhaled slowly. "I'll see what can be done. First, I need to deal with the immediate crisis."
He shifted the topic. "When I entered, there was a massive creature outside. Belle saw it too."
Aurora's face darkened. "I know. And Shura, about tonight—why were we suddenly thrown from the city into that wilderness?"
"That's exactly what I wanted to ask."
Aurora's voice grew grave. "The experts believe other spaces are merging with our world. This distortion is causing the time-space anomalies we experienced."
Fenric frowned. "You mean… Belle and I entered another world tonight?"
"Almost exactly that," Aurora nodded.
"And the entire AH City?" Fenric pressed. If the whole city was dragged in, his father would be in grave danger.
Aurora shook her head. "No. The initial findings show only two overlapping points per region. The distortion range is limited."
"Good." Fenric let out a breath of relief.
Still, Aurora's expression remained solemn. "Shura, this is no small incident. What happened tonight is global. The damage and panic it's caused far surpass the Blacklight Virus. Worse yet—no one knows how long it will last."
Fenric's face hardened. The world they had fallen into was swarming with dark creatures beyond imagination. Even he, with all his strength, dared not claim absolute safety. If humanity remained trapped there… countless lives would be lost.
Aurora leaned forward. "For now, the government is working on solutions. In the meantime, please—look after Belle."
Fenric gave a single nod, his expression heavy.
At that moment, Aurora's communication interface chimed. Urgent news from her subordinates.
Her eyes widened as she read.
"The global master list…" she whispered. "The top rank has changed!"
Fenric looked at her sharply.
Aurora's voice trembled with disbelief. "A new name has appeared. Their comprehensive evaluation soared instantly to S-grade—surpassing even Adam!?"