The days that followed were quiet, almost too quiet. The air itself seemed to hold its breath as if the world sensed the calm before something vast and unknowable. Sung Jinwoo could feel the hum of power beneath the earth, faint but constant, pulsing like a heartbeat that was not of this world. The connection to the Nexus Realm had not vanished after that night — it had deepened.
Every time he closed his eyes, the faint image of that endless crystalline plain would return. Each time, the voice would come closer, clearer.
"Balance must be restored," it whispered. "The threads between worlds are breaking. The door must be opened by the chosen one."
Jinwoo knew what that meant. The "chosen one" could only be him. Yet he also knew what opening that door might cost.
He stood on the rooftop of his home in Seoul, the city lights stretching before him. Even after years of peace, the skyline bore faint scars from the wars long past. Some buildings were newer, built atop ruins left behind by the Dungeon Breaks. Others still carried faint mana burns, reminders of the chaos that once defined their lives.
Beside him stood Cha Hae-In, her golden eyes reflecting the moonlight. She was quiet, her expression thoughtful.
"You've been having those dreams again," she said softly.
He turned slightly, his hands resting on the railing. "You noticed."
"I always notice," she replied, stepping closer. "Your aura changes every time. It used to feel like darkness and control. Now it feels… heavier. Like it's stretching beyond this world."
Jinwoo smiled faintly. "That's not entirely wrong. The Nexus is calling to me. I can feel its presence even when I'm awake. It's like a pulse that echoes through everything."
"The Nexus Realm," she murmured, gazing out into the distance. "Is it real?"
"Yes," he said quietly. "More real than any dungeon or shadow realm I've seen. But it's not a place anyone should reach lightly. It's… the heart between worlds. The bridge that connects every realm, every reality. The Monarchs once fought for control of it. And if Agnorath senses it too…"
He stopped, his expression darkening.
Hae-In reached for his hand, her fingers brushing his. "You've carried enough burden for one lifetime. You don't need to face it alone, Jinwoo."
He turned to her fully this time, his eyes softening. "I know. But if the Nexus breaks, the barriers between dimensions will collapse. All the realms — shadow, demon, beast, human — will merge. That's something no one will survive. Not even me."
They stood in silence for a while. The wind blew gently through Hae-In's hair. Below, the city carried on, blissfully unaware that the fate of worlds rested in the quiet resolve of one man.
---
Far away, in the shadowed expanse of his own domain, Agnorath trained in silence.
He had risen from X Rank to XX Rank, his aura dark and crystalline, each breath radiating waves of concentrated mana that tore through the air like invisible blades. His army of beasts and lesser demons watched from afar, afraid to approach as he drew in the energy of the realm itself.
In front of him stood a black mirror — the surface of the dimensional veil he had been experimenting with for weeks. Its reflection rippled, revealing fragments of places beyond. Sometimes, he could see the human world. Other times, flashes of the Nexus.
He raised his hand and placed it upon the mirror. The reflection shifted — for a moment, he saw Jinwoo standing beside Hae-In on the rooftop. A small smirk crossed Agnorath's lips.
"So, the shadow king has begun to feel it too," he murmured. "Good. Let him draw nearer. Let him open the path."
A deep, guttural roar echoed behind him. One of the ancient Omega Beasts stirred from slumber — a creature made of molten stone and void essence. Agnorath turned slightly, watching its movement.
"Not yet," he said. "Your time will come. But first, the door must open. And when it does, both he and I shall meet in the heart of the Nexus."
His crimson eyes burned brighter as he whispered, "And only one of us will leave."
---
Back on Earth, Sung Jinwoo gathered his closest allies in a secluded underground base — a vast chamber reinforced with layers of mana, runes, and shadow. The same hunters who had once fought alongside him in the old world were there: Cha Hae-In, Baek Yoonho, Choi Jong-In, Go Gun-Hee's successor, and even a few old guild members who had retired but came when he called.
They stood around a large table, a glowing projection hovering above it. At the center was a faint depiction of the Nexus Gate — the same formation Jinwoo had seen in his dreams.
"This is what we're dealing with," Jinwoo said, gesturing toward the image. "A dimensional convergence point. It's forming near the Arctic Circle. At first, I thought it was just a mana anomaly, but now I know it's more than that. The Nexus is trying to manifest itself in our world."
Baek Yoonho frowned. "What happens if it opens completely?"
Jinwoo's gaze hardened. "Every barrier between realms will vanish. The beasts, demons, and shadows that still exist beyond will be able to enter freely. It will be chaos."
Choi Jong-In crossed his arms. "Can't we just seal it?"
"I've tried," Jinwoo said. "The System won't allow it. It's not a gate that can be closed by force. It's a balance point — one that has to be restored, not destroyed."
Hae-In looked up. "Then what's your plan?"
"I'll enter the Nexus," he said simply. "But I won't go yet. It's still unstable. For now, I'll prepare. I'll need to strengthen my mana core, stabilize the link, and gather all possible information. When the time comes, I'll go alone."
"No," Hae-In said firmly. "You won't go alone."
Her voice carried through the chamber, silencing everyone. Jinwoo looked at her, surprise flickering in his eyes.
"You've always carried the burden for everyone," she continued. "But the Nexus affects us all. If it's truly the heart of every realm, then you won't just need strength — you'll need trust, balance, and unity. You taught us that once. So we'll face it together."
Jinwoo hesitated, then smiled faintly. "You've become more stubborn than I am."
"Maybe I learned it from you," she replied with a small smile.
---
That night, as he stood alone again, Jinwoo could feel the Nexus hum through the air. The shadows around him seemed restless, eager yet uncertain. The System flickered before his eyes once more.
System Message:
[Energy Level Stabilizing...]
[ES Rank → SS Rank Evolution Threshold: 87% Complete]
[Warning: External Influence Detected — Nexus Energy Interference Increasing]
He exhaled slowly, his eyes reflecting faint light. "So it's almost time," he whispered. "But not yet. Not until I'm ready."
The moon above shimmered, and for a brief second, he could see the faint outline of the Nexus itself in the sky — a bridge of light spanning across the heavens.
The worlds were moving closer.
And when the door opened, everything would change.
---
By the end of that week, Jinwoo had already begun preparing the path to the Nexus. The calm before the storm had ended. Destiny was stirring again.
And deep in the other realms, Agnorath smiled — for the heartbeat of the Nexus had begun to echo louder than ever before.