Alexei loosened his tie and lunged at Lyvrael with superhuman speed. His punches tore through the air, finding their target. Each blow echoed with a metallic clang against Lyvrael's defense shield. But unlike Troy Vance, Lyvrael seemed unaffected by the attacks. He expertly parried Alexei's every move, staying on the defensive. When Alexei landed a powerful punch, seemingly shattering Lyvrael into pieces, he believed he had won. However, as the smoke cleared, Lyvrael emerged completely unharmed. With a sarcastic smirk, he said, "The game ends here, human," and instantly went on the offensive. He grabbed Alexei's head, mercilessly flung him, and then plunged his sword into his chest, sending him flying back several yards.Intervention of the Russian Hunters As Alexei took the blow, the elite Russian Hunters' army behind him moved swiftly. This army of millions, representing nearly 90% of Russia's Hunter population, charged at Lyvrael. Yet, with every swing of his sword, Lyvrael effortlessly deflected countless hunters, even vaporizing some in mid-air. The army's numbers dwindled with each passing second.Ivan's Final Strike In the midst of the chaos, Ivan, an SSS-level Russian Hunter, broke away from the others. He understood that the only way to counter Lyvrael was through a great sacrifice. Gathering all his strength, he sacrificed himself to unleash a deadly punch he called "The Final Strike." This incredible blow, delivered at the cost of destroying the dungeon itself, finally broke through Lyvrael's defenses. The explosion plunged the entire area into smoke, and the battlefield became a sea of blood. The army of millions was now reduced to less than a million after Ivan's attack.Alexei's Empowerment and the Czar Form After the smoke cleared, a voice echoed from the center of the destroyed dungeon: "EMPOWERMENT!" A massive explosion followed, and Alexei's form changed. His armor became a magnificent sight, made of ice crystals and black steel. Power claws resembling bear paws adorned his arms, and a crown-like "Czar's diadem" of glowing ice appeared on his head. "Ice vapor" emanating from his body constantly chilled the surrounding area. Alexei was now in his "Czar" form and ready to attack.The Final Blow Attacking in his new form, Alexei created snowstorms with every step, freezing everything he touched. With his first attack, "Imperial Maul," he trapped Lyvrael within frozen ice pillars. He then entered "Winter Storm" mode, gaining a massive boost in speed and power. He launched a barrage of attacks at Lyvrael with his deadly claws. The force of the attacks shattered Lyvrael's armor, and from behind the mist, Lyvrael said, "You managed to defeat my avatar, human; you are strong, but now you will taste death." Roaring and with a deadly aura radiating from his eyes, he prepared for one final counterattack, making it clear that the battle in Tokyo was nearing While Tokyo was consumed by chaos, in the grim and deserted streets of London, Troy Vance, one of the world's most powerful Hunters, found himself face to face with a pitch-black knight he called Xerathul. With an ominous glow from the hilt of his sword, Xerathul challenged Troy, "So you defeated my avatar. You are strong, human. But no, you are not the one. Now, you will die here." His words awakened an unknown terror in Troy. Xerathul's voice was not just a threat; it was an echo from the past.

Xerathul's Control of the Battlefield

When Xerathul plunged his sword into the ground, the battlefield in London instantly transformed. A black dome, as if torn from the sky, enveloped everything. Within this domain, known as the "Umbral Nexus," time began to slow down. Only Xerathul's movements remained at a normal speed. The energy and fighting spirit of Troy Vance's army were absorbed into this dark realm, drawn into the shadow crystals that filled the crevices of Xerathul's armor. These souls granted Xerathul a massive boost in both physical and magical power.

Troy Vance's Retreat and Transformation

In his empowered state, Xerathul swung his sword with incredible speed, landing a deadly blow on Troy Vance. Troy was sent flying back, coughing up blood, and was repeatedly struck until he fell to the ground. Realizing that Xerathul was consuming his army's souls, Troy ordered them to retreat. As he struggled to his feet, barely alive, his advisor Travis Kane cried out, "No, master, don't use that technique!" With a tired and bloody smile, Troy replied, "FINAL FORM... THE BLACK FLAME OF HELL!"

The Clash of Two Powers

At that moment, the entire dungeon became hell. The ground was covered in black flames and lava. Troy Vance had lost his human form, transforming into a being with mystical wings made of black flames and lava. In this new state, he retaliated against Xerathul with deadly attacks. With a strike he called the "Devil's Breath," he shattered the dark domain Xerathul had created. In response, Xerathul loaded all his power into his sword and unleashed an attack named "Judgment of Darkness."The War Moves to London

The clash of the two attacks was so powerful that the dungeon could not withstand the impact and began to collapse. With the dungeon's destruction, the battle spilled into the empty streets of London. The once-bustling city was now a literal hell. On one side, black flames and lava, and on the other, a storm of darkness and souls. The fate of humanity rested on the outcome of this struggle between two titans.While apocalyptic scenarios unfolded in Tokyo and London, life in Busan went on as usual, oblivious to the global chaos. Or so it seemed. Kwon So-yeon, an anxious mother, was eagerly awaiting her son's birthday. She couldn't put her phone down, dialing her son's number again and again. With every "line busy" signal, her heart pounded faster.

Normally, her son answered every call instantly, but now he wasn't picking up. A fear began to grow inside So-yeon. Hundreds of worst-case scenarios raced through her mind. Had something happened to him? She remembered his voice from just a few hours ago, saying, "Don't worry, Mom, everything's fine." Her anxiety was the struggle of an ordinary mother, completely unaware of the great war outside, fighting for her own small world.She brought the phone to her ear again, whispering, "Please, just pick up." At that very moment, a distant explosion shook all of Busan. The force of the blast caused the phone to fall from So-yeon's trembling hands, shattering its screen. She ran to the window, her hands shaking, and saw a strange purple glow in a part of the sky. This explosion was not just a sound of destruction; it was a sign that the global chaos had reached Busan. Her son still wasn't answering.

This event showed how the great catastrophe happening in the rest of the world touched the lives of ordinary people. , Alexei and Troy, fought on behalf of all humanity, this mother in Busan was fighting only for her son. And that explosion was the harbinger that everything had now changed