The exceptional beings gathered on the battlefield—all of them ranked at the Three-Digit level or higher—felt an overwhelming surge of power course through their bodies.
Many of them broke through their limits on the spot, ascending directly into the Double-Digit realm.
Not a single person had expected such an unbelievable reward merely for answering the summons.
Shock spread across every face.
"So... this is the power of a Single-Digit existence?"
"They can elevate our strength this easily...?"
"It's terrifying..."
The realization left everyone speechless.
The gulf between the strongest and everyone else was far greater than they had ever imagined.
...
Meanwhile, the Single-Digit beings floating high above the battlefield were beginning to show signs of fatigue.
One of them wiped the sweat from his brow and let out a helpless sigh.
"...It's been far too long since I exerted myself like this."
"To think I'd actually feel exhausted after empowering so many people..."
"It's probably been hundreds of millions of years since I last experienced this."
Most of the others silently agreed.
Only Rika remained perfectly composed.
Compared to fighting Izumi, lending a little power to others was hardly worth mentioning.
Then—
Something changed.
A massive claw suddenly emerged from the widening dimensional rift.
Crack...
Crack...
The sound of reality being torn apart echoed throughout the void.
Everyone's expressions changed instantly.
The dimensional boundary itself was being ripped open—from the outside.
Slowly, an enormous creature forced its way through.
Its appearance was grotesque beyond description.
Twisted flesh.
Malformed limbs.
An utterly revolting body that seemed to defy all natural laws.
Silence filled the battlefield.
Finally, someone muttered,
"...What the hell is that?"
"It's unbelievably ugly..."
Another immediately shouted,
"Prepare for battle!"
"No time to hesitate!"
"Attack!!"
The instant the order was given, every warrior unleashed their power.
The dimensional war had begun.
...
ROOOOOOOOAR!!
A deafening roar shook the entire Dimensional World.
Then an even more horrifying scene unfolded.
The gigantic monster's body expanded even further.
Using its own colossal frame as a wedge, it forcibly pried the dimensional crack wider.
It was literally tearing open reality with brute strength.
Without waiting another moment, Shiroyasha, Algol, and the other powerful combatants launched a barrage of attacks.
High above them, the Single-Digit beings watched grimly.
"...This thing is dangerous."
"What exactly is it?"
"It possesses the aura of a Single-Digit existence..."
"...Yet it isn't truly Single-Digit."
Even Rika wore an expression of astonishment.
The monster before them completely defied everything they knew.
...
Just as everyone prepared to engage...
Something unexpected happened.
The monster's body suddenly began to dissolve.
Its immense form crumbled into countless wisps of gray mist.
Within moments, nothing remained.
The strange gray particles drifted quietly into the Dimensional World.
At first...
Nothing happened.
Then—
The very fabric of reality began to react.
It was as though the world itself had been infected by an unknown virus.
Dark fractures spread across space.
Countless cracks rapidly expanded.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!!
The Dimensional World shattered.
The barrier separating both sides collapsed completely.
And for the first time...
Everyone saw what existed beyond.
...
Boiling chaos.
Endless destruction.
Uncountable monsters filled the horizon.
Growls.
Roars.
Screams.
Howls.
The sounds merged into an endless chorus of madness.
Then...
Pairs of crimson eyes slowly opened.
One pair.
Ten pairs.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
An ocean of blood-red eyes stared directly into the Dimensional World.
Every gaze was filled with killing intent and insanity.
The pressure alone made countless warriors freeze in place.
And the most terrifying part...
Not a single one of those monsters possessed strength below the Double-Digit level.
Among them...
There were numerous beings whose presence rivaled the Single-Digit realm.
And beyond even those...
Everyone could sense several entities whose auras were vastly more terrifying still.
For the first time since the Dimensional World had come into existence...
Every Single-Digit being felt genuine dread.