Chloe stepped toward the frozen Subash, her expression softening for a brief moment. A faint blush colored her cheek as she gently placed her hand against his face.
"Well then… goodbye, Void Dragon. I'll never forget your name," she whispered. "You're the first person in this world who forced me to use half of my power."
With those quiet words, she plunged her sword into Subash's heart. She turned away just as the world regained its color—time beginning to flow once more.
---
Draven's voice cracked with panic. "What's happening!? Why is Subash-sama's body disappearing!?"
All around him, Subash's subordinates watched in horror as his body dissolved into pure energy.
Lilithra staggered back, trembling. "Impossible… this can't be real… there's no way…"
Ravon fell to his knees, tears slipping from his widened eyes. "This… this has to be fake. There's no way my god would lose… He wouldn't leave us like this…"
Vanyth dropped her sword, her face going pale. "No… no, this is fake… Subash-sama can't die… he can't…" Her legs gave out, and Velkan caught her—his own eyes filled with tears.
Velyra shook as she backed away. "Subash-sama promised… he promised he'd never leave us behind…"
Velmora and Ravon—the two rivals—stood silently, eyes empty.
Velmora's voice was hollow. "Hey, Ravon… do you feel what I feel right now?"
"…Yes," Ravon answered, equally numb. "Is this sorrow…? We demons aren't supposed to feel something like this…"
Both stared at the ground, lifeless—because the one they admired, the one they wished to surpass, had fallen before their eyes.
Draven's rage exploded. He hurled himself at Chloe even from within the dimensional barrier—only to freeze mid-air as Chloe casually glanced his way, locking him in place with Space Lock.
What…? She froze me even inside the dimensional barrier… Draven thought, horrified. He remembered Subash's explanation.
---
Memory
"Subash-sama, what kind of barrier is this? I've never seen anything like it," Draven asked as Subash constructed a massive formation.
Subash smiled. "This is the Dimensional Barrier. Once activated, it isolates us from the central world entirely. Nova Nation will exist in a separate dimension—no one can enter, no one can interfere. We can see outside, but the outside can't see in."
Draven nodded in awe as Subash continued his work.
---
Present
Draven pushed his power to its limits, desperate to break free.
What kind of ability is this…? Even my Unique Skill: Auto Fight can't dodge it…
Auto Fight—constantly active, automatically dodging all danger—yet even it failed. Lilithra, Velmora, and Ravena were equally shocked.
Chloe's voice echoed coldly through the barrier. "You have guts, demon… attacking a level 90 being like me. Did you think you could hide? That I wouldn't notice?"
---
Far away—in a pitch-black void—floated a young boy, no older than fifteen. He drifted peacefully in the darkness, long silver-black hair trailing behind him, pale-skinned, dressed in a black robe and boots.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open—sharp, beautiful, pitch-black.
He rose slowly, rubbing the back of his head.
"…Now it's time to get serious," he muttered, staring forward with cold, emotionless eyes.