Leon woke to the sound of bells.
Not the sharp, electric ringing of an alarm—
but deep, resonant chimes that rolled through the air like waves, each note carrying age and weight.
Stone beneath his palms.
Warm sunlight on his face.
And arms around him.
"Elena…?" he murmured.
She tightened her grip instantly, like she'd been afraid he'd disappear again. Her forehead was pressed against his shoulder, her breathing uneven.
"You're here," she said, voice trembling. "You're actually here."
Leon pushed himself upright, helping her sit as he took in their surroundings.
They were standing in the middle of a vast ancient plaza—wide stone roads etched with glowing runes, towering buildings made of pale marble and dark obsidian, arches wrapped in living vines that shimmered faintly with mana. Floating lanterns drifted through the air like lazy fireflies.
And people.
Dozens of them.
Survivors from Earth—students, office workers, soldiers—some crying, some shouting, some frozen in stunned silence.
But mixed among them were others.
Humans who were not from Earth.
They wore layered cloaks, leather armor in archaic designs, and carried weapons openly—swords, spears, staves. Their eyes were sharp but not hostile. Curious. Assessing.
"Leon…" Elena whispered. "These aren't monsters."
Leon nodded slowly. "No. They're people."
Humans of Elnor.
Before panic could spread, the System chimed—clearer, calmer than it had ever sounded on Earth.
[Relocation Complete]
[All viable survivors have been transported to Human Cities of Elnor]
[Status: World Merge – Phase Two Pending]
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
One of the Elnor humans stepped forward—a tall man with bronze skin, short-cropped silver hair, and a city insignia etched into his chestplate.
"Remain calm," he said, his voice amplified gently by magic rather than force. "You are safe within Aurelion, a Human Sanctuary City of Elnor. No monsters may breach these walls."
That alone nearly made several people collapse in relief.
Leon felt Elena's grip loosen just a little.
Then—
His vision flickered.
A familiar blue interface slid into view.
[Private System Channel Opened]
[Participants: Lucas | Leon | Elena]
"Leon!"
"Elena!"
Lucas's voice came through first—tight, fast, alive.
"You're together?" he demanded.
Elena laughed shakily, tears streaming down her face. "Yes. We're in a city. A real one. Leon's right here."
Leon exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "Lucas, where are you?"
"Frontier Node," Lucas replied. "Stone fort. Older than dirt. And before you ask—yeah, I'm alive. Barely."
Leon smiled despite everything. "Figures."
Lucas didn't return the joke.
"Listen carefully," he said. "This happened exactly like last time—except better. Before, most survivors were scattered or dumped into wilderness zones. Now they're all being placed in Elnor cities."
Elena frowned. "That's… good, right?"
"Yes," Lucas said. "It means the System accelerated integration. Fewer early deaths. But it also means—"
"That the world merge is about to finish," Leon said quietly.
Lucas paused. "…Yeah. You're learning too fast."
Leon looked around again.
Elnor humans were already guiding Earth survivors—offering water, cloaks, directions. He saw fear, yes—but also structure. Civilization that had survived monsters for centuries.
"So Earth's cities…" Elena began.
"They won't exist anymore," Lucas finished. "When Phase Two completes, modern cities vanish completely. Replaced by ancient foundations that match Elnor's geography."
Elena went silent.
Leon clenched his fists. "So this is it. No going back."
"No," Lucas said. "Only forward."
A new notification appeared—for all three of them.
[World Merge Countdown: 06:12:44]
[Upon Completion: Races of Elnor will fully manifest]
[Confirmed Appearances: Elves, Dwarves, Beastmen, Vampires, Spirits, Fairies, Dragons, Demons]
Elena stared at the list. "…Dragons?"
"Yeah," Lucas said dryly. "The big kind."
Leon glanced at his status window without fully opening it. He could feel it—his level, his growth, the Emperor class sitting unnervingly quiet, like a predator choosing when to move.
"Lucas," Leon said, serious now. "You said the Architect isn't watching me yet."
"He's not," Lucas confirmed. "Your relocation flagged as 'irregular but non-critical.' He's busy monitoring mass population stability."
Leon looked down at Elena.
She was still holding his sleeve.
"Good," Leon said. "Then we have time."
Time to grow.
Time to prepare.
Time to make sure Lucas never has to stand alone again.
The bells of Aurelion rang once more as the sun shifted—larger than Earth's, warmer, older.
Somewhere far beyond the sky, Gods watched other screens.
And for the first time—
Leon was not on one of them.