Zhuo lounged behind a large boulder, half-hidden from the battlefield, his expression shifting between amusement and astonishment. Just moments ago, he had been treating the battle like a mere spectacle—idly munching on popcorn and sipping on his soft drink while observing the chaos unfold. But now, the popcorn had vanished, the drink long forgotten, and a glimmer of serious intrigue flickered in his eyes.
His gaze locked onto Seraphine Ashcroft.
Her once pristine armor was now stained with blood—some her own, most belonging to the monstrous creatures she had cut down with terrifying efficiency. Her raven black hair clung to her sweat-drenched face, strands sticking to her skin as her chest rose and fell in exhaustion. She had been unstoppable, tearing through waves of enemies, her blade carving through mantises and gaoliths like they were brittle stone. And yet, it had cost her.
She was drained. Her movements had begun to slow. Her breathing had grown heavier.
Zhuo blinked, realization striking him like a bolt of lightning.
"Holy shit..." he muttered under his breath.
His fingers twitched as he recalled the casual, almost playful way he had interacted with her before. "Was I actually joking around with that dangerous woman?" he muttered dramatically, glancing back at the bloodied warrior standing amidst the battlefield's wreckage. A shiver of excitement crawled up his spine.
Then, a smile curled across his lips. A dangerous smile.
"Her element…" he mused aloud.
His gaze darkened, brimming with newfound interest. "I didn't expect to see that element here on Earth."
He leaned forward slightly, his fingers lightly tracing against the stone beside him. "Umbracelestial element, huh?"
It wasn't just rare. It was above rare.
"I'd say that's an element on the verge of transcendence… a force that even the higher planes fear."
His mind whirled with possibilities. The Umbracelestial Affinity was a fusion of celestial radiance and abyssal darkness—a contradiction, yet perfectly intertwined. It was a force that defied conventional elements, existing between light and void, gravity and ethereal energy. The sheer control needed to wield such an ability was astronomical.
"No wonder she's so exhausted," Zhuo muttered. "That element… it's greedy. It drains mana at an absurd rate, demanding both immense concentration and unshakable willpower to maintain."
A low chuckle escaped him.
"And yet, she wields it… even if only barely."
His amusement deepened. "There are only a handful of beings in the entire cosmos who possess an affinity for it. And all of them—every single one—has already reached the apex of the universe."
He had to be sure.
Zhuo willed the Veil Interface to activate.
"Hey, Veil, show me Seraphine's interface."
The air before him shimmered, and with a soft chime, a black translucent screen materialized in front of him.
> 𝙑𝙚𝙞𝙡 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚
"Of course, Master. As per your wish."
Zhuo's eyes flickered as the details unfolded before him.
{𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕝 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟}
[Name] : Seraphine Ashcroft
[Age] : 21
[Realm] : Master Realm [4-star]
[Titles] : None
{𝕋𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤}
[Umbracelestial Affinity]– Grants the user control over a rare fusion of celestial and abyssal forces. This power is incomplete at the current realm, with greater mysteries yet to be unlocked.
[Eclipsed Precision] – Increases accuracy, allowing attacks to adjust mid-flight or mid-swing. Higher mastery may allow projectiles or slashes to seek targets automatically.
[Void-Touched Reflexes] – Enhances reaction speed when fighting in shadows or under celestial light. As mastery grows, perception of time and motion may slow further.
{𝕊𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝 ℙ𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕤}
[Umbracelestial Dominion] – Alters the surrounding battlefield by subtly shifting gravity and celestial darkness. Currently, its effects are limited in range and duration, but future advancements may allow greater control.
{𝕊𝕜𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕤}
[Obsidian Moonfall]– Temporarily influences gravity within a small domain, slowing enemies and enhancing the user's speed. At higher mastery, the affected range and intensity may increase.
[Eclipse Severance] – A precise slash that bypasses most conventional defenses. The cutting force is currently limited, but as the realm grows, it may sever even energy-based barriers.
[Lunar Specter Step] – Grants momentary intangibility, allowing the user to phase through attacks or obstacles. Current limitations prevent consecutive use, but further refinement may reduce cooldown.
[Graviton Crescent] – Releases a crescent-shaped energy slash that subtly distorts space, making it harder to evade. Higher mastery may allow the user to control its trajectory or enhance its destructive power.
{ℕ𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝔽𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕍𝕖𝕚𝕝}
> "The path between radiance and abyss is treacherous. You walk it, unshaken—yet the weight of the celestial void is not so easily tamed. Power demands patience. Strength is not just in wielding it, but in knowing when to let it rest. Will you rise to claim what lies beyond the veil… or will the abyss claim you first?"
Zhuo's fingers curled slightly as he read the words.
"Master Realm… 4-star?" He muttered, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief.
A brief silence followed as he tried to recall the ranking system of this world.
"Wait… which rank was that again?"
Instinctively, he raised his fingers and started counting. "One, two, three, four—was Master Realm the fourth or the fifth?"
A flicker of irritation crossed his face as realization dawned on him.
"Damn it." He ran a hand through his hair and let out a sigh. "I forgot the power levels of these mortals. Staying in the upper realm for too long really messed with my memory."
As if responding to his frustration, the Veil Interface shimmered, its ethereal presence offering a solution.
["Master, let me assist you in recalling the realm hierarchy of this plane."]
A new screen materialized before him, glowing faintly.
[Mortal Realm Hierarchy]
1️⃣ Novice Realm
2️⃣ Apprentice Realm
3️⃣ Adept Realm
4️⃣ Intermediate Realm
5️⃣ Expert Realm
6️⃣ Master Realm
7️⃣ Grandmaster Realm
8️⃣ Ascendant Realm
9️⃣ Monarch Realm
🔟 Transcendent Realm
[Note]: Each realm is divided into five sub-levels, referred to as Stars (e.g., Master Realm 3-Star and Master Realm 4-Star are significantly different in power).
Zhuo exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple.
"So Master Realm is only the sixth one, huh?"
He reclined slightly, resting his elbow on the armrest of his chair. His gaze turned toward Seraphine, who was still in the midst of battle.
"Not bad… For someone of this generation to reach Master Realm at the age of 21, that's actually pretty decent."
A pause.
Then, a nostalgic smirk tugged at his lips.
"But compared to the true geniuses and monsters of my time… she's still lacking."
His fingers drummed lazily against the armrest.
"Still, not bad."
—
His gaze flicked toward the battlefield, locking onto the rock-like creature Seraphine had just slashed apart. He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Hey, Veil," he called out. "That thing—how strong was it?"
The Veil Interface shimmered before responding.
"Master, the entity she defeated was at the Grandmaster Realm. However, there exist hidden beings far beyond even this level, though their presence is not publicly acknowledged."
A brief silence.
"Would you like a detailed list of such entities?"
Zhuo waved his hand dismissively. "Nah." His voice carried no interest. "I don't care about mortal affairs. I'm just here to enjoy my time."
The interface dimmed slightly, but then another thought struck him. His eyes briefly flickered toward Seraphine's status window.
"She still can't fully tap into the Umbracelestial's potential…" Zhuo muttered, his gaze deepening. "She probably needs to reach at least the Divine Realm before she can truly wield it properly."
The celestial elements had always been top-tier compared to divine power. Even in his era, they were considered otherworldly.
His lips curved into a faint smirk.
"Well, she still has a long way to go."
—
Before he could sink further into his musings, the Veil Interface popped up again.
"Master, are you going to help her clear the third wave?"
Zhuo's expression remained indifferent.
"Why the hell would I do that?" He scoffed. "That's none of my concern."
A moment of silence. Then, the Veil's voice carried a hint of hesitation.
"B-but Master, the guardian monster emerging from the gate is at least Ascendant Realm. It will be too much for her, especially in her exhausted state."
Zhuo arched an eyebrow, finally showing mild interest.
"Oh?"
He leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand.
"An Ascendant Realm monster, huh? That's two whole realms above her. Even for a prodigy, that's a death sentence."
The Veil's presence flickered, seemingly urging him to take action.
But instead of concern, Zhuo's eyes gleamed with an unfathomable light.
"Listen, Veil," his voice carried an edge. "The minimum I expect from an Umbracelestial wielder is that they should be able to take down an opponent at least three realms above them."
His tone turned razor-sharp.
"If they can't even do that, then they don't deserve to wield that power."
The air around him felt heavier, as if reality itself responded to his words.
"But…"
He exhaled slowly, his gaze softening just a little.
"Don't worry. I won't let her die. She's the only one I actually know in this world, after all."
The Veil Interface flickered, as if contemplating his words.
"Understood, Master."
Zhuo leaned back once more, his gaze returning to the battlefield.
Now, it was up to Seraphine.
Would she prove herself worthy?
Or would she falter?
Either way, he had no intention of interfering—unless absolutely necessary.
Meawhile,
Seraphine, gasping for air, felt an unbearable weight press against her chest—a primal instinct screaming at her to flee. Even the strongest of warriors, those who had fought through countless battles, found their knees buckling under the sheer force of the creature's aura.
The Gate Guardian had arrived.
Its breath was like a furnace, exhaling plumes of searing steam that warped the air itself. Its skin, a fusion of obsidian and molten veins, pulsed like a living forge, cracks glowing with a hellish crimson that hinted at the raging energy within. Towering over thirty meters, its size alone was an overwhelming declaration of its dominion over this battlefield.
Jagged armor, seemingly chiseled from the bones of a long-forgotten behemoth, layered its body. Runes—ancient, pulsating with a cryptic, golden-red radiance—etched across its form, shifting and twisting like they were alive. Each rune carried a weight of something beyond mortal comprehension, inscriptions of a civilization erased from history.
Then, its eyes opened.
Four primary eyes, gleaming like molten gold, scrutinized the battlefield with an eerie intelligence—analyzing, calculating. This was no mindless beast; it understood its purpose. But it was the fifth eye, positioned vertically in the center of its forehead, that sent an involuntary shiver down the spines of all who dared to gaze at it. A deep abyss resided within, a void that swallowed all lies, illusions, and deceptions. Reality itself seemed to tremble under its scrutiny.
Its six arms flexed, radiating an unshakable dominance.
Two arms wielded cleavers forged from crystallized void essence, the jagged edges humming with an unnatural resonance. They weren't mere weapons; they severed more than flesh and steel—they cut through space itself. A single slash could distort the very fabric of reality, making escape impossible.
Another pair bore towering shields, infused with an ancient defensive force that shimmered with an unbreakable radiance. Any attack that clashed against them would not only be negated but reflected back with twice the original force.
The last two arms crackled with unstable cosmic energy, shifting between matter and nothingness. They could shape and unleash destructive blasts, condensed singularities capable of reducing entire cities into forgotten ruins.
A single step forward, and the battlefield trembled.
Seraphine gritted her teeth, her grip tightening on her weapon, even as sweat dripped down her brow. She was exhausted, her body pushed to its limits from the previous waves of enemies. But against this… against this?
She knew.
She couldn't win.
Yet, retreat was never an option.
As the Gate Guardian let out another guttural growl, its massive cleavers rising high, ready to carve apart the battlefield itself—Seraphine could only brace herself.