A black hole appeared above Clayton's head, swirling ominously, and another materialized near the Hunters, who were on the verge of being overwhelmed by monsters. At first, there were just one or two holes, but their numbers multiplied rapidly—dozens, hundreds, until they were uncountable, each radiating an otherworldly menace.
Even more horrifying, a swarm of insects emerged from the black void—bees with stingers glinting like daggers and ants with pincers sharp enough to tear flesh. The ants swarmed over the smaller monsters, biting and shredding their limbs with ruthless efficiency. Meanwhile, the bees targeted bird-like monsters and other powerful Monster Generals, their venomous stings injecting death with every strike.
"What?! How could this happen?" Demon King Dyroth's roar of disbelief echoed through the chaos, his expression frozen in shock. He failed to notice a golden butterfly landing delicately on Clayton's shoulder. The butterfly shimmered with a soft glow as it absorbed the poison coursing through his veins and replaced it with invigorating mana.
Strength surged back into Clayton's body. His grip tightened on his dual swords as he called forth dark and light spirits, infusing the blades with their contrasting energies. Without hesitation, he lunged at Dyroth, slashing his weapons in a dazzling arc. Though the Demon King, a formidable foe, managed to block the assault, the clash left a deep gash across his armor.
Dyroth growled, his fiery eyes narrowing. He wouldn't be called the Tenth Pillar Demon King if he could be defeated so easily. Yet, the appearance of countless black holes had tipped the scales in favor of humanity, forcing the demons to falter.
"Space Master!! Since when did you get here?!" Dyroth's bellow reverberated as he scanned the battlefield, his voice laced with desperation and fury.
"Hohoho! You finally noticed my presence." A calm, melodic voice rang out, commanding attention. Both humans and monsters froze, their gazes drawn upward. A shadowy figure emerged in the sky, radiating an aura of authority. The figure wore a flowing white robe cinched with a golden belt, his pointed ears betraying his elven heritage. Knee-length caramel hair floated weightlessly around him, and majestic white wings spread wide behind his back, glowing faintly.
"O, Demon King," the figure intoned with a serene yet chilling smile, "as long as the Space Master lives, your plans to control the Nether Plane will never succeed. You might as well retreat and return to your world. Oh, and do send my regards to your emperor—the First Pillar Demon King. Today, I sent only bees and ants. Next time, I might unleash scorpions and eagles."
At the mention of these future terrors, even the bravest monsters quailed. Scorpions with deadly venom and eagles, relentless predators, were forces to be feared. Dyroth's defiance wavered. The weight of the Space Master's words and his penetrating gaze pressed down on him like a mountain.
In the end, Dyroth had no choice. He retreated with his surviving generals and troops, his hatred for the Space Master festering with each step. The humans' victory cheers followed him, a bitter reminder of his failure.
The celebration was widespread. News of the Space Master's intervention spread like wildfire, not just in the Zelia Kingdom but across the three other kingdoms and one empire of the Nether Plane. Hope blossomed where despair had taken root. As long as the Space Master stood with them, even the Demon King Emperor would think twice before making a move.
But while the masses celebrated, four individuals could not share in the joy. These four were divine envoys from the upper world, each entrusted with the protection of a region. Clayton, the Realm Knight, bore the twin spiritual swords and the Blue Demon Eye, a gift and curse that allowed him to perceive hidden truths. Avery, the Evil Phoenix, wielded a magic wand capable of summoning a fiery phoenix spirit. Logan, the Beast King, a shapeshifter, could transform into any beast and command its power. Lastly, Lennox, the Grim Reaper, an assassin armed with a dagger infused with lethal poison, prowled the shadows.
They recognized the so-called Space Master, or rather, what he was: a projection. The figure in the sky was merely a guardian—the true Space Master's protector. If the demon clan discovered this deception, they would hunt down the real Space Master, who was likely still vulnerable. To prevent this, the envoys resolved to locate the true Space Master and shield him until his powers matured.
Their suspicions were correct. The man who taunted Dyroth was not the true Space Master but Gwen's senior brother, who was known for his mischief and love to tease his youngest junior sister. At that moment, the same man stood before Gwen, his expression smugly satisfied.
"Oh, I can hardly believe it! You've finally decided to protect humans! I'm so proud of you. Come here; I will hug you as a reward!"
"Hmph! As if I'd let you hug me," Gwen snapped, folding her arms and turning away like a sulking child. She sighed and then glared at him. "What's going on? Why did you appear in spirit form? Where is your physical body?"
Her brother's teasing grin softened. "Gwen, this will be the last time you see me. You must have felt it already: the connection between the Nether Plane and the upper world has been severed."
Her eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
"To be precise, the upper world has isolated itself. Not just from this plane but from all others. We suspect the Demon Emperor is behind it, though we're not certain. Luckily, you made it here before the bridge collapsed completely. Otherwise, the demon emperor would have sensed your presence."
Gwen's voice trembled. "Why did you send me here if you knew this would happen? Was I so much trouble that you decided to abandon me?"
Her brother's expression turned serious. "Abandon you? Is that what you think? Gwen, we sent you here to protect you."
"Protect me?" She scoffed. "You threw me into this mess, knowing the risks! Admit it; you're using me to save this world."
"Ah, there's my clever little sister," he said with a wry smile.
Gwen's lips twitched in annoyance. If his form hadn't been intangible, she would have struck him.
"Listen," he continued, his tone earnest. "We're not abandoning you. You have a unique gift, Gwen. Only you can become the true Space Master. But to do so, you must awaken your empathy and learn to love. Without those, your power will remain incomplete."
He stepped closer, his spectral form shimmering. Though his touch was insubstantial, Gwen felt the warmth of his embrace. She closed her eyes, her defenses momentarily crumbling.
"Remember," he whispered. "If you fail to save the Nether Plane, no one else can. And if it falls to the Demon Emperor, all realms will descend into eternal hell."
"I can't do it," Gwen murmured, her voice breaking.
"You can," he said firmly. "We believe in you."
His form began to fade, his presence slipping away like sand through her fingers. His final words lingered in the air as he vanished entirely, leaving Gwen alone with the weight of her destiny.