The guild hall was silent as Rael and Lyra stood before the **new crystal orb.**
The previous orb had **shattered instantly** when Rael touched it.
The receptionist, now visibly nervous, retrieved a **larger, divine-grade crystal**—one used to measure beings **beyond human limits.**
She placed it on the counter. **"Touch this. Let's see how strong you truly are."**
Rael stepped forward.
The moment his hand met the crystal—**it cracked.**
A heartbeat later—**it shattered into dust.**
The guild members **gasped.**
**"That's impossible!"**
The receptionist **stumbled back.** **"His rank… there's nothing to measure it."**
Rael only muttered, **"Still not enough."**
Then, he turned to Lyra. **"Your turn."**
Lyra hesitated. She had changed—**but was it enough?**
She placed her hand on the crystal.
A bright **golden glow** erupted, but unlike Rael's, it did not break. Instead, the energy condensed, revealing her rank:
**Triple-S.**
The guild fell into **stunned silence.**
Lyra smiled to herself. **She had caught up.**
Rael, for the first time, truly **acknowledged her strength.**
But before anything more could be said, a new voice echoed through the hall.
**"Interesting. You've both grown."**
Everyone turned. A figure stood in the doorway—**a cloaked woman.**
Her presence was **unnatural. Otherworldly.**
And Rael's instincts screamed at him. **He knew her voice.**
The woman **walked forward with confidence**, her steps graceful, almost hypnotic.
Her piercing eyes **locked onto Rael.** **"You remember me, don't you?"**
Rael frowned. **"Who are you?"**
She smirked. **"You'll know soon. But for now, I will only say this—you're not ready to understand."**
Lyra stepped between them, her aura flaring. **"Who are you to him?"**
The woman's gaze flickered to her. **"His past. And maybe… his future."**
Lyra's fingers **curled into fists.**
Rael, however, remained emotionless. **"If you're not here to fight, leave."**
The woman only laughed. **"Soon, you will seek me out yourself. Until then… grow stronger. Both of you."**
Then, just like that, **she disappeared.**
But her words left a **deep mark** on Rael's mind.
Rael's **thoughts were unsettled.**
The woman's presence stirred something **buried deep inside him.**
And then, **the voice returned.**
**"You want to surpass your limits, don't you?"**
Rael's expression darkened. **"You already know the answer."**
**"Then I will tell you a way. There is a place… a place where humans do not belong. The Forbidden Forest. The Ancient Elves live there."**
Rael narrowed his eyes. **"Why would I go there?"**
The voice whispered. **"They guard something—a power that will change you forever. Demon blood. If you drink it, you will stop being human. But you will unlock more of what you truly are."**
A pause.
**"But if you do this, you will never have a place among humans again."**
Rael's response was instant. **"I don't care about humans."**
The voice chuckled, dark and knowing. **"Then go. And see if you survive."**
As the voice faded, Rael turned to Lyra.
**"I'm going to the Forbidden Forest."**
Lyra met his gaze. **"Then I'm coming with you."**
Rael's expression hardened. **"This is your last chance. If you follow me, the world will turn against you."**
Lyra **stepped closer.** **"I've already come this far. I will always be with you."**
Rael studied her for a long moment, then finally nodded. **"Then let's go."**
And so, **they began their journey—toward a power that would change everything.**