The air crackled with tension as Noctis and Brass circled each other, their eyes locked in fierce determination. Without warning, both warriors charged, each propelled by unrelenting strength. The sound of impact reverberated through the icy ground as their fists collided in a brutal punch to each other’s midsections. Noctis felt the sickening pressure as Brass’s fist dug into his gut, the force behind it almost knocking the breath from his lungs. Pain bloomed like fire across his abdomen, and for a moment, he fought the urge to retch. Brass, too, staggered from the blow, his icy form splintering where Noctis’s fist had made contact. Another jagged crack ran across his midsection, shards of ice falling to the ground. Yet he merely narrowed his glowing eyes, ignoring the fractures. Both warriors stepped back, a flicker of mutual respect passing between them even as they sized each other up, breathing heavily. As they steadied themselves, a transformation began to take hold in both f

Six months had passed since Jeremy’s departure to the Celestial Realm, and Earth stood on the verge of chaos. Without his leadership, the Dark Horses Guild and those he’d left behind faced a relentless barrage of threats. The Netherworld’s forces had unleashed a wave of destruction, the freaks and abominations flooding the mortal realm, bringing terror and bloodshed to the innocent. In the shadows, Burke—predicting the moves against him—remained elusive, shrouded in secrecy and defending himself with elite fighters and vicious beasts.James Detroit bore the weight of protecting both Jeremy’s guild and, more importantly, his family. He had shouldered these burdens, gathering allies where he could, including a recent alliance with the Dark Horses Guild. As Jeremy’s absence became more widely known, the attacks grew more desperate, coordinated with vicious precision. Soren, a prominent force from the Netherworld, had become their primary threat, and his incursions le

Soren descended gracefully, his crimson aura swirling around him like a living entity. His polished red gloves caught the dim light, and he dusted them off as if brushing away imaginary dirt. His gaze fixed on Elijah, a sneer tugging at his lips.“Insolent being,” he scoffed, his voice carrying an air of disdain. “How many times must I remind the world? I’ve stood at the peak of S rank for over a century. The strongest gods are just within my grasp. To think someone like you could challenge me… it’s laughable.”Elijah stood firm, his calm demeanor masking the storm within. “I agree with you,” he said, his tone steady. “Your power is extraordinary. But, you see, I’m not exactly ordinary myself.”Soren raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself.“I’ve been stuck at the peak of A rank for over two decades,” Elijah continued. “And just as the A rank is a bridge to the heroic ranks, S rank serves as the gateway to divinity. You stand at the edge of godhood, but even the gods have their l

The battlefield was chaos incarnate, the ground trembling under the immense force of their clash. Elijah stood amidst the destruction, his chest heaving with ragged breaths. His once-pristine white suit was now in tatters, his body marred by countless bruises and cuts. Yet, his eyes burned with an unyielding resolve.Across from him stood Soren, his figure exuding an aura of superiority. His crimson gloves gleamed ominously, his sly grin a cruel mockery of the man struggling before him.“You sure are strong for a mortal stuck in the A-rank,” Soren remarked casually, his voice dripping with condescension as he adjusted the base of his gloves.Elijah didn’t respond immediately, his mind racing as he worked to suppress the pain from his injuries. The earlier kick had done significant damage, and he knew he couldn’t afford to falter now.“Twenty minutes,” he thought, focusing his energy inward to heal his ravaged organs. “That’s all I need to buy him. Just twenty minutes.”Soren cocked hi