THE WAR BEGINS
The gate tore open wider.
Dark mist exploded outward like a storm breaking loose from another world.
Then the creatures came.
Dozens of them at first.
Tall, thin figures with glowing white eyes poured through the opening like shadows escaping a prison.
Their movements were unnatural—too fast, too smooth.
Rowan stared at them in horror.
“…Nope.”
Lucian tightened his grip on his sword.
“This is bad.”
Behind them, more shapes moved inside the darkness of the gate.
Hundreds.
Maybe thousands.
The Void Lord stood calmly in front of the portal, watching the battlefield like a king observing a war he already expected to win.
“The seal has broken,” it said quietly.
“The Void walks your world again.”
The creatures spread out across the clearing.
Some crawled along the ground like twisted animals.
Others walked upright, their long claws dragging through the dirt.
The monsters that had served the Blood Emperor earlier suddenly looked small in comparison.
The Blood Emperor himself stared at the army in stunned silence.
“…That’s… more than I expected.”
Lucian shot him a deadly look.
“You opened the door.”
Rowan pointed at the growing army.
“And now the whole nightmare walked in.”
The Alpha King stepped forward.
Golden energy exploded around his body again, lighting the smoky battlefield.
“Warriors!”
His voice echoed across the forest.
“Hold the line!”
The remaining fighters of the werewolf packs gathered behind him.
Though many looked shaken.
Because the creatures stepping through the gate were something they had never faced before.
The dragon roared loudly.
It spread its massive wings and unleashed a blast of fire toward the approaching Void creatures.
Flames tore through several of them.
But the creatures did not scream.
They simply burned—and kept moving.
Rowan stared.
“…That’s not comforting.”
The Dark Alpha growled deeply beside Aria.
Its massive body crouched low, ready to attack.
Aria stepped forward.
Silver energy surged around her again, brighter than before.
The Primordial power was reacting to the threat.
Lucian glanced at her.
“You ready for this?”
Aria looked toward the gate.
More creatures were still pouring out.
“Yes.”
The Void Lord watched her carefully.
Its glowing eyes gleamed with curiosity.
“So the reborn wolf chooses to fight.”
Aria’s voice was calm.
“This is my world.”
The creature tilted its head slightly.
“For now.”
Then it raised one clawed hand.
The army of Void creatures suddenly rushed forward.
The battlefield exploded into chaos.
Lucian met the first creature head-on.
His sword cut through its dark body—but instead of blood, black mist spilled out.
Rowan tore another apart in wolf form, his massive jaws ripping through its chest.
The Alpha King moved like lightning through the battlefield, golden power destroying several creatures with every strike.
The dragon dove from above, crushing groups of Void creatures beneath its claws.
The Dark Alpha slammed its massive body into the advancing army, scattering them like leaves.
But there were too many.
For every creature destroyed—
Three more crawled from the gate.
Lucian shouted over the noise of battle.
“They keep coming!”
Aria looked toward the portal again.
Her silver eyes narrowed.
“We’re fighting the wrong target.”
Rowan leapt over a fallen creature.
“Meaning?”
Aria pointed toward the gate.
“As long as that stays open—”
Another wave of Void creatures poured through.
Lucian finished her sentence grimly.
“They’ll never stop.”
The Alpha King turned toward her.
“Can you close it?”
Aria looked at the swirling darkness inside the portal.
The Primordial spirit stirred uneasily.
The first wolf sealed the Void once before.
Lucian noticed her hesitation.
“…That’s not a yes.”
Aria’s voice came out quiet.
“I don’t know how.”
The Void Lord smiled faintly.
“Even if you did…”
It spread its arms slowly.
“You are far too late.”
The gate pulsed violently.
The ground shook again.
Something enormous was moving inside the darkness beyond the portal.
Even the Void creatures paused.
The Void Lord looked back toward the gate.
Its expression shifted slightly.
Almost… respectful.
Lucian’s stomach dropped.
“…That can’t be good.”
Aria’s silver eyes widened.
Because the shadow moving behind the portal was bigger than the dragon.
Much bigger.
The Void Lord spoke softly.
“Our emperor arrives.”