The Infinite Sword Archive trembled.
One after another, ancient chains shattered across the endless sky.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Every legendary sword fell silent.
Even the loudest among them stopped arguing.
Astra’s normally calm expression became tense.
“Master…”
“Whatever happens…”
“…don’t agree to anything immediately.”
Kael raised an eyebrow.
“That serious?”
Astra nodded.
“She’s…
persuasive.”
A crimson light illuminated the Archive.
It gathered into the shape of a massive throne forged from black steel and countless swords.
Seated upon it was a young woman.
She crossed one leg over the other and rested her chin on her hand, observing Kael with ruby-red eyes.
Long crimson hair flowed behind her like liquid fire.
Her elegant black-and-red military-style coat was trimmed with silver, and a crimson cape draped over the throne.
A jeweled sword rested across her lap.
Unlike Astra’s gentle aura…
This woman’s presence radiated absolute confidence.
She smiled.
“So…”
“You’re my new Master?”
Kael met her gaze without flinching.
“I suppose I am.”
Her smile widened.
“Good.”
“I dislike cowards.”
Inside the Archive, several swords whispered.
“Oh…”
“She’s in a good mood today.”
“That’s rare.”
“Very rare.”
One sword muttered,
“Let’s hope she doesn’t destroy another mountain.”
Another quickly replied,
“Wrong century.”
“Oh, right.”
The crimson-haired woman slowly stood.
Every step she took caused the floor beneath her to glow with ancient runes.
She stopped directly in front of Kael.
“So.”
“What should I call you?”
“Kael.”
She nodded.
“I am…”
She placed one hand over her chest.
“Scarlet.”
“The Crimson Queen.”
“The Second Sovereign Blade.”
A message appeared before Kael.
Name: Scarlet
Title: Crimson Queen
Synchronization: 0%
Current Seal: 99.999%
Kael frowned.
“So you’re almost completely sealed.”
Scarlet laughed.
“If I weren’t…”
She snapped her fingers.
A tiny crimson spark floated into the air.
Instantly…
The sky above the Archive split open for several kilometers before slowly repairing itself.
Kael blinked.
“…That was tiny?”
Scarlet grinned.
“Very.”
Astra sighed.
“See?”
“I warned you.”
Fenrir’s voice echoed from outside the Archive.
“Successor.”
“The Second Sovereign Blade has acknowledged you.”
“But…”
“Whether she obeys you…”
“…depends on your strength.”
Scarlet nodded in agreement.
“I don’t follow weaklings.”
Kael crossed his arms.
“So how do I earn your trust?”
She smiled.
“Simple.”
“Survive.”
Suddenly—
The entire cavern shook violently.
BOOOOOOM!!
A professor shouted from outside.
“The Gate is becoming unstable!”
Another explosion rocked the underground ruins.
Cracks spread across the ancient walls.
Fenrir turned toward the Gate.
His expression hardened.
“…No.”
“It has arrived too early.”
Black mist surged from the portal.
Unlike before…
This mana carried overwhelming malice.
Dozens of crimson eyes opened inside the darkness.
One…
Ten…
Fifty…
Hundreds.
Students began panicking.
“M-Monsters!”
“They’re coming out!”
The first creatures emerged.
Humanoid knights clad in black armor.
The Headmaster’s face turned pale.
“Impossible…”
“Shadow Knights…”
“They shouldn’t exist in an A-Rank Gate.”
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
“The timeline is accelerating faster than expected.”
Kael clenched his fists.
“These monsters…”
“They appeared during humanity’s third year…”
“Not now.”
The first Shadow Knight charged.
Professor Roland intercepted it.
Their swords collided.
The professor was thrown backward, crashing through three stone pillars.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
The students watched in horror.
An elite academy professor…
…had been defeated in one strike.
More Shadow Knights continued emerging.
Ten.
Twenty.
Fifty.
There was no end in sight.
Scarlet looked toward Kael with an amused smile.
“So…”
“Master.”
“Will you keep hiding your strength?”
Kael remained silent.
“If you don’t…”
She pointed toward the battlefield.
“…those people will die.”
Astra stepped beside him.
“Master.”
“I’ll support whatever you choose.”
Kael closed his eyes.
He had wanted to stay hidden.
He had wanted more time.
But history had changed.
The apocalypse had arrived far earlier than anyone expected.
Slowly…
He reached toward the Infinite Sword Archive.
Not for Astra.
Not for Scarlet.
Instead…
His hand moved toward a different legendary blade resting quietly among millions of swords.
A sword wrapped entirely in golden chains.
The moment his fingers touched its hilt…
The entire Archive shook.
Scarlet’s confident smile disappeared.
Astra’s eyes widened.
Even Fenrir whispered in disbelief.
“…He chose that one?”
A voice older than time echoed through the Infinite Sword Archive.
“So…”
“Another child seeks my power.”
The golden chains began to crack.