The world froze.
Kael’s breathing became heavy as the notification remained suspended before his eyes.
WARNING
An unknown existence has infiltrated the Infinite Sword Archive.
Threat Assessment: Impossible to Calculate.
Archive Defense System: Activated.
For the first time…
Every Divine Sword fell silent.
Not a single voice argued.
Not a single blade complained.
Only an uneasy stillness remained.
Inside the Infinite Sword Archive…
Step.
Step.
Step.
The footsteps echoed through the endless sea of legendary swords.
The mysterious figure walked calmly between floating Divine Blades.
Thousands of weapons reacted.
Some trembled.
Others released killing intent.
A few even tried to fly toward the intruder.
Yet…
None reached him.
An invisible force gently pushed every sword aside.
It was as though the Archive itself refused to harm the visitor.
Astra frowned.
“Impossible…”
Scarlet narrowed her crimson eyes.
“Only one person ever had that level of authority.”
Solis slowly closed his book.
“…But he died.”
None of them looked relaxed anymore.
Outside…
The academy celebrated the Gate’s disappearance.
Students cheered.
Professors began treating the injured.
The Headmaster ordered the area sealed for investigation.
Only Kael remained distracted.
Mira approached him, carrying a small first-aid kit.
“You have a cut on your arm.”
Kael looked down.
He hadn’t even noticed.
“It’ll heal.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“My grandmother always says small injuries become big ones if you ignore them.”
Before Kael could protest…
She gently wrapped a clean bandage around his forearm.
“You risked your life to save everyone.”
“The least I can do is this.”
Kael smiled.
“…Thank you.”
Mira looked away, her cheeks turning slightly pink.
“It wasn’t a big deal.”
From a nearby corridor, Lyra watched quietly.
For reasons she couldn’t explain…
The sight made her chest feel strangely tight.
She frowned.
“Why am I bothered?”
High above the academy…
The Headmaster stood alone on a balcony.
A shadow emerged behind him.
“Did you see it?”
“I did.”
“The silver sword.”
“The white sword.”
“And…”
He looked toward Kael.
“The pressure surrounding him.”
The shadow spoke again.
“Should we report him to the World Hunter Association?”
The Headmaster remained silent for several moments.
“…No.”
“Not yet.”
“If the wrong people discover him…”
“They’ll either recruit him…”
“…or eliminate him.”
Meanwhile…
Kael returned to his dormitory.
The moment he closed the door…
His consciousness was pulled into the Infinite Sword Archive.
The endless armory stretched beyond the horizon.
Millions of swords floated silently.
At the center…
Astra.
Scarlet.
Solis.
Fenrir.
All four faced the same direction.
Someone stood before them.
The figure wore a long black cloak.
His face remained hidden beneath a hood.
He slowly turned toward Kael.
“Welcome.”
His voice was calm.
Almost familiar.
Kael instinctively summoned Astra.
Silver light flashed.
The mysterious man simply smiled.
“You’ve grown.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“…Who are you?”
Instead of answering…
The man raised one hand.
The Infinite Sword Archive responded.
Thousands of swords bowed.
Not to Kael.
To him.
Scarlet whispered,
“Master…”
“…be careful.”
Kael had never heard fear in her voice before.
The hooded man extended his hand.
A single sword floated toward him.
Not summoned.
Not forced.
It willingly chose him.
The blade rested quietly in his palm.
He looked at it with nostalgia.
“It has been…”
“…a very long time.”
Astra unconsciously stepped forward.
“My Lord…”
The words escaped before she realized it.
Silence.
Kael’s heart skipped a beat.
The hooded man looked at Astra and smiled gently.
“You’ve protected this place well.”
She lowered her head.
“I failed.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“You waited.”
Kael’s grip tightened around Astra.
“What are you talking about?”
The man finally looked directly at him.
“Tell me.”
“What do you believe this place is?”
Kael answered immediately.
“The Infinite Sword Archive.”
The man nodded.
“Correct.”
“And who created it?”
…
Kael remained silent.
He had never asked.
The man chuckled.
“Exactly.”
“You inherited its power…”
“…without ever wondering who forged it.”
The atmosphere grew heavy.
Before Kael could ask another question…
A crimson crack appeared across the sky of the Archive.
Then another.
And another.
Fenrir’s expression changed.
“No…”
“Not again.”
Scarlet clenched her fists.
“They found us.”
The hooded man’s smile disappeared.
“So…”
“They’re finally here.”
BOOOOOOM!!
The sky shattered like glass.
Beyond the broken heavens…
Countless colossal chains descended from the darkness.
Each chain was larger than a mountain.
Attached to them…
Were gigantic black swords.
Thousands of them.
A deep voice echoed from beyond reality itself.
Target Located.
Commencing Erasure of the Infinite Sword Archive.
Kael stared upward.
His mind went blank.
Someone…
Was attacking the Archive itself.
And judging by the reactions of Astra, Scarlet, Solis, and even Fenrir…
This enemy was far more terrifying than the Demon Sovereign who had destroyed humanity in Kael’s previous life.
The hooded man slowly drew the sword in his hand.
A smile returned to his face.
“So…”
“It seems our reunion will have to wait.”
He took one step forward.
The entire Infinite Sword Archive trembled.
“For today…”
“I shall remind them…”
“…why they once feared the First Sword Sovereign.”