As the chaos began to settle and families reunited with their loved ones, the conversations turned toward one direction— the Ravenstein estate, or what was left of it.
The hill where the grand estate once stood was now a scarred landscape, smoke rising from the ruins.
The people of Sector 3 could only stare, each one with different emotions— shock, disbelief, and an overwhelming sense of loss.
…
A swirling black portal tore through the sky above a dense, crimson forest, and from its depths, multiple figures streamed out, floating high in the air.
The portal's swirling mass shimmered before closing.
Suddenly, two figures plummeted from the sky, crashing brutally through the forest canopy, smashing branches and toppling trees before slamming into the ground with a violent bang. Dust and debris erupted into the air as the impact left a gaping crater in the earth.
Blackgate hovered above, casting a glance down at the beaten forms of Elysia and Alvis, their bodies broken and barely clinging to life.
Elysia was on the brink of death, her breath shallow, while Alvis lay in utter exhaustion, drained and unmoving. They were in no state to even speak, let alone rise.
Blackgate's expression didn't change as he looked away, his gaze shifting to the remaining branch heads. Kazimir and the others knelt in mid air, heads bowed in deference, awaiting his command.
"Did you get it?" Blackgate's voice finally cut through the silence, cold and measured.
Kazimir was quick to respond, "Yes, Paragon Blackgate. Koner successfully breached their defenses."
Kazimir reached for the small bag at his waist, pulling out a diminutive chest. He quickly opened it, revealing an object wrapped tightly in thick cloth.
As soon as it left the chest, the object began to expand until it reached its true size.
Kazimir handed it over to Blackgate, his movements cautious. The other branch heads watched silently as Blackgate's lips curled into a smile.
This object had been the true purpose behind his appearance in the human domain, the real reason he had saved them. Everyone knew it— but none of them even dared voice any complaint.
Carefully, Blackgate began unwrapping the object, revealing a simple, unassuming staff. To anyone else, it would have appeared ordinary, perhaps even worthless. But to Blackgate, it was a priceless treasure.
His fingers hovered just above its surface, and just as he was about to touch it, Blackgate suddenly froze. His smile vanished, replaced by a cold, deadly glare. Without a word, he wrapped the staff back up, his expression darkening.
"Stop spying," Blackgate commanded icily, his gaze fixed on no one in particular. The branch heads exchanged confused glances, unsure of whom he was addressing.
That question was soon answered.
"Well… it's kinda my world, so… no, I won't," came a lighthearted, almost mocking voice from behind.
The branch heads turned around, each of their eyes wide as a man appeared out of nowhere. He was lean and handsome, with flowing blue hair and sharp crimson eyes. A simple robe hung loosely over his frame, his entire demeanor casual, almost lazy.
The branch heads immediately bowed lower, their voices united in greeting, "We greet the Paragon!"
The man chuckled, waving them off with an amused grin. "Ah, so serious. You don't have to do this every time."
His eyes moved toward Blackgate, a small smile on his lips as he caught the cold daggers Blackgate was glaring at him.
"Whoa, whoa— what's with the death stare? You act like I slept with your wife or something. What's wrong? You're not happy to see me?"
Blackgate's expression remained icy, his voice sharper than a blade. "What do you want, Whisker?"
The man's grin widened. "What do I want? Well, I couldn't help but notice… what do you have there?" His eyes flicked toward the wrapped staff.
"It's none of your business," Blackgate snapped, his voice low, a clear warning.
Whisker's smile didn't falter, but the air around him shifted. The playful energy vanished, replaced with something more serious, more dangerous. The weight of the atmosphere grew tenfold, pressing down on everyone in the vicinity.
"Secretive, aren't we?" Whisker said, his voice still light but now edged with seriousness. "Maybe you need a reminder of where you are."
The branch heads immediately felt the pressure.
Their bodies trembled, struggling to stay upright as the air itself seemed to grow heavy, suffocating.
And worse, they could feel them— millions of eyes.
From every corner of the forest below, humanoid and beastly figures stared up at them, their cold gazes fixed on the group, unblinking, waiting.
Every creature, from the smallest to the largest, had their eyes on the invaders.
Kazimir and the other branch heads gulped audibly, their fear palpable.
Blackgate's killing intent exploded outward, blanketing the forest in a wave of oppressive aura. His voice was laced with anger. "You're one of the roots of the Obsidian Order… are you betraying us, Whisker?"
The tension reached its peak. The branch heads' faces grew pale, silently praying that a clash between the two paragons wouldn't break out.
But then, unexpectedly, Whisker let out a laugh. His smile returned, wide and carefree. "Betray you? Of course not. The Order is far too entertaining for me to abandon it." His eyes sparkled with mischief once again. "How long are you planning to stay?"
"As long as I want," Blackgate replied, his voice colder than before. Without another word, he vanished into the depths of the crimson forest, disappearing from view.
Whisker stood still, his playful smile fading as his expression grew serious. His crimson eyes narrowed as he stared after Blackgate. The jovial facade was gone, replaced by a calculating look.
'That staff... it feels just like my star actor's...' he thought, his mind racing with possibilities.
After a moment of contemplation, Whisker Von Pounce, the sovereign of the beast race, disappeared just as suddenly as he had arrived, leaving the branch heads behind, still trembling in the wake of his presence.