The duel between the Pantheon and the Light Bearer ended swiftly, tipping in favor of Emperor Kalameet.
Snow, on the other hand, left without a word—accepting defeat without protest.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he gradually disappeared between the trees of the Dark Forest.
"He resembles him..." Kalameet said, dispelling his silver armor and spear.
Beside him, arms folded across his chest, Fulghor turned toward the Dragon Emperor.
"Resembles who?"
"The current Lord of Light..." Kalameet slowly clenched his fist.
His body still felt numb from enduring the force born of Snow’s fusion of two world-breaking abilities.
What Snow had accomplished was no small feat—an achievement beyond even many of the mightiest tyrants. Yet he had done it at the very first stage of the SSS rank.
"...Orsted."
Kalameet spoke the name of the second Lord of Light, then withdrew into himself, his blood cooling as he dismissed further thoughts.
Since they had agreed to ally with the Shadow Sect in the coming war, the Pantheon warriors did not depart. They would remain within the Sect.
"The coming war will not be long," Fulghor said as he joined Gehrman. "It will be decided in a single, large-scale battle."
Gehrman shared the same view.
"We hold the advantage for now. But victory is not guaranteed. We do not know who the Duchy of Hell will send... and Amon’s full strength—especially the world-breaking ability he keeps hidden—remains unknown."
Fulghor studied Gehrman for a moment before lifting his gaze to the sky.
"Under normal circumstances, I would advise you to reconsider waging a battle whose outcome we cannot foresee. But I understand this war is necessary for what you seek to achieve... is it not?"
Gehrman nodded.
"That is correct."
Hearing this, Fulghor made his decision.
"Very well. Then we will wage this war with everything we have."
Once the War General of the Shadow Sect finished speaking, silence settled between him and Gehrman.
Both were among the greatest warriors to ever live .. men seasoned by countless years upon the battlefield.
Yet even they felt tension regarding the coming conflict.
The Earth had never witnessed a battle of the magnitude now approaching.
The demons would arrive with their true main force. This would not be child’s play as in the past.
In response, the Shadow Sect had gathered every warrior they could muster.
The outcome remained uncertain.
But the end was undoubtedly near.
...
...
Far from where Gehrman and the allies stood—
Snow Lionheart walked slowly, each step heavier than the last.
He had already reached the Sect and now moved through its districts, which were filled with humanity’s survivors.
At some point, he lost his balance, leaning against a wall as he steadied his breathing.
Exhaustion and depletion were evident on his face as he let out a faint laugh.
"I still have a long way to go..."
Though he had succeeded in replicating what Agaroth once did in the distant past... he had still lost.
Snow caught his breath, then resumed walking.
"Reaching fusion is not enough... I must attain a level of power beyond what I once possessed."
A powerful determination surfaced within him—a genuine desire to evolve and surpass his limits.
"Even at the peak of the SSS rank, I barely endured against the Demon King... and now that bastard has grown far stronger than when I faced him."
Snow’s gaze sharpened as memories of his time as Pure Vessel resurfaced.
Back then... he would have certainly died had Audrey not intervened.
If he wished to gain even the slightest chance, he would have to find a way to exceed the pinnacle he once stood upon.
Fusing world-breaking abilities was only the beginning.
But it was not enough.
"I need more... more power."
His eyes glowed faintly.
He was fully aware of what he lacked—and he would never accept remaining beneath anyone.
Snow continued walking for some time, his thoughts consumed by that single obsession.
But his chain of thought was interrupted when he heard synchronized shouting nearby.
Following the sound out of curiosity, he arrived at what appeared to be a training ground.
It was filled with soldiers who had survived the previous war, alongside those brave enough to prepare for the next.
Their numbers were not large. Their individual strength was modest at best.
Yet in their eyes burned the same resolve—a firm and peculiar determination that surprised Snow.
He walked near them, keeping a careful distance so they would not notice him.
From afar, he observed them for a while.
Each one—men and women alike—trained until their hands bled. Some even pushed themselves to the point of collapse.
"Their resolve is unusual... who is leading them?"
Snow wondered.
Before he could think further, someone approached from behind, cutting off his thoughts.
"Ah! You!"
Snow turned calmly toward the person who had interrupted him—having sensed their presence all along.
It was a familiar young man— a sword resting at his waist, black hair, crimson eyes... and a body that had never once been wounded, no matter how fierce the war became.
"It’s been a while... Dawn."
Snow greeted him with a faint smile. Dawn, on the other hand, immediately ran toward him.
"Where the hell did you disappear to? I heard you suddenly left the Sect..."
"Yes. I had to leave to reclaim what was mine... and Frey needed my help."
Dawn didn’t understand the first part of Snow’s words, but he frowned slightly when Frey was mentioned.
"I’m glad you came back safe. A lot of people were worried about your disappearance."
From what Dawn said, it became clear to Snow that his status had been completely unknown since he left the Sect.
But that made no sense to him.
He clearly remembered Frey visiting him during his breakthrough attempt and seeing him with his own eyes.
Snow had assumed Frey would inform everyone... but apparently, he kept it to himself.
"Where is Frey?" Snow asked out of curiosity.
Dawn shook his head.
"No idea. I haven’t seen him in a long time."
The two walked side by side through the rows of soldiers, talking quietly without drawing attention.
"Hasn’t he met any of you recently?"
"No... he doesn’t appear in public at all. It’s like he’s... avoiding us."
Hearing that, Snow didn’t comment much.
It wasn’t strange.
But it was somewhat suspicious.