[The Rift Erupts.]
[Various calamities can be collected from the Rift’s eruption.]
[Defeat the calamities and subjugate them. The ones you control will serve as loyal minions, strengthening your base.]
[The eruption will end in 6 hours.]
A message appeared before her eyes.
Staring at the system window, B-rank Awakened Seo Yerin slapped both cheeks lightly, psyching herself up.
“Phew. Seo Yerin, you can do this.”
This was the third eruption she had witnessed since the world changed.
During the first eruption, she had cowered inside her home, paralyzed by fear.
In the second, she had mustered up the courage to step outside.
Fortune had favored her—she managed to hunt down two 2-star calamities and was subsequently recruited by the Awakened Management Bureau, earning her B-rank certification.
Now, in the third eruption, Seo Yerin was a full-fledged member of the Seoul Bureau.
Holding a bow-shaped weapon in her grip, she awaited the calamities that would soon pour forth.
[…7th Squad, do you copy?]
“Yes, I hear you loud and clear.”
[If anything unusual happens, report using this frequency.]
A report came through the radio attached to her chest.
Seo Yerin’s task today was to command and manage the 7th Squad of Awakened combatants.
There were only about a dozen B-rank Awakened in all of Seoul, so leading a squad was a heavy responsibility.
The 7th Squad’s jurisdiction was Seongdong-gu.
Not the largest district, but a critical transportation hub—defending it was of utmost importance.
That meant an enormous burden rested on Seo Yerin’s shoulders.
But…
[Don’t worry. Nothing major should happen.]
“How can you be so sure?”
She questioned the radio operator, who responded with a relaxed tone.
[Because we have our guardian deity, don’t we?]
“…Right.”
Seo Yerin chuckled, following his gaze toward the Management Bureau building in the distance.
On the rooftop stood a man.
Not long ago, she had fought alongside him in the Incheon Port Nest raid.
An S-rank Awakened: Nam Jooyeon.
He stood, gazing up at the rift from which countless calamities were pouring.
Then, he raised his hand toward the sky.
And at that moment—
[4★ Storm Dragon Tempestra roars.]
A massive shadow loomed above him.
A wyvern, adorned with dazzling blue scales.
Storm Dragon Tempestra spread its wings.
The calamities emerging from the rift were instantly overwhelmed by its imposing presence, scattering in terror.
The Awakened combatants took advantage of their panic, striking down the defenseless creatures.
[2★ Crystal Spider defeated.]
[Reward: 30Exp / 2★ Crystal Spider]
Seo Yerin did not miss the opportunity either, eliminating the fleeing calamities with ease.
It felt too easy.
“…S-ranks really are different.”
She spoke her thoughts aloud, genuinely impressed.
She had seen his strength from the helicopter before, but the power of an S-rank Awakened was far beyond what she had imagined.
With Nam Jooyeon anchoring their defense, repelling the eruption was nothing more than a trivial task.
For one person to have such an impact—it was staggering.
Even now, the great dragon soared through the sky, breathing destructive energy onto the battlefield.
A 4-star calamity at his command.
It was as if he wielded the power of a god.
[2★ Rooted Treant defeated.]
[Reward: 30Exp / 2★ Rooted Treant]
“7th Squad, what’s the situation?”
[There are many enemies, but they’re all fleeing in panic.]
Reports came in through the radio—7th Squad was clearing out the calamities in Seoul Forest.
There was no difficulty.
Other squads’ reports echoed similar success.
No major incidents.
Everything was going smoothly.
And it was all thanks to the newly appointed S-rank Nam Jooyeon.
“Oh, right! The video.”
Seo Yerin nearly forgot she was on duty as she pulled out her phone, recording Nam Jooyeon commanding Tempestra.
The dragon’s majestic form filled her screen against the bright sky.
This video would surely break a hundred million views.
“…So cool.”
She sincerely admired him.
Back in the first eruption, she had been too scared to leave her home.
Meanwhile, Nam Jooyeon had charged into a calamity-infested battlefield where dozens perished, performing feats nothing short of miracles.
Watching him inspired something close to faith.
“…No, focus.”
Shaking herself free of distractions, she resumed clearing out calamities.
Before long, their numbers dwindled, and the district was nearly secure.
Just as she lifted her radio to report the status, something felt… off.
The radio had been strangely silent.
“…Seoul Forest? Do you copy? What’s the situation? Why is no one responding?”
[…]
There was only a cold silence flowing through the walkie-talkie.
She twisted the dial, wondering if the frequency was wrong, but still—no reply.
“…Huh?”
A chill ran down her spine.
The radio’s sudden silence.
The unnatural stillness in the air.
Could it be that all the calamities simply ran away?
Seo Yerin, as the leader of the 7th Squad, had a responsibility.
“…Ugh.”
With a small groan, she bolted toward Seoul Forest.
The roads were blocked off, making her journey quick.
After sprinting along a trail for a while, she finally saw it.
Two women standing in the middle of the park.
Above their heads, five shining stars.
[5★ Scorched Saint Selene]
[5★ North Sea Storm Mirien]
“…”
There was no mistaking them.
Two of the Four Great Calamities who sat at the apex of the new world’s system.
And in that moment, Seo Yerin understood why all other calamities had fled.
No lesser beings would dare approach when two overwhelming presences like these stood in the same place.
She instinctively ducked behind a tree, covering her mouth to suppress any sound.
‘What are they talking about? More importantly, where are my squad members?’
Had they been… killed?
Yet, Seo Yerin quickly noticed something odd.
Though too far to hear their words, she could sense tension between the two figures.
Scorched Saint Selene rested a hand on the hilt of her sword, while North Sea Storm Mirien pointed a finger at her opponent.
Both wore chilling expressions.
Even from a distance, the pressure was suffocating.
‘Are they… about to fight?’
This was huge.
Seo Yerin carefully lifted her phone, recording the confrontation.
*
Selene’s unwavering loyalty to her master, Actor, was absolute.
A simple yet unfathomably deep devotion.
That was why she could not tolerate Mirien’s schemes.
“Ascension Cult? Have you grown tired of building sandcastles? Now you’re playing house?”
“Playing house? That’s harsh. It’s all part of Actor’s grand plan.”
Selene scoffed, but the tension remained unbroken.
Though they had once worked under Actor’s command, they were still Great Calamities.
Each had annihilated entire worlds.
Even Selene’s Hellfire Hounds hesitated to step closer, circling the perimeter instead.
A ticking time bomb of hostility.
Then, Selene spoke again.
“What do you plan to do with all these collected calamities?”
Mirien had created a faction—gathering Awakened followers, using their calamities as an army.
A method unheard of outside of nests.
But Mirien was an anomaly, brainwashing Awakened to control calamities as her subordinates.
“You’re amassing an army of calamities. For what purpose?”
“I told you. The Ascension Cult. We’re going beyond the heavens. Just like Actor did.”
“Your so-called followers… they don’t seem to be following you by choice. Did you brainwash them?”
“That’s right. For now, at least.”
Mirien nodded.
She raised her hand and placed it on the crown of the newly brainwashed Awakened.
The unfocused individual was nothing more than a pawn, blindly following Mirien’s words.
“But in time, they will all understand.”
“Did you say the same to the hundreds of thousands of lives you took in the last dimension?”
“Shut up.”
The atmosphere shifted in an instant.
A spark of lightning flickered across Mirien’s face.
“You wench, that’s not something you have the right to say.”
“That much is true. After all, both of us have mastered the art of killing.”
Selene smirked bitterly as she conceded.
Mirien withdrew the lightning and continued speaking.
“You don’t need to worry, whore. Everything is for Actor. It’s all a stepping stone to realize his plan.”
“That is quite a reassuring sentiment. However, it seems that our lord does not look kindly upon your little deviation.”
“I know. You already told me. Actor chose you over me.”
Selene’s brows furrowed slightly.
A grim smile crept onto Mirien’s lips.
“But as you already know, I happen to be rather ambitious.”
She pointed a finger at Selene. But only for a moment—her finger soon curled inward, resting upon her own chest.
“I’m more useful to Actor than you are. And he needs to realize that. This is a process of proving it.”
“You’ve taken quite the creative interpretation of my advice last time.”
“Shut up. Asteria, Karne, even you, Selene—anyone who stands in my way is an enemy.”
“Do you have the courage to say that directly to our lord’s face?”
At Selene’s sharp remark, Mirien’s expression twisted.
But only for a fleeting moment.
She quickly smirked and withdrew her hand.
“Don’t worry. When the time comes, Actor will understand. I am destined to be his partner.”
“…Such pitiful arrogance. How utterly ignorant.”
“More importantly—”
Cutting Selene off, Mirien shifted her gaze.
She was a meticulous mage.
Before carrying out an important task, it was a habit to scan her surroundings.
Her eyes fixated on a single point in the distance.
“Looks like we have a rat spying on us.”
“Yes, I noticed as well. Shall we deal with it?”
“Of course.”
Selene did not stop Mirien.
If they were to clash now, their lord would not be pleased.
However, eliminating the eavesdropper was something their lord would likely approve of.
Even so, letting Mirien run rampant was not an option either.
Selene closed one eye and spoke casually.
“…Just so you know, our lord dislikes needless killing.”
“….”
Mirien shot Selene a sideways glance before furrowing her brows.
“I know that.”
[5★ Northern Storm Mirien casts the skill ‘Chain Lightning’.]
Simultaneously, arcs of lightning surged from her outstretched hand.
The blue chains of electricity shot forward in an instant, striking Seo Yerin, the Awakened who had been hiding behind a tree.