"Sian!"

Lan Qishing’s voice tore across the desert sky—sharp, powerful, and loud.

"Don’t come any closer."

Sian’s tone allowed no room for argument.

Despite himself, though every instinct urged him to run to Sian’s side, Lan Qishing stopped. He knew it—he was far too weak.

Weak... yes.

Ever since he had met Sian, Lan Qishing had, for the first time in his life, begun to see himself as a burden.

He couldn’t help him. Couldn’t fight beside him.

His fists clenched until his nails bit into his palms.

...

"Sir, shall we prepare to move to the battlefield?"

asked the captain of the Anti-Supernatural Unit.

Liang Wei didn’t answer. He was staring intently at the screen.

"No. Not yet."

(He hasn’t fallen yet.)

His gaze remained fixed on the frail, slender back of the man displayed before him.

This was the man Kira trusted—the one she claimed was the strongest person on Earth. The one she believed could save their world.

Liang Wei wanted to see it for himself.

Was this man truly worthy of that reputation... and of Kira’s faith?

...

"That damned monster," Sian muttered under his breath, planting his feet firmly into the ground.

He had already used too much of his power—and it wasn’t even whole to begin with.

Most of it remained sealed, the bindings loosening at a painfully slow pace with each passing day.

Which left him with no choice but to push this fragile body to its limits... and gather everything he had into a single, decisive strike.

"Boss, this monster..." Kira trailed off, her eyes locked on the towering creature before them.

"...is stronger than the ones from our world," Sian finished.

It had been enhanced.

Before, at least, it wouldn’t have recovered from his attacks this quickly.

Originally, Sian had planned to weaken it enough for Lan Qishing and his team to burn it.

Yes—burn it completely.

Reduce every cell to ash so it could never regenerate again.

"...Again," Sian said quietly.

"Kira, engage it in close combat. I’ll try using the sand this time."

"But Boss, will you be okay? Your power—"

"One move is enough."

He patted her head, then flicked her forehead lightly.

"Focus on weakening it. Don’t let it get close to me."

His gaze sharpened.

"And don’t get hurt."

Kira saluted, placing her fist over her heart.

"Understood, Boss!"

She surged forward with the speed and precision of an arrow unleashed from its bow, racing toward the fully recovered monster that was closing in on them. Her figure blurred as she moved, almost a streak of motion that no one could even catch a glimpse of, let alone shadow her form.

Her actions became even more fierce—brutal, rapid, and relentless—exuding a ruthless determination that seemed to burn bright in every clenched muscle and flashing glance.

It was as if she had been holding back all her strength and fury, restrained against lesser foes, but now released in a tidal wave of power that towered over her previous limits.

...

"Damn... that girl is strong."

"Look at her—dodging and carving into it like it’s nothing."

"Maybe... we actually have a chance?"

Lan Qishing heard none of them.

His attention was locked on the young man seated upon the moonlit desert sands.

A powerful gust of wind surged through the area, sweeping across the landscape with relentless force. It lifted Sian’s long, flowing white hair into the air, causing it to swirl and dance in the breeze, shimmering ethereally around his face and shoulders.

He remained seated there in absolute stillness, with his eyes gently closed, as if immersed in deep meditation. His hands were placed softly against the quiet, cool sand beneath him, palm to palm, feeling the subtle textures and vibrations of the earth beneath.

Lan Qishing knew—

Sian was about to do something.

And all he could do... was stand back and watch.

...

"What is that kid doing? Why isn’t he helping Kira?"

"I don’t know... but it looks like he’s preparing something big. Didn’t you hear what she said about his power?"

"He must have some final move. If he fails this time, it’ll be our turn. Watch carefully—study the monster."

After the commander spoke, the others fell silent, their expressions turning sharp and serious as they watched the screen.

Kira wasn’t just fighting.

She was severing the monster’s limbs—

Only for them to regenerate again and again.

Her efforts seemed meaningless.

But she didn’t care.

Her role wasn’t to kill it.

It was to buy time.

...

"What—?!"

Suddenly, a severed claw shot through the air behind her.

Kira thought it was aimed at her—she was ready to dodge—

But it flew past.

Its target...

...was Sian.

"Damn it—!"

"Booooss, watch out!"

Sian heard her warning—

But he couldn’t move.

He was gathering his power, channeling it into the sand beneath the monster.

If he lifted his hands now, everything would collapse—the energy he had built would scatter, and he wouldn’t be able to gather it again.

The atmosphere snapped tight.

A chair clattered to the ground as the old General Lan stood abruptly. Others rose with him.

Some even shouted, "Behind you!"

But the man on the screen didn’t move.

Didn’t dodge.

People shut their eyes, unable to watch what came next.

Lan Qishing’s heart pounded violently. His breath hitched—his vision blurred.

Then he ran.

Faster than he ever had in his life.

Ran to save the source of his heartbeat—

Ran to protect the one he loved.

But he knew—

He was too far.

Far too far.

He wouldn’t make it in time.

No...

Sian!

Kira, too, lunged forward at full speed.

Just as the sharp black claw reached Sian’s face—

—BOOM.

Thunder roared across the sky.

In the clear, star-filled night, beneath the vast shining moon—

A bolt of lightning crashed down.

It struck the claw directly.

In an instant, it was reduced to ash, scattering in the wind.

And yet—

Sian remained unharmed.

Not a single scratch.

The power had finally settled into the sand.

He opened his eyes.

Cold. Sharp.

Amber irises glowing with a golden light.

The lightning didn’t fade.

It stood before him—vertical, radiant—

As if connecting heaven and earth.

Sian let out a quiet breath, lifting his gaze toward the sky, a faint smile touching his eyes.

"...You’re finally here."

The distant hum of a helicopter grew louder.

Moments later, a black aircraft appeared in the night sky.

Something dropped from it.

Within seconds, it landed near Sian.

"Gege! I’m heeere!"

A deep, rough voice—

Yet filled with the clingy excitement of a child calling for his older brother.

Sian sighed softly.

That idiot child.

"Go help Kira."

"What?" He Jinyun—who had been about to run toward Sian—froze upon hearing the familiar name.

Sian gestured subtly with his eyes.

Kira, now assured of Sian’s safety, was holding the monster back in fierce combat.

"He Jinyun, you’re still your brother’s spoiled little brat huh? Haven’t changed at all."

"Hurry up and help me—I’m about to pass out from exhaustion!"

Her voice rang out—bright, teasing, yet edged with fatigue.

He Jinyun scoffed lightly.

"I’ll explain later. First—we deal with this thing."

He looked at Sian, golden eyes gleaming beneath a silver mask, his expression turning serious.

He struck his chest with his fist.

"Understood, Boss!"

Then he rushed forward.

The two of them moved in perfect sync—flawless coordination, as if they had done this thousands of times.

No words.

No signals.

Just instinct.

"He Jinyun—don’t use your power."

"Kira—bring it two meters forward."

Sweat dripped down Sian’s face as he directed them.

At the same time, a soft white light began to glow in his hands... and spread across the sand beneath them.

The desert floor lit up—

Like a blazing sun.

The light crept beneath the monster.

"Move away!"

Sian shouted.

And instantly—

Kira and He Jinyun leapt back, putting distance between themselves and the creature.

In the very next moment—

The desert sand erupted violently beneath the monster.

It surged upward like a towering ocean wave—like a tsunami—swallowing the creature whole within its glowing white mass.

Amid the monster’s agonized screams and desperate attempts to escape, the sand forced its way into its body from every direction.

It seeped beneath its skin...

moved freely within it.

"Boss—"

"Gege—"

"I’m fine."

Sian drew a sharp breath, then wiped the fresh blood from his lips with his sleeve in a habitual motion before shifting his gaze back to the monster.

He stood up.

On either side of him, Kira and He Jinyun took their positions—like personal guards—alert and protective.

With visible strain, Sian raised both hands high.

Gently, the monster’s massive body started to ascend—eerily lifted from the ground by the shimmering white sand. Some grains floated upward in delicate streams, while others drifted down like gentle rain, creating a surreal, luminous cascade.

"He Jinyun... now. Strike it with your strongest lightning."

Without a word—

A bolt of golden lightning descended from the sky.

Far more powerful than the last—

It struck directly onto the monster’s head, still encased within the white sand.

Sian clenched his fingers.

And in that instant—

The sand, already charged with lightning, detonated.

It scattered across the clear night sky.

"Finally..."

"...it’s over."

Sian’s body collapsed silently to the side.

"Captain!"

"Gege!"