While Ethan and his group were being confronted by three powerful B Rank beasts, the entire gate was also experiencing the effects of Phase Two.

The floating islands trembled.

Not gently, but with a deep, bone-rattling vibration that seemed to ripple through the very fabric of the gate itself. It was as if something vast and unseen had shifted its weight, and the entire world had responded in kind.

Kaela grinned.

A wide, feral smile split across her face as violet energy flickered to life around her body like wild lightning.

"I was getting bored in this place anyway."

Moments earlier, the system notification had echoed across the gate, cold and absolute in its declaration. For most, the voice alone was enough to send a chill down their spines.

For Kaela, it was an invitation.

She launched herself off one floating island and onto another, her body cutting through the low-gravity space with explosive force. The air warped slightly around her as she landed, knees bending before she straightened, already scanning her surroundings.

Then she felt them, three presences closing in on her incredibly quickly.

Her grin widened.

"Come on, then."

The first to appear were the smaller ones.

Two massive, damselfly-like creatures, their elongated bodies glistening with an oily sheen, their wings vibrating so fast they blurred into invisibility. Their compound eyes shimmered with predatory intelligence, which made them far more unsettling than any oversized insect had a right to be.

They circled, almost as if analysing her and waiting for something.

That’s when the third arrived, silent but deadly.

It was smaller than the other two, but the moment it entered her range, the Riot Valkyrie’s expression sharpened.

"I guess size doesn’t matter," she murmured under her breath.

Kaela was lucky Ethan wasn’t beside her to joke about what she had just said, but that blue-eyed C Rank was the last thing on her mind right now.

A dragonfly-like beast hovered above her, its wings beating with a low, resonant hum that carried an unnatural weight. Its body was sleeker, more refined, and yet every inch of it radiated power. The surrounding air distorted faintly, as though struggling to contain it.

This was no ordinary beast.

This was an A Rank, a literal freak of nature.

The ground beneath Kaela’s feet cracked, and she was far from being afraid.

"Now that’s more like it."

The A Rank Odonata’s wings flared, and it vanished.

A sonic boom followed.

BOOM!

Kaela twisted her body mid-motion, barely bringing her arms up in time as the creature struck. The impact sent her tumbling across the floating island and crashing into a pile of rubble.

’That’s one of the fastest creatures I’ve come across,’ she thought to herself as she burst out of the rock.

Moreover, she was sure that attack was merely to gauge her abilities and was far from all the beast was capable of. Despite that, she let out a laugh while gargling on the blood rising in her throat.

"Yes!"

Violet energy exploded outward as she launched herself forward, meeting the beast head-on. Her fist collided with its armoured body in a burst of violent force that shook the entire island.

The fun had finally begun.

-

Elsewhere, Liora stumbled back, her breath hitching as she stared at the creature before her.

"This is why I don’t like entering gates," she yelped.

Hovering above them was a nightmare made flesh.

A giant black wasp.

Its body was sleek and segmented, its stinger dripping with a viscous, iridescent liquid that hissed as it touched the ground and dripped straight through the floating island. Its wings buzzed with a frequency that made the air feel sharp, like it could cut through skin if you listened too long.

It was also an A Rank.

Darius stood beside her, his spear ignited with flickering flames, though his grip wasn’t as steady as usual. His chest rose and fell unevenly, the lingering damage from the Blood Demon’s attack in his previous gate still being felt with each breath.

He was supposed to have made a full recovery, yet the damage was deeper than expected, and he faced the harsh truth that he might never be the same again. But he wasn’t ready to put down the spear just yet, as he squeezed his trusty weapon as tightly as he could.

Zoom!

The wasp lunged.

Liora reacted instantly and raised her hands, a translucent barrier snapping into place in front of them, but the force of the impact sent cracks spiderwebbing across its surface.

It barely held in place and took all she had to do so, but it gave them a second to prepare.

Darius stepped forward, and despite the pain, prepared to fight.

"Not like I have much choice," he mumbled as his flames surged.

And thus their battle also began.

-

On another island, Elara stood still.

Beside her, Seraphina shifted from foot to foot, energy practically vibrating off her.

"This is bad," she muttered. "Like, really bad."

Rowan, the Verdant Warden, said nothing, but the vines coiling subtly around his arms spoke volumes.

Before them stood their opponents: three monstrous insect beasts of the same ranks as those that Kaela was facing. Each was radiating power that made the air feel heavy.

Seraphina glanced at Elara.

"You going to unleash that demon?"

Rowan followed her gaze.

Because if she did, this fight would change instantly.

As much as the Blood Demon frightened them after seeing it in action the night prior, they couldn’t ask for anything better to be on their side.

Elara hesitated.

Then she slowly shook her head before making a series of movements with her hands.

*I’m going to handle this myself.*

They didn’t know sign language, but they understood her intent.

Seraphina blinked.

"You’re serious?"

Meanwhile, inside Elara’s mind, a layered voice laughed.

"You really think you can handle this without me?"

Elara’s jaw tightened.

’Yes, I can.’

There was a pause, then it said something very surprising...

"Fine."

The demon’s tone shifted, almost as if mildly interested.

"Then show me what you can do, child."

There was a sudden surge.

Crimson energy erupted from her body, wild and unrestrained, lashing out in chaotic tendrils that cracked against the air like whips.

Seraphina jumped back.

"Okay, what the hell-"

Rowan raised a barrier of vines instinctively.

But despite being on edge by the evil energy in front of them, they were also relieved.

"Thank god, I thought we were done for."

But then they noticed something.

Elara wasn’t possessed, and her eyes weren’t consumed by blood-red.

Even worse, she looked just as startled as they did, almost as if overwhelmed by her newfound power. It was like someone had handed her a weapon far too powerful for her to control.

Seraphina let out a breath, watching the unstable crimson aura flicker violently.

"Maybe we still are done for..."

But they weren’t nearly as done for as the remaining C Rank groups...