Chapter 1595: Different

Erend watched everything unfold on the large monitor and let out a long sigh. Just as he had expected, this was not going to be a simple matter.

Cody and his team had already left the area in their vehicle, driving away without attempting to pursue the long-haired stranger.

Erend considered that the right decision because they had no idea who they were dealing with. For all they knew, the man possessed powers far beyond their capabilities, and chasing him could have ended with their deaths.

Although the stranger appeared to be at a disadvantage, Erend knew better than to judge an enemy by the opening exchanges of a fight.

Powerful opponents often concealed their true strength until they decided to stop holding back. By the time their enemies realized what they were capable of, it was often too late to escape the consequences of their recklessness. In the worst cases, the only thing left for them to do was accept their deaths.

"What the hell was that?" Jessica asked, her voice filled with confusion and surprise as she continued staring at the monitor.

The screen now displayed the footage from Cody’s vehicle as the team drove away, but Thomas quickly switched to the earlier recording of the tall man in black.

They watched the stranger’s movements again, paying close attention to the way he manipulated his shadow and transformed it into a solid weapon.

His ability to create a sword from darkness was unmistakable, and it suggested that his Magic operated on principles they had never encountered before.

"What do you think?" Adrien asked Erend.

Erend remained silent for a moment with his arms folded across his chest. His eyes stayed fixed on the monitor as he studied the recording with a deep frown. He was trying to assess the stranger’s abilities from the limited information they had gathered, but the brief encounter revealed very little about the man’s actual strength.

"As you can see, his Magic is related to shadows," Erend finally answered. "However, I’m not sure how powerful he really is. I think we’ll have to meet him in person to find out."

"Do you think he’ll agree to meet us?" Billy asked.

"He doesn’t have much of a choice. That man clearly has a purpose for coming to this world. I could see it in his expression. He won’t leave anytime soon, so if we can find him and talk things through, that would be the best outcome."

"What if he refuses to talk?" Conrad asked.

Erend exhaled slowly through his nose before answering. "Then we’ll fight him."

He delivered the words calmly, as though fighting an unknown enemy was little more than an inconvenience. Yet his confidence had a reassuring effect on the others.

They had no idea what kind of threat they were facing, but Erend’s presence reminded them that their situation was far from hopeless. Whatever this stranger could do, they would not have to confront him without someone capable of standing against him.

Adrien nodded in agreement. As an experienced soldier, he understood that there was little point in discussing peaceful solutions while a potentially hostile enemy stood inside their territory and showed no clear intention of cooperating.

They could consider negotiations once they had brought the situation under control and made it clear that attacking this world was a mistake.

If the stranger proved willing to talk, they could pursue a peaceful resolution afterward. If not, they would have to deal with him by force.

"I agree. You, Brook, and I will go there. We’re leaving now," Adrien said.

The three men immediately left the room and headed for the garage. They would not use a vehicle this time. Instead, they planned to fly toward the plain while concealing their presence with their abilities.

They could reach the location much faster that way, and given how quickly the situation had developed, they could not afford to waste any more time.

—

Erebus stood motionless in the middle of the vast plain, surrounded by tall grass that swayed gently in the wind. His expression was solemn as he considered what he had just experienced.

He now understood that this world was far more complicated than he had initially believed, and the realization troubled him. How had he overlooked something so important?

At first, he thought this world didn’t have any Magic at all. The absence of Magic energy in the air had convinced him that its inhabitants were incapable of wielding it.

Yet he had just fought four people who demonstrated different things. They have the abilities that were powerful enough to disrupt his movements, attack him from a distance, and interfere with his control over his own power.

Whatever the truth behind this world might be, his initial assessment was clearly wrong.

If four people like them existed here, there were probably many more. That possibility complicated his plans considerably.

An invasion could become far more difficult if he had to fight an entire population of Magic users, especially if their abilities varied as widely as the ones he had just encountered.

Nevertheless, Erebus believed he could still overcome them, even if doing so left him with serious injuries.

His people had suffered for far too long, and he refused to abandon them now just because the path ahead had become more dangerous than he expected.

He clenched his fists and tightened his jaw. He had already made his decision, and there was no turning back.

Even if saving his homeland meant slaughtering every inhabitant of this world, he would do what he believed necessary.

The thought weighed heavily on him, but he pushed his hesitation aside and reminded himself why he had come here in the first place. His people needed a future, and he was determined to give them one.

For now, however, he needed to return home and retrieve his weapons. His next encounter could prove much more difficult than the previous one, and he could not afford to enter another battle unprepared.

His long-necked lizard approached him with a low whimper, its movements slower than usual after the beating it had taken from the soldiers.

Erebus turned toward his companion and crouched beside it, gently stroking its head. The creature leaned into his hand as though seeking comfort from the only familiar presence in this strange world.

"You must be hurting," Erebus said with a faint smile. "I’m sorry."

The lizard whimpered again and nuzzled against his hand. Erebus continued stroking its head for a moment before rising to his feet. He then extended his hand and opened a portal that would take him back to his homeland.

However, just as the portal began to stabilize, he sensed something approaching.

His eyes widened as a powerful presence entered his awareness, its overwhelming energy immediately putting him on alert.

This was no ordinary opponent. Whoever was coming had considerable strength, perhaps even more than the four he had just fought.

Erebus turned toward the sky and spotted three figures approaching from a distance. He immediately dismissed the portal before it could fully stabilize and planted his feet firmly on the ground. His expression hardened as he prepared himself for another confrontation.

Just as he had suspected, more opponents were coming. And judging by the power he sensed from the three approaching figures, this encounter would not end as easily as the last one.

—