Dahlia stretched her arms and rolled her shoulders.

"Alright," she said brightly. "Looks like we're heading back."

Rynor cracked his neck and grinned.

"Finally. I was starting to miss punching things that don't try to curse my bloodline."

Rynar snorted. "You miss food more than fighting."

Clara spun in a small circle, hands behind her back.

"Aww, leaving already? I was hoping the island would explode one more time."

Eliza said nothing.

She simply adjusted her footing and stood closer to Dahlia, ready to move whenever needed.

Before they left, Dahlia turned toward Eldrin and the other Legendary Beasts.

Her playful smile softened a little.

"So," she asked, tilting her head, "what do you want to do now that the Demon Gate is already destroyed?"

Eldrin was quiet for a moment.

His long body shifted slightly, claws resting against the ground.

"Truthfully," he said gently, "we do not know."

The others felt the weight in his words.

"We spent decades sealing the Demon Gate," Eldrin continued.

"Day after day. That duty shaped our existence."

Silvar stood silently beside him, arms crossed, eyes closed.

"Our sects are gone," Eldrin added. "Our purpose ended with the gate."

Arden swallowed and spoke carefully. "That must feel… empty."

Eldrin nodded once. "Yes."

Dahlia crossed her arms, then suddenly smiled wide again.

"Then why don't you come with us back to the God Gym?"

The twins blinked.

Rynor pointed at her. "Wait, you're just inviting legendary beasts like that?"

Rynar shrugged. "Sounds like something she'd do."

Clara clapped her hands. "Ohhh, legendary beasts as guests. That'll spice up training."

Eldrin let out a quiet breath. "For now," he said, "let us not decide while your master is absent."

Dahlia paused. "Master…"

Eldrin continued, "Until he returns, we will focus on restoring this island. Without the Demon Gate, it deserves a new future."

Dion smiled lightly. "Sounds like a fresh start."

Dahlia nodded. "I get it."

She glanced around. "But we can't really call this place Demon Gate Island anymore, can we?"

Rynor laughed. "Yeah, that name's outdated."

Eldrin smiled faintly. "That decision should belong to your master."

He looked toward the horizon. "He is the one who destroyed the Demon Gate."

Eliza lowered her gaze slightly, hands clasped.

Dahlia smiled with pride.

With that, the group turned toward home.

---

The demon crow that had fought the twins earlier flew across the dark sky and descended into a guarded compound.

The moment its feet touched the ground, the black feathers melted away like smoke.

The fusion ended.

The massive crow split apart, leaving a single man standing there, breathing heavily.

Blood stained Corvin's coat.

One arm hung lower than the other, and his chest rose and fell in uneven breaths.

A man waiting nearby stiffened when he saw him.

"…Commander Corvin?" he asked carefully. "What happened to you?"

Corvin straightened slowly. His face showed no panic, only exhaustion.

"I need to report something," he said. "Immediately. To the lord."

The man swallowed and nodded. Just one look at Corvin told him this was serious.

"Yes. This way."

They moved quickly through long corridors carved from black stone.

Guards stepped aside without a word when they saw Corvin's condition.

Soon, Corvin stood inside a vast hall.

At the far end sat a single figure on a raised seat.

"Lord," Corvin said, lowering his head slightly. "I have something to report."

The lord's eyes narrowed the moment he saw him.

"Speak," he said. "What happened out there?"

He leaned forward.

"Why did the Demon Gate disappear?"

Corvin lifted his head, surprised.

"…It disappeared?"

The lord nodded once, irritation clear in his voice.

"Yes. The Demon Gate vanished. I cannot sense it at all."

His fingers tapped against the armrest.

"Just what happened?"

Corvin took a breath.

"I don't know the exact cause," he said honestly.

"But the people from the God Gym are extremely strong."

He paused.

"I couldn't defeat them."

The hall went quiet.

The lord stared at him.

"You," he said slowly. "Failed to defeat mere disciples?"

Corvin's jaw tightened.

"Yes, Lord."

He met the lord's gaze without flinching.

"They were strong enough to force me to retreat."

After a moment, he added,

"When I left, the Demon Gate was still there."

The lord's expression darkened.

"To think you could lose," he muttered, "and afterward the Demon Gate disappears."

He slammed his hand against the armrest.

"That gate was a source of powerful demonic beasts."

He exhaled sharply.

"Damn it."

The lord leaned back, eyes cold.

"This Garion… he's far more dangerous than expected."

He waved a hand.

"We change our target for now."

Corvin nodded immediately.

"Yes, Lord."

Corvin then turned and walked out of the hall, footsteps steady despite the injuries he carried.

The lord remained seated.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then his fingers curled slowly against the armrest.

"…Damn it," he muttered.

His voice was low, controlled, but the irritation was obvious.

"This Garion," he continued quietly, "has ruined my plans again and again."

He leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing.

"And that word… gym."

He repeated it in his head.

"A strange word. Not from this world."

His gaze shifted to his side.

A black screen floated there, silent and smooth, its surface reflecting faint light.

"…Is it possible," the lord asked calmly, "that there are others besides me?"

The screen did not respond.

Instead, lines of familiar text appeared.

Status.

Active missions.

No answers.

The lord frowned.

"So you won't answer either," he said. "As usual."

He tapped the armrest once, then exhaled slowly.

"But if I think about it," he went on, "that man must be an otherworlder as well."

His eyes sharpened.

"From Earth."

The conclusion settled in his mind with uncomfortable weight.

"I don't know what kind of cheat he has," the lord said quietly. "Or how far ahead he is."

He straightened his posture.

"But that means I need to be even more careful."

His fingers relaxed, but his expression did not.

"Reckless moves won't work anymore."

The black screen continued to float silently beside him.

The lord stared at it for another second, then looked forward again.

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