CHAPTER 568: HE’S NOT JUST TIER 15...

THOOM!

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

The ground trembled violently as a surge of raw power erupted from the distance, wave after wave pounding through the air like a drumbeat from hell.

It looked like a volcanic eruption—but something about it felt... off.

Ethan didn’t waste time trying to figure it out.

With a flicker of movement, he shot toward the source of the disturbance.

Elira and Ataneya were right behind him, their expressions tense.

"What the hell is that?" Ethan muttered as they arrived.

What they found was... unexpected.

A spatial rift—an open portal—hovered in the air before them. It connected directly to the main world of the Graveyard of Legends instance. But this portal wasn’t normal. It was layered—like two overlapping gateways. One led to the familiar world outside... but the other?

The second one seemed to lead somewhere else entirely.

Somewhere unknown.

Ethan narrowed his eyes, suspicion rising.

And then—

VMMM!

The space behind them twisted violently.

In the next instant, a towering figure materialized out of thin air.

A giant.

The air around him pulsed with a strange, oppressive energy. And if you looked closely, you could see it—countless souls swirling inside his massive body, like a storm of spirits trapped within flesh.

"What the hell...?" Ethan’s brow furrowed.

He immediately stepped back, pulling Elira and Ataneya with him.

The pressure rolling off this thing was insane—wild, chaotic, and deeply unnatural.

And it wasn’t just raw power. This thing fought using pure soul energy.

Ethan glanced at the system interface, hoping for some kind of readout.

Nothing.

No stats. No name.

Just a single title glowing ominously on the screen:

[Soul Devourer]

As for its tier?

Same as Sorlenth.

15-Tier. SS-Class. Crimson Ultimate.

Another monster.

"Is this guy an enemy too?" Ethan muttered, eyes locked on the giant.

He kept backing up, muscles tense.

But before he could get far—

WHOOSH!

The Soul Devourer’s gaze snapped toward him.

And in the blink of an eye, a crushing wave of soul energy slammed down, engulfing Ethan completely.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

The pressure was suffocating.

Soul energy wasn’t like fire or lightning—it was deeper, more invasive. It didn’t just hit your body. It clawed at your mind, your spirit.

Only certain races—mages, high elves—could even wield this kind of power.

But this thing? It didn’t look like either.

Which made it even more disturbing.

And yet... despite the overwhelming pressure, the Soul Devourer didn’t attack.

It just stood there.

Blocking their path.

Watching.

Like it was waiting for something.

"Master, what do we do?" Elira asked, her eyes narrowing. "Should we strike first?"

Ethan took a deep breath. "He doesn’t seem like he wants to fight..."

"But he’s not letting us leave either," Ataneya added, her voice low and tense.

That made Ethan pause.

He stared at the giant for a long moment, then slowly shook his head. "Let’s wait. See what he does. If it comes to it... we fight."

Just as he said that, he turned slightly, testing the idea of walking away.

ZING!

BOOM!

A sudden blast of soul energy shot past him, slamming into the ground just inches from his feet.

He froze.

So did the others.

Their expressions darkened.

"Yeah... that was deliberate," Ethan said grimly.

"He wants us to go there," Elira said suddenly, pointing toward a distant mountain range that stretched across the horizon like a jagged scar.

Ethan followed her gaze.

And yeah—he could feel it too now. The Soul Devourer wasn’t just blocking them. He was herding them.

Toward that mountain.

Ethan hesitated, conflicted.

But then he remembered—the missing 7% of the Primordial Force.

Could this be connected?

Could that mountain be where the final piece was hiding?

"...Alright," he said finally, nodding. "Let’s check it out."

With that, he launched himself into the air, flying toward the mountains.

And this time?

The Soul Devourer didn’t stop them.

Didn’t move.

Just watched them go... like a silent gatekeeper to something far more dangerous.

FWOOSH!

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—!

Suddenly, a beam of light shot straight up from the mountain ahead, piercing the sky like a divine spear. The earth trembled beneath their feet as the light pulsed with raw, unfiltered energy.

And then—out of that blinding column—stepped a figure.

A child.

Or at least, it looked like a child.

But something was off. Way off.

The figure shimmered faintly, translucent around the edges—clearly a soul form. And the energy radiating from it was... wrong. Twisted. Ancient. It pulsed with a strange rhythm, like it didn’t belong in this world.

The child raised one hand casually, as if waving hello.

And the Soul Devourer—the towering giant who had just blocked their path—immediately turned and sprinted toward him like a loyal hound answering its master’s call.

THUD!

THUD!

THUD!

Ethan didn’t move. He just watched, tense but curious, as the giant thundered across the ground.

And then—

The moment the Soul Devourer reached the child, FWASH!

—a surge of power exploded outward, wrapping both of them in a swirling cocoon of light and soul energy.

And just like that—

The giant vanished.

Gone. Not a trace left behind.

Ethan’s eyes widened. "What the hell...?"

He barely had time to process what he’d just seen when—

BOOM!

The light exploded again.

And from within the pillar, the child reappeared.

But this time... something was different.

He looked the same—same size, same face—but the energy rolling off him was far more intense. The soul aura around him was thick, almost suffocating. It was like the fusion of the Soul Devourer and the spirit had created something entirely new.

Something far more dangerous.

Ethan’s instincts screamed at him.

This wasn’t just some kid.

This was a monster.

"Thanks for helping me come back," the boy said, his voice calm, almost cheerful. But there was a coldness beneath it, like a blade hidden in silk. His eyes flicked over the group—then landed on Elira.

"You... you’re not from this world, are you? And you..." He tilted his head, eyes narrowing. "You’re a Skytear Demon Moth? No way... are you one of their descendants?"

Elira’s expression didn’t change. Her voice was flat. "And you? Who the hell are you?"

The boy chuckled softly. "Me? Heh... you’re not really qualified to know that yet."

Then his smile vanished.

"But since you helped bring me back, I guess I should say thanks. And what better way to show my gratitude... than by killing you?"

The temperature dropped.

Ethan, Elira, and Ataneya all tensed, their faces darkening.

And then—

The kid raised his hand.

"Soulflare Surge!"

WHOOOOOM!

The air split open as countless ghostly figures burst into existence—twisted, monstrous soul-beasts shrieking through the void. They spiraled around him like a storm of phantoms, their wails echoing across the mountains.

The energy pouring into him was unreal—dark, ancient, and overwhelming. His body pulsed with it, growing stronger by the second.

It was like watching a demon king awaken.

Ethan’s pupils shrank. "No way..."

Elira’s voice was tight. "That power—"

Ataneya’s face went pale. "He’s not just Tier 15..."

They all realized it at the same time.

This wasn’t just another Crimson Ultimate.

This was a 15-Tier SSS-Class Crimson Ultimate Hero.

A whole level above anything they’d faced before.

And now... he was looking right at them.

...