A crushing pressure descended.

This... was the oppressive aura of an Eighth-Tier monster.

Yelia gazed into the distance. Even within the pitch-black depths of the Sea Abyss, the angel’s sacred, blazing golden wings were impossibly radiant—

Impossible to miss.

"How did you find this place...?" the distant angel murmured as he looked toward Yelia.

But soon, he spoke again:

"Forget it. We’ll begin now."

"There’s no need to prepare any longer."

The moment those words fell—

Tap—

Light ignited in every direction across the dark expanse!

Boom!

A magnificent, blinding brilliance erupted all at once!

Countless points of light flared to life within the abyss. Among the nearer ones, it was clear—

These were rituals activating!

There was no telling how many had been prepared in advance.

Only that they were now all being triggered.

Just within visible range alone—

There were at least tens of millions of these glowing points.

If each one involved Level 6 class-advancers...

Just how vast was this sacrifice?

And a ritual on this scale—

Was not something Kanzaki Rei, having only just arrived, could possibly stop.

It was too massive.

Even if he could easily defeat those present, there was no way he could reach every planet in time...

Boom!

Radiant light surged forth!

Kanzaki Rei felt life itself rushing downward like a flood!

An ancient existence was being awakened.

Its aura seeped upward from below.

Meanwhile, the class-advancers conducting the rituals—

One after another—

Were drained into withered husks.

Ansu’s voice echoed in his mind, cold with mockery.

"Heh... these so-called followers of Life... how are they any different from those of us who follow Death?"

"They’re all the same—treating life like dirt."

"That Sophia... is no better."

Kumironi stared at the unfolding scene, her heart trembling with shock—and overflowing with boundless fury.

Was this what life stood for?

To sacrifice oneself... to awaken something that would bring even greater destruction?

What exactly was Sophia planning?

No...

No matter what the plan was, this couldn’t be right.

Life should never be trampled like this.

At that moment—

A sharp buzzing filled their minds.

Yelia and Kumironi both raised hands to their temples.

A call...

A guidance...

It was as though a divine decree had descended from a distant place.

Kanzaki Rei felt it too.

But his was different.

What he sensed—

Was a call from Earth.

The others receiving divine messages made sense.

The gods had their designs for them.

But why... was he hearing a call from Earth?

Kanzaki Rei glanced at the powerful figures surrounding them.

Now that the ritual had begun, none of them made a move to attack. They simply watched from above.

An Eighth-Level angel.

An Eighth-Tier monster.

These were likely the strongest forces present.

Then, the distant angel spoke:

"Yelia... are you refusing to accept Lord Zhuya’s divine decree?"

He clearly recognized her.

And had identified her status instantly.

Yelia looked up, her expression filled with struggle and confusion.

"Who are you? How do you know Lord Zhuya sent me a divine message?"

The angel’s solemn face carried a faint, enigmatic smile.

"I am the Fifth Angel under Lord Zhuya... His agent in the mortal realm."

"You were not meant to appear here at this time."

"Your fate has been disturbed... is it because of the one beside you?"

Kanzaki Rei hadn’t said a word.

Yet the angel’s burning gaze fell directly upon him.

Fwoosh—

Kanzaki Rei felt his body heat up, as though scorched by invisible flames.

An immensely powerful perception swept over him.

And yet—

It found nothing.

"An existence I cannot discern..."

The angel showed a hint of surprise.

Unable to probe Kanzaki Rei’s origins, yet he made no move to attack—nor any sign of intent to fight.

"Very well."

"This scheme involves many parties. A few unexpected variables... are, in themselves, to be expected."

"I wonder which god favors you, to have come here seeking a share of the Secret Sea."

"But if you’ve made it this far, you must have come prepared."

After muttering to himself, he shifted his attention back to Yelia.

"As for him... we’ll set that aside."

"But Yelia—you have a role to fulfill."

"That divine artifact in your possession... was given for this very day."

As he spoke—

A gleaming, circular stone appeared in his hand.

"This is not the end."

"Yelia—take your token."

"I will take you to receive Lord Zhuya’s divine decree."

Buzz—

A crushing pressure descended!

Yelia was Zhuya’s successor—

But she was still only a Level 6 class-advancer.

Under the deliberate pressure of an Eighth-Level angel—

She could barely breathe.

This was absolute suppression from a higher existence.

In level.

In status.

In authority.

Every factor compelled her to submit.

"...Yes."

She had countless questions in her heart—

But only that single word could leave her lips.

Beside her, Kumironi turned to Kanzaki Rei.

The ritual...

Had ultimately been activated.

Their interference had accomplished nothing.

It was like a mere mortal witnessing a volcanic eruption or a massive earthquake—

Powerless.

She wanted to do something.

But as she watched life cascade downward like a torrent, felt the awakening of a great existence—

It seemed nothing could be changed.

Kumironi parted her lips, her expression filled with helplessness.

"Kanzaki Rei... I heard Sophia’s call."

"I want to go see it."

"Maybe... maybe there’s still something I can do."

And deep within her heart—

There were questions she wanted to ask Sophia.

Kanzaki Rei cast a complicated glance at the distant Lomo, then at the angel who had already dismissed him.

The surrounding figures showed no intention of stopping them.

He nodded.

"Kumironi... I’ll go with you."

This return—

This replay—

Was to uncover the truth.

To learn more possibilities.

Not to indulge in meaningless vengeance.

Even if he killed them all—

When he returned to reality, history likely wouldn’t change at all.

...Likely.

The existence of Time’s Solitary Curse left a faint unease in his mind.

Rhein hesitated, caught in indecision.

But in the end—

He chose to follow Kanzaki Rei.

Instinct told him—

It was safer that way.

Yelia departed with the angel.

Kanzaki Rei cast one last distant glance toward Earth—

Then, together with Kumironi, moved toward the direction of her calling.

The call of Sophia.

The last time they had reached the Sea Abyss—

Kumironi had never followed that voice.

And Kanzaki Rei was curious.

What... exactly did that voice want from her?