39 years later, Savage Expanse.
The barren landscape stretched endlessly, marked by jagged cliffs and scorched earth.
The air shimmered with faint traces of mana, creating a disconcerting hum that resonated in Emma’s ears.
Ash clouds loomed overhead and casted an ominous shadow over the thousands of awakeners gathered below.
“Dammit.”
Emma bit her nails as her gaze darted over the assembled forces.
Her brows furrowed as she scanned the faces of the awakeners geared up for battle.
Their armor glinted faintly in the dull light and they had grim expressions.
Today, Typhaon would wake up.
Everyone had been preparing for this day for decades.
The tension in the air was palpable, broken only by the occasional clang of weapons and nervous murmurs among the awakeners.
But…
“Do they think this is a joke?” Emma hissed under her breath.
Typhaon’s root had been burrowing deeper each day.
The Father of Anomalies drained the energy from the earth itself.
This relentless absorption allowed it to grow at a pace far faster than any awakener could ever hope to match.
Its growth pace was second to none.
Despite the colossal threat, Emma was the only heavy hitter in today’s roster.
She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as a sense of frustration surged through her.
However, she knew it was no one’s fault.
Poseidon was with the Titans, holding back the hordes of monsters pouring out from the Bermuda Triangle.
Apparently, the place had a portal connection to another planet.
The planet’s environment was not inhabitable for humans and only powerful bloodthirsty monsters existed there.
The monsters from there had been relentlessly invading Earth.
Zeus was on the moon.
The damned natural satellite had gained a mind of its own due to the evolution caused by mana.
Zeus had to go there and stop it before it decided to crash into Earth and end everything.
Gaia was preoccupied with the World Core Synchronization. It had reached its final stages, and Gaia couldn’t leave it unattended.
Ares and Athena were locked in combat with the Five Emperors—a rebellious group of awakeners led by five powerful leaders.
They worshiped Typhaon and sought to sabotage the Awakener Association’s efforts to defeat the monster.
Today, it was just Emma, Apollo, and Jack against Typhaon together with a few hundred awakeners.
The other awakeners were far from Emma or Jack’s level and they job was only to deal with the minions of Typhaon.
The plan was simple: hold back Typhaon until reinforcements arrived.
Once Ares and Athena defeated the Five Emperors and Zeus finished his task on the moon, they would rush to the Savage Expanse to assist in taking down the Father of Anomalies.
Jack—now Erebus—was a reinforcement sent by the Titans.
If the Awakener Association couldn’t hold their ground, more reinforcements would follow.
Still, it was reckless, bordering on suicidal, to leave only Emma, Apollo, and Jack to face Typhaon.
But there was no other choice. Every powerful awakener was tied up elsewhere, fighting battles just as critical.
“The more I think about it, the more it pisses me off. Why is Apollo still not here!?” Emma’s voice cut through the tense silence, making several nearby awakeners flinch.
They exchanged nervous glances and whispered amongst themselves.
“Hey, do something, or we’ll get scolded because Sir Apollo isn’t here.”
“What am I supposed to do!?”
“Guys, just remind her Sir Erebus is coming. That might improve her mood.”
While they deliberated on how to pacify Emma, she suddenly raised her device and began speaking into it.
Her voice was sharp, and edged with irritation.
“Apollo, where are you!?”
It seemed Apollo had finally picked her call.
She cocked her head, her expression shifting from anger to confusion as she listened to Apollo’s reply.
“You aren’t coming…?”
Her voice faltered, and disbelief flashed across her eyes.
“Neo will handle Typhaon…? That guy has been missing for four decades! What do you mean—Hey, don’t hang up!”
Emma’s voice rose in exasperation, but the line went dead before she could say more.
Her hands trembled as she lowered the device, her face contorted in fury.
The other awakeners took a cautious step back.
“It’s all that bastard’s fault,” she muttered through clenched teeth, her tone laced with venom.
Apollo had changed after his defeat by Neo 39 years ago.
Emma had no idea what Neo had told Apollo.
But it changed Apollo.
From a disciplined warrior who did what was necessary, he had turned into a deadbeat who did only what he wanted to do.
And now, of all times, he had chosen to be unreliable.
He was busy partying at this moment!?
“I don’t understand. Why is everyone always ‘Neo this, Neo that’? Even Jack pays more attention to him than me—”
Emma’s words came to an abrupt halt as a violent tremor shook the ground beneath her.
The barren expanse quaked.
Dust rose in chaotic swirls as cracks spider-webbed across the terrain.
The awakeners began shouting in alarm.
“Typhaon is waking up!”
“Shit, it’s earlier than the estimated time! Our guys are still not fully geared up!”
Emma’s expression darkened and her lips were pressed into a thin line.
The ground beneath her boots vibrated with ominous intent, and a deep sense of foreboding settled in her chest.
She reached out to summon her Darkness powers, but a sudden, crushing pressure crashed down upon her like a tidal wave.
Her knees buckled.
A ripple of agony spread through the ranks of awakeners.
Most collapsed and became unconscious.
The few who managed to remain standing retched violently.
Their faces were pale and drenched with sweat.
The forest around them groaned as if alive.
Trees twisted grotesquely.
Their bark split to reveal monstrous faces and limbs.
The ground cracked open, releasing swarms of hideous creatures that clawed their way to the surface.
‘Shit!’ Emma’s mind raced as adrenaline surged through her. ‘This feeling… Typhaon’s strength is far higher than the predictions!’
She recalled Gaia’s briefing: Typhaon’s root system absorbed energy from the earth, allowing it to grow at a terrifying pace unmatched by any awakener.
“Call for reinforcements!” Emma barked the orders.
Her voice rose above the chaos.
“This isn’t something we can handle with our current numbers! Go! I’ll buy time for you guys—”
“There is no need for that.”
The calm voice cut through her shout like a blade through the haze of panic.
A figure wearing tattered black robes stepped forward.
His appearance was detached and almost surreal amidst the chaos.
Unlike everyone else on the battlefield, he seemed entirely unaffected by Typhaon’s overwhelming presence.
Emma turned to him.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Who are you?”
The figure tilted his head slightly.
His face was obscured by the shadows of his hood.
It was as if Darkness itself masked his features, making them impossible to discern.
Yet his voice was strangely familiar.
“Gaia sent me,” he replied evenly. “My codename is…”
He hesitated, his posture stiffening slightly as if embarrassed. Then, through gritted teeth, he added,
“Thanatos.”
Emma’s eyes widened in shock.
She wasn’t aware the Awakener Association had someone like him in their ranks.
But she kept her doubts to herself.
Rumors about Gaia’s so-called knight had circulated within the Association for years.
They went like this: A knight protected Gaia from the shadows and he killed without fail whenever Gaia commanded it.
Gaia never confirmed or denied these rumors and allowed them to fester in ambiguity.