The sky was a violent storm of grey and black, lightning streaking across the horizon as the invasion unfolded.
From the hovering helicopters and planes, the warriors jumped or leapt into the shattered wasteland below—once a city, now a battlefield.
Riku Hayashi landed alone, his boots hitting cracked concrete dusted with ash. Around him, the war zone was chaotic: towering ruins, craters, and the sounds of Essence roaring.
This was no ordinary fight.
Across the battlefield, a monstrous army gathered—500 EX-rank Essence Beasts, creatures of legend and nightmare. Each was a force of raw Essence, the highest threat humanity had ever faced.
They moved like shadows unleashed, their roars shaking the earth. The ground trembled with their every step.
Riku scanned the horizon, calm yet ready. His grey hair fluttered unnaturally as he activated his Divine Avatar form. His hair glowed softly, and his bright blue eyes pierced the dim light. A faint aura shimmered around him, pulsing with Essence power.
His senses sharpened. He could feel the flow of Essence around him—both enemy and ally. He was alone in this fight, but that didn't mean he was powerless.
Nearby, the rumble of heavy footsteps announced the arrival of another.
Toru Kurotaki, towering and muscular, clad in battle-scarred armor, landed with a ground-shaking thud. His presence was like a titan walking among men.
Beside him moved the other S-rank warriors—Yumi Aoyama, her eyes sharp and focused, weapons gleaming with Essence energy.
Toru glanced toward Riku with a cold, calculating gaze. "You're still alone?"
Riku's lips curled into a faint smirk. "They know I'm better off solo."
"No distractions," Toru nodded approvingly. "Good."
The ground suddenly erupted as an enormous EX-rank Essence Beast—its form shifting like molten rock—charged straight at them.
Riku didn't hesitate. Moving at blinding speed, he closed the distance, Essence crackling around his fists. He struck the beast with a punch that sent shockwaves through the air, Essence rippling on contact.
The beast retaliated with crushing blows, but Riku's Divine Avatar reflexes allowed him to dodge and counterattack with surgical precision.
Nearby, Toru roared a battle cry and unleashed his Titanblood Essence power, muscles swelling as he grappled with a hulking, armored beast. Every strike from Toru landed like a hammer blow, shaking the battlefield.
Yumi darted between enemies, using her agility and Essence-enhanced weapons to strike swift, precise blows, defending fellow warriors caught in the crossfire.
The battlefield was a frenzy of explosions, Essence flares, and roaring beasts.
Despite the overwhelming odds, the S+ rank warriors held their ground, pushing back the tide with expert coordination.
Riku summoned a clone mid-air, who flanked a charging beast while Riku engaged another. A knight appeared at his side, intercepting incoming attacks and shielding his back.
Even though he fought alone, Riku's mastery over multiple Essence types allowed him to adapt to the unpredictable beasts, countering attacks with swift, calculated moves.
But the beasts were relentless—one moment they were cornered, the next they swarmed again.
The battle had only just begun.