As Cale and the others reappeared from the closing Fracture, they were greeted by the familiar sights and sounds of their world, though now with an added tension hanging thick in the air. The Fracture’s energy pulsed behind them for a final moment before flickering and vanishing. Around them, they saw a group of soldiers, visibly on edge, stationed at the site and scanning the area as if prepared for anything to emerge.

One soldier spotted Cale and quickly approached, his stance sharp and respectful. He saluted with a brisk nod, but his expression conveyed urgency, his words quick but steady.

“Just as you anticipated, Sir Dark Scythe,” he reported, voice laced with anxiety. “Fracture outbreaks are happening all over the world. It’s… it’s getting worse.”

Cale’s face hardened at the news. Fractures flaring up globally was a dire scenario, a sign that something larger and more malevolent was afoot. He narrowed his gaze, the gravity of the situation sinking in as he asked in a low, urgent voice, “How is it going here? Where’s the nearest Fracture?”

The soldier didn’t hesitate, meeting Cale’s gaze with a firm yet grim expression. “Soojin and the E~D Rank Hunters are currently handling a C-Rank Fracture in the northern sector,” he replied. “They’re holding off the creatures, but… they’re starting to get overwhelmed.”

Cale’s jaw tightened, and he nodded, a decision made in an instant. A C-Rank Fracture was a heavy burden for hunters of that level, even with Soojin leading them. Without a second thought, he turned to his team.

“Stay put and recover,” he ordered. “We’ve been through one Fracture, and you need to be ready for whatever comes next. I’ll check on Soojin’s team.”

The Six looked torn between following and protesting, their bodies still aching from the last fight. But Cale’s tone left no room for argument. With quick nods, they held their positions, accepting the brief moment of reprieve.

Cale looked back to the soldier. “Location?”

The soldier gave it, and in seconds, Cale was gone, moving through the streets with fluid, practiced speed, each step calculated, his mind racing with the possibilities. If Fractures were appearing worldwide, then the Fracture's influence might be stretching to its limits, or worse—something beyond even C ale's power was at work.

Reaching the northern sector in minutes, Cale slowed, his presence veiled in the shadows, as he approached the scene of the Fracture. Around the perimeter, skinny and long crystalline creatures prowled restlessly, each movement a reminder of the chaos the Fracture unleashed upon the world. He could see the hunters—Soojin’s team—fighting with every ounce of strength they had.

He scanned the team carefully, noting their focus, their tenacity, their exhaustion. At the center of the skirmish was Soojin, commanding his hunters with precision, directing them to hold the creatures back with a practiced control that spoke of both experience and desperation. But Cale could see the weariness etched on his face, the split-second hesitation in his movements, small but undeniable signs of fatigue.

The hunters around him were younger, clearly less experienced, and though they fought bravely, their coordination lacked the fluidity that came with time and practice. One young hunter’s stance faltered as he tried to recast a defensive spell; another hunter’s strikes grew increasingly erratic as he struggled to keep the creatures at bay.

Cale’s gaze swept over each hunter, noting every weakness, every falter. They were pushing themselves to the edge, fighting beyond their limits to protect the city, knowing that falling back would mean a surge of enemies into the city streets.

Cale’s expression remained unreadable, though within him stirred a quiet acknowledgment of their bravery. They had a long way to go, he knew that much. They needed more strength, more control, and better mastery of their abilities. But they were giving everything they had, and that was something Cale couldn’t ignore.

'Display' thought Cale with folded arms as he stood in a destroyed tall building.

[Information (Info):

Name: Shard Eater

Level : 30~31 (In this area!)

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Status : Hungry for metals and crystals.

Species: Elemental Parasite

Weakness: Physical force or stone-based magic.

Description: Shard Eaters are crystalline beings that feed on elemental shards scattered across fractures. Small but resilient, they grow stronger as they consume. Their crystalline bodies are vulnerable to sharp force, causing them to shatter when hit by strong impacts or certain earth-based attacks.]

Cale looked at the yellow System Panel and then assessed the situation. He walked near the edge of the building and dashed forward as a dark scythe appeared in his hands.

"Just one down!" Soojin shouted as he cut down a Shard Eater with his sword, panting heavily, with three others beside him—one of them being Jang Min-seok.

Soojin and the others looked ahead and saw someone dash from behind them at high speed. With a single swing, the person destroyed the Shard Eater’s core, and the creature lost the light in its body as it fell.

"Cale? Is that you?!" Soojin shouted as he recognized him instantly. The other three looked over as Cale glanced back at them with a smile.

"I’ll take care of these Shard Eaters. Focus on the surroundings," Cale said urgently, then dashed toward the blue Shard Eaters as a long, dark chain appeared in his left hand, which he swung horizontally. Eight Shard Eaters jumped up, but two of them didn’t. They were hit hard by the force and thrown to Cale's right.

Cale's chain disappeared as he charged at the remaining eight Shard Eaters, who now recognized him as their real foe.

"Everyone!" Soojin shouted loudly. "Don’t let any of the Shard Eaters escape!... Hold your ground!" He got into a stance with his sword, feeling uncomfortable wielding it despite being more of a brute-force type.

Cale’s eyes narrowed, focused entirely on the Shard Eaters in front of him. With the chain disappearing, he gripped the dark scythe in his hand tightly, feeling its familiar weight. The Shard Eaters hissed, their crystalline bodies reflecting the dim light in jagged, unnatural angles. They shifted, forming a loose circle around him, each one’s core pulsing ominously as they prepared to strike.

He heard Soojin’s voice ring out behind him, rallying the others, and felt a small surge of confidence. He could trust Soojin to handle the perimeter while he dealt with the main threat.

With a swift, fluid movement, Cale spun his scythe, its blade tracing an arc of dark energy in the air. He launched forward, targeting one of the Shard Eaters nearest him, and swung with precise force. The scythe’s edge met the creature’s core dead-on, shattering it instantly. Shards of its crystal body scattered, disintegrating mid-air before they could touch the ground.

The other Shard Eaters shrieked, moving in a blur toward him, but Cale anticipated their reaction. He sidestepped, twisting the scythe to intercept the next attacker. He swept the blade upward, splitting the Shard Eater down the middle. As it fell, another lunged toward him, claws reaching for his back. Without missing a beat, Cale spun and brought the scythe’s handle down, knocking the creature aside, before he pierced through its core with a swift, downward strike.

Meanwhile, Soojin and the others held their ground, forming a tight defense around the area. Jang Min-seok swung his weapon in heavy arcs, his attacks lacking finesse but brimming with raw power, knocking any stray Shard Eaters back from the perimeter.

Soojin glanced over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of Cale moving like a shadow through the enemies. It was both mesmerizing and terrifying to witness how effortlessly Cale took down creature after creature, his movements precise and deadly. He gripped his own sword tightly, frustration flickering on his face as he adjusted his stance, unused to the more refined weapon in his hands.

“Focus!” Soojin barked at himself and his team. “They’re not getting through us!” He swung his sword, cleaving through the nearest Shard Eater that dared stray from Cale’s attack zone. He couldn’t let himself get distracted, not when every second mattered.

Cale had already dispatched five of the eight creatures around him. Only three remained, and they had become noticeably more cautious, circling him carefully, their pulsing cores hidden behind their sharp limbs. Cale smirked, recognizing their attempt to defend. It wouldn’t work. With a burst of speed, he leaped toward them, the scythe arcing like a flash of darkness. In one sweep, he cut through two cores, the final Shard Eater stumbling back as its companions crumbled around it.

“Going somewhere?” Cale muttered as he stepped closer to the last creature. He raised his scythe, finishing it off with a single, clean strike. It disintegrated into shimmering dust, the blue light in its core fading out like a dying ember.

Cale straightened, catching his breath, and looked back at Soojin and the others. “All clear,” he called out, lowering his scythe as the tension in the air dissipated.

Soojin let out a relieved sigh, relaxing his stance but keeping his sword close. He gave Cale a nod of respect, though he’d never admit it out loud. “Well… looks like you made quick work of them,” he said, a begrudging grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Cale smirked in response, resting the scythe on his shoulder. “Just doing my part,” he replied with a casual shrug. “But next time, try not to attract so many. It was a little too crowded for my liking.”

Soojin smiled at him, but as he looked at Cale, he noticed Cale was focused on the Fracture. Cale glanced back at Soojin and replied, “I’ll take care of this Fracture. You handle the E~D Rank Fracture,” he said, starting to walk toward the blue and red Fracture with the scythe resting on his shoulder.

“Alright, I get it. We do our part, and you do yours,” Soojin responded as he began directing the Creature Hunters and the officers once more.