Key and Nythra arrived at the scene, their eyes immediately locking onto the group ahead. Most of their allies were already there—Sketch, Speedy, Spam, Gamble, Dheerash, Zyrenna, and Eunoia—but what caught Key's attention was the unexpected presence of Thana and Ravenna.

Standing in the center of attention were three shadowy figures, their forms skeletal, yet wreathed in a faint, unnatural glow. Their piercing white eyes gleamed through the darkness, and wide, unsettling smiles were carved onto their hollow faces.

They radiated an unnatural stillness, the kind that made the hairs on one's neck rise.

"Listen, skeleton guy, or whatever the hell you are," Sketch narrowed his eyes at what seemed to be the leader. "I don't know your intentions, or why you're watching us, but we don't take kindly to being stalked."

A thick silence followed. Then—

"HAHAHAHA!!"

The skeleton man suddenly burst into laughter, the sound sharp and mocking.

Everyone tensed. Weapons shifted. Abyssal Energy flared.

Speedy puffed out her cheeks. "What's so funny, Skelly-man?"

The figure laughed harder, as if entertained by their tension. Then, just as abruptly as it started, the laughter stopped.

With that same eerie grin, he finally spoke.

"It returns to bring chaos… the end is near."

Key's eyes narrowed. "And just what the hell are you talking about?"

The figure turned to him, hollow gaze locking onto Key's with eerie recognition.

"Oh ho! The man himself. My, it is quite the pleasure, Ascended." He performed a mocking bow, his movements slow and deliberate.

Key's voice dropped. "Cut the bullshit. What is 'it'?"

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The figure grinned wider. "…The Ultima."

The air turned frigid in an instant.

Key, Nythra, Dheerash, Zyrenna, and Eunoia all stiffened at the name, their expressions darkening.

But before Key could demand more—

"Time is ticking, Ascended. And you can call me… Ankou."

With a shower of white sparks, the three figures vanished.

Silence followed their departure, heavy and suffocating.

Sketch frowned. "Alright, what the hell is 'The Ultima'? Never heard of it."

Nythra's face had paled, her golden eyes wide with something rarely seen in her—fear.

"…The End."

Speedy blinked. "Oooh, sounds spooky!" she said dramatically.

Spam nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Crazy, scary, spooky, and hilarious!"

Thana exhaled sharply. "Okay, okay, enough with the ominous pauses. Can someone explain this in a way that doesn't sound like the opening of an apocalypse novel?"

Nythra took a deep breath, visibly steadying herself. "The Ultima is not a person. Not a being you can fight. It's… a force. A reset beyond death. It doesn't conquer, it doesn't rule—it devours and unravels. Existence itself bends before it."

Speedy's previous bravado deflated. Her lips parted slightly. "Wait, so you're saying… it's worse than some world-ending calamity? Like… it erases everything? Even the Void?"

Dheerash's voice was grim. "Even the Void."

Eunoia gave a single, solemn nod.

A heavy silence pressed against them, the weight of those words sinking deep into their bones. Even among gods, ancients, and monsters, the Ultima was feared.

Sketch clenched his fists. "And those skeletal bastards knew about it. No, more than that…" His gaze darkened. "They said it's returning."

Zyrenna's eyes narrowed. "That implies it was here before."

Ravenna's expression sharpened. "Which raises the real question… how did it leave? And why is it coming back now?"

Unlike everyone else, Key's mind was racing.

'The Ultima? What the actual fuck? That was supposed to come later—way later! This is bad. Really bad. What am I going to d—'

A hand landed on his shoulder.

Key turned his head to see Gamble, his eyes silently asking:

'You good?'

Key nodded, though he was far from being 'good.' He just hoped Gamble was the only one who noticed his growing turmoil.

Too bad that wasn't the case.

"Key…" Nythra's voice was soft, her hand gently clasping his. "You haven't said anything. I'm getting worried."

His other hand was immediately grabbed.

"Yeah, Master, something must be on your mind." Zyrenna chimed in—aware but uncaring of Nythra's annoyed glare.

'So much for hiding it. Should I te—'

"Now look what we have here!"

Key gritted his teeth. Damn it. What now?

The group turned to face a large band of men approaching them. Their bodies were draped in the flayed hides of Abyssal Beasts.

The leader, draped in an Abyssal Reaper's skin, sneered as he stepped forward.

"Looks like we arrived just in time. Our debt will be collected."

Key exhaled sharply, his patience hanging by a thread.

"Not to interrupt your little 'intro' or anything, but we're currently busy right now so can y'all yknow..get the fuck on?" His voice dripped with irritation.

The leader let out an amused chuckle. "Uh-uh! That Echo Village has owed us, the Skinwalkers, for a long time. And today?" He licked his lips. "We collect."

His gaze turned lecherous, scanning the women standing beside Key.

"And if they can't pay up? Well…" He grinned, flashing rotting teeth. "We'll just take these bitches instead. Right back to our village with the others and have our way with them. Ain't that right, fellas?!"

The Skinwalkers roared with laughter and cheers, their eyes gleaming with sick excitement.

BOOM.

A detonation of golden-white Abyssal Energy erupted, the sheer force sending a shockwave through the area. The dirt beneath them cracked. The air thickened with oppressive pressure.

And it wasn't from Key.

It was from—

Speedy.

Her usual playfulness was gone.

Her now heterochromatic golden and white eyes glowed with pure, unfiltered fury.

When she spoke, her voice was deadly quiet—a storm on the verge of exploding.

"Say that again."

The Skinwalkers froze.

For the first time..they truly looked terrified.