In the northern reaches of the Cangmang Continent.
There was a perilous place known as the Ash Sea, yet it contained no seawater, only endless ash, as though heavenly fire had burned it to nothing. At a glance, ten thousand miles of land resembled a gray ocean.
This land of ash, however, was extraordinarily dangerous.
Beneath the Ash Sea lay a complex subterranean world where ash flames burned. Powerful ash beasts were born within those blazing flames, their numbers vast and endlessly replenished, so hunting teams generally dared not venture deep inside.
And beneath the Ash Sea, in one of those subterranean worlds, a figure sat cross-legged.
Judging by her figure, she was a woman. Her silver-gray skin reflected the cold sheen unique to densely compacted flesh. Her long, ink-black hair fanned outward, every strand piercing the void.
Her eyes were closed, and her hair flickered, seemingly drawing an endless stream of energy from the void.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes, a sharp gleam flashing through her black irises.
"Arnos has fallen!"
Her cold voice rang through the barren, silent world, devoid of emotion or explanation, as though she were merely repeating a statement.
"I warned him long ago not to go out before he had fully stabilized his Holy Venerable power. The lingering consciousness of the Savage Ancient Clan shrouds this world. Without concealing yourself from its lock, showing yourself is simply courting death!"
"Then are we supposed to remain here forever?"
Just then, a deep voice rang through the space, unmistakably male.
"What is the hurry? The Great Array has not weakened enough, and our power has yet to stabilize. Should we go out now and throw our lives away?" the cold voice sounded again.
"So Arnos simply died like that?"
The deep voice echoed once more.
The