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The void trembled, and everything became useless wreckage.

A small smile crept across his lips as his gaze shifted to the massive orb hanging in the distance. "You\'re no stronger than those Players," he muttered with a voice full of hatred.

"I\'ll make you suffer before you die."

Some soldiers below him, who happened to catch sight of that eerie grin, shivered instantly. They quickly bowed their heads, not daring to stare at Serai for too long.

"Lord Serai... Pardon the interruption," another voice suddenly broke the silence. An old man, Thalor, appeared a few meters from Serai. His body trembled slightly as he approached the figure floating beside the portal.

Serai turned slowly, offering a slight nod, waiting for Thalor to speak.

Thalor dared not delay any further, then said, "I bring a direct message from Guardian Aurelius. He requests the cessation of troop deployment."

Thalor spoke clearly, with firmness. He relayed exactly what Aurelius had said, not daring to add or omit anything.

Serai\'s brow furrowed. "Why? What is the reason…" Serai asked again, a hint of displeasure in his tone, though it was directed purely at Thalor.

Thalor took a deep breath, feeling the heavy pressure around him. "Apologies, Lord. The Guardian gave no reason. Only the order to stop sending troops."

Serai\'s expression hardened. His eyes narrowed as they shifted toward the main ship where Guardian Aurelius resided. "Does he no longer trust me?" he muttered under his breath, barely audible.

"Any news from the other races?" Serai asked.

Thalor reacted quickly, immediately thinking of the best answer to give.

"There is, Lord. The other races are experiencing the same. Their casualty rate is nearly 80%, higher than that of our forces." Thalor decided to share information that might please Serai.

"Anything else?" Serai\'s voice was flat, but the sharpness in his gaze revealed his impatience.

A faint smile briefly played on his lips but quickly faded. That number, 80%, seemed meaningless to his ears—slightly better, but still alarming. What\'s the difference between 70% and 80%? To him, both figures meant too much blood had been spilled.

Thalor, standing rigidly a few steps in front of him, lowered his head, his face filled with unspoken fear.

"Nothing else, Sir."

"Alright," Serai said, his voice emotionless. His gaze drifted elsewhere, as if he no longer wished to look at the old man.

"You may leave."

Thalor quickly turned, hastening away, his breath a mix of relief and lingering unease. The air around Serai felt heavier, pushing him to retreat faster than he\'d expected.

Serai stood in silence for a moment, his eyes fixed on the portal before him. Something stirred in his mind, but it remained unspoken.

With a slow wave of his hand, he cut through the air as if drawing something unseen. Soon, the space around the portal began to respond. Energy—subtle yet tangible—pulsed, like a breeze moving through the cracks of dimensions.

The ground on the altar trembled slightly. Ancient runes, glowing with dim light, appeared one by one from the empty air. They floated, moving slowly but surely, encircling the portal as if they were invisible guardians. Each rune grew brighter, forming a complex pattern that resembled an intricate spiderweb, trapping the portal in its center.

"Everyone, stand down. The assault is over," Serai spoke without emotion, but his command echoed, sweeping across the entire altar.

The soldiers, initially confused, quickly reacted. Some of them jerked in surprise, exchanging glances before rushing back toward the transport ships. The hurried steps filled the air, while hushed whispers carried a mixture of relief and fear.

Above the altar, the runes had woven a magical script that connected, flowing from one point to another seamlessly. Their glow now faded slowly, mirroring the portal\'s diminishing energy, which had once radiated so brightly. The white light in the center of the portal dimmed, turning into a dull gray, until finally, only silence remained.

"It\'s done," Serai murmured. The words were barely audible, more to himself than anyone else.

His gaze swept downward, observing how the once-busy altar was now marked only by the footprints of soldiers who had already left. He nodded slightly, satisfied.

He descended, approaching the edge of the altar.

Once again, his hand moved with a simple gesture, but this time there was more power behind it. A surge of magical energy flowed from within him, seeping into the altar\'s core like a river filling a basin.

Immediately, the altar responded with a stronger vibration. From the four corners of the altar\'s floor, large pillars rose, one by one, until they reached a height of one hundred meters.

It wasn\'t just one pillar—they emerged like a row of giants ready to guard an ancient kingdom. 360 pillars, glowing faintly, formed a majestic dome over the altar, like eternal sentinels that couldn\'t be shaken.

"Crack…" A soft cracking sound echoed, marking the end of the sealing process.

Serai watched for a moment, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, though only slightly. Then, in an instant, his figure vanished—disappearing from sight, leaving behind the now-protected altar.

---

Far beyond the reach of the Seraphis Vali fleet, another group of ships floated quietly, like predators stalking their prey.

On the command ship, a strong-built woman with a prominent chest stood on the deck. Her gaze was fixed on the distant fleet.

"Why did they suddenly halt the opening attack?" Her voice was cold and sharp, but it didn\'t hide the curiosity laced within every word. Her eyes narrowed, piercing through the void outside, as if trying to see through the starry veil separating them from Aurelius.