Grim's consciousness drifted like a leaf caught in an endless current, tugged this way and that by forces beyond his comprehension. His body, once battered and broken from the battle against Nyxaroth, seemed absent, as though his very soul had been pulled into a different plane of existence.
He floated in a realm that existed beyond time—a space between realms, suspended in celestial light and shadow. The rift around him was both vast and suffocating, a place where memories flickered like dying embers, distant and fragmented. They were visions of things he didn't fully understand—**a great winged serpent coiled around the heavens**, its eyes burning with a divine wrath, and **the blackened sky above a fractured moon**, all moments of history long past and yet never truly forgotten.
Grim's mind reeled from the images, unable to make sense of the swirling chaos. He stumbled forward, or at least, it felt like stumbling. A shadow passed by him—almost imperceptible—and a voice, soft yet overwhelming, whispered into his ear.
*"You are not alone, child of the stars. But be wary, for your choices are not without consequences."*
He looked around, the voice echoing in the rift, but there was no source—no figure that spoke. The space shifted, and Grim found himself standing before an ancient **stone altar**, upon which lay a **lunar shard**, glowing faintly with an ethereal, pulsating light.
The shard hummed with power, and a new weight pressed upon Grim's chest. He reached out instinctively, his fingers grazing its surface. Suddenly, a great surge of energy coursed through him—like the might of a storm, but **it was not his own**. It was a power he barely understood but felt deeply: the Bakunawa, the beast whose essence now merged with his own.
A **second tattoo** appeared on his arm, more intricate than before—a **crescent moon intertwined with a serpent**, radiating an eerie power. The mark burned with the energy of an ancient pact, deepening the bond between him and the celestial forces. The pain was almost unbearable, but Grim could not pull away.
**"You cannot control what is yet untamed,"** the voice warned, but Grim's will was unyielding.
The rift began to fade, and in its place, he felt his body—his real body—being drawn back to the world. But not alone. There was a presence with him—an essence, not of this world.
---
Meanwhile, back at the **Philippine Hunter University**, chaos had already descended. The battle with Nyxaroth had torn through the university, its grounds marked by destruction and bloodshed. The shockwaves from the beast's death had rattled the very foundations of the school.
Elyse stood at the edge of the crater that marked where Grim had last stood, her expression clouded with uncertainty. She watched as **Dean Rizalde** and the three S-rank hunters attempted to hold the perimeter, their energy crackling through the air.
Her heart raced as she tried to make sense of what had just transpired. Grim… was he truly dead? Had he fallen with the beast?
From the shadows, she could see the other **S-rank hunters**—their power undeniable. Each of them stood tall and unwavering, their presence alone a sign of strength. Their **abilities** were revered, feared even. Yet, they had all seen Grim in action.
The battle with Nyxaroth had shown the world something remarkable.
Dean Rizalde and Mr. Andres exchanged looks, a subtle yet telling recognition passing between them. They had been observing Grim's actions during the final moments of the battle, and what they saw left them stunned.
Dean Rizalde was the first to speak, his voice low but certain. "Do you see that, Andres?"
Mr. Andres, his expression unreadable, nodded slowly. "I've seen countless hunters in my time. Some of the best. But that kid..." His voice trailed off, but his words held a quiet reverence. "He might be stronger than an S-rank."
Dean Rizalde's gaze sharpened. "You think so?"
"I know so." Mr. Andres's tone was firm, a rare hint of awe creeping into his voice. "I've fought alongside the strongest hunters, but none of them had the power he wielded. Not like that."
As they continued to observe Grim from a distance, Dean Rizalde's mind raced. Grim's potential had been far beyond what they had expected—what anyone had expected. He had surpassed even the power of S-rank hunters, those who were meant to be the pinnacle of strength.
Dean Rizalde turned toward the other S-rank hunters, his eyes calculating. "We need to keep a close eye on him. He's no ordinary student."
Meanwhile, the S-rank hunters—**Aurelio Vargas**, **Isadora Cruz**, and **Rael Dominguez**—stood nearby, their postures weary but unwavering. Each of them had been forced to fight tooth and nail against Nyxaroth, their abilities pushed to their limits. And yet, they had witnessed Grim doing something none of them had thought possible.
Aurelio Vargas, the Blade of Tempest, wiped blood from his brow, shaking his head. "That kid... he's on another level." He muttered under his breath. "Even I couldn't have kept up with that."
Isadora Cruz, the Ember Matron, looked at Grim with a sense of awe in her eyes. "He's not just a student. He's... something more."
Rael Dominguez, the Titan's Will, stood silently beside them, his usually calm demeanor disrupted by what they had witnessed. Grim's strength had left them all speechless, and even now, they couldn't fully comprehend the extent of it.
As the three S-rank hunters exchanged glances, they knew one thing for certain: Grim Arclight was no ordinary hunter. He was something far greater.
---
Inside the **PHU's command center**, the **Philippine Hunter Association** had mobilized. The news of Grim's potential death had sent shockwaves through the ranks, but there was something more disturbing. As they analyzed the situation, the **aura** of Nyxaroth had left a **powerful, lingering effect** on the island.
It was unlike anything they had ever experienced. The Philippines felt as though it were **cut off from the world**, trapped in a celestial bubble of sorts. **The gates** around the world had closed, and no outside help could be summoned. The sky above was **tainted**, and the very atmosphere seemed charged with energy from another dimension.
---
Grim's body trembled, and with one final, desperate pull, he was **yanked back into the world**. He opened his eyes to see **Elyse's face** above him. The **relief in her eyes** mirrored his own confusion.
*"Grim... you're alive…"*
But something was different. The **twin tattoos** on his arms pulsed with an unnatural light, and a faint shadow of the **Bakunawa's power** hung over him. Grim felt the weight of a decision he hadn't been fully aware of making.
The universe had shifted, and now, he had to navigate the consequences.
---
Elyse couldn't shake the feeling that they were not alone. The **Crimson Crescent** was still out there, and whatever their plans were, they had only just begun.
In the distance, the sky seemed to flicker—a storm was coming, and this time, Grim wasn't sure he could stop it. **Xavier's voice echoed in his mind**.
*"You have no idea what you've unleashed, Grim Arclight. This worldburn, and you will watch as it crumbles."*
Grim's eyes blinked open, but for a moment, he didn't recognize his surroundings. The familiar skyline of the Philippine Hunter University loomed before him, but it felt… distant, as if his mind were still tethered to the rift he had just escaped. His body ached, though he couldn't pinpoint the source of the pain. Every inch of him felt heavy, weighed down by an invisible burden.
He lifted his hand, staring at the twin tattoos on his arms. They glowed faintly in the dim light, a celestial mark of something ancient and powerful. The crescent moon intertwined with a serpent. **The Bakunawa's presence.** It lingered, a living memory now etched into his flesh.
"Grim… you're alive…" Elyse's voice broke through the haze, soft yet filled with relief. Her face was so close, her breath warm against his skin. She looked at him with such intensity, as if she were searching for something—perhaps a sign of the boy she had known, or perhaps a recognition that the boy lying before her was no longer entirely the same.
His lips parted, but words didn't come. He swallowed, trying to make sense of everything—the rift, the power he had felt surging through him, the presence of the Bakunawa. A part of him wanted to ask her what had happened, but another part of him felt the weight of the truth pressing in. He knew the world had changed, and that meant he had changed too.
"What… happened?" His voice was hoarse, foreign to his own ears.
Elyse hesitated before speaking, her expression a mix of relief and concern. "The battle with Nyxaroth… the ground shook, and then, you disappeared. It felt like the whole world held its breath." She placed a hand on his shoulder, as though grounding herself in this moment. "Everyone thought… thought you were…" She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
Grim nodded faintly, understanding her unspoken words. He had died. At least, that's what the world had believed. But something had brought him back. Not through any effort of his own, but through some ancient force that had bound him to the heavens themselves. He couldn't quite grasp it—couldn't make sense of it all—but the presence of the Bakunawa, now coiled within him, told him there was no turning back.
Before he could speak again, the distant hum of energy pierced the air. His eyes widened, and instinctively, he reached for his weapon, but there was no need. Elyse had already stood, her gravity manipulation lifting her slightly off the ground as she scanned the horizon. The danger wasn't over.
"Grim," Elyse called, her voice tight with urgency, "There's something in the air. Something is… changing."
Grim forced himself to stand, his legs unsteady, and he looked into the sky. The tainted atmosphere above was darkening further, swirling with ominous clouds that churned with unnatural energy. The rift was not truly gone—it had left a scar in the fabric of the world, and that scar was spreading.
"Xavier…" Grim muttered under his breath, and a shiver of unease ran down his spine. The leader of the **Crimson Crescent** had warned him, hadn't he? Of the consequences of wielding power far beyond his control. He had **unleashed** something, and it wasn't just the Bakunawa. It was something much larger. The storm on the horizon wasn't merely a weather disturbance—it was the world reacting to what Grim had become.
"Stay close, Grim," Elyse said, her eyes locked onto him as if she could see the change in him. The shift in his energy, the sense of something larger waking up. "Whatever's coming, we need to face it together."
Grim nodded, and together, they stepped forward, ready to face the unknown. As they moved toward the heart of the university, the once tranquil campus now seemed a battleground. The aftermath of the battle with Nyxaroth had left deep scars, but the greatest threat wasn't the beast they had slain—it was the ripple effect that had only just begun.
The **Philippine Hunter Association** was already mobilizing, and he could see the faces of the S-rank hunters lined up in the distance, ready for whatever came next. Their expressions were grim, the weight of the situation dawning on them. Dean Rizalde was among them, his stern gaze shifting toward Grim.
"Grim," the Dean said, his voice carrying authority and concern. "It seems the enemy is far more dangerous than we imagined. And we will need you, now more than ever."
Grim nodded again, the full magnitude of his role settling upon him. He was no longer just a student—he was a **Prime Summoner**. A **force** in his own right, with the power to alter the course of the world.
But what terrified him wasn't the power. It was the responsibility that came with it.
In the distance, the sky flickered once again, a crack of lightning splitting the heavens. The storm had arrived.
Elyse turned to him, her hand reaching for his. "Together," she whispered.
And for the first time since he had entered the university, Grim understood that they weren't just facing a battle for survival. They were facing a **war**—a war that had begun the moment he had summoned the **Minokawa**, and one that would only intensify with the arrival of the **Crimson Crescent**, and the powerful forces that now sought to tear apart the fabric of their world.
The storm raged above them, but Grim felt something else surge through him—a quiet determination. He wasn't ready, not fully. But with Elyse by his side, with the **Bakunawa's power** coursing through him, he was going to fight. And he would fight until the world stopped trembling.