Silence consumed the observation platform.
The stranger stood within the enormous gateway.
Calm.
Confident.
As if appearing through a portal connecting two realities was perfectly normal.
Storm pointed upward.
"…I have questions."
Frost folded his arms.
"You always have questions."
Storm nodded immediately.
"Correct."
The stranger smiled.
Then stepped forward.
The moment his foot crossed the gateway—
The entire platform trembled.
Not from pressure.
Recognition.
Harold felt it instantly.
The world gate reacted to the stranger's presence.
And the stranger reacted to Harold's.
Inside—
The Counter-Sovereign whispered.
"Compatibility detected."
Unity pulsed softly.
"Foreign pathway identified."
The Monkey King frowned.
"He's weird."
The Devourer rumbled.
"…Agreed."
The stranger finally landed on the platform.
Young.
Perhaps a few years older than Harold.
Silver-black hair.
Dark coat.
Relaxed expression.
Yet his presence felt strange.
Not stronger than a Sovereign.
Different.
As though power wasn't measured the same way where he came from.
The stranger looked directly at Harold.
Then smiled.
"So."
A pause.
"You really did it."
Storm immediately stepped forward.
"Did what?"
The stranger glanced at him.
"…Who are you?"
Storm looked offended.
"Who am I?"
He pointed at himself dramatically.
"I'm Storm."
Silence.
The stranger blinked.
"…Okay."
Storm looked satisfied.
"…Good."
Harold ignored them.
"…Who are you?"
The stranger looked back at him.
Then bowed slightly.
"My name is Orion."
A pause.
"Representative of the Seventh World Alliance."
Nobody recognized those words.
Not Lucien.
Not the Headmaster.
Not even the First Sovereign.
Which immediately made the situation worse.
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"…There is no Seventh World Alliance."
Orion laughed softly.
"From your perspective?"
A pause.
"Of course not."
The world gate behind him shimmered.
Revealing countless distant lights beyond the floating continents.
Stars.
Worlds.
Civilizations.
Far more than anyone present had imagined.
The First Sovereign stepped forward.
"…How many worlds are there?"
Orion's smile widened.
"Known?"
A pause.
"Several thousand."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Storm stared.
"…Several WHAT?"
The Headmaster looked genuinely stunned.
Because if Orion was telling the truth—
Everything they knew was tiny.
Insignificant.
A single world among thousands.
Orion continued.
"Most worlds remain isolated."
"Some form alliances."
"Some collapse."
"Some disappear."
His expression grew more serious.
"And some…"
He looked directly at Harold.
"…create legends."
Inside—
The Counter-Sovereign reacted sharply.
"Historical cross-reference unavailable."
Unity glowed softly.
"External records detected."
The Monkey King groaned.
"Please don't tell me Aethern was famous."
Orion answered before Harold even spoke.
"He was."
The platform became quiet again.
Because Orion's gaze had shifted.
Directly toward the Titans inside Harold.
As if he could see them.
The Monkey King immediately shouted.
"HEY!"
Orion grinned.
"There you are."
The Monkey King froze.
"…What."
Orion looked amused.
"I've only heard stories."
The Devourer rumbled suspiciously.
"…Stories."
"Many."
Orion nodded.
"Especially about you."
The Devourer became silent.
Which somehow worried Harold more.
Lucien interrupted.
"…You came for Harold."
Orion nodded immediately.
"Yes."
"Why?"
The answer came without hesitation.
"Because the greater worlds are panicking."
Silence.
Storm blinked.
"…What?"
Orion pointed directly at Harold.
"Because he's alive."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The First Sovereign's eyes narrowed.
"…Explain."
Orion exhaled slowly.
Then looked toward the massive gate.
"Aethern's disappearance changed history."
"Entire civilizations rose after he vanished."
"Entire empires were built because he was gone."
A pause.
"And now every major power just learned he might be back."
Storm slowly turned toward Harold.
"…You know…"
A pause.
"I feel like your existence causes a lot of problems."
Harold didn't disagree.
Orion's expression grew serious.
"The Seventh World Alliance sent me because some powers want answers."
"Others want alliances."
"And a few…"
His smile vanished completely.
"…want you dead before your memories fully return."
Silence.
The wind stopped.
Even the world gate behind Orion seemed darker now.
Inside—
The Counter-Sovereign issued an alert.
"Threat probability increasing."
Unity dimmed slightly.
"Multiple future pathways detected."
The Monkey King cracked his knuckles.
"Finally."
The Devourer growled.
"…Conflict returns."
Harold looked at Orion.
"…How many enemies?"
Orion stared at him for a moment.
Then laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because the answer was ridiculous.
"Enough to start another age of war."
The world gate expanded slightly.
And far beyond it—
For the briefest moment—
Thousands of distant lights became visible.
Each one a world.
Each one watching.
And many of them had already made their choice.