To be on the safe side, Daniel summoned several clones and concealed them around himself.

At the same time, his main body had already transformed into Luke and deliberately released his aura.

"Klein."

"Hm? Luke?"

Klein's figure flickered, and in the next moment, she appeared right before Daniel.

She looked at him, puzzled.

"Luke, you're awake? I thought you'd fallen into deep sleep after receiving that curse from the Ancient God."

Daniel remained calm and didn't rush to explain. His gaze shifted toward Luna, who was still asleep beside him.

"Klein," he asked evenly, "are you planning to save Luna?"

Klein smiled gently, her tone as soft as a spring breeze. But around her, the air began to stir—wind-element energy slowly gathering and swirling into motion.

"I know very well that you and your companions are far stronger than an ordinary Demigod Rank," she said quietly.

"Compared to you, I'm just an average demigod. Nothing special. But I can see that you're injured, Luke. In your current state, protecting your friend Luna… might not be as easy as you think."

It was obvious from her tone—Klein intended to fight.

Daniel, however, had already activated Psychic Perception, quietly peering into her true thoughts.

[If I want to ascend to godhood, I must seize Luna's divine position.]

[Beings like her still have a chance to become a true god—but someone like me… maybe never, not by any normal means.]

Through those thoughts, Daniel sensed the despair within her.

After all, once Klein had witnessed Luke's—well, Daniel's—overwhelming talent and power, she clearly understood the gap between them.

Even though both were technically Demigod Rank, the difference between them was like that between heaven and earth.

Their power, their essence, their very presence—not even on the same level.

Although Klein's expression remained calm and friendly, Daniel could feel the fear she harbored deep inside.

She didn't believe she could defeat the "Luck Goddess, Luke." Not even close.

"Klein," Daniel—still in Luke's form—spoke in a cold voice. "Are you really going to fight me?"

His eyes gleamed with a dangerous chill.

"True, I'm injured. But if I wanted to kill you… I still have more than enough strength left to do it. If you doubt that, you're welcome to try."

Klein hesitated. The firmness in Daniel's voice, the ice in his gaze—it made her second-guess her plan.

But before she could speak again, "Luke" suddenly vanished from her sight, reappearing right next to Luna.

The instant he moved, a sharp arrow made entirely of wind shot toward his back.

Klein's reaction speed was terrifying—exactly what one would expect from someone who had reached Demigod Rank.

Her Wind Arrow was so fast it looked like a flash of light.

Yet, the moment it should have pierced through Daniel, both "Luke" and Luna vanished.

The arrow whistled through the air, finding nothing but emptiness, then fell to the ground, dissipating.

Klein froze, staring blankly at the spot where Luna had been lying.

She hadn't expected them to disappear—nor that the timing would be so perfect.

That movement wasn't random. He had planned this.

"…Interesting."

A faint smile curled on Klein's lips. Her eyes glimmered with amusement.

In the next heartbeat, her body blurred and dissolved into the wind, disappearing as well.

Meanwhile, Daniel's true body felt something wrong spreading through the Land of Origin.

The Storm Sea had entered a violent phase—waves of chaotic elemental force rippling everywhere.

His clones, sensing danger, began fleeing in all directions.

But even Daniel hadn't anticipated just how strong Klein really was.

No matter where he went, or how well he concealed his aura, she was able to trace him instantly.

Each time a clone appeared elsewhere, Klein's presence would follow close behind.

Even his clones encountered hers—she had split herself as well, pursuing him across the entire plane.

At last, Klein's main body appeared before Daniel again, and this time her face was filled with curiosity and surprise.

"You managed to come this far," she said softly. "I'm not surprised.If I'm guessing correctly, you're the one people call Crossbridge, aren't you?"

As she spoke, her domain unfolded—an endless surge of air and storm-energy sweeping outward.The natural winds around them turned wild, chaotic, and alive.

Daniel hadn't even attacked, yet he felt his HP plummeting rapidly.Every breath he took, every second that passed, sapped his strength away.

He gritted his teeth, his mind racing. A domain that damages just by existing…So this is what a demigod's true field feels like.

Klein, meanwhile, stared at him intently, her pupils dilated in recognition."Wait—it's really you!" she exclaimed."You're the one—the Crossbridge of legend, aren't you?"

Daniel didn't answer. Instead, he activated a God Rank Skill, rapidly restoring his HP as he dragged Luna with him, evading through space after space.

If not for his Flashback ability, he thought grimly, he'd already be dead. There was no escaping Klein otherwise.

Realizing who he truly was, Klein let out a soft laugh of relief."So, Luke was just your disguise! I have to admit, that's bold—very bold."Her tone shifted, sharp and cold."But I can feel it—you're not even at Demigod Rank yet. Which means…"She raised her hand, pointing a single finger toward him."…I won't be holding back."

The winds surged. Around her fingertip, countless gales began swirling, compressing tighter and tighter, forming a storm condensed to the size of a needle.Every moment the energy compressed, its power multiplied severalfold.

"[Finger Storm]!"

The gathered tempest exploded outward, cutting through the air.Blades of wind swept across Daniel's surroundings; every passing gust carried an edge as sharp as a knife.

Each time one brushed past him, he could feel it slice against his defenses.It wasn't merely air—it was a thousand invisible daggers, all targeting him at once.

Daniel knew the truth clearly. Between him and Klein, there was an unbridgeable gap.To fight her directly would be suicide.

He could crush Fake Gods in the Backworld easily enough—but that was because they were fundamentally flawed, weakened by the distortions of the ancient faith system.Modern systems were different. Balanced. Complete.A true Demigod Rank of the current era was a completely different species of being.

Daniel had never fought one before—and now that he had, he realized just how insane the gap really was.So this… this is the power of a true demigod.

He could barely keep up. His body screamed in pain; his spiritual energy was being shredded by the storm.

Meanwhile, his Psychic Perception remained active.He dove into Klein's thoughts again, only to find her mind a roaring sea of emotion—ambition, fear, despair, all mixed together.The moment his consciousness brushed against hers, he felt himself being locked on—completely.His every movement, every heartbeat, every flicker of energy—Klein could see it all.

There was no escape.

"Damn it…" Daniel hissed under his breath. "There's no resisting this kind of power."

At that moment, he truly understood—between demigod level and Demigod Rank, there was no such thing as equality.There wasn't even a fight. There was only domination.

Accepting that, Daniel didn't hesitate any longer.He activated Flashback, reversing time, pulling himself back to the exact moment when he had just arrived in this place.

When his eyes opened again, everything around him had rewound—the scenery, the atmosphere, even the lingering storm had vanished.But now… he sensed something new.

Someone else was here.A presence that didn't belong to this moment in time—a traveler from another temporal strand.

Daniel immediately recognized who it was.Kartora.

He didn't know how Kartora had entered this loop, but he was certain the man was meddling again.

Still, Daniel didn't care. This time, he wouldn't run for the next portal.He would take the initiative.

Once more, he invoked Flashback, skipping through space and reappearing right before Luna.

And just as he expected—Klein was still there.Still guarding the same place.Still waiting.

Daniel stared at her, his thoughts growing heavy.

So… just how long is this Klein planning to stay here?

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