Nephilm System Awakens!

There was no doubt this belonged to a hunter—but this bloodlust, there was no mistaking it: this was one of their stronger warriors.

Eileen knew a fight would put Caleb in harm's way, and there was no way he would survive if this hunter came after him.

"Hilda! What have you done!?" Eileen asked but noticed Hilda didn't share her petrified look—almost as if she was expecting this.

"I didn't know who he was," Hilda confessed.

The Church knew the seal placed on Caleb wouldn't last forever. No seal could, not when it was bound by magic alone.

This was what made artifacts so powerful—and now Caleb was right within his enemy's range.

Eileen prepared to fight. She knew this was the only way they might stand a chance.

"Caleb! I need you to listen to me! Run! As fast as you can!" Eileen barked, but Caleb was frozen in place.

She realized he could feel the killing intent—further proof that the seal suppressing his connection to the Demon King was deteriorating.

And this hunter had focused all that intent on Caleb, so he was feeling it worse than anyone else.

"Well, well, well…" a man said, slowly coming into sight.

Caleb had no idea who he was, but the man wore a robe with a cross hanging from his neck.

"A priest?" Caleb thought to himself. This was starting to feel like a supernatural movie.

The priest walked calmly toward Caleb, completely ignoring Eileen.

Caleb looked into his eyes—and was instantly unable to move. Not because the hunter had used some complex spell.

It was because Caleb felt something primal, something he had no explanation for—and that thing was fear.

Eileen quickly stood between them. Hilda was nowhere to be seen; she had fled.

"I'm not interested in you, witch. Step aside and let me have the boy," the hunter said, not slowing his steps.

Eileen gulped. She had a choice but also knew if she turned and ran, it would be as good as death.

"I'm afraid I cannot," Eileen said, raising her shirt to reveal a symbol etched on her navel.

This was the seal that bound her loyalty to Luke. But what if it were undone?

The hunter sighed in exhaustion—and the blink of an eye appeared right in front of her.

Caleb's eyes couldn't follow him. This was simply the peak of humanity on display.

"A pity," the hunter said before slapping her across the face.

But this blow was strong enough to send her flying, crashing into a nearby wall.

The man redirected his focus to Caleb, though he wasn't in any rush.

He took a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the hand that had made contact with Eileen.

"What the hell is this!?" Caleb muttered under his breath. No human should be this strong.

One thing was certain: this man had all the advantage—and there was nothing Caleb could do to stop him from taking his life.

But then, a voice echoed in his head. The same strange voice he'd been hearing in his dreams for months.

It spoke in Hebrew, yet for some reason, Caleb understood it clearly.

[Awaken the Nephilim System?]

"Huh?" Caleb thought—but the moment the voice appeared, the fear melted away, and he could finally move.

Eileen managed to open her eyes but knew the seal had weakened further due to her momentary loss of consciousness.

She had applied healing magic just before hitting the wall—or she'd be dead.

It was a preemptive move that ultimately saved her life, but it didn't mean she was healed. Quite the opposite.

Her injuries were life-threatening nonetheless, and it was only a matter of time before she passed out.

The man began to walk toward Caleb. But Caleb knew he had no choice now—whatever this was, if it offered a way to defend himself, he would take it.

The cyan screen hovered in front of him. Caleb chose the [Y] option.

"W-What is going on?" Eileen muttered under her breath as she felt the magic she'd used being stripped away.

[Nephilim System binding…!]

[Binding successful!]

[Welcome to the Nephilim System!]

"No! The seal—it's been undone!" Eileen whispered before finally succumbing to her injuries and losing consciousness.

The two hunters chasing Luke closed in. No—that wasn't quite right.

They had caught up to him and stepped into an empty room with a figure seated in the dark.

They immediately raised their guns, aiming at the figure.

One turned on the lights—but the person in the chair wasn't Luke. It was Bryan.

Before the hunters could react, they felt a steel pipe press against the nape of their necks.

It wasn't a pipe at all—it was a gun. And the man behind it was the most dangerous hunter they could have encountered.

It was Luke.

"Hey, boys. I heard you were looking for me," Luke said.

They knew not to tempt fate. If they so much as twitched, Luke would blow their heads off.

Luke had waited for them here—he knew this was his best shot at reaching the Church.

He had to put a stop to this because the Church had it all wrong.

It wasn't Caleb he was protecting from them.

It was the other way around.

And should the Church find Caleb… there was no telling what could happen.

Because the key holding him together was fragile.

And if Caleb's life ever came under threat—Luke had no idea what might be unleashed.