Daybit gave Jin-Woo a nod. "Sorry in advance."
Jin-Woo didn't move. Just slid a hand into his coat pocket.
Tezcatlipoca cracked a grin. "Consider it tradition, yeah? A junior's gotta respect his senior—"
A sonic boom split the air as a blazing blur from the slipspace . ORT Kukulcan, Lostbelt Queen of South America, with wild laughter echoing across the Halo's edge. Her speed tore through the air like a living storm. "I LOVE space travel! You didn't tell me there were beings like me out here!"
Morgan stepped forward on instinct, her demonic spear already crackling across the speartip ——but Jin-Woo raised a single finger.
A sharp gesture. A command. Stand down.
Morgan paused mid-step, her magic dispersing at once.
Kukulcan's fist neared Jin-Woo's face and stopped. Instantly.
Jin-Woo's hand hovered just ahead of her forehead, radiating faintly with compressed Force energy, swirling like blackened gravity in reverse. Kukulcan froze mid-air, suspended by the invisible weight of power. Her limbs twitched, fighting the immovable barrier—but could not move an inch.
Jin-Woo didn't blink. "You were saying?"
Beneath Kukulcan, the platform cracked, deep spiderwebs of pressure fracturing outward. Her pupils narrowed—not in fear, but wild fascination.
Tezcatlipoca clapped once, then twice, utterly amused. "Now that's what I call a welcome."
A low rumble of thunder echoed behind them as Zeus's avatar stepped forward, his white hair billowing gently under Zeta Halo's artificial atmosphere.
"This is… the first time all the Lostbelt Kings have stood face to face," he said with a hum. "History in the making ."
Ivan the Terrible, towering and fused with primordial biology, gave a guttural nod. "Never thought I'd walk beyond my own Lostbelt. The air… tastes different."
Skadi, still standing by Ophelia, squinted upward and sighed. "It's too hot out here. Where's the frost? The eternal chill?"
Qin Shi Huang's artificial body pulsed with glowing circuitry, wings faintly unfolding as he marveled at the structure around him. "This architecture—Zeta Halo—it is a blessing fit for an Eternal Empire. I approve."
Kukulcan, already standing upright and fully recovered, twirled once and flashed a grin. "Where's Arjuna? The one Daybit told me about. I heard he's a real good fanatic—like, apocalypse with conviction good. He's supposed to be here, right?"
Morgan rolled her eyes and rested her weight on one leg. "Do you really want a self-righteous fanatic clashing here?" she said dryly. "No way. My husband has a tight schedule. He's already dealing with enough walking disasters."
Jin-Woo's voice cut through the murmurs like a blade. "All right. Settle down."
The gathered kings, Crypters, and Servants turned their eyes to him .
"It's time we address why you're all here… why you've been brought to Zeta Halo."
A mechanical groan echoed as Offensive Bias approached—his behemoth Forerunner form casting a long silhouette across the radiant ringworld. His immense red eye pulsed open, swirling with three rotating orbs of light as a planet-sized hologram of Coruscant bloomed before them in vivid detail.
Offensive Bias's voice echoed like thunder encased in crystal.
"Displaying planetary map: Galactic Republic capital—Coruscant. Status: unstable. Strategic intervention required."
Zeus let out a deep, amused rumble. "So that's the infamous Offensive Bias. If he were to possess a Noble Phantasm… I imagine it would be anti-galaxy in scope."
Kirschtaria calmly folded his arms. "He's comparable to you, Zeus. A machine god, but more than that. He accessed and suspended every electronic system across our Lostbelts simultaneously. Without being there at all ."
Skadi's maternal instincts flared at once. Her eyes narrowed, voice cold. "Ophelia… you didn't tell me something like this had threatened you."
Ophelia didn't flinch. Her voice was quiet, resigned. "There was no need. We had already lost before the fight even began."
Qin Shi Huang chuckled, examining the structure with glittering curiosity. "Hmm… hmmmm… suitable. Ideal even. This Offensive Bias—he shall make a fine subordinate in my Eternal Empire."
Hinako Akuta sighed and gave him a tired glare. "Emperor Qin… please humble yourself. You're embarrassing us."
Kukulcan, for once, said nothing. But her eyes sparkled with delight as she stared around the room, taking in the array of foreign faces and otherworldly presences.
So many aliens… she thought excitedly. I like it.
Daybit stepped forward, calm as ever, his voice steady. "As the temporary field agent appointed by Jin-Woo, I'll begin the tactical briefing. Our objective is to initiate a multi-front clash with the faction known as the Jedi—"
"WOOOOOOOH!!"
The shout echoed through the chamber like a war cry.
Ashwatthama pumped both fists in the air, eyes blazing. "KILL! FIGHT! LIKE A WARRIORRRR!!!"
Everyone in the room fell silent. The Lostbelt Kings blinked.
The Crypters turned in unison—staring at Peperoncino like he'd just dropped the bomb himself.
Peperoncino offered an exasperated smile, shoulders rising in mock defeat. "Don't look at me—I'm not his friend."
Ashwatthama pointed dramatically at him. "NONSENSE! You are my Master! Be proud!!"
Pepe sighed deeply, then muttered under his breath, "I should've picked literally anyone else..."
Kadoc looked away, trying not to laugh.
Morgan raised one eyebrow at Jin-Woo.
Jin-Woo's voice cut clean through the moment. "That's it. I'm taking the lead for now." He glanced at Daybit, who nodded and stepped aside. Jin-Woo's gaze swept the gathering. "Now then—anyone else have complaints about Zeta Halo?"
Skadi raised her hand. "It's too hot here—"
CLANK. A sudden flash of blue light. A slipspace portal tore open directly above her, and an avalanche of frozen goods—barrels, boxes, and metric tons of ice cream—dropped straight onto her head. The impact knocked her flat, submerging her under a mountain of frosty sweetness.
The entire assembly froze. No one spoke. From beneath the glacier of dessert,
Skadi's voice echoed faintly, muffled. "What a rude—wait…"
A slow slurp. Then another. And a third. "…It's cold. And… delicious?"
Morgan placed a hand over her mouth to suppress her laugh.
Jin-Woo crossed his arms. "Any other complaints? Because if it's too much—one-way ticket back to your Lostbelt. I'll even open the portal myself."
Hinako Akuta slowly raised her hand. "I have a question… if that's allowed?"
Jin-Woo gave her a sharp glance. "It's allowed. Now what?"
Hinako's voice came softly, but with weight. "Does Force Transfer Essence bring back—"
"No," Jin-Woo cut in immediately.
Hinako's eyes narrowed. "Hey, I wasn't finished."
Prince Lanling stepped forward, his tone protective. "Respect my Master or—"
Jin-Woo didn't move. "Daybit."
Daybit adjusted his coat. "Yeah?"
Jin woo said "You told them about Force Transfer Essence… but you don't even know how it works?"
Daybit shrugged. "Just gave them a reason. A thread to chase."
Jin-Woo's voice cut through the chamber like a blade.
"Okay, I don't know what hope you've latched onto, Hinako, "but I'd prefer you stick with your own world system. Transfer Essence is a really shitty motherfucker of a technique."
Hinako's gaze narrowed. "Are you lying? You've proven your Force power can achieve the impossible."
Jin-Woo didn't flinch. "Except bringing someone who's already been engraved into the Throne of Heroes. Like your husband—Xiang Yu from Proper Human History, not this Lostbelt version. Force Transfer Essence doesn't work like a miracle."
"It's body-hopping. A soul transfer technique. Normally into clones, artificial shells. It doesn't pull a soul from the afterlife or throne—it just invades a target vessel. Possession with extra steps. It doesn't snatch a soul and place it wherever you want. It's messy, unstable… and often ends in failure."
Hinako Akuta didn't say a word. Her lips trembled, and a single tear slid down her cheek, silent and slow.
Skadi, surprisingly gentle for once, moved beside her and draped an arm around her shoulders.
Qin Shi Huang, regal even in his mechanical avatar form, stepped forward beside them and addressed Jin-Woo with a rare flicker of solemnity.
"Even an emperor has his limits, Shadow Monarch. You may rule darkness—but grief is not something you conquer with power."
Skadi glanced over, narrowing her eyes. "Look what you did to the poor girl."
Jin-Woo didn't blink. "She's over 2,000 years old. Zhen Ren. Her real name is Consort Yu—or Yu Mei- Ren. I don't care."
Peperoncino clicked his tongue and waved a hand. "Jin-Woo, you're really not helping."
Jin-Woo let out a cold breath. "Fine. Let me rephrase."
His voice dropped lower, more grounded.
"The dark side of the Force? It's like my backyard. I walk it, shape it, breathe it—and you people didn't even know what the Force was until I told you. But now you're wishing miracles from it?".
"But even that's not the important part. She's been here for two thousand years. And she's made no progress." "That's not the Force's fault. That's hers."
Hinako's blade hit the floor with a sharp CLANG—and in the next breath, the air shifted.
Ancestral energy pulsed outward as her form changed, dissolving her coat into drifting motes of shadow. What stood now was Consort Yu—no longer the subdued woman in modern attire, but a living embodiment of vengeance from another era.
Her new appearance was regal and deathly: a dark sweater-dress merged seamlessly with a black outer layer resembling a jacket, now laced with ember-like flames curling at the hems. Her black hair fell in loose waves, eyes glowing with restrained fury. Her feet touched the ground bare, graceful but dangerous, as fire-trimmed Chinese swords ignited in her hands. The Jiang swords burned silently.
And above—the sky darkened.
Ten million shadows swirled in reaction. The atmosphere dimmed with their rising, a sea of eyes glowing violet in the suffocating void.
Bellion floated above them all—his black-purple armor shining like obsidian in the twilight, spear lowered but aimed with precision.
Jin-Woo raised one hand without looking.
"Stay in the sky," he said evenly. "All of you. This is my fight. I'll handle her."
The army stopped instantly, hovering in formation like an apocalyptic cloud.
Zeus, still watching from the periphery, chuckled with low, thunderous amusement. "Shadow soldiers… beyond even True Magic. You're full of surprises, Jin-Woo."
Kirschtaria didn't share the grin. His gaze remained focused, . "Zeus, "Don't joke now. This is Jin-Woo's domain , . My Anima Animusphere only functions inside the Lostbelt. Here… we're all standing inside his rule."
Hinako's voice cracked like glass under pressure. "Take that back! I've tried for 2200 years—bringing back my Xiang Yu—"
Jin-Woo cut her off with brutal sarcasm.
"You should've added another hundred thousand years," he said flatly.
She lunged, rage flashing in her eyes as her flame-touched blades slashed forward with a burning of metal.
But Jin-Woo didn't flinch. He sidestepped effortlessly, shadows trailing like liquid mist behind him, and with a single, deliberate motion—
THUD. He kicked her foot out from beneath her.
She fell. Hard. Her body hit the floor
Xiang Yu—the Lostbelt version— instantly beside her, his mechanical hooves grinding against the Zeta Halo platform, hands rising to defend her.
"My wife—Consort Yu. You don't need to try so hard."
He turned his glowing eyes toward Jin-Woo. "I will fight as well."
Prince Lanling stepped forward too, kneeling by her side.
"Master… drink my blood. Let me restore you. You've been weakened for far too long."
But then— CLINK.A red vial skidded across the floor, bumping to a stop at Hinako's feet.
It shimmered. Violently potent.
Kicked there by none other than Jin-Woo.
Hinako looked down. Then back up at him. "…Are you fucking kidding me?"
Jin-Woo's voice was ice-cold, calm.
"Drink it," he said, "so I can kick your ass in a fair fight."
Prince Lanling stepped between them, his hand on his sword, voice sharp.
"You're lying. This must be poison."
But before the tension could escalate,
Qin Shi Huang tilted his head, voice echoing with imperial calm.
"His army could behead her right now. We'd be at war immediately. However…"
"As an emperor—one great ruler to another—I know this: a true monarch does not lie in matters of honor."
All eyes shifted to Jin-Woo.
Jin-woo gave a slight shrug. "Maybe yes," he said. "Maybe not."
Hinako stared at the vial, fingers tightening. Then—with a sharp motion—she uncorked it and downed the contents.
The reaction was immediate.
A pulse of red light surged through her veins like wildfire. Her hair shimmered with deeper color, her skin regaining a living glow. Her heartbeat, once muted, thundered with vitality. Her eyes ignited—not just with fury , but renewed strength.
The rebirth of Zhen Ren.
She stood tall, blades in hand, the flame dancing from her limbs like a second skin.
"Even if you're a God … once you die, your army dies with you. That's the flaw in your legend. I will find the way of the Force myself."
Jin-Woo's gaze didn't change. His voice stayed steady, even bored.
"That's what everybody says," he muttered, "right before they're defeated."