Dawn had not yet broken.
The Royal Academy lay under a strange silence.
No birds sang.
No wind moved.
Even the torches lining the stone paths burned without flickering, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Students slept uneasily.
Teachers stood awake.
Every powerful mage inside the academy had felt it.
Something was coming.
Inside the hidden tower chamber, Orion stared at the ancient seal.
Cracks of golden light spread slowly across its surface.
Victor Ravenhart tightened his grip on his sword.
"I don't like this."
Elena Frostveil stood calm, though her eyes were sharp.
"That makes two of us."
Orion did not look back.
"Remain respectful."
Victor frowned.
"You're talking as if a king is arriving."
Orion's voice became lower.
"No."
"Something far above kings."
At the same time, inside his room, Saksham stood fully dressed before the window.
His black academy coat rested neatly on his shoulders.
His system screen floated in the air.
[DIVINE CONTACT: 97%]
[HOST HEART RATE: STABLE]
[WARNING: EXTERNAL PRESSURE RISING]
Saksham closed the screen with one hand.
His face showed no fear.
Only readiness.
He stepped out into the corridor.
Across campus, students began opening doors and peeking outside.
"What is happening?"
"Why can't I use mana properly?"
"The air feels heavy…"
In the first-year dormitory, Aryan Singla stumbled outside half-awake with messy hair.
"Why is everyone dramatic before breakfast?"
Then he froze.
Above the academy sky—
A massive circle of burning gold had appeared among the clouds.
Runes larger than mountains rotated slowly within it.
Every student dropped to their knees from instinctive fear.
Aryan resisted for three seconds.
Then also dropped.
"What... is... THAT?!"
The golden circle split open.
A pillar of crimson light descended onto the academy's central plaza.
Stone shattered.
Wind exploded outward.
Teachers shielded students.
Flags tore loose.
The pillar faded.
A man stood in its center.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Bare arms marked with ancient battle scars.
Red-gold armor covered only part of his body, as if protection was unnecessary.
A spear rested casually in one hand.
His silver eyes looked over the academy like a lion surveying sheep.
No one dared breathe.
Orion immediately bowed his head.
"Eltharos... God of War."
Gasps spread through the crowd.
Students trembled.
Some fainted.
Victor's eyes widened.
"A real god…"
Elena clenched her fists.
Even she could barely stand under the pressure.
Eltharos spoke one word.
"Saksham."
His voice thundered across the campus.
No magic amplification.
Pure authority.
From the academy steps, Saksham walked forward calmly.
Each step drew hundreds of stunned eyes.
Students whispered desperately.
"Senior Saksham is walking toward him!"
"Does he know the god?!"
"Why him?!"
Aryan stared in disbelief.
"Brother…"
Saksham stopped ten paces away and bowed respectfully.
"Lord Eltharos."
The God of War studied him.
Then smiled.
"Three years of discipline."
"Good."
Victor nearly choked.
"He's being evaluated like a student!"
Elena whispered, "No... like a weapon."
Eltharos planted his spear into the ground.
The plaza shook.
"I gave you blessings as a child."
"You used them well."
"Now blessings end."
Students looked confused.
What did that mean?
Saksham remained silent.
Eltharos continued.
"From today... training begins."
A wave of pressure burst outward.
Several teachers were forced to one knee.
Aryan gritted his teeth and stayed standing halfway.
Eltharos noticed and glanced toward him.
"Small one. You have spirit."
Aryan straightened immediately.
"I'm not small!"
The entire academy froze.
He had just shouted at a god.
Victor covered his face.
Elena whispered, "He's dead."
But Eltharos laughed.
A booming, genuine laugh.
"Good!"
He pointed at Aryan.
"You are related."
Aryan puffed his chest proudly.
"My brother is Saksham Singla!"
Eltharos smirked.
"I know."
Then his eyes returned to Saksham.
"Show me your current level."
Without warning, the god flicked one finger.
A compressed blast of force shot forward.
Students screamed.
Saksham moved instantly.
BOOM!
He crossed both arms and blocked.
The plaza floor cracked beneath his feet.
Dust exploded.
When it cleared—
Saksham was still standing.
Sliding marks stretched ten meters behind him.
But he had not fallen.
Shock hit the academy harder than the attack.
"He blocked a god's strike?!"
"That was casual... but still!"
Aryan's jaw dropped.
Victor slowly grinned.
"There he is."
Elena's eyes shined.
Saksham lowered his arms.
Minor bruising.
Nothing more.
Eltharos nodded with approval.
"Excellent."
"Again."
This time the god vanished.
He reappeared directly before Saksham with impossible speed.
A fist descended.
Saksham twisted sideways.
Countered with palm strike.
Eltharos blocked and laughed.
The two figures blurred.
Shockwaves tore across the plaza.
Windows shattered.
Students were dragged backward by wind pressure.
Teachers raised barriers in panic.
No one could follow the exchange.
Then—
BOOOOM!
Saksham was launched through three stone pillars and skidded across the courtyard.
Aryan shouted, "BROTHER!"
Dust rose.
Silence.
Then Saksham stepped out calmly, wiping blood from his lip.
And smiled.
For the first time in years.
Victor's grin widened.
"He's enjoying it."
Elena exhaled slowly.
"Monsters."
Eltharos lifted his spear.
"Yes."
"Now we begin."
He pointed the spear skyward.
A crimson portal opened.
Inside it lay a battlefield of endless storms, floating weapons, and burning mountains.
Students stared speechless.
"The Divine War Realm," Orion whispered.
Eltharos addressed Saksham.
"You will train there between dawn and dusk of mortal time."
"One day here."
"One month there."
Gasps erupted.
A month of training in a day?
Aryan stepped forward.
"Take me too!"
Saksham immediately said, "No."
Aryan glared.
"Why?!"
Eltharos looked amused.
"Because you would die in seven seconds."
Aryan paused.
"…Can I get stronger first?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll wait."
Laughter spread nervously through the crowd.
Eltharos grinned again.
He liked this family.
Then suddenly, his expression hardened.
He turned toward the northern horizon.
The sky darkened there unnaturally.
A black crack formed in space for one brief second.
Even Eltharos narrowed his eyes.
"So... it watches already."
Orion stepped forward carefully.
"Lord Eltharos... was that—"
"The enemy."
Every heart froze.
Eltharos looked at Saksham.
"There is no more time."
He extended one hand.
"Saksham Singla."
"Step forward."
Saksham glanced once at Aryan.
His younger brother tried to look brave.
"Come back stronger," Aryan said.
Saksham smirked faintly.
"Try not to fail classes while I'm gone."
Aryan shouted, "HEY!"
Students laughed through their fear.
Saksham stepped toward the portal.
Crimson wind surrounded him.
Before entering, he looked back at the academy.
At his friends.
At his brother.
Then he vanished into the Divine War Realm beside the God of War.
The portal closed.
Silence remained.
Aryan clenched both fists.
"I'm catching up."
Far beyond mortal sight, inside the realm of storms—
Eltharos tossed Saksham a massive iron blade.
It crashed into the ground like a meteor.
"Lesson one," said the god.
"Survive."
END OF EPISODE 3