The sky above Shadow Academy roared like a storm.
Dark clouds swirled around the enormous Abyss Gate, which had now grown twice its original size. Black lightning cracked through the air as more Abyss creatures began pouring out.
The battlefield had become a nightmare.
Students fought desperately.
Some were injured.
Others were barely able to stand.
And at the center of it all—
Arata stood facing the **Abyss General**.
Golden energy surrounded him like a burning sun.
But the power inside him was becoming unstable.
His breathing grew heavier.
Across from him, the Abyss General watched with interest.
"So you're trying to open the Second Gate already?"
It smiled slowly.
"That power will destroy your body."
Arata clenched his fists.
"I don't care."
Behind him, Kaito stepped forward.
"…Arata."
His voice sounded more serious than ever before.
"Stop."
Arata looked back.
Kaito's glowing blue eyes were locked on him.
"You're not ready for the Second Gate."
Arata shook his head.
"We don't have a choice."
He pointed toward the sky.
The Abyss Gate was expanding again.
More monsters were emerging every second.
"If we don't stop him now…"
"…the academy will fall."
Kaito remained silent for a moment.
Then he sighed quietly.
"…Stubborn kid."
Meanwhile—
The Abyss General raised its wings.
Dark energy exploded from its body again.
The entire battlefield shook.
"I am done waiting."
Black flames formed around its claws.
"Die."
It launched forward like a missile.
The speed was terrifying.
Even Arata barely reacted in time.
He raised his arm to block—
**BOOM**
The impact blasted him across the courtyard.
Arata crashed through a stone wall.
Dust filled the air.
Ren shouted from a distance.
"ARATA!"
Lyra grabbed his arm.
"Wait!"
The Abyss General slowly walked toward the rubble.
"This is the difference between potential…"
"…and true power."
Arata slowly stood up.
Blood ran down his forehead.
His body felt like it was burning from the inside.
Inside his mind, the Ancient Entity spoke again.
*Your body is not ready.*
*But your will is strong.*
Arata clenched his teeth.
"I need more power."
The voice answered quietly.
*Then listen carefully.*
*The Second Gate will release a fragment of the Ancient God's true strength.*
*But it will also awaken the enemy that sleeps inside the Abyss.*
Arata paused.
"Enemy?"
The voice did not answer.
Outside—
The Abyss General raised its hand again.
Dark energy formed into a giant blade.
"Your existence ends here."
The blade shot forward.
Everything seemed to slow down.
Arata took a deep breath.
Then he whispered—
"…Second Gate."
For a moment—
The entire battlefield became silent.
Then—
The golden mark on Arata's palm exploded with blinding light.
Energy erupted from his body like a volcanic eruption.
The ground beneath him shattered.
The sky cracked with golden lightning.
Ren's eyes widened.
"…What the hell?"
Lyra stared in shock.
"That energy…"
"…It's completely different."
Arata slowly stepped out of the rubble.
His aura had changed.
Golden energy now mixed with faint black shadows.
His eyes glowed brighter than ever before.
The dark blade heading toward him suddenly stopped in midair—
Then shattered instantly.
The Abyss General's smile disappeared.
"…Impossible."
Arata raised his hand.
The air around the General suddenly compressed.
**BOOM**
The creature was slammed into the ground by invisible force.
Kaito's eyes widened slightly.
"…He actually opened it."
Arata walked forward slowly.
Each step cracked the ground beneath his feet.
The Abyss General struggled to stand.
But the pressure around it had become overwhelming.
"What… are you?"
Arata stopped in front of it.
His voice sounded calmer.
Colder.
"I'm the one who will stop you."
He raised his glowing fist.
The General roared and attacked again.
But this time—
Arata moved faster.
His punch slammed directly into the creature's chest.
**BOOM**
A massive shockwave erupted.
The Abyss General was blasted across the courtyard, crashing into the academy wall.
Its armor cracked heavily.
Dark energy leaked from the wounds.
For the first time—
The creature looked afraid.
"…This power…"
"…It belongs to him."
Arata stepped forward again.
Golden lightning crackled around his body.
But inside his mind—
Something else stirred.
A deep, ancient presence.
Something hidden inside the Ancient God's power.
The voice whispered again.
*You have opened the Second Gate.*
*But remember…*
*Power always has a cost.*
High above the battlefield—
Inside the Abyss Gate—
Something enormous moved in the darkness.
A pair of massive glowing eyes slowly opened.
Watching Arata.
Watching the awakening.
And far away—
In a hidden chamber somewhere in the world—
A mysterious figure looked up from a dark throne.
"…So the successor has awakened the Second Gate."
The figure smiled.
"Good."
"Now the real game can begin."
To be continued.....