The battlefield had fallen into an eerie silence.
The once beautiful courtyard of Shadow Academy was now nothing more than a shattered wasteland. Cracked stone, burning buildings, and injured students covered the area.
But no one moved.
Because everyone was watching the same thing.
Arata.
Standing in the center of the battlefield.
Golden lightning surrounded his body while faint black shadows flowed within the aura of his **Second Gate Awakening**.
Across from him—
The **Abyss General** slowly stood up from the rubble.
Its once flawless dark armor was now cracked and damaged. Dark energy leaked from the fractures like smoke from a dying flame.
For the first time since the battle began…
The creature looked cautious.
"…So the Second Gate has truly opened."
Arata didn't respond.
His glowing eyes remained fixed on the General.
Behind him, Ren whispered quietly.
"…Is that really Arata?"
Lyra nodded slowly.
"His power has changed completely."
Even Kaito, who rarely showed emotion, looked serious.
"The Ancient God's power is finally awakening."
Meanwhile—
High above them, the massive Abyss Gate continued to swirl in the sky.
Something enormous still watched from inside its darkness.
The Abyss General raised its wings again.
"You may have awakened more power…"
"…but you are still only a human."
Dark energy exploded around its body.
Black flames covered its claws.
"I will crush you."
The General shot forward like a meteor.
Its speed was even faster than before.
But Arata didn't move.
At the last second—
He simply raised his hand.
The General's claw stopped inches from his face.
Frozen.
The creature's red eyes widened.
"…What?"
Arata's voice was calm.
"You're slower now."
He stepped forward.
Then delivered a single punch.
**BOOM**
The impact shook the entire academy.
A massive shockwave spread across the battlefield.
The Abyss General was launched hundreds of meters across the courtyard, smashing through three buildings before finally crashing into the ground.
Ren's mouth dropped open.
"…That was one punch."
Lyra whispered.
"He's overwhelming it."
The General slowly rose from the crater.
But now—
Fear was visible in its eyes.
"This… cannot be happening."
Arata walked forward again.
Every step released waves of golden energy.
"This ends now."
The General roared.
Its entire body began releasing enormous amounts of dark power.
The sky above reacted instantly.
The Abyss Gate started expanding even faster.
"If I fall…"
"…this world will fall with me!"
It raised both hands.
Dark energy gathered into a massive sphere above the battlefield.
"**Abyss Cataclysm.**"
The giant sphere pulsed with destructive power.
Even Kaito's eyes widened slightly.
"…That attack could destroy the entire academy."
Ren cursed.
"Are you kidding me?!"
The sphere began falling toward the ground.
Arata looked up at it.
For a moment—
He closed his eyes.
Inside his mind, the Ancient Entity spoke one last time.
*Use the power carefully.*
*Even the Second Gate has limits.*
Arata opened his eyes again.
Golden lightning exploded around him.
He raised his glowing fist.
"…Resonance."
Energy gathered around his arm like a spiral of light.
"…Final Pulse."
Arata launched himself into the sky.
The moment his fist collided with the massive sphere—
**BOOOOOOM**
A blinding explosion filled the sky.
Golden light and dark energy clashed violently.
The shockwave spread across the entire region.
Students shielded their eyes.
Buildings trembled.
And then—
The darkness shattered.
The Abyss Cataclysm exploded into thousands of fading fragments.
Arata descended from the sky like a falling star.
The Abyss General stared in disbelief.
"…Impossible…"
Before it could react—
Arata appeared directly in front of it.
His fist was already moving.
"Goodbye."
**BOOM**
The punch pierced through the General's chest.
Golden energy erupted from the impact.
The creature froze.
Its red eyes flickered.
"…So this… is the power… of the Ancient God…"
The Abyss General's body began turning into black dust.
Before disappearing completely—
It smiled slightly.
"This war… is only beginning."
Then it vanished.
The battlefield finally became silent.
High above the academy—
The massive Abyss Gate began collapsing.
Dark energy slowly faded from the sky.
The invasion was over.
Ren fell to the ground, exhausted.
"…We actually survived."
Lyra sighed with relief.
"It's finally over."
Kaito looked toward Arata.
But Arata was still standing there.
His golden aura slowly fading.
The Second Gate power was disappearing.
His body began shaking.
Then—
He collapsed.
Kaito caught him before he hit the ground.
"…Idiot."
But there was a faint smile on his face.
"You did well."
Far away—
Inside the endless darkness of the Abyss—
The massive glowing eyes that had been watching finally moved.
A deep voice echoed through the void.
"…So the successor has appeared."
Another voice answered from the darkness.
"Should we eliminate him?"
The first voice laughed quietly.
"No."
"Let him grow stronger."
The darkness shifted.
Because something far more terrifying than the Abyss General had just awakened.
"…The real war will begin soon."
To be continued....