The crack in the sky widened.
At first, it was barely visible—just a thin fracture in reality itself.
But within seconds…
It spread.
Students across the academy grounds began to notice.
"…What is that?"
"The sky… it's breaking?"
A low, unnatural sound echoed through the air, like glass grinding against glass.
Then—
BOOM.
The crack shattered open.
A massive rift appeared above the academy, swirling with dark energy and violent lightning.
From within it…
Shapes began to emerge.
Creatures.
Dozens of them.
No—
Hundreds.
They fell from the sky like shadows given form, crashing into the academy grounds with terrifying force.
"MONSTERS!!"
"RUN!!"
Panic erupted instantly.
Students scattered in all directions, some trying to fight, others too terrified to even move.
The creatures were unlike anything they had seen before.
Black, twisted bodies.
Glowing red eyes.
Distorted limbs.
"They're not demons…!"
"What are these things?!"
An instructor raised his staff.
"Form defensive lines! Protect the students!"
Magic circles lit up across the battlefield.
Fire, ice, lightning—spells were launched in rapid succession.
Some creatures were destroyed.
But more kept coming.
Far more.
High above, the rift pulsed again.
And from it—
A larger figure descended.
Clad in dark armor, radiating overwhelming power.
"…So it begins," the figure said coldly.
On the balcony—
Zareth watched everything.
Unmoved.
"…They didn't waste time."
Lyra stood beside him, her expression tense.
"This isn't normal. That rift… it's not from our world."
Zareth nodded slightly.
"…Of course not."
He stepped forward.
"These are summoned beasts."
Lyra looked at him.
"…Summoned? By who?"
Zareth's eyes darkened.
"…Those who failed to kill me before."
Below—
Kael Draven struggled to stand, gripping a broken weapon.
"…Damn it…"
A creature lunged at him.
He barely dodged.
"I'm not losing again!"
Flames ignited around him as he forced his body to move.
He slashed forward, cutting one creature in half.
But another appeared behind him.
Too fast.
Too close.
Kael turned—
But he knew.
He wouldn't make it in time.
Then—
The creature froze.
Mid-air.
Its body began to distort.
And then—
It vanished.
Kael blinked.
"…What?"
A familiar presence appeared behind him.
Zareth.
"You're still alive," Zareth said calmly.
Kael stared at him.
"…You…"
Zareth looked around the battlefield.
"…Pathetic resistance."
Across the academy—
More creatures poured in.
Barriers began to crack.
Students screamed.
The armored figure in the sky raised his hand.
"Destroy everything."
The creatures roared.
And charged.
Zareth sighed.
"…This is getting annoying."
He stepped forward.
The moment his foot touched the ground—
BOOM.
A wave of invisible pressure exploded outward.
Every creature within range—
Froze.
Then—
Collapsed.
Hundreds of them.
Gone in an instant.
Silence fell.
Students stared in shock.
"What… just happened?"
"That wasn't even a spell!"
The armored figure narrowed his eyes.
"…So this is your power."
Zareth looked up.
"…You're not one of the original traitors."
The figure chuckled.
"No. But I serve them."
A pause.
"They've been waiting for your return."
Zareth's expression didn't change.
"…Then they should have come themselves."
The figure raised his weapon.
"I'm here to test you."
Dark energy gathered around him, far stronger than the previous enemy.
The air trembled.
Students backed away in fear.
Even the instructors hesitated.
"…That level of power…"
Zareth stepped forward again.
"…Fine."
For the first time—
A slight shift in his aura occurred.
The ground cracked beneath him.
Space distorted faintly.
"…I'll play along."
The armored figure charged.
In an instant, he closed the distance between them.
His blade swung down with overwhelming force.
Zareth raised his hand.
CLANG.
The blade stopped.
Caught between his fingers.
"…Too slow."
With a flick—
The weapon shattered.
The figure jumped back instantly, creating distance.
"…Impressive."
Zareth tilted his head slightly.
"…You talk too much."
Suddenly—
Zareth vanished.
The figure's eyes widened.
"Where—?!"
A presence appeared behind him.
Too late.
Zareth's voice echoed softly.
"…You're not even worth remembering."
His hand moved—
And touched the figure's back.
For a split second—
Nothing happened.
Then—
Reality cracked.
The armored figure screamed as his body began to distort.
"No—WAIT—!"
Zareth's eyes glowed faintly.
"…Disappear."
The figure was erased.
Just like the others.
The battlefield fell silent once again.
The rift in the sky began to close.
Slowly.
Students stood frozen.
Unable to comprehend what they had witnessed.
Kael dropped to his knees.
"…This… isn't a student…"
Lyra whispered from a distance:
"…This is a king."
Zareth looked up at the closing rift.
"…A warning attack."
His expression turned slightly serious.
"They're testing the waters."
Far beyond—
In the dark council chamber—
One of the cloaked figures spoke:
"…He's stronger than expected."
Another replied:
"…Then we proceed to phase two."
Back at the academy—
Zareth turned away.
"…Good."
A faint smile appeared.
"I was getting bored."