The night was too quiet.
After the chaos of the invasion, the silence felt unnatural—like the world was holding its breath.
Zareth Voidragon stood alone on the academy rooftop, his eyes fixed on the dark sky.
"…They're close."
A cold wind passed by, carrying a faint trace of something sinister.
Not like the creatures before.
Not like the previous attacker.
Something stronger.
Behind him, Lyra approached quietly.
"You've been standing here for a while," she said. "Can you sense them?"
Zareth didn't turn.
"…Yes."
A pause.
"They're not hiding anymore."
Lyra's expression grew serious.
"…Another attack?"
Zareth's eyes narrowed slightly.
"No."
A brief silence followed.
"…This time, it's different."
Far beyond the academy—
The sky began to darken once again.
But this time, no rift appeared.
No warning.
Instead—
Space itself twisted.
A figure stepped forward.
Not summoned.
Not falling.
Walking.
As if the world itself made way for him.
Clad in dark robes, his presence alone distorted the air around him. His eyes glowed faintly with ancient power.
"…So this is where you've been hiding."
His voice echoed across the distance.
Back at the academy—
Zareth's expression shifted slightly.
"…Finally."
For the first time—
There was interest in his eyes.
The figure appeared above the academy in an instant.
No flash.
No sound.
Just presence.
Students below felt it immediately.
"…What is that pressure…?"
"I can't breathe…"
Some collapsed instantly.
Others struggled to stand.
Even the instructors froze.
Headmaster Valthor stepped forward, his aura rising to resist the pressure.
"…You're not like the others," he said.
The figure glanced at him briefly.
"…Irrelevant."
Then—
His gaze shifted.
To Zareth.
Silence filled the entire academy.
"…Zareth Voidragon."
The name echoed like a forgotten curse.
Zareth stepped forward.
"…You're late."
The figure smiled faintly.
"I wanted to be sure."
A pause.
"That you were truly back."
Lyra whispered from behind:
"…Who is he?"
Zareth answered calmly.
"…One of the seven."
Her eyes widened.
"A traitor…"
The figure slowly descended, landing on the academy grounds.
Each step cracked the earth beneath him.
"You look different," he said. "Weaker… smaller…"
Zareth shrugged slightly.
"And yet, you're still cautious."
The man chuckled.
"Of course."
His eyes darkened.
"I remember what you did to us."
The air grew heavier.
Students backed away, fear overwhelming them completely.
"…We should run," one of them whispered.
"No… we can't even move…"
Kael gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand.
"…This pressure…"
He looked toward Zareth.
"…What kind of enemies does he have?"
The traitor raised his hand slowly.
Dark energy gathered—
But unlike before—
It was controlled.
Refined.
Deadly.
"I won't underestimate you like he did," the man said calmly.
Zareth smirked faintly.
"…Good."
In an instant—
The man disappeared.
He reappeared directly in front of Zareth, his hand already moving.
A precise strike.
Fast.
Clean.
Zareth blocked it effortlessly.
But—
The ground beneath them shattered.
A shockwave exploded outward, forcing everyone back.
"…Not bad," Zareth said.
The man's eyes narrowed.
"You're holding back."
Zareth tilted his head slightly.
"…And you're not trying hard enough."
The man vanished again—
Reappearing above him.
This time—
Multiple attacks.
Blades of dark energy rained down from all directions.
Zareth didn't move.
Every attack—
Stopped mid-air.
Frozen.
Then—
Shattered.
Silence.
The man landed again, his expression serious now.
"…So it's true."
Zareth looked at him calmly.
"…What is?"
A pause.
"That you've surpassed what you used to be."
For a moment—
Neither of them moved.
Then—
The man smiled.
"…Good."
Dark energy surged violently around him.
"Because I didn't come here to test you."
The ground trembled.
The sky darkened further.
"I came…"
His power exploded outward.
"…to kill you."
Students screamed as the pressure intensified.
Even Valthor stepped back slightly.
"…This level… it's beyond anything we can handle…"
Zareth, however—
Remained completely still.
Then—
Slowly—
He took a step forward.
The pressure around him vanished instantly.
"…Then try."
For the first time—
A true aura erupted from Zareth.
Not overwhelming.
Not wild.
But absolute.
The air went silent.
Space itself seemed to bow.
The traitor's smile faded.
"…So this is your real power."
Zareth's eyes glowed faintly.
"…No."
A pause.
"…This is just the beginning."
And in the next moment—
Both of them vanished.
The real battle…
Had finally begun.