The moment they vanished—
The sky exploded.
BOOM.
A deafening shockwave tore through the clouds, splitting them apart as two forces clashed far above the academy.
Students below could only watch in horror.
They couldn't even see the movements—
Only the destruction.
"…They're too fast…"
"I can't follow anything!"
Even the strongest instructors struggled to keep track.
Only flashes of light and bursts of dark energy marked the battle.
High above—
Zareth and the traitor collided again.
CLASH.
A wave of force rippled outward, distorting space itself.
The traitor moved with precision, his attacks sharp and calculated. Every strike carried immense power, aimed to kill in a single blow.
Zareth blocked effortlessly.
"You've improved," the traitor said, launching another series of attacks. "In your past life, you relied too much on overwhelming force."
Zareth countered with one hand, stopping each strike with minimal movement.
"And you relied too much on betrayal."
Their eyes met.
The traitor smirked.
"Still holding onto that?"
Zareth's voice turned colder.
"You will too… once I'm done with you."
The traitor suddenly jumped back, raising both hands.
Dark energy gathered rapidly, forming dozens of floating blades around him.
"Let's see how you handle this."
With a single motion—
The blades shot forward.
From every direction.
Too many to dodge.
Too fast to block individually.
Below, Lyra gasped.
"…That's impossible to survive…"
Zareth didn't move.
"…Pathetic."
His eyes glowed.
In an instant—
Everything stopped.
The blades froze mid-air.
Time itself seemed to pause.
The traitor's expression changed.
"…Time magic?"
Zareth stepped forward slowly, walking through the frozen storm.
"…A fragment of it."
He raised his hand—
And lightly tapped one blade.
CRACK.
The entire formation shattered instantly.
Time resumed.
The fragments fell like dust.
The traitor clenched his teeth.
"…You've gone beyond what we predicted."
Zareth tilted his head slightly.
"…You predicted my death as well."
Without warning—
Zareth disappeared.
The traitor's instincts screamed.
He turned—
Too late.
Zareth's fist connected with his side.
BOOM.
The impact sent him crashing through the sky, smashing into an invisible barrier high above the academy.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
"…Damn you…"
He forced himself to stand mid-air.
"You think this is enough to defeat me?!"
His power surged violently.
The sky darkened completely now, lightning striking around them as his aura expanded.
"I am not the same as before!"
Below—
The academy trembled under the pressure.
Students collapsed.
Barriers cracked.
Valthor raised his hands, reinforcing the defenses.
"…At this rate, the entire academy will be destroyed…"
Above—
Zareth watched silently.
"…Then stop talking."
The traitor roared and charged again, this time faster, stronger, pushing his power to the limit.
His fist aimed directly at Zareth's heart.
Zareth didn't block.
Didn't dodge.
He stepped forward—
And let the attack pass through him.
"…What?!"
The traitor's eyes widened.
Zareth's body flickered slightly.
"…Void shift," Zareth said calmly.
Before the traitor could react—
Zareth placed his hand on his chest.
"…You've already lost."
A pulse of void energy spread instantly.
The traitor froze.
"…No…"
His body began to distort.
"…Not like this…"
For the first time—
Fear.
Real fear.
"You were always the smartest among them," Zareth said quietly.
A pause.
"…But never the strongest."
The void energy intensified.
Reality cracked around the traitor.
"…Zareth… wait—!"
Zareth's eyes turned cold.
"…Disappear."
The world went silent.
Then—
The traitor was gone.
Erased.
Completely.
The sky cleared instantly.
The pressure vanished.
Everything returned to normal.
Zareth stood alone in the sky.
Calm.
Unshaken.
As if nothing had happened.
Below—
The entire academy stared in disbelief.
"…He defeated him…"
"…Just like that…"
Kael fell to his knees again.
"…This is… impossible…"
Lyra whispered softly:
"…No…"
Her eyes remained fixed on Zareth.
"…This is reality."
Zareth slowly descended to the ground.
Valthor stepped forward, his expression serious.
"…Two of the seven," he said.
Zareth nodded slightly.
"…Five left."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
Zareth looked toward the horizon.
"…They won't wait any longer."
Far away—
In the shadowed council—
Five figures remained.
"…He's eliminating them one by one…"
Another voice responded coldly:
"…Then we move together."
Dark energy surged across the chamber.
"…Prepare the war."
Back at the academy—
Zareth turned away.
"…Good."
A faint smile appeared.
"I was getting tired of holding back."