The academy was no longer the same.
What was once a place of pride and competition had turned into a fortress under threat.
Guards were doubled.
Magic barriers reinforced.
Training grounds filled from morning till night.
Fear had changed everything.
But for Zareth Voidragon—
Nothing had changed at all.
He stood alone in the training field, watching as students pushed themselves beyond their limits.
Some trained out of determination.
Others…
Out of fear.
"…They've improved," a voice said behind him.
Zareth didn't turn.
"…Barely."
Lyra stepped beside him, her arms crossed.
"You defeated one of the seven without effort," she said. "Of course they look weak to you."
Zareth remained silent.
"…You don't understand the gap," he finally said.
Lyra frowned.
"Then explain it."
Zareth looked at the training field again.
"To them, power is something they build over time," he said. "Step by step. Limit by limit."
A pause.
"…To me, power is something I choose not to use."
Lyra's expression stiffened slightly.
"…That sounds unfair."
Zareth smirked faintly.
"…It is."
Meanwhile—
At the center of the training field—
Kael Draven stood surrounded by flames.
His body trembled from exhaustion, but his eyes burned with determination.
"Again!" he shouted.
He swung his blade, releasing a powerful wave of fire that scorched the ground.
But this time—
It was different.
More controlled.
More focused.
An instructor nodded from a distance.
"…He's improving fast."
Zareth watched silently.
"…He's forcing growth," he said.
Lyra followed his gaze.
"…You think he'll catch up?"
Zareth shook his head.
"No."
A pause.
"But he might survive longer."
Elsewhere in the academy—
Valthor stood in a restricted chamber once again.
Ancient runes glowed brighter than before.
"They've started moving," he said quietly.
A projection appeared before him.
Five figures.
All cloaked.
All dangerous.
"…They won't attack one by one anymore."
His expression hardened.
"…This will turn into a war."
Back at the training grounds—
Zareth suddenly looked up.
"…They're watching."
Lyra tensed.
"…Now?"
Zareth nodded slightly.
"…Not physically."
A pause.
"But they're observing."
At that exact moment—
The air shifted.
A strange pressure spread across the training field.
Students stopped moving.
"…What is this feeling…?"
Kael tightened his grip on his weapon.
"…Another enemy?"
Zareth stepped forward.
"…No."
His eyes darkened.
"…A message."
Suddenly—
The sky above the academy flickered.
And a voice echoed.
Deep.
Cold.
Ancient.
"…Zareth Voidragon."
Every student froze.
Fear returned instantly.
Zareth looked up calmly.
"…You're getting impatient."
The voice continued:
"You have eliminated two of us."
A pause.
"But you misunderstand something."
Dark energy gathered in the sky, forming a massive symbol.
"We are not your past."
The pressure intensified.
"We have evolved."
Lyra clenched her fists.
"…Show yourself!"
The voice ignored her.
Instead—
It spoke directly to Zareth.
"Three days."
Silence fell.
"In three days…"
The symbol glowed brighter.
"We will arrive."
Zareth's expression didn't change.
"…All of you?"
A brief pause.
Then—
"Yes."
The pressure vanished instantly.
The sky returned to normal.
Silence followed.
Students collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
"…Three days…"
"…All of them…?"
Panic spread again.
Lyra looked at Zareth.
"…This is bad."
Zareth turned away.
"…No."
A pause.
"…This is expected."
Kael stepped forward, his voice firm despite his injuries.
"…Then what do we do?"
Zareth stopped walking.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
He spoke.
"…You train."
Kael frowned.
"…That's it?"
Zareth glanced at him.
"…Or you die."
The words hit hard.
There was no emotion in them.
No hesitation.
Just truth.
Lyra exhaled slowly.
"…You're serious."
Zareth continued walking.
"…They won't hold back."
A pause.
"…And neither will I."
Far away—
The five remaining traitors stood together.
Dark energy surged around them.
"…Three days," one of them said.
Another smiled coldly.
"…Let him prepare."
A third stepped forward.
"…It won't matter."
Back at the academy—
Zareth stood alone once more.
His eyes fixed on the horizon.
"…Three days…"
A faint smile appeared.
"…That's more than enough."
The wind grew colder.
And deep within the academy—
Something began to change.
Students trained harder.
Instructors prepared defenses.
Fear turned into desperation.
Because everyone understood now—
This wasn't just another attack.
This was war.
And it was coming.