The sky shattered with power.
Zareth Voidragon stood alone in the air—
Facing five monsters.
The traitors of the past.
The destroyers of kingdoms.
The beings who once stood beside him…
And now—
Stood against him.
Below—
The battlefield froze.
Students, instructors, and soldiers all looked up.
"…That's him…"
"…Zareth…"
Hope and fear mixed in their eyes.
Because this battle—
Would decide everything.
In the sky—
One of the traitors stepped forward.
"…It's been a long time, Zareth."
Zareth's gaze remained cold.
"…Not long enough."
Another laughed.
"…Still the same."
The leader raised his hand slightly.
"…No more talking."
A pause.
"…Kill him."
Instantly—
All five moved.
The sky exploded.
Dark magic surged from every direction.
Attacks fast enough to erase mountains—
All aimed at one person.
Zareth.
But—
He didn't move.
BOOOOOOM.
The attacks collided—
Engulfing him completely.
Below—
Lyra's eyes widened.
"…ZARETH!"
Kael clenched his fists.
"…No way…"
The explosion faded.
Smoke cleared.
Zareth stood there.
Unharmed.
"…Too slow," he said calmly.
The traitors' expressions darkened.
"…As expected."
One of them raised both hands.
"…Let's get serious."
The air twisted violently.
Dark energy condensed into weapons, beasts, and storms.
Reality itself began to distort.
Zareth finally moved.
In a single step—
He disappeared.
The next moment—
CRACK.
One of the traitors was sent flying across the sky.
Blood spilled.
"…What—?!"
Zareth stood where the traitor had been.
"…Too open."
The others reacted instantly.
Attacks came from all directions—
But Zareth moved through them like nothing.
Effortless.
Untouchable.
Below—
Kael watched in shock.
"…This… is his real power…"
Lyra whispered—
"…He's fighting five… alone…"
Back in the sky—
One of the traitors roared.
"…STOP HOLDING BACK!"
Dark energy exploded from his body.
His form changed—
Becoming larger.
More monstrous.
The others followed.
Five overwhelming auras shook the sky.
"…Now this is better," Zareth said.
They attacked together again.
This time—
Faster.
Stronger.
Deadlier.
BOOM.
CRASH.
The sky tore apart under their battle.
Shockwaves spread across the academy.
Below—
Students struggled to stand.
"…We can't even get close…"
Kael gritted his teeth.
"…If he loses…"
Lyra cut him off.
"…He won't."
In the sky—
Zareth finally raised his hand.
"…Enough."
Silence.
Then—
Darkness gathered.
Not like before.
This time—
It was different.
Heavier.
Deeper.
Ancient.
The traitors froze.
"…This power…"
"…Impossible…"
Zareth's eyes glowed intensely.
"…You've grown stronger."
A pause.
"…But so have I."
He closed his hand—
BOOOOOOOOOM.
The entire sky shattered.
One of the traitors screamed—
His body was crushed by invisible force.
Another was thrown down toward the ground—
CRASHING into the battlefield.
The remaining three retreated instantly.
"…What is this…?!"
"…This isn't the same Zareth…!"
Zareth stepped forward slowly.
"…You expected me to stay the same…"
A pause.
"…That was your mistake."
Below—
Everyone watched in disbelief.
"…He's… winning…"
Kael's fists trembled.
"…No…"
His eyes burned with determination.
"…He's beyond winning…"
In the sky—
The leader finally spoke again.
But this time—
There was tension in his voice.
"…All of you…"
A pause.
"…Together."
The remaining traitors gathered.
Their power combined.
The sky darkened completely.
"…If one of us can't defeat him…"
The leader's voice turned cold.
"…Then all of us will."
Zareth stopped.
He looked at them—
All five—
Now united.
For the first time—
A real smile appeared on his face.
"…Good."
Dark energy exploded around him.
"…Now this is a fight."
The war reached its true beginning.