The moment they vanished—
Reality broke.
BOOOOOOOM.
A shockwave beyond comprehension tore through the sky, splitting clouds, shaking mountains in the distance, and cracking the very foundation of the academy.
No one could see them.
No one could follow.
Only destruction marked their movements.
"…Where are they?!" Lyra shouted, shielding her eyes.
Kael clenched his fists, struggling just to stand.
"…Everywhere…"
High above—
Far beyond the visible sky—
Zareth and the man clashed.
CLASH.
Space shattered like glass with every impact.
The man struck first—
Fast.
Precise.
Zareth blocked.
Effortless.
"…You've grown," the man said calmly.
Zareth pushed him back with a single motion.
"…You talk too much."
In an instant—
Both disappeared again.
Reappearing miles apart—
Then colliding once more.
BOOM.
The world trembled under their power.
Lightning formed from pure energy.
Darkness twisted unnaturally.
Below—
Students collapsed under the pressure.
"…I can't… breathe…"
Valthor reinforced the last remaining barrier.
"…If this continues… everything will be destroyed…"
Back in the sky—
The man raised his hand.
"…Let's end this faster."
A massive sphere of dark energy formed—
But this was different.
Denser.
Heavier.
Alive.
"…World Collapse."
He launched it.
The attack tore through reality itself, leaving nothing behind—
Not even space.
Zareth watched it approach.
Unmoved.
"…Impressive."
He raised his hand.
"…But meaningless."
The attack stopped.
Mid-existence.
Then—
Collapsed.
Vanished.
The man's eyes narrowed.
"…So you can control that level now…"
Zareth stepped forward.
"…You're not the only one who evolved."
Suddenly—
Zareth disappeared.
He reappeared behind the man—
And struck.
BOOM.
The man was sent flying across the sky—
Crashing through layers of space itself.
But—
He stopped mid-air.
Smiling.
"…Good."
Dark energy surged around him—
Stronger than before.
"…Now it's my turn."
His body began to change.
Not physically—
But in presence.
The air screamed.
Reality bent.
"…This is my true form."
Zareth watched silently.
"…Show me."
In the next moment—
The man vanished—
And appeared directly in front of Zareth—
Faster than before.
Stronger.
Unavoidable.
His fist connected—
BOOOOOOM.
For the first time—
Zareth was pushed back.
The sky shattered.
Below—
Everyone froze.
"…He… moved Zareth…?"
Lyra's eyes widened.
"…That's impossible…"
Zareth stopped mid-air.
His expression unchanged.
But—
His eyes sharpened.
"…Better."
The man smirked.
"…You felt that."
Zareth rolled his shoulder slightly.
"…Barely."
Suddenly—
Zareth's aura changed again.
This time—
It exploded.
BOOOOOOOOOOM.
A massive wave of void energy erupted—
Forcing the man back.
The entire sky went dark.
"…So you're finally serious," the man said.
Zareth's voice turned cold.
"…You're worth it."
He raised both hands.
Darkness gathered—
Not like before.
This was deeper.
Older.
"…Void Dominion."
The entire battlefield changed.
The sky disappeared.
The world vanished.
Only darkness remained.
A domain.
Controlled completely—
By Zareth.
The man looked around.
For the first time—
His smile faded.
"…So this is your world…"
Zareth stepped forward.
"…Everything here…"
A pause.
"…obeys me."
In an instant—
The man was crushed.
Invisible pressure forced him down.
"…Tch—!"
He struggled—
But couldn't move freely.
Zareth appeared in front of him.
"…You said you ended me."
The man glared.
"…I did."
Zareth's eyes glowed.
"…Then let me return the favor."
He raised his hand—
Void energy condensed—
"…End."
But—
Suddenly—
The man smiled again.
"…Too early."
CRACK.
The domain shook.
Zareth's eyes narrowed.
"…What?"
The man's power surged—
Breaking through the domain.
"…You're not the only one with a domain."
Darkness twisted violently.
Another force began to overwrite Zareth's.
"…Abyss Authority."
The two powers collided.
The world trembled.
And for the first time—
The fight reached a stalemate.
Below—
Valthor whispered:
"…This isn't a battle anymore…"
Lyra stared in fear.
"…This is the end of the world…"
Above
Zareth smiled faintly.
"…Good."
The man smirked back.
"…Now we're equal."
Zareth's eyes glowed intensely.
"…No."
A pause.
"…Now the real fight begins."