Long before history was carved into stone, before clans raised banners and kingdoms drew borders, the world of Zerath was a silent realm... vast, untamed, and ruled only by raw elemental laws, it was nothing more than a low-caste world.

And then… a human arrived.

The First Descent

A tear split the fabric of reality.

The sky of Zerath cracked open like shattered glass, revealing a world beyond—one filled with higher laws, denser mana, and beings who had long transcended mortal limits.

From that portal stepped a single human.

He was later known by many titles.

First Elemental Sage. World-Breaker. The One Who Redefined Elemental Law.

His name was Merlyn.

Within his body flowed six primordial elements:

Fire.

Water.

Wind.

Lightning.

Darkness.

Light.

Each of them refined to Tier Three Transcendent Peak Stage, a realm that most cultivators of Zerath would never reach even after a thousand lifetimes:

BlackFire.

Blizzard.

Tornado.

Plasma.

VoidShade.

Ascension.

Merlyn did not come empty-handed.

He arrived bearing legendary artifacts whose existence bent the laws of the world, and ancient techniques so profound that even the heavens would tremble if they were fully revealed.

With a single gesture, he reshaped the land.

Mountains sank. Seas retreated. The earth folded upon itself.

And from that upheaval was born a vast plain, endless, fertile, and overflowing with elemental harmony.

It was named Elyndra.

Zerath would never be the same again.

Years passed.

Zerath adapted to Merlyn's presence. Elemental cultivation became the absolute law of the world. Strength defined status. Affinity determined destiny.

And then, one day....

The sky shattered once more.

A massive rift tore through the heavens, darker and more violent than the one Merlyn had once opened.

From within it emerged three colossal warships, forged of celestial alloys and inscribed with glowing runes that pulsed with upper-realm authority.

At the forefront of the rift floated a lone figure.

A master from the outer worlds.

Fire rippled around one arm. Water spiraled around the other. Lightning crackled beneath his feet, while darkness coiled behind his back like a living shadow.

Four elements. Tier Three.

With cold arrogance, he raised his hand and reality obeyed.

A vast portal expanded beneath the warships, stabilized by a power far beyond Zerath's limits.

Voidshade.

A Transcendent Mid Stage force that devoured space itself.

Then the man spoke.

"Merlyn."

The name alone shook the world.

Mountains trembled. Oceans roared. The air itself screamed as if reality recoiled in fear.

Black flames erupted in front of the outer-realm master.

A portal cracked open barely a hundred meters away, its edges burning with pitch-black fire that radiated unbearable heat.

From within it stepped a man clad in crimson robes threaded with gold.

His presence crushed the heavens.

His eyes were calm. Ancient. Unimpressed.

"Kneel."

One word.

The outer-realm master collapsed instantly, slammed into the air as though an invisible mountain had descended upon him.

His knees shattered the sky itself.

Merlyn had returned.

A voice echoed from one of the warships.

"Merlyn, do not be arrogant. We are many. We have come only to retrieve what is necessary."

Merlyn laughed.

It was not loud, but it carried contempt sharp enough to cut the soul.

"Important? There is nothing in this low-caste world worthy of your arrival."

The voice hardened.

"You hide an artifact entrusted to you. The Silver Palace demands it. The price will satisfy even you."

Merlyn's laughter thundered across the sky.

"The Silver Palace? That child dares to bargain with me?"

His gaze turned cold.

"If he wants it, send him to face me himself."

A new voice emerged.

Ancient. Heavy. Filled with hatred that had fermented for ages.

"Merlyn… you have grown arrogant."

Merlyn's expression finally changed.

He knew that voice.

Tempest Sage Master.

Four elements \= Fire, Wind, Lightning, and Light, each at Tier Three.

And above them all…

Elemental Tornado Transcendent Peak Stage.

Now the progenitor of the Silver Palace.

"You belittle me," the Tempest Sage said calmly. "Do not forget, beyond this low world exist countless masters stronger than you. Six elements mean nothing before a single perfected law."

Merlyn smiled.

"And yet, with that single law, I defeated you once already."

Rage exploded.

The Tempest Sage unleashed his tornado aura. Space warped. The portal itself began to collapse.

"Hand it over, Merlyn," he roared. "Or I will erase this world."

"Try." Merlyn replied.

Blackfire erupted.

A transcendent inferno clashed against the Tempest Sage's tornado, and the world of Zerath trembles, shook.

And then....

The sky above Zerath screamed.

Not with thunder, but with reality itself tearing open.

High above the Elyndra Plains, the clouds spiraled inward as a colossal void portal expanded, its edges bleeding darkness like an open wound in the heavens. Spatial pressure crashed downward, flattening the grasslands and cracking the ancient stone beneath.

At the center of it all stood a lone figure.

Master Voidshade.

His cloak fluttered as if alive, woven from shadows that devoured light. With one raised hand, he widened the portal further, his voice echoing across dimensions.

"Advance," he commanded calmly.

"Erase this world."

The portal exploded outward.

Dozens and then hundreds of Outer World warships surged through the rift, their hulls forged from alien alloys, runes burning crimson along their sides.

Behind them descended the true nightmare.

Elite Tier 3 Legions.

Veterans of dimensional conquest.

Masters who had razed countless worlds to ash.

Their auras alone suffocated the land.

The Elyndra Plains once a place of open skies and endless wind became a battlefield the moment their boots touched the ground.

But Zerath did not stand defenseless.

A blinding surge of elemental light erupted at the heart of Elyndra.

Five figures appeared simultaneously, stepping out from overlapping spatial distortions. Their presence shattered the oppressive aura of the invading forces like glass struck by a hammer.

The air stabilized.

The ground stopped screaming.

They stood in a formation, silent, unwavering.

Each one radiated a different elemental authority, their auras intertwining to form a massive defensive domain that shielded the plains behind them.

Warrior of Zerath, watching from afar, felt their knees weaken.

"They came…""The Sage's disciples…"

At the forefront stood the tallest among them, a figure dressed in a frozen white battle robe, his eyes calm as endless winter.

The First Disciple stepped forward.

Elemental Blizzard

The moment his aura fully released, the temperature of the battlefield plummeted.

Frost crept across the ground in violent waves, instantly freezing the grass, the stone, even the air itself. Breath turned to crystal. Sound dulled, swallowed by the cold.

Elemental Blizzard Half-Step Transcendent Mid Stage.

The First Disciple raised his hand slowly.

Above the invading fleet, the sky darkened, not with clouds, but with rotating ice storms, layered upon layered, compressing the atmosphere.

"This land is under protection," he said calmly.

"Turn back or be buried."

The answer came in the form of cannon fire.

Energy beams tore through the sky.

The Merlyn Disciple's eyes narrowed.

He clenched his fist.

The world froze.

Massive glacial spears formed instantly, erupting from the storm clouds and crashing downward. Entire battalion ships were encased in ice mid-flight, their engines silenced in an instant.

CRAAACK—

The frozen warships shattered, exploding into fragments of crystal and flame.

One after another.

The Elite Tier 3 soldiers below barely had time to react before ice surged across the battlefield, freezing hundreds of them solid statues locked in terror.

The Outer World army staggered.

Then....

A new aura descended.

One of the Elite Master,

Space warped violently as a figure stepped forward from the invading ranks.

His body crackled with violent energy, arcs of violet and white plasma dancing across his skin. The ground beneath him melted and fused into glass.

Elemental Plasma Half-Step Transcendent, Late Stage.

His presence alone pushed back the Blizzard Domain.

"Impressive," One of Elite Master said, smiling coldly.

"But your winter ends here."

He spread both arms wide.

Behind him, an enormous Plasma Core formed, compressed energy spinning at impossible speed, screaming as it devoured mana from the surroundings.

Ultimate Technique — Plasma Cannon.

The core stabilized.

Then fired.

A beam of annihilating plasma tore through the battlefield, vaporizing everything in its path, ripping straight toward the Blizzard Sovereign.

The other disciples moved instinctively....

"Loyd!"

But Merlyn Disciple's did not retreat.

Instead, he closed his eyes.

And stepped forward.

His aura deepened, no longer just cold, but absolute authority.

Blizzard + Inner Sovereign.

The storm above him condensed violently. Ice layered upon ice, compressed by sovereign will until it became something beyond matter.

He thrust both palms forward.

The plasma beam collided with a wall of transcendent frost.

The impact shook the plains.

For a heartbeat, the two forces struggled, plasma screaming, ice roaring.

Then....

The plasma canon shattered.

The beam collapsed inward, frozen mid-existence, before exploding into harmless shards of light.

The backlash ripped through the invading ranks.

Several elite Masters were caught instantly, frozen from the inside out, their bodies collapsing into ice sculptures that shattered moments later.

The Elite Master's eyes widened.

"Impossible...!"

Before he could react, Merlyn Disciple's gaze locked onto him.

The temperature dropped another level.

The Elite Master froze solid.

And shattered.

Silence followed.

Then fury.

"Kill him!"

"All units attack!"

Multiple Outer World Masters surged forward simultaneously, their auras merging into a crushing tidal wave of power. Fire, void, lightning, corrosion, countless elements slammed into Merlyn Disciple's at once.

From behind.....

A blade of pure darkness emerged.

Master Voidshade.

He struck without warning, shadow piercing space itself.

Merlyn Disciple's reacted instantly, but too late.

The blade tore through his defenses, blood spraying across the frozen ground.

"Loyd!" the other disciples shouted.

They rushed forward, unleashing their own elements in a desperate attempt to support him.

But the assault was relentless.

Too many Masters.

Too coordinated.

Too prepared.

Voidshade's shadows wrapped around the battlefield, isolating each disciple, cutting their formations apart.

Explosions shook Elyndra.

Crimson stained white snow.

One by one.....

The five disciples were struck down.

Not dead.

But broken.

They collapsed amid shattered ice and scorched earth, their auras flickering violently.

Master Voidshade hovered above them, gaze cold and unreadable.

"Merlyn's disciples…""So this is the limit of Zerath's resistance."

High above the shattered Elyndra Plains, the air twisted violently.

The man known as the Tempest Sage watched the battlefield with cold, calculating eyes. His name echoed among the Outer World forces like a silent curse.

Lyon.

He raised one hand.

"Change of command," he said calmly.

"Kill all of Merlyn's disciples."

The order spread instantly through the invading ranks.

At the same time, another overwhelming presence descended.

The Master of Plasma from Silver palace.....a Transcendent Late Stage existence....stepped forward once more, his body blazing like a living star.

"Merlyn," he said, voice filled with killing intent.

"You will fall here."

The two monsters of the Outer World moved together.

One from the front.

One from the side.

For the first time in this war.....

Merlyn was pressured.

The Tempest Sage lifted both arms.

Wind screamed.

The sky twisted.

The Master of Plasma mirrored his movement, raw energy condensing around him.

Their powers synchronized.

Ultimate Combined Art — World Collapse.

The world shook.

Not the battlefield.

Not the plains.

The world itself.

Mountains cracked in the distance.

Oceans trembled.

The laws of nature screamed as if they were about to tear apart.

The Elyndra Plains collapsed, sinking inward like a dying star.

Merlyn's remaining disciples tried to resist.

They failed.

One by one....

They were erased.

Their auras vanished like extinguished flames.

Across Zerath, cities burned.Millions of lives were lost in seconds.

The sky bled red.

Zerath stood on the edge of total destruction.

Silence fell.

Then....

Merlyn opened his eyes.

For the first time, his expression changed.

The air froze.

Time itself slowed… then stopped.

Every explosion.Every falling body.Every scream.

Frozen in place.

Merlyn raised his hand.

"Enough."

The world responded.

Behind him, five colossal figures emerged, manifestations of absolute elemental authority.

His Elemental Avatars.

Plasma — burning like a newborn sun

Blizzard — cold enough to freeze concepts

Voidshade — darkness without end

Tornado — storms that devoured the sky

Ascension —The highest form of light

Plus...

Blackfire — his true body, eternal and sovereign

Using His Elemental Voidshade Transcendent Peak Stage, he use one of the special ability-Time Perished,

The frozen battlefield shattered.

In a single breath.....

The entire Outer World battalion was erased.

Not defeated.

Not destroyed.

Deleted.

Merlyn stepped forward.

His power rose again.

Blackfire Transcendent Peak Stage + Blizzard Transcendent Peak Stage+ Inner Sovereign Transcendent Mid Stage.

Reality bent around him.

Time resumed.

The world screamed.

Merlyn reappeared in the sky....

Now wearing golden robes, his presence divine and terrifying.

Behind him, six elemental orbs rotated slowly, each one radiating supreme authority.

The battlefield was empty.

Only two enemies remained.

Tempest Sage — Lyon.

Master of Plasma.

Lyon's expression finally changed.

Fear flickered in his eyes.

Merlyn raised his hand.

The sea in the far distance split in two.

The sky cracked like glass.

Lyon using his Talisman, asked the Silver Palace to open the

portal, escaping at the last possible moment.

The Master of Plasma tried to follow....

But Lyon seized him.

"You'll do."

Lyon used the Plasma Master as a living shield.

Merlyn Ultimate move, Roar Plasma Cannon — Transcendent Peak Stage.

The attack was unleashed.

The beam tore through space, through dimensions—

And pierced the portal itself.

Beyond the portal....

In the Silver Palace....

Lyon screamed.

The attack struck him directly.

His left chest was pierced, his heart nearly destroyed.

Half of the Silver Palace's territory vanished into nothingness.

Lyon barely survived.

To recover.....

He would need hundreds of years.

He cursed Merlyn into the death.

The battlefield was gone.

The Elyndra Plains had sunk into the sea, becoming a lone island surrounded by endless water.

Merlyn stood in silence.

He built a memorial for his fallen disciples.

Out of five.

Only two survived.

Verdic — Guardian of the Legacy

One of the survivors stepped forward.

Verdic.

Elemental Voidshade Half-Step Transcendent — Mid Stage

Merlyn placed an ancient artifact before him.

A Legendary Artifact.

"This artifact chooses its own master," Merlyn said.

"Not even I am worthy of it."

He looked at Verdic.

"You will guard Zerath from the outsider."

Verdic knelt & bowed to his Master, he ensure the legacy that his master keep, will useful to new generation.

The war was over.

Before leaving, Merlyn gave his final order.

"Protect this world."

"Protect its legacy."

"Protect the artifact."

Then....for a moment.

Merlyn departed.

He left Zerath with his last remaining disciple, ascending toward the Upper Realm.

From that day onward....

Merlyn never returned.

But his will…

Remained.

Hundreds…No, thousands of years passed.

The name Merlyn faded into myth. The war that nearly destroyed the world became a story told in whispers.

And Zerath entered a new era.

An era ruled not by sages....

But by Six Great Clans, Every Clan special of using his core elemental :

Clan Verdic - Elemental Dark

Clan Frost - Elemental Water

Clan Tempest - Elemental Wind

Clan Lightning - Elemental Lightning

Clan Fire - Elemental Fire

Clan Velrose - Elemental Light

Each clan controlled its own land.Each clan protected its own bloodline.

And between them...

There was no peace.

Small wars never stopped. Power struggles never ended.Betrayal was common.

Strength decided everything.

Once, Clan Verdic stood at the peak.

Their name was feared because of one power.....

Voidshade.

But time was cruel.

Generation after generation passed, and the bloodline weakened.

Where once warriors wielded terrifying darkness—

Now, most of their children were born with only one or two elemental affinities.

In this era:

Anyone born with three or more elementswas called a true genius.

The other clans had many such geniuses.

Clan Verdic had almost none.

Slowly.....

They fell.

From rulers…

To the weakest among the Six Clans.

The current leader of Clan Verdic was Bolan.

A man who carried the burden of an entire clan on his shoulders.

Unlike most of his people—

Bolan was strong.

He mastered Three elements:

Fire

Water

Darkness

He was proof that Verdic blood had not completely faded.

Every night, he looked toward the ancestral hall and prayed.

"Give me an heir,""Someone who can restore our name."

The day his first child was born....

The world changed.

The sky suddenly turned black.

Lightning struck again and again without thunder.

The oceans roared like beasts.

The air became heavy, pressing down on every living thing.

Small cracks in space appeared and vanished around the Verdic territory.

An elder whispered in fear:

"This… is a sign.""A great event will shake all of Zerath."

Bolan felt his heart tremble.

"This child…""This child carries destiny."

The baby was born safely.

A loud cry filled the room.

Bolan rushed inside, his face glowing with joy.

The elders began their examination.

Moments later....

Silence.

"Fire affinity…""Water affinity…"

The elders stiffened.

One of them whispered in panic:

"There is no Darkness.""No Voidshade."

The room turned cold.

Clan Verdic had one absolute rule.

Every blood descendant must possessElemental Darkness.

Without it....

The child was considered illegitimate.

The punishment was absolute.

Exile.Or death.

Bolan felt his world collapse.

As arguments erupted....

A sudden force exploded above the baby.

A swirling vortex of energy formed.

Wind screamed.

Lightning roared.

Two new elemental forces awakened at once.

The baby now possessed:

Fire

Water

Wind

Lightning

The room froze.

No one dared to breathe.

This phenomenon existed only in ancient myths.

"Four elements…""At birth…?"

The elders were shaken, but afraid.

The baby did not inherit the special element of Verdic Clan.

If other clans learned the truth....

They would hunt the child.

Wars would erupt.

At that moment....

A terrifying presence descended.

The Verdic Ancestor appeared.

The ancestor's voice was cold.

"The laws of Clan Verdic cannot be broken."

His eyes locked onto the baby.

"This child is a threat."

Two options were declared:

Kill the child

Hide the truth from the world forever

The ancestor raised his hand.

"Execute the infant."

Steel rang.

Bolan drew his sword and stepped forward.

His voice did not shake.

"He is my son.""I will protect him.""Even if I must die."

The ancestor's rage exploded.

Elemental Voidshade Pressure — Half-Step Transcendent Early Stage.

Invisible darkness crushed Bolan to the ground.

His knees slammed into the floor.

But his grip on the sword never loosened.

As the executioner's blade descended.....

A black barrier appeared.

The blade bounced away.

Above the baby....

Five Elemental Fragments rotated slowly.

Fire

Water

Wind

Lightning

Darkness

The room fell into absolute silence.

Someone whispered in terror:

"Five…""Five elements…"

Such a being had not appeared in thousands of years.

Even the Verdic Ancestor from thousand years ago himself possessed only four.

One Elder speech "In this world, there has Six Elemental Power and the Element can Evolved"

Element Of Fire

LV1-Fire

LV2-Lava

LV3-BlackFire

Element Of Water

LV1-Water

LV2-Ice

LV3-Blizzard

Element Of Wind

LV1-Wind

LV2-Cyclone

LV3-Tornado

Element Of Lightning

LV1-Lightning

LV2-ArcStorm

LV3-Plasma

Element Of Darkness

LV1-Dark

LV2-Abyss

LV3-VoidShade

Element Of Light

LV1-Radiance

LV2-Restoration

LV3-Ascension

Cylce Of Power Stage

Cycle 1: Foundation Cycle (No Stage)

Cycle 2: Convergence Cycle (No Stage)

Cycle 3: Ascension Cycle (No Stage)

Note - This Cycle Use at Elemental Level 1 & 2

Cycle 1: Foundation Cycle (No Stage)

Cycle 2: Convergence Cycle (No Stage)

Cycle 3: Ascension Cycle (Early, Mid, Late Stage)

Cycle 4: Half Step Transcendent Cycle (Early, Mid, Late Stage)

Cycle 5: Transcendent Cycle (Early, Mid, Late, Peak Stage)

Note - This Cycle Use at Elemental Level 3

"So this child has Five over Six Elemental, This is Miracle For Verdic Clan".

Everything changed.

The ancestor trembled.

The elders bowed.

This child was no longer a threat.

He was....

Clan Verdic's last hope.

A strict order was given by ancestor.

"This truth must never leave this room."

To the outside world....

The child would be known as possessing only three elements:

Fire

Water

Darkness

Bolan held his child with trembling hands.

For the first time since the clan's fall....

He smiled.

"You will not live in fear," he whispered. "I swear it."

The baby was given a name.

Shadow.

From that day....

The fate of Zerath began to move.

Merlyn's legacy still slept.

The Legendary Artifact still waited.

The world was not yet ready for the truth.

And thus....

The journey of Shadow began.

A child born with five elements…

Destined to become the greatest existence in the history of Zerath.

Five years passed in silence, like drifting ash carried by an unseen wind.

Within the vast territory of Clan Verdic, a secluded training ground lay hidden beneath layers of ancient formation arrays. Frost-covered stone pillars stood in a circular formation, engraved with elemental runes that pulsed faintly with dormant power.

At the center of it all stood a child.

Barefoot. Calm. Still.

His name was Shadow Verdic.

At merely five years old, his presence already carried a strange weight—one that did not belong to a child. His breathing was steady, his posture flawless, his mind unnaturally composed.

Around him, Elemental Water surged like living streams, spiraling in controlled arcs before freezing instantly into crystalline shards of ice. The temperature plummeted as frost spread across the ground, crawling outward like a silent predator.

The ice shattered.

Not violently.

But precisely—each fragment dispersing without a single ounce of wasted energy.

Standing several meters away was a tall man clad in dark-blue armor, his arms crossed, eyes sharp yet filled with restrained shock.

This man was Gale.

The personal guard of Bolan Verdic, the current Clan Head.

And the sole instructor entrusted with guiding the most dangerous existence Clan Verdic had produced in centuries.

A Child Who Defied All Laws

Gale exhaled slowly.

Five years…

In just five years, Shadow's elemental cultivation had reached a realm that most elite disciples could only dream of.

At present, Shadow's elemental realms were:

Fire — Convergence Cycle

Darkness — Convergence Cycle

Water — Foundation Cycle

Wind — Foundation Cycle

Lightning — Foundation Cycle

More frightening still—

Under Gale's guidance, Shadow had already begun evolving his elemental foundations.

Water (Foundation Cycle-almost broke through to Convergence Cycle)

Darkness (Convergence Cycle-almost broke through to Ascension Cycle)

Gale's fingers curled unconsciously.

This shouldn't be possible.

His thoughts drifted backward, four years ago.

Back then, Shadow was only one year old.

An age when most children could barely speak.

Yet that was the year Shadow shattered common sense itself.

Normally, a cultivator required four to six years just to awaken a single elemental. And even after awakening, strengthening an elemental from Foundation Cycle to Convergence Cycle demanded three to five years of ruthless training.

But Shadow?

At one year old, he had already broken through from Elemental Fragment to Elemental Awakening.

Not for one element.

But for two.

Fire.Darkness.

And now at the age of five,

He had already reached Convergence Cycle in both.

Gale swallowed.

Young Master… you are not just a genius.

You are something far more terrifying.

Even Bolan Verdic, a man who had reached Elemental Tier 3 Ascension Mid Stage, had not achieved such feats at this age.

Nor had the ancient ancestors recorded in the clan's sealed archives.

Shadow Verdic stood alone at the peak of absurdity.

A Different Philosophy of Power

Shadow slowly withdrew his Ice Elemental and extended his hand once more.

This time, pure Water Elemental flowed out.

Gale frowned.

Instead of switching to Darkness, Shadow continued refining Water, compressing it, cycling it, stabilizing its flow.

After several minutes, Gale finally spoke.

"Young Master," he said carefully, choosing his words with caution."Why do you not focus on raising the realm of your Darkness Elemental?"

Shadow did not turn around.

"I want to train all my elementals equally," he replied calmly."I don't want to lean toward Darkness alone."

Gale stepped closer.

"But focusing on one elemental is better," he argued."In real combat, it is extremely difficult to control multiple elements at the same time, especially when facing opponents with higher elemental realms."

Shadow finally turned.

His eyes were calm.

Clear.

Sharp beyond his years.

"Even if my elemental realm is lower," Shadow said evenly,"I can diversify my attacks and arrange strategies to counter my enemies."

The words struck Gale like a silent hammer.

He opened his mouth.

Then closed it again.

In the end, Gale let out a helpless sigh.

"…I see."

He had no rebuttal.

This child…

His understanding of combat already surpasses most veteran cultivators.

Suddenly....

The air shifted.

A powerful presence descended upon the training ground, bending the surrounding elemental flow. The frost on the ground cracked as invisible pressure spread outward.

A man clad in magnificent dark armor walked forward.

Wind spiraled faintly around his body.

Darkness coiled beneath his feet.

This was Berus Verdic.

Wind Elemental — Cyclone Convergence Cycle (Lv2)

Darkness Elemental — VoidShade Foundation Cycle (Lv3)

Behind him walked a small boy with an arrogant grin.

Crey Verdic.

Four years old.

One year younger than Shadow.

Fragment of Wind

Fragment of Darkness, on the verge of awakening into Foundation Cycle

Crey stepped forward and looked Shadow up and down with open disdain.

"So you're still training?" Crey scoffed."Train however you want, your elemental will never awaken."

He laughed loudly.

"Genius? What kind of genius is that? Even if you hold three elemental fragments, if you can't awaken them, you might as well stop training."

His laughter echoed mockingly across the field.

What Crey did not know,

What no one outside Bolan and the ancestral elders knew,

Was that Shadow's aura had been forcibly sealed, suppressed to make him appear unawaken.

Berus waved his hand dismissively.

"That's enough, Crey," he said coldly."This one has no future. Don't bother with him."

He turned to Gale.

"You," Berus commanded."Train my son. Help him awaken his Darkness Elemental."

Gale stiffened.

"I...." he began.

Before he could finish....

BOOM.

A crushing VoidShade aura descended upon him.

The pressure slammed Gale to the ground, forcing him to one knee. The stone beneath cracked as his armor groaned under the weight.

"Do not even think about refusing my order," Berus said icily."If you do, I will personally inform Bolan about this."

Gale clenched his teeth.

Before he could answer,

Shadow stepped forward.

"It's fine, Gale," Shadow said quietly."I can train on my own."

He paused, eyes calm.

"Besides… there's something I want to try."

Berus snorted, turned away, and left with Crey.

Deep within the Hall of Elders, ancient torches flickered against towering stone pillars.

Elder Hua stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

Wind Elemental — Cyclone Ascension Cycle

Darkness Elemental — VoidShade Ascension Early Stage

Two other elders stood beside him.

All three belonged to the Berus faction.

They were waiting.

Moments later, Berus entered the hall.

"Are all preparations complete?" Berus asked.

Elder Hua turned slowly.

"I will give you ten years," he said calmly."Ten years for you and Crey to raise your elemental strength enough to defeat Bolan."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Remember, Bolan has already reached VoidShade Ascension Mid Stage, surpassing even me. In ten years, he may advance rapidly and reach Late Stage."

Berus clenched his fist, veins bulging.

"Do not worry, Elder Hua," he said coldly."I have made complete preparations."

His lips curled into a sneer.

"As for Shadow, there is no need to worry. Three elemental fragments without awakening are nothing but trash."

The elders laughed in satisfaction.

"Good. If that is the case," Elder Hua said, his voice thick with authority,"I will grant you an Artifact of the Gold Rank, so that you may defeat Bolan."

The elders nodded in agreement.

Berus froze.

Gold Rank.

His breathing tightened.

Artifacts were not mere weapons. They were manifestations of power, history, and dominance, treasures forged from ancient beasts, rare metals, and lost elemental techniques.

The artifact system was rigid, unforgiving, and absolute:

Bronze Rank— divided into Class 1 / 2 / 3 (Class 1 being the highest)

Silver Rank — Class 1 / 2 / 3

Gold Rank — Class 1 / 2 / 3

King Rank — Class 1 / 2 / 3

Emperor Rank — Class 1 / 2 / 3

Legendary Rank — Class 1 / 2 / 3

Mythic Rank — Class 1 / 2 / 3

Even within the same rank, Class determined supremacy.

A Gold Rank, Class 3 artifact,though the lowest class,was already enough to shake entire clans.

Berus knelt deeply.

"Thank you… Elder Hua."

His voice trembled, not from fear, but from gratitude.

Gold-rank artifacts were almost impossible to obtain.

Even in black markets that sold forbidden relics, only a handful of Gold Rank artifacts existed, and most were hoarded by the Great Clans.

With a Gold Rank weapon in hand…

Berus could challenge destiny itself.

Far from the laughter of scheming elders…

Shadow sat alone.

The wind howled around him, slicing against the stone walls of his hidden training chamber. His breathing was slow. Controlled. His aura pulsed rhythmically as threads of Wind Elemental Power spiraled around his body.

He pushed harder.

Converge.

The wind screamed.

His veins burned.

Hours passed.

Nothing.

Shadow opened his eyes.

"…Still can't break through."

He clenched his fists.

His Wind Elemental was still trapped below the Convergence Cycle.

His mind drifted,to the knowledge he had learned.

Elemental power was divided into two fundamental categories:

Normal ElementalsFire. Water. Wind. Lightning.

Special ElementalsDarkness. Light.

Yet Shadow frowned.

Why… are Darkness and Light considered special?

From what he could feel…

Fire, Water, Wind, and Lightning were far more destructive. Their damage output was explosive, overwhelming, capable of annihilating entire areas.

Darkness felt… different.

More subtle.

More dangerous in ways he did not yet fully understand.

Shadow inhaled deeply.

He extended both palms.

🔥 Fire surged.💧 Water followed.

He tried to merge them.

The energies collided,

....then violently rejected each other.

Pain shot through his arms.

He staggered back.

"…Failed."

Again.

And again.

Ten attempts.

Ten failures.

Sweat soaked his clothes.

Shadow sat down slowly.

"…Hypothesis," he muttered.

Water must reach the Convergence Cycle first… only then can it harmonize with Fire.

His eyes sharpened.

Without hesitation, he entered deep meditation.

Days passed.

Then weeks.

Shadow's Water Elemental grew calmer… deeper… heavier like an ocean gathering pressure before a storm.

Bolan returned from his journey with a grim expression.

The smaller clans under Verdic's protection had sent complaint after complaint.

Beasts were growing more aggressive.

Territorial lines were collapsing.

The cause was clear.

Between Clan Verdic and Clan Lightning, there existed a dangerous zone....

A territory ruled by a Beast King.

Clan Lightning had erected an unbreakable barrier.

The beasts had nowhere to go.

So they fled.

Straight into Verdic's borders.

Bolan entered the grand council hall.

Seven elders were present.

Among them...

Three stood firmly on Berus' side.

One of them…

Elder Hua.

Bolan spoke without hesitation.

"Clan Ordix has requested the construction of a new border defense. They are under Verdic's protection. We must reinforce their frontier."

A murmur erupted.

Clan Ordix.

A clan whose strength rivaled the Great Clans.

A clan with a Half-Step Transcendent, Elemental Tier 3 ancestor.

Elder Hua slammed his staff.

"I object! The treasury cannot sustain such an enormous project!"

His allies echoed him.

But Bolan's voice remained calm.

"Clan Ordix is the most loyal clan to Verdic."

His eyes darkened.

"In the past, after the Verdic Era (Merlyn's Student) , there was only one clan, Clan Verdic itself. Over time, elders and experts branched off and formed their own clans."

His gaze sharpened.

"Among all of them… Clan Ordix is the only one whose bloodline is tied directly to ours."

Silence.

"They are our kin."

Elder Hua trembled with fury.

"This will drain Verdic's Clan resources for ten years!"

Before Bolan could respond....

A terrifying pressure descended.

Voidshade energy crushed the air.

The doors opened.

An old man stepped in.

Elemental Voidshade — Ascension Late Stage.

"Greetings, Grand Elder."

Everyone bowed.

Grand Elder Oyang looked at Bolan.

"Have you thought this through?"

Bolan met his gaze.

"My decision is final."

The Grand Elder nodded.

"Then execute it flawlessly."

His eyes flicked briefly toward Elder Hua.

"So no one may accuse you of incompetence."

Elder Hua clenched his teeth.

Good… he thought bitterly.Let them blame you when the clan fractures.

After the meeting, Bolan searched for Shadow.

He found nothing.

Then....

A fluctuation.

Multiple attacks surged toward him.

Bolan activated Ice Elemental — Ascension Cycle, blocking them,

.....but they shattered like illusions.

Below him,

🔥 Fire erupted from the ground.

He leapt aside, countering with Lava Elemental — Ascension Cycle.

Then.....

Wind spheres.

Dozens.

Each crackling with lightning.

Bolan's eyes widened.

"…This is elemental fusion."

He released Voidshade — Ascension Mid Stage, devouring the attack like a black abyss.

"Show yourself," he commanded coldly."If you refuse to surrender, not even ashes will remain."

A mini black hole formed.

Darkness swallowed the surroundings....

forming a perfect ten-meter cube.

Bolan's heart shook.

Such precise control… at Elemental Tier 1?

He prepared to annihilate everything....

When a voice echoed.

"Father… it's me."

Bolan froze.

Shadow stepped forward.

"I'm sorry for attacking you secretly."

Silence.

Then.....

"Hahahahahaha!"

Bolan laughed loudly.

"My son! Your perception and control forced me to use Tier 3 power!"

He faced Shadow.

"Where did you learn fusion?"

Shadow lowered his head.

"I just… tried combining what I had. I wanted to test it on Gale, but he was busy teaching Crey."

He knelt.

"I'm sorry, Father."

Bolan stared.

Five years old…

Fusion mastery…

Elite-level control…

This child… surpasses reason.

Aloud, he smiled.

"Shadow… will you come with me to Clan Ordix? Uncle Gel, Aunt Mervis, and Mey miss you."

Shadow stiffened.

"Ugh...Uncle Gel?…When are we leaving?"

"After preparations about a defensive barrier complete. Weeks… maybe months."

Shadow nodded in understanding, then looked up at his father.

"Why… about the defensive barrier at Clan Ordix's border?" he asked quietly.

Bolan did not answer immediately.

His gaze shifted toward the distant horizon, where the sky seemed unnaturally heavy, as if something unseen was pressing down upon the world.

"You will understand when we arrive there," Bolan finally said.

Then his expression hardened, his voice lowering with a weight that made Shadow's chest tighten.

"But there is something I must tell you, Shadow."

He turned back, placing a firm hand on his son's shoulder.

"You must become stronger than me."

Shadow's eyes widened slightly.

"So that you can protect the people you care about," Bolan continued. "I can feel it… something is going to happen soon. The beasts are behaving strangely. They are becoming more violent, more restless, as if driven by an unseen force."

A heavy silence followed.

Shadow nodded slowly.

"I understand."

Bolan exhaled softly, then withdrew his hand.

"Continue your training," he said. "I still have matters that must be handled."

Shadow watched his father leave.

Then he turned and walked deeper into his sealed training ground, a hidden space personally constructed by Bolan himself, isolated from the outside world so that no one could sense or measure Shadow's true strength.

There, Shadow sat down and closed his eyes.

Days passed.

Then weeks.

In silence, Shadow meditated, refining his elemental control, strengthening his foundation, sharpening the power he kept hidden from the world.

And when he finally opened his eyes,

His Elemental power has breakthrough:

Fire — Convergence Cycle (Almost Breakthrough Ascension Cycle)

Darkness — Convergence Cycle (One Step to Breakthrough Ascension Cycle)

Water — Convergence Cycle

Wind — Convergence Cycle

Lightning — Convergence Cycle

He knew.

The time had come.

The journey to Clan Ordix was about to begin.

After all preparations were completed, Bolan gave a single command.

"Move out."

The convoy began to advance using land transportation. Heavy wagons reinforced with steel frames rolled forward, pulled by powerful warhorses bred specifically for long-distance travel and battlefield endurance.

Shadow sat inside one of the carriages.

It was not a luxurious vehicle, but a caged transport, built for safety rather than comfort. Thick metal bars reinforced with formation runes surrounded the carriage, ensuring that even sudden beast attacks would not reach those inside.

Outside, thirty elite guards rode in perfect formation.

Each of them wore full battle armor, their presence disciplined and sharp. Their warhorses snorted softly, muscles coiled with strength. These were not ordinary soldiers, each of them was an elite personally trained under Bolan's command.

The convoy followed secure routes, paths cleared and guarded long ago to avoid high-risk territories.

As the wheels rolled across the land, Bolan's voice broke the steady rhythm of travel.

"Long ago," he began, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, "Clan Verdic was still led by Verdic himself, the direct disciple of First Elemental Sage."

Shadow listened intently.

"At that time," Bolan continued, "Verdic had already reached Elemental Voidshade — Transcendent Early Stage."

Shadow's breath hitched.

"…That level exists?" he asked quietly.

Bolan nodded.

"Yes. Power beyond imagination. But everything changed when the Ancestor fell."

His tone darkened.

"One by one, elders and powerful figures left Clan Verdic to form their own clans. Among them… Clan Ordix."

Shadow turned sharply.

"Clan Ordix…?"

"They share our blood," Bolan said calmly. "Their lineage traces back to the same origin as ours."

Shadow fell silent.

His gaze lowered as he clenched his fists.

My strength… is still far from those ancient masters.

The realization weighed heavily on him.

As the convoy reached the border of Clan Ordix, both Bolan and Shadow felt it at the same time.

A violent aura surged from the forest.

Bolan narrowed his eyes.

"A beast… one that has crossed the border."

Before any order could be given,

Shadow moved.

Darkness rippled beneath his feet.

He fused Dark Elemental Power with Elemental Fire, forming a black silhouette,a living shadow carrying a blazing core.

The shadow clone shot forward like a phantom bomb.

BOOOOM!

A massive explosion erupted inside the forest.

Bolan's eyes widened.

Such perception… and such clean fusion.

But then,

ROOOOOAAARRR!

The beast's roar shattered the air.

Bolan stiffened.

"…This isn't a low-rank beast."

Beasts were divided clearly:

Lower Rank

Mid Rank

High Rank

King Rank

Emperor Rank

Legendary Rank

Mythical Rank

The creature Shadow had attacked was a High Rank Beast—its power comparable to Elemental Tier 2 Ascension Cycle.

Ordinarily, it would take three Tier 2 elite cultivators to bring such a beast down.

One-on-one?

Almost impossible.

Shadow vanished.

Using his new technique that he make by himself "Shadow Camouflage".

Dark elemental energy wrapped around his body, erasing his presence completely.

At the same time, he fused Fire and Water, creating a dense mist that spread across a fifty-meter radius.

Visibility \= zero.

The beast roared in confusion.

Shadow struck.

He drew the Silver Rank, Class 1 sword Bolan had given him.

Fire and Lightning fused around the blade.

"Fire Shockwave!"

The sword came down.

BOOOOM!

The strike slammed directly into the beast's head,

....but the creature endured.

A massive claw swung.

CRASH!

Shadow was sent flying.

His body slammed into the ground, rolling violently.

Pain exploded through his arm.

Crack.

His bones screamed.

"…Damn it."

Shadow forced himself up, teeth clenched.

"I have no choice…"

His eyes hardened.

"I must use my ultimate skill."

He closed his eyes.

Fire.Water.Lightning.Darkness.

Four elemental forces compressed into a single point on his blade.

Bolan watched.....stunned.

Four-element fusion…? At his age? He'll lose control.....

"VOID REQUIEM!"

Shadow slashed.

The world shattered.

A catastrophic wave of void-infused elemental force exploded outward, devouring everything in its path.

The forest vanished behind a wall of mist and destruction.

Dense fog swallowed the battlefield.

Bolan's heart pounded.

"Find the Young Master!" he commanded sharply.

The elite guards moved,

Then stopped.

From within the fog…

A massive silhouette collapsed.

And a voice spoke.

"Father… I succeeded. I've brought it down."

Shadow stepped forward, bloodied, trembling, but standing.

Bolan exhaled sharply, relief flooding his chest.

"Floryn!" he called. "Heal him!"

A woman stepped forward.

Shadow's mother.

Floryn of Clan Velrose.

She activated Elemental Restoration — Ascension Cycle, soft green light enveloping Shadow's wounds.

Then....

The sound of galloping horses echoed.

A large force approached.

At the front rode a man with a broad smile and blazing aura.

"Bolan!"

It was Gel, Clan Leader of Ordix.

Fire. Lightning. Wind.

All two elemental at Tier 2 Ascension Cycle.

And Lightning....

Elemental Plasma — Ascension Mid Stage.

Gel stared at the fallen High Rank Beast… then at Shadow.

"…What kind of monster did you bring this time?"

Bolan laughed softly.

"Our future."

After that, Gel bring Bolan's group straight towards Clan Ordix.

The gates of Clan Ordix loomed ahead.

And the real storm…

Was only beginning.

The colossal gates of Clan Ordix rose high into the sky, forged from dark stone reinforced with ancient runic formations. Each rune pulsed faintly, releasing waves of elemental pressure that announced the authority of one of the great clans of Zerath.

As Bolan Verdic and his entourage arrived, the gates slowly parted with a thunderous rumble.

Standing at the entrance was Clan Ordix guard.

In front of the Bolan is Gel Ordix, he said.

"Bolan," Gel said with a broad smile, spreading his arms. "Please, follow me. You and your people will stay within my residence."

Bolan chuckled lightly. "Then I will trouble you for a few days."

The place Gel led them to was no ordinary residence, it was a vast complex resembling a royal palace. Towering pillars lined the main path, elemental lamps floated silently in the air, and elite guards stood at every corner.

As the group moved deeper into the clan grounds, Shadow, seated calmly among the convoy, suddenly felt something stir within his senses.

A strange pull.

A faint but sharp ripple of power.

His gaze shifted instinctively to the side.

There, among the many grand shops and training halls, stood a small artifact shop. Compared to its surroundings, it looked old, worn, and almost out of place.

Yet from within it....

There's something there.

Shadow narrowed his eyes slightly.

He turned toward Bolan.

"Father," Shadow said softly, "I would like to walk around for a while and look at the shops over there."

Bolan glanced at him, then followed his line of sight. After a brief pause, he nodded.

"Very well," Bolan replied. "But you must go with a guard so you don't get lost."

He turned his head.

"Cris. You will go with the young master."

Cris immediately stepped forward, placing his fist against his chest.

"Yes, my lord. I will carry out your order."

The Old Artifact Shop

The moment Shadow stood before the shop, the strange aura became clearer fragmented, concealed, as if deliberately suppressed.

He stepped inside.

The interior was dimly lit. Shelves lined the walls, filled with various artifacts, rings, talismans, broken weapons, and armor fragments. Most of them felt ordinary.

Yet Shadow continued walking, his senses scanning every corner.

A raspy voice suddenly broke the silence.

"Hey, kid. Are you looking for something?"

An old man stood behind the counter, his back slightly bent, his white hair messy. Despite his appearance, his eyes were sharp, far too sharp for an ordinary shopkeeper.

Shadow answered calmly,"I'm just looking at the artifacts in your shop."

The old man chuckled.

"Are you perhaps searching for something… with a strong aura?"

Shadow's eyes widened slightly.

"You know I'm searching for that aura?"

The old man laughed loudly.

"Hahahahaha! Boy, you are truly special."

Before Shadow could respond, Cris stepped forward, his expression darkening.

BOOM!

The oppressive heat of Lava Element – Ascension Cycle exploded outward as Cris released his aura. His sword slid halfway out of its sheath.

"Who are you, old man?" Cris demanded. "Do you not know who stands before you? This is the young master of Clan Verdic!"

The old man waved his hand lazily.

"Do not worry, young one," he replied calmly. "I merely found this child interesting. He can sense that aura… while you cannot. Isn't that right?"

Cris clenched his teeth.

"Don't try to change the topic," he snapped. "I have already been merciful by speaking instead of acting."

The temperature in the shop suddenly plummeted.

A terrifying chill swept through the air.

Elemental Blizzard Aura erupted without warning.

Cris's body trembled violently as the pressure slammed into him. His knees crashed against the floor.

"Guh....!"

His vision blurred, blood rushing to his head. He nearly lost consciousness under the overwhelming force.

"Stop."

Shadow stepped forward instantly.

"Enough, Cris."

He turned toward the old man and bowed deeply.

"Senior, please forgive my subordinate. He was rude. He does not understand your status."

The pressure vanished.

Cris collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath, his face pale with shock.

The old man stared at Shadow, his lips curling into a wide grin.

"Hahahaha… impressive," he said. "You're not even twelve, yet your courage and manners resemble those of a seasoned warrior."

He straightened his posture slightly.

"My name is Zouyu. I am an artifact forger, the owner of this shop."

Shadow nodded politely.

"So you are Zouyu. Yes… I came here because I sensed a strong aura."

Zouyu's eyes gleamed.

"That aura belongs to my greatest creation. Would you like to see it?"

Shadow nodded without hesitation.

Before moving, Zouyu withdrew his aura completely. The pressure on Cris disappeared, allowing him to stand again....though his face remained pale.

To think such power was hidden in a rundown shop…

The Gold Rank Sword

Zouyu led them into a hidden forging chamber at the back of the shop.

The moment they entered, a powerful pressure washed over them.

At the center of the room stood a single sword, embedded within a stone pedestal. Golden patterns flowed across its blade, and its aura was so sharp that it felt alive.....predatory, hostile, as if it wished to devour anyone who came too close.

Zouyu spoke with pride.

"This is a Gold Rank Artifact, Class One. I forged it with all my strength and exhausted countless precious materials."

Shadow stared at it, his eyes shining.

"I'm interested," Shadow said calmly. "How much does it cost?"

Zouyu burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha! I apologize, but this treasure is not for sale."

Shadow was startled.

"Then…?"

"This sword," Zouyu continued, "will be the grand prize for a competition ten years from now."

Shadow's eyes widened.

"You mean… the Verdic Clan Leader Selection Competition?"

Zouyu nodded.

"Yes. Ten years from now, the winner will obtain this sword. You are Bolan Verdic's son. You will participate, won't you? With your five elemental affinities."

The room fell silent.

Shadow froze.

Cris froze even more.

No one should know this secret....except Bolan, Gale, a few elite guards, the Verdic Clan Ancestor who sealed Shadow's aura, and several elders from Bolan's faction. Even the Grand Elder Oyang did not know.

Shadow slowly opened his mouth.

"How do you...."

Zouyu interrupted him.

"Do not worry," he said calmly. "I will not tell anyone."

His expression turned serious.

"Focus on your cultivation. Train diligently. Do not let outsiders—especially other great clans—discover your true strength. Otherwise, terrible things will happen. Use it only when you are truly desperate."

He looked directly at Shadow.

"And remember, focus on Dark Element. You are from Clan Verdic."

Shadow bowed slightly.

"I understand. I will remember your advice. However, I will cultivate all my elements equally. That way, I can diversify my strategies when facing opponents stronger than me."

Zouyu's eyes trembled.

Five years old… Convergence Cycle… almost breaking into Ascension…

What a monster.

Inwardly, Zouyu whispered, Perhaps his multiple elements are accelerating the evolution of his Dark Element…

Outwardly, he spoke calmly.

"Good. Now that you know of this artifact, cultivate even harder. I will wait for your strength… ten years from now."

He waved his hand lazily.

"I'm tired. I want to sleep. Hahahaha! You and your subordinate may leave now."

Shadow and Cris exchanged awkward glances before leaving the shop.

Back at the Ordix Residence

After leaving Zouyu's shop, Shadow returned to Gel Ordix's palace.

The scene shifted.

Gel looked at Bolan with a complicated expression.

"Bolan… is your son really only five years old?"

Bolan laughed proudly.

"Hahahaha! Of course. Would I lie to you? Besides, my son was born a year earlier than yours. Have you forgotten? You were the one who gave me a Silver Rank Artifact as Shadow's birth gift."

Gel sighed.

"You're right. But his growth speed is terrifying. I thought my own child was fast, having awakened two out of three elements and now stabilizing his foundation in Foundation Cycle."

At that moment, Floryn appeared. She wore white cultivator robes, her long white hair flowing freely, and held a paper fan.

"Is Mervis currently staying here?" she asked Gel. "I would like to meet him."

Gel nodded.

"Yes. He is training Mey downstairs, helping her stabilize her foundation after awakening. You may find them in the lower training hall."

Bolan smiled.

"Go ahead. Gel and I have matters to discuss."

The Fortress Plan

After several minutes, Bolan spoke again.

"When can the construction of the fortress begin?"

Gel replied calmly.

"I have discussed it with our specialist. He estimates that it will take five years to complete."

Bolan was shocked.

"Five years? Wasn't it supposed to take nearly ten?"

Gel nodded.

"He calculated everything. However, there are several critical issues."

He raised one finger.

"First-our funds are insufficient."

A second finger.

"Second-beasts have become increasingly violent. We need elemental cultivators to guard the construction."

A third finger.

"Third-the Lightning Clan has begun preparing troops near the border. I don't know their intentions, but I sense something bad is coming."

Bolan sighed heavily.

"These matters cannot be ignored. The biggest problem is funding. Do you have any ideas?"

Gel nodded.

"There are several methods. The fastest is hunting high-rank beasts, extracting their Mana Cores, and selling them to artifact merchants or forgers."

Bolan paused.

"When you mentioned artifact forgers… I remembered something. Where is the Ordix Clan Ancestor? Still wandering around?"

Gel grimaced.

"You know his personality. He goes wherever he pleases."

Bolan laughed.

"Hahaha! But he has already reached Elemental Tier Three – Half-Step Transcendent Early Stage. That alone strengthens both Clan Ordix and Clan Verdic."

Gel frowned slightly.

"Hasn't the Verdic Clan Ancestor Kinlin reached that stage long ago? Is his cultivation stagnant?"

Bolan shook his head.

"Five years ago, when Shadow was born, I asked him. He said he was only one step away from breaking through to Half-Step Transcendent Mid Stage."

Gel nodded seriously.

"That's good news. Other clans already have Mid Stage Half-Step Transcendent. We cannot afford to fall behind."

The Revelation

Suddenly, guards entered, carrying a yellow-green Mana Core.

"This is the report and Mana Core obtained from the High Rank Beast," one of them said.

Gel accepted it.

"Good. You may leave."

As Gel read the report, his expression changed dramatically.

"Bolan," he said slowly. "What are you hiding from me?"

Bolan frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"The report states that the final attack contained Water, Fire, Lightning, and Darkness," Gel said. "You only possess three elements. So tell me, where did the Lightning come from?"

Bolan exhaled deeply.

"It was Shadow," he admitted. "He possesses five elements."

Gel's eyes widened.

"Five… elements?"

Bolan nodded solemnly.

"Only a few in Clan Verdic know this. Gel, I ask you to keep this secret. His elements are Fire, Water, Wind, Lightning, and Darkness."

Gel burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha! A genius beyond comparison! Even the ancient Verdic Ancestor possessed only four elements! Bolan, our future is secured!"

Bolan smiled, but worry lingered in his eyes.

"That's true. But what about the old monsters of other clans? What will happen if they find out? That's why Ancestor Kinlin sealed Shadow's aura. However, he warned me....if someone stronger than him detects Shadow, they will know the truth."

Gel nodded solemnly.

"This is no small matter. The fate of our clans and countless lives are at stake."

The towering estate of Clan Ordix stood bathed in golden light as dusk approached, its grand structures carved from ancient stone and reinforced with layered elemental arrays. Massive pillars etched with runes of protection lined the courtyard, while floating lanterns illuminated the training grounds below.

Shadow and Cris finally arrived at the Ordix residence after leaving Zouyu's artifact shop.

The moment their feet crossed the boundary of the inner grounds.....

BOOM!

A violent ripple of elemental pressure exploded through the air.

The ground trembled.

Sparks of lightning crackled overhead, followed by waves of scorching heat.

Shadow's eyes narrowed.

"…That aura," he muttered.

Cris stiffened beside him. "Young Master, that's a battle aura."

Before Cris could stop him, Shadow had already dashed forward.

"Young Master.....wait!"

But the boy had vanished.

A Battle Unseen

Shadow rushed toward the source of the disturbance, his senses stretched to their limits.

At the far end of the training field, two figures clashed violently.

One was a woman dressed in flowing white cultivator robes, her long silver-white hair fluttering like flames in the wind. A paper fan rested in her hand, glowing faintly with molten patterns.

Floryn.

His mother.

She was locked in fierce combat against a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a dignified aura. Arcs of lightning spiraled around his body like living serpents.

Elemental Arcstorm — Convergence Cycle.

Floryn countered with explosive waves of heat.

Elemental Lava — Convergence Cycle.

BOOOOM!

Fire and lightning collided, tearing the ground apart.

Shadow's heart clenched.

"She's… being pushed back."

Floryn slid several meters across the stone floor, barely stabilizing herself.

The man stepped forward calmly, lightning gathering around his palm.

Shadow's breathing grew shallow.

Mother… is in danger.

Without hesitation—

Shadow activated his skill.

Shadow Camouflage.

His presence dissolved into the darkness.

Cris arrived moments later, but froze when he lost sight of Shadow.

"Damn it… Young Master!"

Hidden within the shadows, Shadow moved silently behind the middle-aged man.

His small hands clenched.

He channeled his elements.

Fire.Water.

The two fused instantly.

A dense mist erupted across the battlefield.

SHHHHHHH—

Thick vapor swallowed the area.

"What.....?" Floryn gasped.

The man frowned. "Fog?"

The mist grew heavier, visibility dropping to zero.

Shadow's eyes glowed faintly crimson beneath the camouflage.

Darkness… Fire…

The elements intertwined.

Shadow Flame Fragmentation.

A sudden explosion of shadowy fire burst from within the fog.

BOOOOM!

"Agh!"

The man staggered back, his shoulder scorched, blood seeping through his robes.

He immediately retreated several steps, lightning surging violently around him.

"An intruder?!"

His aura exploded outward.

Elemental Blizzard — Ascension Late Stage.

The temperature plummeted instantly.

CRACK—CRACK—CRACK!

The vapor froze midair, shattering into countless ice particles.

Shadow's eyes widened.

"T–Tier Three…!"

Cold pierced his skin.

He's strong… very strong.

Shadow clenched his teeth.

"I'll use it…"

His aura began to surge.

"Void Requiem"

"STOP!"

Two powerful presences descended instantly.

The pressure vanished.

Shadow froze.

Bolan and Gel appeared between the combatants.

Gel rubbed his forehead, deeply embarrassed.

"Enough, Father. Please stop. He's just a five-year-old child. Don't disgrace yourself."

The middle-aged man stared in disbelief.

"What?! Five years old? Don't be ridiculous! Didn't you see that child use elemental fusion with such precision?!"

Bolan stepped forward quickly.

"My apologies, Elder Suyun. That is my son—Shadow. He arrived with me and Floryn."

Floryn turned sharply.

"Shadow! Why did you do that to Elder Suyun?!"

Shadow blinked, stunned.

"I… I didn't know he was Elder Suyun. I thought Mother was being attacked by a bad person… so I tried to stop him."

Floryn covered her face in embarrassment.

"Sigh… you child. Go apologize properly. We were training."

Shadow bowed deeply.

"I'm sorry, Elder Suyun. I didn't know you were training with my mother."

Thoughts of a Giant

Elder Suyun stared at Shadow silently.

Five years old… and I was forced to release my Tier Three aura.

Is this the genius the Ancestor mentioned?

Interesting…

A faint smile appeared.

"Hahaha… it's fine, it's fine."

Then he looked amused.

"So you are Shadow… Bolan's son…who is engaged to my granddaughter in the future?"

A sharp voice interrupted.

"Grandfather! Why are you saying such things?! We're still children! I'm not thinking about marriage!"

A young girl stepped forward.

She had delicate features, fiery eyes, and long hair tied neatly behind her.

Mey.

Daughter of Gel.

"I want to train seriously and defeat the new geniuses of Clan Fire and Clan Velrose!"

Mervis laughed warmly as she approached.

"Shadow, you've grown so much."

She pinched his cheek gently.

"Floryn, you didn't tell me Shadow has awakened already. And he can use fusion techniques? Were you trying to hide it from me?"

Floryn waved her hand quickly.

"It's not like that. I planned to tell you after training with Elder Suyun ended. I didn't expect Shadow to attack him."

Elder Suyun coughed awkwardly.

"Ehem…"

Being nearly injured by a five-year-old was not something he wished to remember.

Then.....

"I've decided," he said firmly.

"Bolan. Your son and my granddaughter will marry after twenty years. When Shadow reaches twenty-five, it will be appropriate."

Mey stomped her foot.

"Grandfather! I already said I want to focus on cultivation! I don't want to think about marriage! Right, Shadow?!"

She glared at him angrily.

Shadow felt cold sweat trickle down his back.

"I… y-yes. We should focus first…"

Elder Suyun laughed loudly.

"Cultivation is important, yes. But cultivating together with a partner accelerates growth."

Then his gaze sharpened.

"As for the geniuses of Clan Fire and Clan Velrose.... Mey, you cannot defeat them. They possess four elements, while you have only three. The gap is too wide."

Mey clenched her fists.

"But…"

Elder Suyun continued calmly.

"However… I can sense that Shadow may stand equal to them—or even surpass them."

Shadow lowered his head.

"Thank you, Elder."

Elder Suyun laughed harder.

"Hahaha! Well answered! As my future grandson-in-law, you choose your words wisely!"

Bolan frowned.

"Is it confirmed that they truly have four elements?"

Gel nodded grimly.

"I've investigated thoroughly. It's true. Each of them awakened four elemental powers. The world is in upheaval."

Bolan sighed.

"But we have not been enemies for centuries. There's no need to worry for now."

Mervis clapped her hands.

"Enough talk! Come to the dining hall and taste my cooking. I prepared everything to welcome you all."

Mey turned to Shadow.

"After this, do you have plans?"

"I plan to enter closed cultivation for a while after eating."

She nodded.

"Then… can we meet briefly after your training?"

Shadow hesitated, then nodded.

"Alright. After I finish my matters."

After dinner, Shadow entered the meditation chamber alone.

The doors sealed behind him.

He sat cross-legged.

His breathing slowed.

Elements stirred within him.

Fire.Water.Wind.Lightning.Darkness.

They resonated together.

I must grow stronger…

Outside....

Beasts roared in the distance.

Clans moved in silence.

And unseen forces began to stir.