ch-5 the mirror

Volume I: Life and Death

Chapter 5 – The Mirror

The crack in the clock had grown.

It was small—thin as a thread—but it hadn’t been there before.

Professor Sky Romanov stood in front of it for several seconds after I left his office the previous night. His expression remained calm, but the faint tremor running through the symbols on the clock told another story.

The loop was weakening.

Which meant one thing.

Sammy Ivanov needed to get stronger.

Fast.

Sky turned away from the clock and walked down the dim hallway toward another part of the school few students ever visited.

The corridor lights flickered as he approached a heavy steel door at the end of the hall.

He knocked once.

A tired voice came from inside.

“Door’s open.”

Sky stepped in.

The room was cluttered with training equipment, books, broken weapons, and empty coffee cups stacked in dangerous towers.

In the middle of the chaos sat a man in a chair, leaning back with his boots on a desk.

He looked to be in his early thirties.

Messy dark hair.

Unshaven jaw.

Eyes that looked permanently exhausted.

“Professor Ryden,” Sky said calmly.

Ryden didn’t move for a moment.

Then he slowly lowered his feet from the desk and sighed.

“I was hoping if I stayed quiet you’d assume I wasn’t here.”

Sky ignored the comment.

“I need your help.”

Ryden rubbed his eyes.

“That sentence never leads to anything good.”

Sky placed a small file on the desk.

“His name is Sammy Ivanov.”

Ryden opened the file lazily.

His eyes scanned the page.

Then they stopped.

“Electric conduit?” he murmured.

“Yes.”

Ryden leaned back again.

“You’re serious.”

“Yes.”

Ryden closed the file.

“You want me to train him.”

Sky didn’t answer.

He didn’t need to.

Ryden sighed again.

“You remember the last time I trained someone personally?”

“Yes.”

“They died.”

The room fell silent.

Sky’s voice remained calm.

“This one won’t.”

Ryden studied him for a moment.

“You’re worried.”

Sky didn’t deny it.

“The loop is destabilizing.”

Ryden’s posture changed instantly.

He sat up straight.

“How bad?”

“The clock cracked yesterday.”

Ryden swore quietly.

“Well that’s fantastic.”

He picked up the file again.

“So this kid… electricity.”

“Yes.”

“And your brother is hunting elemental conduits.”

“Yes.”

Ryden looked up.

“And you think he’ll find the fracture soon.”

Sky met his gaze.

“I know he will.”

Ryden closed the file slowly.

“You always bring me the difficult ones.”

Sky’s voice softened slightly.

“You’re the only one who can train him safely.”

Ryden laughed quietly.

“Safely? That’s a generous word.”

But after a moment he stood up.

“Fine.”

---

The next morning

Lewis and I were halfway through breakfast when the cafeteria doors slammed open.

Every student turned.

A tall man with messy hair and dark circles under his eyes walked inside carrying a coffee mug the size of a small bucket.

He looked around the room once.

Then pointed directly at me.

“You.”

I blinked.

“Me?”

“Yes, you.”

He walked over to our table.

Lewis leaned toward me.

“I think we’re in trouble again.”

The man stopped in front of us.

“You Sammy Ivanov?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Come with me.”

Lewis raised a hand.

“Uh… who are you?”

The man took a long sip of coffee.

“Professor Ryden.”

Lewis’s eyes widened.

“Oh.”

Then he leaned closer to me and whispered.

“That’s the weird one.”

Ryden pointed toward the exit.

“Training hall. Now.”

---

The training arena was empty when we arrived.

Ryden stood in the center of the floor stretching his shoulders.

“Alright,” he said. “Show me your power.”

I hesitated.

“Just like that?”

“Yes.”

Electricity sparked across my hands.

Small blue arcs crackled between my fingers.

Ryden watched carefully.

“Interesting,” he muttered.

Then something strange happened.

The air around him shimmered.

And suddenly—

Electricity appeared around his hands too.

Not fire.

Not light.

Electricity.

Exactly like mine.

Lewis blinked.

“Wait.”

Ryden raised one finger.

A bolt of lightning snapped across the room and struck the wall.

Lewis stared.

“You can copy powers?”

Ryden shrugged.

“Only ones that haven’t been fully mastered yet.”

He looked at me again.

“Which means yours is easy.”

I frowned.

“That’s insulting.”

“It’s honest.”

The electricity around Ryden vanished.

“Again,” he said.

I released a stronger burst this time.

Lightning shot across the arena floor.

Ryden copied it instantly.

Two identical bolts collided midair.

The explosion echoed through the hall.

Lewis jumped.

Ryden nodded slowly.

“Your control is unstable.”

“I know.”

“You rely on instinct instead of precision.”

“I know.”

“You could kill yourself with that power.”

I paused.

“I… know.”

Ryden crossed his arms.

“Good.”

He walked closer.

“Because I did.”

Lewis frowned.

“What?”

Ryden looked at the floor for a moment.

“My ability copies powers,” he said quietly. “But when I was younger… I didn’t understand limits.”

He walked toward one of the cracked pillars.

“There was another student here once.”

His voice had lost its humor now.

“He had gravity manipulation.”

Lewis and I stayed silent.

“I copied it during training.”

Ryden placed his hand against the pillar.

“I thought I could control it.”

He closed his eyes briefly.

“I couldn’t.”

The air in the arena grew heavy.

“I crushed the entire training hall.”

Lewis swallowed.

“And the student?”

Ryden didn’t answer immediately.

Then he said quietly,

“He didn’t survive.”

The arena felt colder.

Ryden stepped away from the pillar.

“That’s why Sky gives me the dangerous students.”

He looked directly at me.

“Because I know what happens when power goes wrong.”

The electricity around my hands flickered.

Ryden pointed to the center of the arena.

“Again.”

This time I focused.

The electricity formed slowly.

Controlled.

Not explosive.

Ryden copied it again.

Perfectly.

He smiled slightly.

“Better.”

Lewis watched from the sidelines.

“Okay,” he said. “This is officially the coolest class in the school.”

Ryden ignored him.

“Sammy,” he said.

“Yes?”

“You have two problems.”

“What are they?”

“Your power is unstable.”

“That’s one.”

“The second,” Ryden continued, “is that you’re afraid of it.”

I didn’t answer.

He wasn’t wrong.

Ryden stepped closer.

“Fear slows reaction time. Hesitation kills fighters.”

He pointed toward the arena wall.

“Hit it.”

Electricity surged through my arms.

I fired.

The bolt slammed into the wall.

Stone exploded.

Ryden nodded.

“Good.”

Then he copied it again.

His bolt hit the exact same spot.

Perfect accuracy.

“That,” he said, “is control.”

Lewis whistled.

“Show-off.”

Ryden ignored him again.

“Training starts tomorrow morning at sunrise,” he said.

I blinked.

“Sunrise?”

“Yes.”

“That’s early.”

Ryden smirked slightly.

“Welcome to survival training.”

He turned to leave.

Then paused.

“One more thing.”

He looked back at me.

“If Sky chose you… it means something.”

I waited.

Ryden’s expression grew serious.

“And it also means,” he said quietly,

“The world might depend on you one day.”

He walked toward the exit.

Lewis came over to me slowly.

“Well,” he said.

“That was intense.”

I stared at the scorch mark on the arena wall.

Electricity still flickered across my hands.

Somewhere far beyond the walls of the school—

The temporal loop cracked again.

And this time…

The sound was louder.

Volume I: Life and Death

Chapter 6 – Trial by Fire

Morning light filtered through the tall glass windows of the faculty chamber. The room overlooked the training arena below, where students were already beginning their daily exercises.

Professor Sky Romanov stood near the balcony railing, watching silently.

Behind him, the heavy wooden door opened.

Professor Volkov entered.

Even in human form he looked imposing — tall, broad, with silver streaks in his dark hair. His golden eyes reflected the faint animal strength that lived beneath his skin.

The same man who had saved Sammy from the cloaked attackers in the forest.

Volkov closed the door and folded his arms.

“You’re pushing him too hard.”

Sky didn’t turn.

“He doesn’t have the luxury of time.”

Volkov walked closer to the balcony.

Down below, Sammy and Lewis were sparring in the arena while Professor Ryden observed lazily from the sidelines.

Electric sparks snapped across the floor as Sammy attempted to control a concentrated bolt.

It missed the target.

Ryden sighed loudly.

Volkov watched for a moment.

“He’s barely been here a week,” he said. “You’ve already told him about the loop. About your brother. About the conduits.”

Sky’s voice stayed calm.

“He deserved the truth.”

Volkov shook his head slightly.

“No. You gave him a burden.”

Sky finally turned.

“And what do you suggest?”

Volkov thought for a moment.

Then a faint smile appeared.

“We distract him.”

Sky raised an eyebrow.

“With what?”

Volkov gestured toward the arena.

“A tournament.”

---

Two hours later

The entire school had gathered in the training arena.

Students filled the surrounding seats while professors stood along the walls observing.

Lewis leaned toward Sammy.

“Why do I feel like this is somehow our fault?”

Sammy rubbed the back of his neck.

“Because it probably is.”

Professor Volkov stepped into the center of the arena.

His deep voice echoed across the room.

“Today we will hold a friendly combat tournament.”

Excited murmurs spread through the students.

“This is not about victory,” Volkov continued.

“It is about control.”

His golden eyes moved briefly toward Sammy.

“And discipline.”

Professor Kelly stood beside the arena entrance with several medical kits ready.

Just in case.

Volkov raised his hand.

“The first match will begin now.”

---

Round One

Lewis vs. Mira (Water Conduit)

A girl with long blue-black hair stepped into the arena. Water spiraled around her arms like living ribbons.

Lewis cracked his knuckles.

“Alright,” he muttered. “Let’s try not to drown.”

The match began.

Mira moved first.

A wave of water shot across the arena like a whip.

It slammed directly into Lewis’s chest.

He barely moved.

The water struck him again.

And again.

Lewis planted his feet and walked forward through the blasts.

“My turn,” he said.

He dashed forward and slammed his shoulder into the ground.

The shockwave disrupted the water flow.

Mira lost balance.

Lewis grabbed her wrist and pinned her to the arena floor.

Volkov raised his hand.

“Match over.”

Lewis grinned.

“Told you I don’t break easily.”

---

Round Two

Dragunov vs. Elias (Psychic)

A thin boy stepped into the arena.

His eyes glowed faint purple.

Psychic energy rippled around his hands.

Dragunov entered from the opposite side.

Flames flickered lazily around his fingers.

The crowd quieted.

Everyone knew the outcome.

But they watched anyway.

The match started.

Elias raised his hand.

Invisible force slammed into Dragunov like a wall.

Dragunov slid back slightly.

Then smiled.

“Nice trick.”

He lifted his hand.

Fire exploded outward.

A massive wave of flames rushed across the arena.

Elias tried to block it with psychic force—

But the heat overwhelmed him.

The fire engulfed his position.

Students gasped.

Before the flames could spread further—

Professor Kelly rushed forward.

With a precise motion she triggered a cooling field device.

The flames vanished instantly.

Elias collapsed to his knees, coughing but alive.

Volkov raised his hand again.

“Winner: Dragunov.”

Dragunov walked away without looking back.

---

Round Three

Sammy vs. Lira (Manipulation)

A quiet girl stepped into the arena.

Her ability was unusual.

She could manipulate small objects with invisible force.

Metal fragments lifted from the arena floor and began orbiting her slowly.

Sammy stepped forward.

Electric sparks flickered across his hands.

The match began.

Lira launched the metal fragments like bullets.

Sammy dodged two of them.

A third scraped his shoulder.

Electricity burst from his hand instinctively.

A bright bolt shot forward—

And struck Lira directly.

She gasped as the electric shock ran through her body.

Then collapsed.

Sammy froze.

“I didn’t mean—”

Professor Kelly checked Lira quickly.

“She’s fine,” she said calmly.

Volkov raised his hand.

“Winner: Sammy Ivanov.”

---

Semi-Final

Lewis vs. Dragunov

Lewis walked into the arena again.

He cracked his neck.

“Okay,” he said. “This one might hurt.”

Dragunov stood across from him calmly.

The match began.

Lewis charged.

Dragunov didn’t move.

A wall of fire erupted in front of him.

Lewis ran straight through it—

And slammed into Dragunov.

The impact shook the arena.

For a moment it looked like Lewis might actually overpower him.

Then Dragunov’s flames intensified.

A concentrated blast exploded outward.

Lewis was thrown across the arena and slammed into the wall.

He slid to the floor.

Unconscious.

Volkov raised his hand.

“Winner: Dragunov.”

---

Final Match

Sammy vs. Dragunov

The arena grew quiet.

Sammy walked slowly into the center.

Dragunov was already waiting.

Flames flickered around him lazily.

“You lasted longer than I expected,” he said.

Sammy didn’t answer.

Electricity crackled around his hands.

Volkov raised his arm.

“Begin.”

Sammy struck first.

A powerful lightning bolt shot across the arena.

Dragunov stepped aside effortlessly.

The bolt hit the wall behind him.

He lifted one hand.

A spiral of fire erupted toward Sammy.

Sammy blocked it with a burst of electricity—

But the force pushed him backward.

Dragunov walked forward slowly.

“You’re strong,” he said.

“But you lack control.”

Sammy launched another bolt.

Dragunov walked straight through it.

Flames wrapped around his arm.

Then he released a concentrated blast.

The explosion knocked Sammy off his feet.

He crashed onto the arena floor.

His vision blurred.

When he tried to stand—

Dragunov was already in front of him.

A single flame burned above his hand.

“Match over,” Dragunov said quietly.

Volkov raised his hand.

“Winner: Dragunov.”

The crowd murmured quietly.

Dragunov turned and walked away.

From the balcony above, Sky Romanov watched silently.

Beside him, Professor Volkov folded his arms.

“Did it work?” Volkov asked.

Sky watched Sammy slowly stand in the arena below.

The boy looked frustrated.

But determined.

“Yes,” Sky said quietly.

“He’s beginning to understand.”

Far beyond the walls of the school—

Something struck the invisible barrier of the temporal loop again.

And the crack spread just a little further.

Volume I: Life and Death

Chapter 7 – The Dragon Seal

The morning started quietly.

Too quietly.

Sammy noticed it the moment he stepped out of his room. The hallway felt heavier than usual, like the air itself had thickened overnight.

Lewis was already waiting outside the door.

“You feel that?” Lewis asked.

Sammy nodded.

“Yeah.”

Lewis held up a folded piece of parchment.

“I think this might explain it.”

The paper looked old. Not school-issued.

At the center of the wax seal was a dragon emblem.

Its wings were spread wide, carved in intricate detail.

Sammy frowned.

“Where did you get that?”

“It was under my door this morning.”

Sammy looked around the hallway.

Students were walking normally.

No one seemed alarmed.

“Open it,” Sammy said.

Lewis started to peel the seal—

Then suddenly stopped.

“Oh no.”

“What?”

Lewis turned the letter over.

“Look at this.”

Stamped at the bottom was a name.

Professor Volkov

Sammy groaned.

“That means it’s probably about class.”

Lewis sighed dramatically.

“Not just class.”

He pointed toward the corridor.

Volkov was already walking toward them.

Tall.

Silent.

Golden eyes scanning the hallway.

Lewis quickly folded the letter.

“We’re dead.”

---

Volkov’s Class

The training arena felt unusually tense that morning.

Professor Volkov stood in the center with his arms crossed.

“Today’s lesson,” he said, “is discipline.”

His eyes landed on Sammy.

“And control.”

Lewis leaned toward Sammy.

“He definitely remembers the tournament.”

Volkov continued.

“Some of you believe power makes you strong.”

He walked slowly across the arena.

“It does not.”

His gaze stopped on Lewis.

“Durability alone will not save you.”

Lewis muttered quietly.

“Here it comes.”

Volkov turned toward Sammy.

“And electricity without control is nothing more than chaos.”

The class went silent.

Volkov smirked slightly.

“Which is fitting.”

Lewis whispered.

“He’s enjoying this.”

For the next hour Volkov ran them through brutal endurance drills.

By the end of it everyone was exhausted.

Except him.

---

The Most Boring Class

Professor Kelly’s classroom was the opposite of the arena.

Quiet.

Organized.

Too organized.

Kelly stood beside a medical table while several bandages and surgical tools floated in midair beside her.

“Today,” she said calmly, “you will learn how to survive injuries.”

Lewis groaned softly.

Sammy elbowed him.

Kelly continued.

“In combat, wounds are inevitable.”

She lifted a scalpel.

“But panic kills faster than injury.”

She demonstrated how to treat burns, fractures, and internal bleeding.

Lewis slowly rested his head on the desk.

“This is worse than torture.”

Sammy whispered back.

“She can hear you.”

Kelly didn’t look up.

“Yes,” she said.

“I can.”

Lewis sat up instantly.

---

The Letter

After class ended, Sammy and Lewis slipped into an empty hallway.

Lewis unfolded the dragon-sealed letter again.

“Okay,” he said. “Now we open it.”

The seal cracked.

Inside was a single line written in black ink.

“Principal’s office. Immediately.”

Sammy frowned.

“That’s it?”

Lewis flipped the paper over.

“Yep.”

Sammy looked down the hallway.

“Let’s go.”

---

The Discovery

The principal’s office door was slightly open.

Sammy pushed it slowly.

Inside, the room looked normal.

The strange clock hung behind the desk.

Bookshelves curved along the walls.

Lewis walked to the desk.

“Why would someone send us here?”

Sammy noticed something on the table.

A file.

It hadn’t been there before.

He opened it.

Inside was a single document.

At the top was a name.

Neverova Romanov

Sammy froze.

“Lewis.”

Lewis leaned over.

“Is that—”

“Sky’s brother.”

Lewis whistled softly.

“That’s… not good.”

Behind them, the clock ticked.

Both of them turned.

The pendulum inside the clock was moving.

Sammy frowned.

“It wasn’t doing that before.”

Lewis stepped closer.

The pendulum swung slowly back and forth.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Lewis reached out.

“Maybe if I stop it—”

Sammy shouted.

“Lewis, don’t—”

Lewis touched it.

The pendulum snapped.

The clock exploded with a loud crack.

---

The Loop Breaks

A shockwave tore through the office.

Reality trembled.

The walls flickered violently.

Outside the office—

Students screamed.

The sky above the school shattered like glass.

The entire building shook.

Lewis stared at the broken clock.

“…I think I broke something.”

Sammy stared back.

“You think?”

---

Chaos

Professor Sky Romanov appeared in the hallway seconds later.

He looked different.

Panicked.

For the first time since Sammy met him.

He ran past students, checking the walls, the sky, the ground.

The temporal energy around the school was collapsing.

Sky grabbed his head.

“No… no… no…”

Students crowded the hallways.

The world outside flickered.

Sky shouted.

“Everyone stay calm!”

The school trembled violently.

Then—

Everything vanished.

For a moment, there was nothing.

Then the school reappeared.

But not in the loop.

Not in the void.

The entire campus now sat on the side of a massive mountain on Earth.

Real sky above them.

Real wind.

The temporal loop was gone.

---

Sky’s Attempt

Sky stood in the courtyard, exhausted.

He raised his hands.

Time energy surged around him.

He tried to rebuild the loop.

The energy collapsed instantly.

Sky staggered.

He looked weaker than ever.

Volkov stepped forward.

“You can’t rebuild it.”

Sky said nothing.

His power was gone.

Or nearly gone.

After several seconds he lowered his hands.

Then spoke quietly.

“Then we prepare.”

---

War Preparation

All students gathered in the courtyard.

Sky addressed them.

“The loop protected this school for 133 years.”

He looked toward the mountains surrounding them.

“Now we must protect ourselves.”

His eyes moved to Dragunov.

“You will lead the combat training.”

Dragunov stepped forward silently.

Then he removed his jacket.

And lifted his shirt.

Across his back was a massive dragon tattoo.

Lewis whispered.

“That symbol…”

Sammy pulled the letter from his pocket.

The stamp.

The dragon.

His stomach dropped.

“The letter…”

Lewis looked at him.

“You think—”

Dragunov smiled slightly.

“You figured it out.”

Students gasped.

“You sent it?” Sammy said.

Dragunov nodded.

“Yes.”

Sky stared at him.

“Why?”

Dragunov’s smile widened.

“To break the loop.”

His flames ignited around him.

“And to kill both Romanov brothers.”

---

The Werewolf

Before anyone could react—

Professor Volkov transformed.

Bones cracked.

Fur erupted across his body.

The massive werewolf roared and lunged at Dragunov.

Dragunov vanished.

His flames exploded into smoke.

When the fire cleared—

He was gone.

---

Collapse

Silence filled the courtyard.

Sky stood completely still.

Then he turned and walked away without speaking.

Lewis whispered.

“I think he just… broke.”

Professor Kelly stepped forward.

Behind her stood several other teachers.

Ryden.

Volkov.

Max — who could command plants and trees.

Smith — who could control minds.

Kelly herself spoke calmly.

“We protect the school now.”

Her eyes scanned the students.

“I can revive someone once.”

“After that… they stay dead.”

The wind moved through the mountain trees.

The loop was gone.

Dragunov had disappeared.

And somewhere in the world—

Neverova Romanov was still searching.

Now nothing stood between him…

And the school.

Chapter 8: Shadows Return

The mountain air was colder than usual that afternoon.

Students from the academy sat on scattered stone benches and wooden tables outside the temporary dining hall that had been built after the school was transported to Earth. The sky above them was clear, but the tension around the academy had not disappeared since the time loop broke.

Sammy and Lewis sat across from each other with metal lunch trays.

Lewis was chewing lazily.

“Honestly,” he said, “training every day on a mountain is worse than the academy schedule.”

Sammy smirked slightly. “You’re the one who said you wanted to get stronger.”

Lewis shrugged. “Yeah, but I didn’t mean this much training.”

Sammy was about to reply when something strange happened.

The air around them suddenly felt colder.

A shadow moved behind the trees.

Sammy’s body stiffened.

He recognized that feeling.

A presence filled with hatred.

Before Sammy could react, a dark figure in a cloak appeared behind him.

In a single terrifying motion, the cloaked man grabbed Sammy by the collar.

Students screamed.

The cloaked man’s voice was cold and distorted.

“You.”

Sammy’s eyes widened.

That voice.

That presence.

It was the same man from the night he almost died — the one who had ripped off his arm during the first attack.

Before anyone could react, the cloaked man jumped into the air and began running across the mountain path with impossible speed, dragging Sammy with him.

Lewis stood up instantly.

“HEY!”

His body suddenly hardened like stone.

Then something new happened.

Lewis’s eyes glowed faintly.

His muscles tightened.

And suddenly—

He vanished.

In the next second, Lewis appeared dozens of meters ahead, sprinting faster than any normal human could move.

It was his second power.

Super Speed.

Wind exploded around his feet as he chased the cloaked man through the rocky path.

“Drop him!” Lewis shouted.

The cloaked man turned his head slightly.

“You again.”

Lewis pushed himself faster.

Within seconds he caught up and tackled the cloaked attacker, forcing him to release Sammy.

Sammy rolled across the ground, coughing.

Lewis stood in front of him protectively.

But suddenly Lewis’s legs trembled.

His body froze.

The strain of using super speed was too much.

Lewis tried to move.

He couldn’t.

“Damn it…” he muttered.

The cloaked man slowly stood up again.

His hood shifted slightly, revealing glowing red eyes.

He looked directly at Sammy.

“You…”

His voice was filled with rage.

“You are my enemy.”

Before the cloaked man could attack again, a powerful presence crashed into the battlefield.

A massive shadow landed between them.

Professor Volkov.

His eyes glowed fiercely.

“Enough.”

Without hesitation, Volkov grabbed the cloaked man by the neck with monstrous strength.

The attacker struggled, but Volkov’s grip was unbreakable.

“You shouldn’t have come here,” Volkov growled.

In the next moment, both of them disappeared into the forest, moving so fast the ground shook beneath them.

Silence returned.

Lewis collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.

Sammy slowly stood up.

Students were gathering around them in shock.

Then another figure arrived.

Sky.

The moment he appeared, everyone stepped back.

His expression was serious.

“Sammy.”

Sammy looked at him.

Sky walked forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Come with me.”

---

They walked away from the crowd toward a quiet cliff overlooking the mountains.

For a while, Sky said nothing.

Finally he spoke.

“My brother is coming.”

Sammy looked confused.

Sky stared into the distance.

“I cannot defeat him.”

Sammy blinked.

“You’re the strongest student in the academy.”

Sky shook his head slowly.

“You don’t understand.”

His voice carried exhaustion.

“My brother’s ability is something I cannot counter.”

Sky turned toward Sammy.

“That is why I need you.”

Sammy frowned.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

Sky’s eyes were serious.

“I will train you personally.”

---

Training began the next morning.

Meanwhile, Lewis was taken by Professor Volkov for his own training.

But Sammy’s training with Sky was something completely different.

Sky pushed him beyond his limits.

Lightning control.

Energy concentration.

Speed.

Precision.

Days passed.

One afternoon, Sky placed a metal sphere on the ground.

“Focus your lightning into one point.”

Sammy raised his hand.

Electric sparks danced around his fingers.

He tried to compress the electricity together.

Again and again it failed.

“Control it,” Sky said calmly.

Sammy took a deep breath.

Lightning surged through his body.

Suddenly the electricity began gathering in his palm.

A tiny glowing sphere formed.

A small ball of thunder.

Sammy stared at it in shock.

“What is this?”

Sky’s eyes widened.

“That…”

The sphere crackled violently.

Sky immediately stepped back.

“That’s a Thunder Ball.”

The energy suddenly slipped out of Sammy’s control.

BOOM!

The explosion blasted the ground apart, sending rocks flying everywhere.

Dust filled the air.

When it cleared, a large crater remained.

Sammy stood frozen.

“I didn’t mean to—”

Sky stared at the crater.

His expression slowly changed from shock to amazement.

“You created it… accidentally.”

Sammy looked confused.

Sky turned toward him with new intensity.

“If mastered, that attack could level entire battlefields.”

Sammy swallowed.

Sky continued.

“But that’s not enough.”

He walked closer.

“There is one more power you must learn.”

Sammy waited.

Sky’s voice became quieter.

“My brother’s strongest ability.”

Sammy’s eyes narrowed.

Sky raised his hand, and a strange invisible pressure spread through the air.

Electric sparks around Sammy suddenly disappeared.

His powers stopped working.

“What happened?” Sammy asked.

Sky answered calmly.

“This…”

“…is Power Cancellation Domain.”

Sammy stared in disbelief.

Sky looked directly at him.

“If you want to defeat my brother…”

“You must learn to survive inside this domain.”

And the training began again.

Chapter 9: Storm Before the War

The evening sky above the mountain academy was painted with fading orange light.

Sammy sat quietly on a large stone near the edge of the courtyard. The cold wind moved through the trees, carrying the distant sounds of students training.

Lewis sat beside him, tossing a small rock up and down.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Finally Sammy broke the silence.

“I miss them.”

Lewis looked at him.

“My parents,” Sammy continued quietly. “I keep thinking about them.”

His voice trembled.

“They probably think I’m dead.”

Lewis stayed silent, letting him talk.

Sammy wiped his eyes.

“Everything happened so fast… the attack… the academy… the time loop…”

His voice cracked.

“I just want to see them again.”

For a moment Lewis didn’t know what to say.

Then he shrugged slightly.

“Well… at least you have parents.”

Sammy looked at him.

Lewis smiled weakly.

“I don’t even know mine.”

Sammy stared at him in surprise.

Lewis leaned back and stretched his arms.

“But hey,” he said jokingly, “let’s not get emotional.”

Then suddenly his eyes widened dramatically.

“Oh no.”

Sammy blinked. “What?”

Lewis jumped to his feet.

“OH MY GOD!”

“What?”

“Professor Volkov told me to attend his training in ten minutes!”

Sammy laughed despite himself.

Lewis groaned.

“If I’m late, he’ll probably turn into a werewolf and chase me around the mountain.”

He began running away.

“Wish me luck!”

Sammy shook his head and smiled slightly.

But far away, deep inside the academy, something darker was happening.

---

Inside a heavily reinforced underground chamber, a man in a torn cloak was trapped inside a glass containment room.

Magical symbols glowed across the walls.

Professor Volkov stood outside the glass with folded arms.

The cloaked man leaned against the wall lazily.

Volkov’s eyes were cold.

“Who are you working with?”

Silence.

Volkov’s voice deepened.

“Are you working for Sky’s brother?”

The cloaked man suddenly laughed.

A rough, mocking laugh.

“You think I serve him?”

Volkov’s eyes narrowed.

The cloaked man stepped closer to the glass.

“No.”

His voice was filled with hatred.

“I want to kill him too.”

Volkov remained silent.

The cloaked man continued.

“I have my own group.”

His red eyes glowed through the hood.

“And soon… we will destroy all of you.”

The air inside the room felt heavier.

Suddenly the door behind Volkov opened.

Sky entered quietly.

Volkov glanced back.

Sky walked toward the glass room calmly.

For a moment he simply stared at the cloaked prisoner.

Then he spoke.

“Release him.”

Volkov turned immediately.

“What?”

Sky didn’t look at him.

“Let him go.”

Volkov’s expression hardened.

“You can’t be serious.”

Sky finally turned toward him.

“Let him run.”

Volkov was shocked.

“You’re letting an enemy escape?”

Sky’s eyes were calm but cold.

“Yes.”

For several seconds, Volkov didn’t move.

Then slowly, reluctantly, he activated the control panel.

The magical barrier around the glass room faded.

The door unlocked.

The cloaked man looked surprised.

Then he smiled.

“Interesting.”

He stepped outside slowly.

Before leaving, he turned toward Sky.

“We will meet again.”

Then he dashed through the hallway and disappeared into the night, escaping the academy.

Volkov looked at Sky.

“You better know what you’re doing.”

Sky said nothing.

---

Later that evening, Professor Kelly gathered the students in a large classroom.

Glass bottles, herbs, and magical liquids filled the tables.

Kelly smiled warmly.

“Today we will learn about magical medicine.”

Students groaned quietly.

Kelly ignored them.

“These medicines can save your life during battle.”

She lifted a glowing bottle.

“This one can close wounds instantly.”

She showed another.

“This one can remove poison.”

Students leaned forward curiously.

Just then the classroom door opened.

Professor Volkov entered.

His expression was serious.

Kelly stopped speaking.

Volkov looked at the students.

“Everyone.”

His voice echoed across the room.

“Return to your rooms immediately.”

The students exchanged confused looks.

“But—” Kelly started.

Volkov interrupted.

“This is an order.”

The tension in his voice made everyone stand up quickly.

Students began leaving the room.

Sammy walked toward the exit with the others.

Just as he stepped outside—

“Sammy.”

He turned.

Sky stood at the end of the hallway.

“Come with me.”

---

Sky’s cabin was dimly lit.

Maps and magical devices covered the walls.

Sammy stood in front of the desk.

Sky leaned against the window, staring at the dark mountain outside.

“He’s coming.”

Sammy frowned.

“Who?”

Sky turned slowly.

“My brother.”

Sammy felt a chill.

Sky walked toward him.

“You are the only one who can defeat him.”

Sammy’s eyes widened.

“Me?”

Sky nodded.

“You’ve already shown power even I didn’t expect.”

He opened a drawer and pulled out a strange metallic object.

It looked like a thin glowing wire.

Sky handed it to him.

“This is a power-charge wire.”

Sammy examined it carefully.

“What does it do?”

Sky answered calmly.

“It allows you to absorb lightning energy and store it inside your body.”

Sammy looked shocked.

Sky’s voice became serious.

“Your Thunder Ball is powerful… but unstable.”

He placed a hand on Sammy’s shoulder.

“You must master it.”

Outside the cabin, thunder rumbled faintly across the mountains.

Sky looked toward the storm clouds.

“Because when my brother arrives…”

His voice dropped to a whisper.

“The real war will begin.”

Chapter 10: The Disappearances

Morning arrived with heavy clouds hanging over the mountain academy.

The atmosphere had changed since the cloaked man escaped. Students whispered among themselves in the corridors, unsure of what danger might appear next.

A loud voice echoed across the courtyard.

“Everyone outside.”

Professor Ryden stood in the center of the training field.

His calm expression hid the power that made him one of the academy’s most unusual teachers. Ryden possessed the rare ability to copy the powers of anyone who had not fully mastered them.

Students gathered around him.

Lewis stretched his arms lazily.

“Please don’t say it’s another physical training day.”

Ryden clapped his hands.

“Today we train your reaction speed.”

Lewis groaned.

Ryden raised both hands. Several floating spheres of water appeared in the air around him.

“These water balls will move at high speed,” he explained. “Your job is simple.”

The spheres suddenly shot forward like bullets.

“DODGE THEM.”

Students scattered instantly.

Water balls flew across the field like missiles.

Sammy barely leaned sideways as one shot past his ear.

Another rushed toward him from behind.

He jumped forward and rolled across the ground, avoiding it.

Lewis wasn’t so lucky.

A water ball slammed directly into his chest.

“HEY!” he shouted.

Ryden smiled calmly.

“Too slow.”

The training continued.

Water balls flew everywhere as students jumped, ducked, and rolled to avoid them.

Ryden moved his hands faster, increasing the speed.

“This is to train your body to react without thinking,” he said.

Sammy focused carefully.

He dodged one attack, then another.

But suddenly a deep voice echoed behind him.

“Sammy.”

He turned.

Professor Volkov stood near the edge of the field.

His expression was unreadable.

“Come with me.”

Sammy hesitated for a moment, then followed him away from the training ground.

---

They walked into a quiet area behind the academy buildings.

The wind howled between the rocks.

Volkov suddenly stopped.

Sammy turned toward him.

“What did you want to—”

Before he could finish, Volkov grabbed Sammy by the neck and lifted him off the ground.

Sammy gasped.

Volkov’s grip was incredibly strong.

His glowing eyes stared directly into Sammy’s.

“Listen carefully,” Volkov growled.

“You need to leave this school.”

Sammy struggled slightly.

“What?”

Volkov tightened his grip.

“Run away.”

His voice was cold.

“Leave this academy and never come back.”

Sammy stared at him in shock.

Volkov continued.

“You must not fight Sky’s brother.”

Sammy finally managed to speak.

“I can’t.”

Volkov’s eyes narrowed.

“I said leave.”

Sammy shook his head.

“No.”

Volkov slowly lowered him back to the ground.

Sammy coughed but stood straight.

“I won’t run away.”

Volkov watched him silently.

Sammy continued.

“This is my fight too.”

Volkov said nothing.

For a moment the wind blew between them.

Then Sammy turned and walked away without another word.

But he didn’t tell anyone about the conversation.

Not Lewis.

Not Sky.

No one.

---

Later that evening, strange rumors began spreading across the academy.

One student had gone missing.

At first, teachers believed the student had simply wandered off into the mountains.

But the next day, another student disappeared.

Then another.

The academy began searching everywhere.

Three days passed.

The number of missing students continued rising.

By the third day, sixteen students had vanished.

Fear spread through the academy.

Students refused to leave their dorm rooms alone.

Groups of teachers searched the surrounding mountains, but they found nothing.

Sammy felt uneasy.

Something was wrong.

One evening he walked into the dining hall, looking around.

“Lewis?” he called.

No answer.

Sammy frowned.

Lewis was always loud. It was impossible for him to stay quiet.

He searched the training grounds.

Nothing.

Finally he asked another student.

“Have you seen Lewis?”

The student hesitated.

“You didn’t hear?”

Sammy’s stomach tightened.

“Hear what?”

The student looked nervous.

“He’s… one of the missing students.”

Sammy froze.

“Lewis disappeared last night.”

Sammy’s mind went blank.

He immediately ran through the academy halls.

Students moved aside as he rushed past them.

Finally he reached the main courtyard.

Sky stood there.

Several teachers were gathered around him.

Sky’s fists were shaking.

His breathing was heavy.

Sammy had never seen him like this before.

Sky suddenly screamed.

The sound echoed across the entire academy.

Students nearby stepped back in fear.

Sky clenched his head with both hands.

“Calm down…”

He whispered to himself.

“Calm down…”

But his voice trembled with rage.

The wind around him began swirling violently.

Lightning flickered in the clouds above the mountain.

Sky screamed again.

A terrifying scream filled with anger and frustration.

Because he knew something terrible was happening.

And whoever was responsible…

Had just crossed a line they could never return from.

Chapter 11: The Forest Trial

The academy courtyard was tense.

Students gathered in small groups, whispering nervously. The news of the missing students had spread everywhere. Fear was slowly taking over the academy.

Sammy stood near the training grounds, looking around anxiously.

Lewis was still missing.

Sixteen students had vanished.

And no one knew why.

Suddenly—

A dark shadow dropped from the roof of one of the academy buildings.

Students gasped.

A cloaked figure landed smoothly in the middle of the courtyard.

The wind moved his cloak slowly.

No one spoke.

The stranger looked around calmly.

Then he spoke in a cold voice.

“So many worried faces.”

Students stepped back.

“Looking for your missing friends?”

Sammy’s eyes narrowed.

The cloaked man laughed softly.

“Yes… we have them.”

Murmurs spread across the crowd.

“They’re all with us.”

Before anyone could react—

Something invisible moved.

Within a single millisecond, the cloaked man’s head was ripped from his body.

The body collapsed instantly.

The head rolled across the stone floor.

Students screamed.

Sky stood nearby, his arm still raised slightly.

He hadn’t even touched the man.

The attack had happened purely through raw power.

Sky’s expression was ice cold.

“Pathetic.”

The courtyard was completely silent.

Sky turned toward the teachers.

“I’m going to find them.”

He looked directly at one of the professors.

“Professor Max.”

A tall man with calm green eyes stepped forward. Max possessed the ability to control plants and trees.

“Come with me.”

Max nodded.

Without another word, the two of them moved toward the edge of the academy.

Within seconds, they were gone.

Students stood frozen in shock.

Sammy clenched his fists.

He wanted to go with them.

But Professor Ryden stepped in front of him.

“No.”

Sammy looked up.

Ryden’s voice was firm.

“You are not going.”

Sammy frowned.

“But Lewis—”

Ryden interrupted.

“You are the main key to defeating Sky’s brother.”

Sammy stayed silent.

Ryden continued.

“That means your training cannot stop.”

He turned and started walking.

“Come with me.”

Sammy reluctantly followed.

---

They walked far away from the academy.

Soon the stone buildings disappeared behind the trees.

A dense forest surrounded them.

The trees were tall and ancient, blocking most of the sunlight.

The atmosphere felt strange.

Almost alive.

Ryden stopped near the entrance of the forest.

He looked at Sammy.

“Many creatures live here.”

Sammy raised an eyebrow.

“What kind of creatures?”

Ryden gave a small smile.

“The kind that will try to kill you.”

Sammy blinked.

Ryden continued calmly.

“You must survive here for one entire day.”

Sammy looked around the forest.

“And you?”

Ryden’s body began to fade slightly.

“I’ll be watching.”

And in the next moment—

He disappeared.

Sammy stood alone.

The forest became silent.

Too silent.

The wind moved through the trees slowly.

Sammy took a deep breath.

“Great.”

He started walking deeper into the forest.

Branches cracked beneath his feet.

The air smelled damp and wild.

Suddenly—

A low growl echoed nearby.

Sammy froze.

Something large moved behind the trees.

Then it appeared.

A massive creature stepped out of the shadows.

It looked like a giant wolf, but its body was covered with thick black scales instead of fur. Sharp claws scraped against the ground as it moved.

Its glowing eyes locked onto Sammy.

The monster roared.

Sammy quickly raised his hand.

Electric sparks danced around his fingers.

The creature charged.

Sammy jumped to the side as its claws smashed into the ground.

“Too slow,” Sammy muttered.

Lightning gathered in his palm.

The monster lunged again.

Sammy released the attack.

A burst of electricity exploded across the creature’s body.

The monster screamed and collapsed to the ground.

Smoke rose from its body.

Sammy stood there, breathing heavily.

“Okay…”

He wiped sweat from his forehead.

“That worked.”

Just then—

He heard something.

A voice.

Soft.

Right behind him.

Sammy’s heart stopped.

Slowly…

He turned around.

But the moment he looked behind him—

The forest was completely dark.

And the voice whispered again.

“Sammy…”

Chapter 12: Fire and Lightning

The forest had grown quiet again.

Sammy slowly turned toward the voice behind him.

His heart pounded.

For a moment he expected another monster.

But when he finally faced the figure standing behind him, his eyes widened.

A tall man stood there between the trees.

He was shirtless, his muscular body marked with scars.

Across his back was the large dragon tattoo Sammy had seen once before.

Dragunov.

Dragunov smiled slowly.

“Long time no see.”

Sammy’s body tensed immediately.

“What are you doing here?”

Dragunov laughed quietly.

“I heard something interesting.”

He stepped closer.

“I heard you’re going to fight Professor Sky’s brother.”

The way he said it sounded almost like a joke.

Then Dragunov burst into loud laughter.

“That’s hilarious.”

Sammy’s eyes narrowed.

Dragunov suddenly stopped laughing.

His expression turned dangerous.

Without warning—

He charged forward.

Fire exploded from his hand.

Sammy barely had time to react.

Dragunov grabbed Sammy’s arm.

Flames burned across his skin.

Sammy shouted in pain.

But instantly he struck back.

Electric energy surged through his body.

He released a powerful electric shock directly into Dragunov’s chest.

The shock forced Dragunov to step back.

Smoke rose from his arm.

Dragunov looked down at the burn marks.

Then he grinned.

“Good.”

The ground around them heated as flames began gathering around Dragunov’s fists.

Sammy raised his hands again.

Lightning sparks crackled between his fingers.

The air filled with tension.

Then both of them attacked at the same time.

Dragunov threw a blazing punch.

Sammy dodged sideways and sent another shock toward him.

The electricity struck Dragunov’s shoulder.

But Dragunov barely reacted.

Instead he swung his arm, releasing a wave of fire that smashed into a nearby tree.

The tree burst into flames instantly.

Sammy jumped backward.

“Still too slow,” Dragunov said calmly.

Sammy concentrated.

Electricity began gathering in his palm again.

The small sphere of energy started forming.

A Thunder Ball.

Dragunov noticed it.

His eyes sharpened.

“Oh?”

But before either of them could attack again—

A calm voice echoed through the forest.

“That’s enough.”

Both of them turned.

Professor Kelly stood between the trees.

Her expression was unusually serious.

“Mr. Dragunov,” she said calmly.

“I hope you intend to fight me instead.”

Dragunov stared at her for a moment.

Then he smiled.

“Why not?”

Flames suddenly exploded around his fists.

He charged toward Kelly with incredible speed.

But before he could reach her—

A powerful punch struck him from the side.

Professor Ryden appeared out of nowhere.

His fist slammed into Dragunov’s jaw.

The impact sent Dragunov flying one meter backward, crashing into the ground.

Dust rose around him.

For a moment, everything was silent.

Then Dragunov slowly stood up.

He wiped a little blood from his lip.

And then he smirked.

“Okay… okay.”

He looked at both professors calmly.

“I see how it is.”

His eyes briefly glanced at Sammy.

“I’ll be back.”

The flames around his body flickered once.

Then suddenly—

He disappeared into the forest shadows.

The wind moved through the trees again.

Kelly sighed quietly.

“That boy will become a serious problem someday.”

Ryden looked toward Sammy.

“You did well surviving.”

Sammy stared at the forest where Dragunov had vanished.

His heart was still racing.

Because one thing was clear.

Dragunov had not come here by accident.

And the next time they met…

The fight might not end so easily.

Chapter 13: The Leader Is Gone

The academy courtyard was crowded again.

Students stood together nervously, whispering among themselves.

Everyone had heard the rumors.

Sky had gone into the forest with Professor Max to search for the missing students.

But hours had passed.

And they still had not returned.

Sammy stood near the gate of the academy, staring toward the forest path.

His hands were clenched tightly.

“Where are they…” he muttered.

Suddenly—

Branches moved in the distance.

Figures appeared between the trees.

Students immediately turned toward the forest.

Professor Max stepped out first.

Behind him were the missing students.

Gasps of relief spread across the courtyard.

“They’re back!”

“Look!”

Sammy’s eyes quickly searched the group.

Then he saw him.

“Lewis!”

Lewis looked tired but alive.

Sammy ran forward immediately.

Lewis barely had time to react before Sammy pulled him into a tight hug.

“You idiot,” Sammy said, half laughing. “You scared me.”

Lewis groaned.

“Hey— breathing… breathing…”

Sammy finally let him go.

“You’re okay?”

Lewis nodded.

“Yeah… barely.”

Sammy smiled with relief.

Then his expression changed.

He looked around the group again.

“Where’s Professor Sky?”

Lewis’s smile faded.

Professor Max stepped forward slowly.

His expression was serious.

“Sky stayed behind.”

The courtyard went silent.

Sammy frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Max looked toward the forest.

“His brother was there.”

Students gasped.

“The moment we found the missing students…”

Max continued quietly.

“…Sky sensed him.”

Sammy felt his stomach tighten.

“They both went deeper into the forest.”

Max lowered his eyes slightly.

“And they haven’t returned.”

The courtyard exploded with whispers.

“No way…”

“Did he fight his brother?”

“Is he dead?”

Fear spread through the students quickly.

Sammy stood frozen.

Dead?

No.

Sky couldn’t lose.

But the silence from the forest made the thought terrifying.

A student suddenly shouted from the crowd.

“If Sky is gone… the academy is weak now!”

Another student spoke.

“What if his brother attacks us?”

The panic began spreading rapidly.

Students started talking loudly.

The courtyard filled with fear and confusion.

“Quiet!”

A thunderous voice echoed across the entire academy.

Professor Volkov stood on the stone stairs above the courtyard.

His glowing eyes scanned the crowd.

Everyone immediately fell silent.

Volkov’s voice was powerful and commanding.

“Enough panic.”

He stepped forward.

“Sky may be gone for now…”

His voice hardened.

“But this academy does not collapse without one person.”

Students listened carefully.

“You are all students of this academy.”

Volkov’s eyes flashed.

“That means you are fighters.”

The courtyard remained silent.

Volkov raised his voice again.

“Stand strong!”

His words echoed through the stone walls.

Slowly the fear among the students began fading.

Volkov turned toward the teachers.

“Professor Max.”

Max stepped forward.

“Yes.”

“Upgrade the academy defenses immediately.”

Max nodded.

“I’ll begin at once.”

Volkov turned again.

“Professor Kelly.”

Kelly stepped forward calmly.

“Yes?”

“Take the students to their dorm rooms.”

Kelly nodded.

“Everyone, follow me.”

Students began moving slowly toward the dormitory buildings.

The courtyard started clearing.

Volkov watched them carefully.

Then his eyes moved across the remaining students.

“Lewis.”

Lewis froze.

“Y-yes?”

Volkov pointed toward him.

“Come with me.”

Lewis blinked.

Sammy stepped forward slightly.

“Should I come too?”

Volkov looked at him briefly.

Then he shook his head.

“No.”

His voice was firm.

“Not you.”

Sammy frowned.

Lewis looked confused.

Volkov turned and began walking toward the academy building.

“Lewis.”

His voice echoed again.

“Now.”

Lewis looked at Sammy awkwardly.

“I guess… I’ll see you later?”

Sammy nodded slowly.

Lewis followed Volkov into the building.

Sammy remained standing in the courtyard.

The sun had already started setting behind the mountains.

And somewhere deep inside the forest…

Sky was still missing.

Chapter 14: Rising Storm

The academy halls were unusually quiet.

Most students had already been sent back to their rooms after the shocking news about Sky. Guards and teachers moved around the campus, strengthening defenses.

Inside a large strategy room, Professor Volkov stood near a map of the academy grounds.

Lewis stood in front of him.

Volkov’s deep voice broke the silence.

“From now on, the academy’s defense becomes our top priority.”

Lewis scratched the back of his head.

“Uh… why me?”

Volkov crossed his arms.

“Because you are fast.”

Lewis blinked.

“That’s it?”

Volkov looked at him seriously.

“With your speed, you can patrol the academy faster than anyone else.”

Lewis sighed.

“So I’m basically security now.”

Volkov ignored the complaint.

“You will work with Professor Max.”

Lewis nodded slowly.

Volkov turned toward the door.

“I must handle other matters.”

He paused for a moment.

“And Lewis…”

Lewis looked up.

“Do not fail.”

Volkov walked out of the room.

A few moments later, Professor Max entered quietly.

His calm green eyes looked at Lewis carefully.

Lewis leaned against the table.

“So… what’s the plan?”

Max folded his hands behind his back.

“We strengthen the defense barrier around the academy.”

Lewis nodded.

“Okay.”

Max looked toward the window for a moment, as if thinking about something.

Then he spoke again.

“There’s something you should know.”

Lewis frowned.

“What?”

Max’s voice lowered.

“I am Sky Romanov’s father.”

Lewis’s jaw nearly dropped.

“WHAT?”

Max quickly raised a hand.

“Lower your voice.”

Lewis stared at him in disbelief.

“Sky’s… father?”

Max nodded slowly.

“Yes.”

Lewis rubbed his head in confusion.

“Wait… if you’re his father… then why didn’t anyone know this?”

Max sighed quietly.

“For many reasons.”

His eyes became distant.

“But right now that secret is not important.”

Lewis crossed his arms.

“It feels pretty important.”

Max gave a small smile.

“Maybe someday I will explain.”

Then he pointed toward the academy walls.

“For now, we protect the school.”

Lewis sighed again.

“Great.”

---

Far away, in a rocky clearing outside the academy…

Sammy continued his training.

Professor Ryden stood nearby with his arms crossed.

“Again.”

Sammy lifted his hand.

Lightning sparks gathered around his fingers.

Slowly the electricity compressed together.

A glowing sphere formed.

The Thunder Ball.

Sammy concentrated carefully.

The small sphere crackled violently.

Ryden watched calmly.

“Stabilize it.”

Sammy gritted his teeth.

The lightning suddenly became stable.

For the first time, the Thunder Ball remained perfectly controlled in his palm.

Ryden nodded slightly.

“Good.”

Sammy smiled.

“Finally.”

Ryden pointed toward a large boulder.

“Now attack.”

Sammy threw the Thunder Ball forward.

The sphere exploded against the rock.

BOOM.

The boulder shattered instantly.

Sammy breathed heavily.

Ryden nodded again.

“You have mastered that technique.”

Sammy wiped sweat from his face.

“But you still lack control.”

Sammy frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Ryden walked closer.

“Your voltage is unstable.”

Sammy raised his hand again.

Lightning sparks appeared wildly.

The electricity flickered uncontrollably.

“See?” Ryden said.

“You cannot regulate the power output.”

Sammy looked frustrated.

“So what do I do?”

Ryden answered calmly.

“Train harder.”

Sammy sighed.

“Great advice.”

Ryden ignored the sarcasm.

“Now try the second technique.”

Sammy raised his fist.

Electric energy wrapped around his arm.

The lightning gathered around his knuckles.

“Thunder… Fist.”

He punched forward.

Electricity burst from the strike, smashing into a nearby tree and splitting it in half.

Sammy looked surprised.

“That actually worked.”

Ryden nodded.

“You are improving quickly.”

Sammy smiled slightly.

But suddenly—

The ground shook.

Both of them froze.

A powerful earthquake rumbled through the forest.

Rocks fell from nearby cliffs.

Trees shook violently.

Sammy struggled to keep his balance.

“What is happening?!”

The earthquake stopped just as suddenly as it started.

The forest became silent.

Then Ryden’s eyes narrowed.

“Someone is here.”

Footsteps echoed between the trees.

One.

Two.

Three.

Six dark figures slowly stepped out of the shadows.

All of them wore black cloaks.

Their faces were hidden.

Sammy felt a chill.

One of them stepped forward.

“You remember us?”

His voice was cold.

Ryden stepped slightly in front of Sammy.

The cloaked man continued.

“We came for revenge.”

Sammy’s eyes narrowed.

“Revenge for what?”

The cloaked man’s voice became darker.

“For the man your precious Sky killed.”

The six cloaked attackers spread out slowly.

Lightning sparks formed around Sammy’s fists.

Ryden’s expression hardened.

The leader of the cloaked group pointed directly at Sammy.

“This time…”

“…we finish what we started.”

And the battle was about to begin.

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