The scene shifts to a memory from Rai's childhood, a vivid flashback that unveils a rare glimpse of his mysterious past.
Rai, around five years old, stands in an open, desolate field surrounded by towering cliffs. Opposite him stands his father, a shadowy figure shrouded in enigma. His father's posture exudes an overwhelming aura of authority and strength, a stark contrast to Rai's small frame.
"Focus, Rai! Your shield is your will—bend your prana to protect yourself!" his father commands in a voice as sharp and unyielding as steel.
A blazing fireball, crackling with fierce intensity, hurtles through the air toward young Rai. Determined, Rai raises his hands, summoning his prana into a shimmering, translucent shield—a technique called Soul Protection.
The fiery orb crashes against the shield with a deafening roar. For a fleeting moment, the barrier holds, flickering like a fragile ember against the storm. But the force is too overwhelming. The shield shatters, sending Rai flying backward into the dirt.
He lands with a pained grunt, tears pooling in his wide, innocent eyes. Before the tears can fall, a warm and comforting presence arrives—a woman, his mother. Like his father, her features are obscured, but her aura radiates kindness and love.
She kneels beside him, gently cradling his small frame as she wipes away the tears forming in his eyes. "It's alright, my brave boy," she says soothingly, her voice a tender balm. "You're learning. Each time you'll grow stronger."
Rai's father commanded with a stern voice, "Rai, that was pathetic!"
Immediately, his wife shot him a death glare sharp enough to cut through steel. Panicking, Rai's father quickly backpedalled, stammering, "W-Well, what I meant to say was... you'll have to be much stronger if you wish to stand atop this world!"
Young Rai, standing up and wiping his tear-streaked face, clenched his fists. His voice trembled with frustration as he shouted back, "How do you expect me to stand atop the world of magic when you gave birth to me without magic?!"
Without waiting for a reply, he stormed off into the house, slamming the door behind him. Throwing himself onto his bed, Rai buried his face in his pillow, muffling his sobs.
Rai's house was modest, a small, cozy space barely large enough for a single person to live comfortably. It reflected his humble lifestyle and the fact that his parents only visit him from time to time, yet it was filled with warmth. His parents followed him back inside after his outburst, finding him lying face-down on his bed with his face buried in his pillow.
His mother sat beside him, gently brushing her hand through his hair. She spoke softly, her voice carrying the comforting tone only a mother could master. "Darling Rai, how many times have I told you? You are not magic-less."
Rai turned his head slightly, his teary eyes glancing up at her. He always admired how calm and kind she was, even when he felt like the world was against him.
She continued, her voice steady and soothing. "The real reason people look down on those with ordinary eyes is because they have a very low chance of awakening their magic."
Rai sat up slightly, in his frustration yelled " then why did you give birth to me with ordinary eyes, the both of you don't so why me". He sniffled as tears rolled down his face. His mother and Father both lost for words could only exchange glances of sorrow at each other, and yet they could not let their emotions show, for they have a strong young man to raise.
His mother smiled and went on, her words laced with both wisdom and encouragement. "You see, people with magic eyes are born with their magic unlocked. It's like having a door already open. For those with ordinary eyes, however, that door is locked tightly. Even if someone with ordinary eyes manages to unlock it, the chances of growing strong enough to rival those with innate magic are… rare."
Rai looked down in sadness, his small frame slumped in defeat. His father sat down beside him, placing both hands firmly on Rai's shoulders. His voice carried a mix of determination and excitement as he said, "But you, Rai—you are going to change that perception. You will unlock your magic, and you will go beyond."
Rai's mother nodded in agreement, her expression filled with pride and encouragement, both of them masking their regret and sorrow for the handicap that they had given their son. His father continued, his tone growing serious, "But for that, you must unlock your mana. Your Prana is incredible, Rai, but it isn't enough. Your Atmaan Overdrive granting you a two-times boost in power is good—but it's limiting. Pushing beyond a three-times multiplier would be fatal. Your Soul Protection, while impressive, cannot handle strong magical attacks, as we saw earlier. And finally, you're Atmaan Explosion—granting you a five-times boost for a short time—leaves you utterly exhausted. That move can only be a last resort, a finishing strike."
His father's grip on Rai's shoulders tightened, not with force but with conviction, as he leaned in closer. "My sweet, sweet boy, I know you will surpass every expectation and meet ours because our expectations for you are the highest there could ever be." Both his parents looked at him lovingly, but Rai could see past it, he could see their regret and sorrow but was too young to understand.
The scene shifts back to the present, and Rai's world crashes down around him. His eyes, filled with horror, fall upon Gale, whose body is impaled by the concrete, the blood slowly dripping away. Rai collapses to his knees, his face contorted in disbelief.
As anger surges within him, his silver aura flickers uncontrollably, causing the air around him to crackle. The Infernal Beast, its twisted grin widening, glances back at Rai. With an eerie, menacing chuckle, it mutters under its breath, "Oooo, found your switch…"
The beast then slowly gestures toward Baruss and Rose, as if signaling that they would be next.
Rai, trembling with rage, attempts to rise, but his body refuses to obey. His limbs feel like they're made of lead, and the overuse of Atmaan explosion has left him utterly drained. His fingers scrape the ground, desperately trying to crawl toward his friends, toward his fallen companions.
The anger inside him is suffocating, threatening to swallow him whole.
Then, in the midst of his struggle, a memory flickers in his mind—the night before the Magian battle. Gale, ever the pessimist, had asked him once again, "Do you really believe I'll become the Magel?"
Without hesitation, Rai had smiled and replied, "As I said, I know that you will."
The memory shifts, and suddenly, Rai recalls his first day at the academy—when he had first met Rose. The unexpected, fiery exchange between them played out in vivid detail. Then, a flash of laughter as Baruss stood defeated, forgotten by everyone in their focus on Mammoth, the clumsy, endearing moments that had solidified their bond.
As memories flash through Rai's mind—each one a connection to the people he cherishes, each moment pushing him closer to the edge—his anger, frustration, and determination boil over. Gale's encouraging words echo in his mind, followed by Rose's taunting remark about his strength, and Baruss' unfortunate stance as the forgotten one.
Suddenly, the memory of his father's voice reverberates through his mind: "Rai, you need to unlock your mana."
At that instant, a brilliant flash of white lightning strikes Rai in the head. The magnitude of the thunder that follows is unlike anything the battlefield has seen, so powerful it halts all ongoing combat. The surrounding fighters—Pragaya, Kromus, and Allseer—are left frozen, their senses overwhelmed by the sheer force of the energy crackling through the air.
As the dust settles, the battlefield remains eerily quiet, save for the faint crackling of yellow lightning. Through the smoke, Rai's silhouette could be seen crouching. A long, drawn breath fills his lungs, and as he exhales, the air itself seems to expand, bursting outward in a shockwave infused with crackling yellow electricity.
The shockwave clears the dust and debris, revealing Rai as he knelt on the ground, struggling with the weight of his emotions and the agony of his failure, something changed within him. Slowly, theyellow lightning armor began to materialize on his body, a partial form wrapping around him like a protective shell. With a grim determination, Rai pushed himself to his feet, the armor growing more solid with each movement. The cape, electric tendrils sparking from it like a wild storm, flared out behind him.
"Ascend..." Rai whispered under his breath, the word carrying with it a quiet resolve.
The transformation exuded tremendous force. The armor expanded, growing several feet taller, taking on a majestic, towering form that dwarfed the Infernal Beast in front of him. The sheer magnitude of it made the air crackle with static, and the ground beneath Rai's feet trembled.
As the dust settled, Pragaya, Allseer, and Kromus arrived on the scene, just in time to witness the miracle unfolding before them.
Allseer, his eyes wide with admiration, immediately began fawning over Rai, his voice a mix of awe and adoration. "Incredible! Master Rai, you truly are the one destined to surpass all others!" His expression was like that of a loyal servant marveling at their master's greatness, creating a brief moment of levity in the midst of the chaos.
Kromus stood there, stunned, his jaw slightly ajar in disbelief. "How... How did he do that?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Only high level magic users are capable of this..." His mind raced, trying to grasp the enormity of what had just happened, but he couldn't quite make sense of it.
Above them, floating with serene grace, Pragaya observed the scene. His eyes shone with pride as he gazed upon Rai's transformation. His armor and wings shimmering as he reactivated his fortify armour technique, he spoke softly, more to himself than anyone else, "Yes, my boy... That's right... Go on." His voice carried a note of approval, a quiet encouragement that resonated with Rai's newfound strength.
As Allseer scanned the battlefield, his eyes widened in horror when he spotted Gale. "Oh no!" he exclaimed. Without wasting a moment, he rushed toward Gale, with Kromus hot on his heels. As they hurried, Allseer alerted Pragaya, who, upon receiving the message, moved with such speed that he almost seemed to teleport. He arrived at Gale's side in the blink of an eye.
Pragaya immediately used his Varma technique to halt Gale's heart, preventing further blood loss. Meanwhile, Allseer and Kromus managed to rescue Rose and Baruss, who remained unconscious from their previous injuries. Pragaya, still focused, swiftly transported all three to the infirmary for emergency care.
The nurses were quick to use healing spells to close Gale's wound, though he remained unconscious. Pragaya stood over him, worry etched on his face as he asked, "Will he be alright?"
The nurse, her face grim, met his gaze. She didn't have an answer. Only time would tell.
After a tense moment, Pragaya swiftly moved back to the battlefield, his mind still preoccupied with the uncertainty of Gale's condition. The fight awaited, and the danger was far from over.
Other than Gale's grim condition, Pragaya, Kromus, and Allseer were also assessing Rai in his new, magnificent form. Kromus, still trying to process what he was witnessing, muttered in disbelief, "How is this possible, Headmaster? Look at his eyes… they're still just ordinary."
Pragaya smirked, his gaze locked onto Rai. "Mutation," he said simply.
Kromus's breath hitched. "By the gods…" He couldn't tear his eyes away, the sheer impossibility of it sending shivers down his spine.
Meanwhile, the battle was reaching its climax. Rai, his expression cold and unyielding, was done playing around. He slowly raised his right hand, palm facing the sky, his voice echoing through the battlefield.
"Final Retribution."
In an instant, the sky darkened, storm-like winds tearing through the battlefield. Thick black clouds swirled above, crackling violently with yellow lightning. Then, without warning—
BOOM!
Bolts of golden lightning rained down in a devastating barrage, striking every area occupied by Hellrisers. The sheer force of the attack sent shockwaves through the ground, reducing enemy formations to ash.
On the other side of the battlefield, Mammoth, Sylvia, and Lorenzo froze mid-fight. Their instincts screamed at them to move, but their bodies refused. Both Sylvia and Lorenzo turned to Mammoth with wide eyes.
"Was that your doing?" Sylvia asked, tension in her voice.
But Mammoth, the very embodiment of lightning himself, could only stare in horror at the devastation before him. His voice came out in a whisper.
"No…"
The lightning struck with such overwhelming force that it instantly eradicated all the Hellrisers across the battlefield. The warriors who had been locked in combat stood frozen, utterly bewildered by the sheer magnitude of the attack. But beyond its destructive power, the magical energy itself was unlike anything they had ever witnessed.
Dean Shelly and Luthor, having regrouped, exchanged glances.
"What in the world was that?" Luthor asked, his refined tone barely masking his astonishment.
Shelly, on the other hand, was buzzing with excitement. "I don't freaking know, but it sure as hell was awesome!" she practically shouted, fists clenched in giddy enthusiasm. Then, with a carefree shrug, she added, "Besides, it got rid of the Hellrisers, so does it really matter what it was?"
Luthor let out a long, disappointed sigh. "I should expect nothing less from a child."
That single sentence made Shelly explode in animated fury. Her face turned red, steam practically puffing from her ears as she stomped toward Luthor. "I am older than you, you stupid dummy dumb dumb!" she shouted, hurling a string of childish insults his way.
Luthor, his expression blank, simply stared at her. The irony of her words—and the way her actions completely contradicted them—was almost painful to witness.
The scene shifts back to Mammoth, Sylvia, and Lorenzo, all frozen in place, their bodies stiff with fear. The realization that the devastating attack hadn't come from Mammoth sent a chill down their spines. The battlefield, once teeming with Hellrisers, was now eerily empty—cleared in an instant.
Lorenzo, his usual sluggish demeanor tinged with unease, muttered, "This kind of power... I've never felt anything like it before."
Mammoth, his deep voice carrying a rare note of concern, responded, "You're right. This magic... it feels different from all of ours."
Sylvia, ever the decisive one, snapped, "Well, don't just stand there! We need to find out where it came from—fast. If this is an ally, we need to know. If it's an enemy..." She trailed off, but the weight of her words hung in the air.
Without another moment's hesitation, the three of them began scanning the battlefield, determined to uncover the source of this overwhelming power.
As they scanned the battlefield, Sylvia's sharp eyes finally locked onto the source. Her gaze fixed on Rai, standing tall in his magnificent form, his cape billowing dramatically in the storm-like winds. Without breaking eye contact, she signalled to her companions.
"Guys… I think I found the source. And you are not going to believe this."
Mammoth and Lorenzo followed her line of sight, their eyes widening in shock as they took in the sight of Rai. Their hearts almost stopped.
Lorenzo, in his usual dull and lazy manner, muttered, "Wow… so that's the kid who whooped your ass, huh, Mammoth?"
Mammoth visibly twitched at the comment, clicking his tongue in frustration. "I don't need to hear that from someone with the personality of a piece of paper," he shot back.
Lorenzo's face remained as blank as ever… but a single dramatic tear rolled down his cheek. A silent but undeniable acknowledgment that, yes—he was, in fact, a human with the personality of paper.
Mammoth clenched his fists, his voice laced with frustration. "So, what... Was I that easy of an opponent that he felt the need to disrespect me by hiding his magic?" His brows furrowed as he stared at Rai's towering lightning form. "Maybe I was wrong about him. Maybe he isn't that great of a person after all."
Lorenzo lazily glanced at him. "Or maybe you're just weak."
Mammoth's eye twitched, but before he could retort, Sylvia cut in, "Enough, both of you. Whatever the case, we'll find out soon... Because the battle's about to unfold."
Their gazes remained locked onto Rai, anticipation and uncertainty settling in as the storm raged around him.
Mammoth remained deep in thought, his brows furrowed as he tried to piece everything together. "Who is that kid? Why would he hide his strength like that? It didn't give him any advantage." His fists clenched as frustration gnawed at him. "Maybe I'm just overthinking this… After all, he used his wish to make sure I didn't lose my place in this academy. There's no way he'd disrespect me like that. I'm letting my emotions get the better of me. There has to be more to this…"
As the dust settled, despite the fact that all other Hellrisers and Infernals had been wiped out by Rai's attack, the one remaining Infernal in front of him stood unfazed, seemingly untouched. However, to everyone's shock, the Infernal slowly began to disintegrate into the air, vanishing without a trace. The battle, which had seemed so intense and drawn out, ended with just one strike—an attack that even the Headmaster could not deliver.
Everyone, from Mammoth and his companions to the two Deans and the rest of the fighters, stood in stunned silence, unable to comprehend the sheer power Rai had displayed. In a matter of moments, Rai had singlehandedly saved the academy, leaving the battlefield in awe.
Mammoth, in particular, was frustrated. He couldn't stop himself from trying to make sense of Rai. The style of Rai's magic was disturbingly similar to his own, but there was something deeper—something mysterious—about the power he wielded. He clenched his fists, trying to piece together the puzzle that was Rai.
Slowly, everyone began making their way toward Rai, who still stood in his towering form. Even though he had eliminated the threat, his expression remained serious—almost as if he knew things were far from over.
Then, a loud, commanding voice cut through the tension.
"Stay back, all of you!"
It was the headmaster. Pragaya, Kromus, and Allseer, who were closest to the scene, could see what the others couldn't.