The ground trembled beneath them as Arthur, Gael, and Seraphina sprinted toward the battlefield. Smoke filled the air, and a loud explosion rang in the distance.
Gael gritted his teeth. "We have to hurry and assist them!"
Arthur and Seraphina nodded without hesitation, picking up their pace.
Hyorinmaru floated beside Arthur, his icy aura chilling the air. His voice was sharp, filled with frustration.
"Why did you use that incomplete technique, you fool?! You could have died!"
Arthur winced, raising his hands to his ears. "Sorry! I had no choice! But on the bright side, it worked, didn't it?"
Hyorinmaru scoffed. "You were just lucky. More importantly, how is your body reacting to the cold? Are you stable now?"
Arthur rolled his shoulders. "Yeah… but I still feel frozen."
Seraphina suddenly pointed ahead. "I see a path!"
Gael cut in. "Then let's hurry!"
They ran faster, their steps echoing through the battlefield.
---
Lightning Magic: Thunder Gate
CRACKLE!
A deafening explosion of lightning struck the ground, sending sparks flying in every direction. Felix and Riven collapsed, their bodies convulsing as raw electricity surged through them. Their swords slipped from their hands, their muscles unresponsive.
A boy stood over them, his dark hair swaying slightly as lightning crackled around his body. His eyes were empty, his lips twisted into a manic grin.
"You're all weak," he muttered. "How dare you stand before me?"
Felix gritted his teeth, trying to push himself up. Riven gasped for air, his fingers clawing at the dirt.
Callista, still healing herself, looked toward them in horror.
The boy lifted his hand.
A sphere of lightning formed in his palm, glowing ominously before launching forward—
CLANG!
A burst of sparks erupted as Leo blocked the attack, his blade absorbing the impact. Smoke curled from his sword as he smirked.
"Shall we continue from where we left off?"
But the boy didn't respond. His hollow eyes remained fixated on them.
"You're all weak," he repeated, his voice disturbingly empty.
Electricity flared violently around him.
Before Leo could react—
BOOM!
A shockwave of lightning exploded, sending him flying.
Leo crashed into the dirt, coughing as his body trembled from the electric surge. "He's… stronger than before," he muttered. "Where the hell is all this power coming from?"
The boy raised his hand again, his blade crackling with electricity. He slashed forward—
BOOM!
A massive wall of ice materialized, blocking the attack. Steam hissed as the lightning clashed against the frost, melting parts of it but stopping the strike.
As the mist cleared, Leo's eyes widened.
Arthur stood at the other end of the battlefield, his breath misting in the cold air. Hyorinmaru hovered beside him, his icy presence overwhelming.
Seraphina dashed toward Callista. "I'll guard her while she heals them!"
Gael rushed to Felix and Riven, helping them toward safety.
Arthur turned to Leo with a smirk. "What's with the sorry state, battle maniac?"
Leo gritted his teeth, trying to stand but falling back. Arthur caught him and helped him sit against a rock.
"I can still fight," Leo muttered.
Arthur shook his head. "Don't force yourself. Recover your mana. Leave the rest to us."
Callista dispelled her protective flower cocoon and walked toward them. Gael brought Felix and Riven over, and she activated her magic.
"Plant Magic: Mermaid's Robe."
A glowing green garment covered in flowers wrapped around her shoulders. Vines extended from it, wrapping around Leo, Felix, and Riven, slowly healing their wounds.
Arthur turned toward the battlefield, gripping his sword. His expression darkened.
"He's going to pay for hurting my friends."
Hyorinmaru floated beside him. "Be careful. He took down those three with ease."
Arthur's voice was cold. "I know."
He stepped forward, raising his blade.
"Frost upon the heavens… Hyorinmaru!"
Gael sighed. "Do you have a strategy?"
Arthur smirked. "Yeah. We take him down with brute force."
Gael groaned. "What kind of plan is that?!"
But Arthur was already moving.
---
The Battle
Arthur slashed at the boy, but he dodged effortlessly, twisting his body before slamming his foot into Arthur's stomach.
Arthur gasped as he was sent skidding backward.
Gael appeared beside him, his dual swords flashing.
"Cleave… Tsuchigiri!"
His blades sliced through the air, forcing the boy on the defensive. The boy blocked one strike but winced as the second blade nicked his cheek, drawing blood.
Gael smirked. "Got you."
"Earth Magic—Mud Pit!"
The ground beneath the boy softened, trapping his feet.
Arthur leaped into the air, his blade glowing with frost.
"Frost Touch!"
A freezing wave engulfed the boy, locking him inside a frozen prison. Arthur and Gael let out a breath, lowering their guard.
"It's finally over," Arthur muttered.
Gael sighed—
Then—
CRACK!
Lightning exploded from within the ice.
Before Arthur and Gael could react, twin bolts of electricity shot out, striking them both.
Arthur slammed into a tree, coughing. Gael was thrown backward, rolling across the dirt.
A chill ran down Arthur's spine as he looked up.
The boy stepped out of the dissipating ice, his body crackling with raw power. His eyes were empty.
His lips curled into a twisted grin.
"The punishment for the weak… is death."
---
Flashback – The Children of Velundria
Darkness.
A voice.
"Zayne…"
The boy's eyes slowly fluttered open. His vision was blurry, but he saw a familiar face above him.
"Eliara…?" he murmured.
She smiled, holding his hand. "What are you doing standing there? Let's go, or we'll be late for the routine call!"
Ahead of them stood a cold, metallic facility. Other children in shabby, tattered clothes moved around, their faces empty.
They entered a large hall, where a stern man with sharp, terrifying features stood before them.
"Roll call," the man announced.
Zayne and Eliara stepped forward.
"Present."
The man's piercing gaze swept across them. "You have all passed the test to qualify as Velundria's Sword Mage Generals. Prepare for your second examination."
Up in the control room, another man leaned forward.
"A death match? Isn't this too cruel?"
The stern man smirked.
"This will teach them a simple truth. The world is cruel. The punishment for the weak… is death."
Below, chaos erupted.
Screams. Blood.
Zayne stood frozen. Eliara, flames burning in her hands, looked at him with sorrowful eyes.
"I want to get out of here," she whispered. "So please… die."
She rushed at him—
Zayne screamed as lightning erupted around him—
BOOM!
When the dust settled, Eliara lay motionless before him.
Tears streamed down his face.
"Why…?"
---
Back to Reality
Lightning crackled violently around Zayne, melting the ice completely.
Arthur and Gael barely had time to react before—
BOOM!
They were struck by two lightning bolts.
Zayne walked forward, his eyes hollow, his smile deranged.
"The punishment for the weak… is death."