Chapter 38
The center of the Dead-Leaf White Forest was eerily quiet, the trees standing tall like ancient spectators watching the inevitable. Nephis stood in the middle of the clearing, her legs trembling, her breath ragged, her body covered in bruises and blood.
Kaito and Akira lay nearby, completely spent, unable to stand. The leader of the Purple Department, his violet robes swaying gently in the wind, sneered at them, his eyes full of amusement.
"You're too weak to fight," he mocked. "Just give up and die peacefully."
Nephis spat blood onto the ground and raised her fists. "I don't give up."
The leader clicked his tongue in disappointment. "How foolish." He flicked his hand, motioning to one of his subordinates. "Finish her."
The first Purple Department student stepped forward, his Earth energy crackling around him.
And then, the fight began.
Nephis charged forward, ignoring the searing pain in her limbs. The momentum was against her, her opponent far stronger, faster, and completely uninjured. But she had one thing they didn't have—absolute determination.
The first blow landed.
A heavy fist, coated in solid earth essence, smashed into Nephis's ribs. She staggered but refused to fall.
Then came another.
A vicious kick sent her skidding backward, her body hitting the rough ground with a sickening thud. But even then—she rose again.
Her opponent scowled. "Why won't you stay down?"
Nephis wiped the blood from her lip. "Because I'm not done yet."
Another onslaught of attacks followed. Her body screamed in pain. Her bones felt like they would shatter. But she still stood.
Her vision blurred, her breath came in ragged gasps—
And then—
She collapsed.
Her body finally betrayed her.
Nephis hit the ground, unable to move, her strength completely drained.
The leader of the Purple Department walked forward, looking down at her like a discarded insect.
"Pitiful." He turned to his second-in-command. "Finish her off.
Just as the finishing blow was about to land—
"WAIT!"
Kaito's voice cut through the air like a desperate blade.
The Purple Department students all turned to look at him, raising their eyebrows in curiosity.
Kaito, still sitting on the ground, raised a weak hand. "Wait, wait! I—I have something for you!"
The leader smirked. "What could a clown like you possibly have that we'd want?"
Kaito's lips curled into a sly grin. "You want to know Blaze's secret, don't you?"
Silence.
For a moment, even Nephis, struggling to stay conscious, stared at Kaito in disbelief.
The Purple Department students froze.
Because everyone wanted to know Blaze's secret.
How had he gotten so ridiculously strong overnight? How did he suddenly gain lightning abilities?
The leader's eyes narrowed. "If you truly know Blaze's secret… then tell us. If we like your answer, we'll spare your lives."
Akira turned to Kaito, hissing under her breath. "What are you doing?"
Kaito winked. "Trust me."
He dragged himself to a sitting position, dramatically cleared his throat, and began…
"Alright, listen up, you wannabe villains. This is the TRUE story of Blaze."
"Once upon a time," Kaito started, "Blaze was the weakest guy ever."
The Purple Department students leaned in, intrigued.
"He was so weak, he got tired just walking up stairs. He was so pathetic, even an old granny with a wooden cane could beat him."
The leader frowned slightly, but he let Kaito continue.
"But one day," Kaito continued, his voice growing serious, "Blaze entered a mysterious trial. And that's when it happened."
The leader's eyes sharpened. "Go on."
Kaito nodded solemnly. "During the trial, he met a god. Not just any god—THE GOD OF POWER."
The Purple Department students muttered among themselves.
"Intriguing," one of them whispered.
"The God of Power," Kaito said, eyes shining with fake wonder, "looked down at Blaze and said… 'Dude, you suck.'"
Silence.
Akira buried his face in his hands. Nephis groaned.
The leader twitched. "What?"
"But!" Kaito raised a finger dramatically. "The God of Power was feeling generous that day. So he gifted Blaze a superpowerful, ultra-mega-awesome system!"
Silence again.
The leader narrowed his eyes. "...A system?"
"Yes! The Infinite Lightning System of Divine Destruction!"
More silence.
The Purple Department students looked at each other, some nodding, some frowning.
"And from that day forward," Kaito declared, "Blaze went from being the weakest loser in history… to the strongest warrior the world has ever seen!"
The group stared.
Then—
"THAT'S THE STUPIDEST STORY I'VE EVER HEARD!"
The leader's eyes turned red with fury. The other Purple Department students looked ready to murder Kaito on the spot.
Kaito blinked innocently. "What? I thought it was a good story."
"YOU JUST WASTED OUR TIME!" the leader roared. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU FIRST!"
The leader raised his hand, flames gathering at his fingertips.
Nephis, despite her pain, forced herself to her feet, blocking the attack.
But she was too weak.
Her knees buckled, her body ready to collapse.
The leader sneered. "Enough. I'll finish you off with my strongest spell."
A massive flame gathered in his palm, forming into a roaring inferno.
"DIE!" he shouted, launching the attack.
Nephis closed her eyes, ready for the unwilling end.
But then—
A shadow flickered into existence.
A figure in black cloak appeared in front of them, standing tall and unmoving.
The fiery attack raced toward them—
And the figure raised a single hand.
The flames froze in midair.
Then—
SNAP.
With a casual flick of his fingers, the fire shattered into ice and crumbled to dust.
The Purple Department students froze.
The black-clothed figure looked up, his cold blue eyes locking onto the leader.
"I hate flame wizards."
Aether mutters.
To be continued…