The sun hung low on the horizon as Kieran stood on the edge of the Forest of Virmor, the soft rustle of the trees in the wind breaking the otherwise silent atmosphere. He was miles away from the Magic Academy, far enough that no students would wander into his testing grounds. But Kieran knew that he wasn't just here to enjoy the view. Today, he was going to test the true extent of his power—the power he had so casually unlocked in the last few days.
After all, he had to know just how far he could push the limits without attracting unwanted attention.
His Void Sovereign job gave him an absurd level of control over space and time. The mana regeneration abilities he now had at his disposal were infinite, and with the right mix of skills and weapons, Kieran was becoming an unstoppable force. But he couldn't afford to underestimate the magnitude of the abilities he wielded. Everything had consequences. Everything could spiral out of control.
He closed his eyes, his mind settling into a meditative calm as he gathered his thoughts.
A Simple Test – Or So He Thought
Kieran focused, letting the Void energy swirl around him. He raised a hand into the air, calling upon the powers within. Void Step—he used it briefly, flashing a few hundred meters into the air, a smile playing at the edge of his lips. His control over the Void was practically flawless.
Next, he activated Void Vortex, summoning a swirling black hole of energy in front of him. The wind screamed in his ears as the vortex began to expand, devouring the air and the ground. He concentrated, focusing the vortex on a large boulder nearby—a simple target, something he could easily test his power on.
Boom! The air trembled with force as the boulder was consumed by the swirling mass, disintegrating into a fine dust. But Kieran didn't stop. He pushed the vortex further, drawing more mana from the world around him, manipulating the Void with ease. The ground shook beneath him, and the trees bent violently in the wind as the power continued to grow.
Kieran felt a rush of exhilaration—this was the power he now held. He could reshape reality, command forces of nature, and destroy everything in his path with just a thought.
But that wasn't all.
With a snap of his fingers, he amplified the Void Vortex. What had once been a small whirlpool of energy exploded outward. The air split with an unnatural roar, and the ground beneath him cracked open, sending tremors through the forest. Trees were uprooted, the earth itself split apart, and a large mountain in the distance—several miles away—began to shake. A loud, thunderous rumble echoed through the region as the mountain seemed to crumble under the force of Kieran's power.
The sight was nothing short of apocalyptic. A chunk of the mountain ripped free, floating into the air as if being pulled by some unseen force. Mountainside fissures deepened; rocks fell in massive, thunderous plumes as the land seemed to shudder and break apart. The destruction spread, radiating outwards from where Kieran stood, the sheer force of the event creating a shockwave that sent debris flying.
It was only after a few seconds that Kieran finally released his control over the magic, snapping his fingers and causing the Void to collapse on itself, swallowing the chaotic energy in an instant. The mountain, once standing proudly against the sky, was now just a crumbled mess of jagged rocks, dust, and scorched earth.
Kieran blinked in awe, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. He hadn't expected the spell to have such a devastating effect. For a moment, the gravity of what he had just done settled in—he had just obliterated a mountain with a single gesture, something so effortlessly destructive that even his own powers surprised him.
A Tremor Felt Far and Wide
But what Kieran didn't realize was that his reckless display hadn't gone unnoticed. The mana disturbance was immense—an unnatural spike in magical energy that could be felt from miles around. Even though he was far from the Magic Academy, the resonating shockwave of his power sent ripples through the surrounding magic fields, alerting those who were sensitive to such surges.
In an ancient tower near the center of the kingdom, Archmage Alastair stood by a tall, enchanted window, peering out over the mountains in the distance. His brow furrowed as he felt the sudden, sharp tremor of magical energy. It was familiar, unmistakable. He'd sensed it before—Kieran's power.
"That wasn't a normal burst of mana," he murmured to himself. "It's far too concentrated… and too controlled."
He turned sharply, his hand rising to his communication crystal, a glowing gem that allowed him to contact his fellow Archmages. A disturbance of this magnitude could only be the work of someone exceptionally powerful—perhaps even another high-level Archmage.
In the Shadows – Archmages' Gathering
Within moments, a small group of Archmages gathered in a hidden chamber beneath the Academy. Alastair's voice echoed through the chamber as he briefed the others.
"Something... significant just happened in the Virmor Forest," he said gravely. "A surge of mana unlike anything we've seen before, and it's coming from the direction of Kieran."
Another Archmage, Lyria, a powerful wind mage with flowing blonde hair, spoke up. "Are you suggesting he's the cause of this destruction?"
"I'm not suggesting anything," Alastair replied, his voice low. "But it's possible. We need to investigate."
The others murmured amongst themselves, their faces etched with concern. The implications were clear—if Kieran had just unleashed that kind of power, it meant he wasn't just another student. He could be a dangerous force, one that needed to be carefully observed.
"Perhaps it's the work of another Archmage," suggested Archmage Valen, his voice deep and serious. "Someone with the power to disrupt the balance of magic like that."
"That's the question," Alastair responded. "But either way, we need to be certain."
Fleeing the Scene
Back in the forest, Kieran had already realized that the explosion of mana had most certainly caused a commotion. His training grounds had turned into a scene of chaos. The mountain was gone. The landscape had changed. And the air felt charged with the aftermath of his actions.
Too much destruction.
Kieran didn't hesitate. He quickly activated his Void Step, vanishing in an instant, his form disappearing into the fabric of space. Within a fraction of a second, he was hundreds of miles away from his original location—at the heart of the academy, in the safety of his hidden room.
False Assumptions
From afar, the Archmages continued their discussions. They had no idea what had truly happened. As far as they were concerned, this was the result of another high-level mage—perhaps someone attempting to send a message or showcase their power. There was no evidence linking Kieran to the event directly, and yet the feeling in the air had an unmistakable connection to him.
But for now, they could only guess. The mountain's destruction was too great for anyone to claim responsibility openly.
Kieran sat back in his chair, the weight of what had just happened slowly settling in. His power, his immense control over mana, had shaken the earth itself. And while he had fled to safety, the archmages were surely going to keep an eye on him from now on.
But for now, he was safe. And more powerful than ever.