The world rushed past in a blur of wind and sky.
Zane twisted in the Phoenix's grasp, the monstrous talons digging into his arms. Pain seared through him—but not more than the fury building inside.
"System—activate Shadow Armor!" he roared.
Darkness exploded from his core, crawling up his limbs in tendrils of Void energy. The shadows solidified into sleek, jagged armor across his body. His back cracked with pressure—and then—
A pair of jet-black wings burst from his shoulders, spiraling with Void flame and pulsing with raw power.
Zane grinned through gritted teeth. "You're not the only one who can fly."
With a surge of energy, he pushed off the Phoenix's talons, flipping mid-air and hovering across from the beast. Below, the academy was a shrinking blur. Above, storm clouds churned as the two titans faced each other in the sky.
The Phoenix shrieked again—this time with fury.
And then, the Endblade appeared.
Forged of abyssal metal and rimmed with glowing violet runes, it hovered for a moment before snapping into Zane's hand like it had always belonged there.
Its glowing eyes narrowed, and something deeper—older—flared within them.
Zane braced, raising the Endblade to strike—but the creature slammed into him with a speed he couldn't match. The air left his lungs as the sky flipped upside down and the ground came rushing up to meet him.
Stone shattered. Dust exploded outward. A crater formed where he hit, smoke rising around the impact zone.
Zane groaned, barely able to move.
A blood-red screen flickered to life before his face.
His vision blurred—but his grip on the Endblade never faltered.
And somewhere above, wings beat again.
The fight wasn't over.