The ground quaked as Zane's aura exploded outward, shadows writhing like living serpents around his body. The End Blade shimmered in his grip, thrumming with anticipation. Above him, the black crown spun in the air, casting rippling voidlight over the battlefield.
Gasps echoed from the surrounding students.
Kaela—his instructor—stood calmly in the center of the arena, arms behind her back, the faintest smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Zane's eyes blazed with violet fury. His breathing was heavy, his mind wild with system notifications, energy spikes, and pure instinct. He was ready to fight, to dominate, to prove—
A sound cut through the madness like a knife.
Kaela had lifted her slender fingers and simply... snapped.
In an instant, everything stopped.
The air pressure normalized. The shadows clinging to Zane's body dissipated like mist under sunlight. His armor cracked and peeled away into dust. The crown above his head shattered silently, fading into black sparks.
Zane stumbled back, eyes wide. His blade clattered to the floor.
The arena returned to stillness.
Kaela didn't move from her spot. Her expression had shifted into something soft, almost maternal—but her eyes, sharp and unreadable, held the weight of galaxies.
"Fascinating," she murmured. "A crown of the Void... You've barely scratched the surface of what you are, and yet it already manifests."
Zane opened his mouth, but no words came. His body trembled—not in fear, but in awe. The power that had just overtaken him... the one he could barely contain...
She had dismissed it. Effortlessly.
"I believe that's enough for today," Kaela said, turning toward the stunned class. "Mr. Zane is excused."
Then she looked at him—really looked—and gave a small nod.
"But we will speak soon, you and I."
As she walked away, her footsteps left faint glowing prints in the stone. Whatever Kaela truly was... she wasn't just a teacher.
He wasn't just a student.