The moon was high, casting silver light over the capital. Most were asleep, but not Kazuki.

  He stood shirtless at the top of the cliffside, the wind howling around him. His aura crackled in silence—thick with pressure, dense with resolve. His training hadn't stopped since Kairyuuha's message.

  Not once.

  "Again," he muttered.

  With a deep breath, Kazuki activated his inner mana circulation. Flames of darkness licked his limbs while ethereal symbols rotated slowly behind him—visible only to those sensitive to magical fluctuations.

  [Elemental Fury] — Activated.

  [Total Concentration] — Activated.

  [Dark Reinforcement] — Activated.

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  The earth around him shattered from the weight of his mana. He pushed forward with a burst of speed, faster than the eye could see. He punched the air, unleashing sonic booms. He jumped into the sky and began chaining mid-air movements—flips, dashes, mana-augmented kicks.

  He ascended high, higher than any normal adventurer could.

  Past the clouds. Past the breathable air.

  He stopped only when the pressure of the atmosphere threatened to crush his lungs.

  And he stayed there—hovering in total silence.

  Below, the Duke watched through a magic monocle from his office.

  “…He’s reached atmospheric limit,” the Duke whispered. “He’s pushing his human body to do things only high-class monsters could.”

  Rinara appeared beside him. “You were right,” she said. “He’s preparing for war.”

  “He knows Kairyuuha isn’t waiting,” the Duke replied. “And that orb… if Kairyuuha finds it—”

  “He won’t,” Rinara cut in. “Kazuki won’t let him.”

  ---

  Back above the clouds, Kazuki finally descended, slamming into the ground like a comet—crater and all. His entire body was smoking, bruised, cracked… but not broken.

  He stood up. Slowly. Quietly.

  And then… he smiled.

  A small one. Barely noticeable.

  “Still not enough,” he muttered. “But I’m getting closer.”

  His hand raised, and he summoned the [Dark Army Gate] briefly—just enough to summon one shadow beast for sparring.

  A new one.

  Massive. Armored. Ruthless.

  A shadow dragon.

  Kazuki looked it in the eyes and said, “Come.”

  And the battle resumed.