Silence.

  The battlefield that had once been filled with the sounds of clashing steel and burning flames was now eerily quiet.

  The attackers had retreated all at once.

  Aleron stood amidst the ruins of the academy, his breath heavy, his body still adjusting to the Abyssal Wraith Flame that now coursed through him. His battle with Roderic had been fierce, but it was over. The students, though battered and exhausted, had survived.

  But something felt off.

  Kaelan narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the battlefield. “This doesn’t make sense,” he murmured. “They wouldn’t just retreat so suddenly… unless—”

  Before he could finish, the ground shook violently.

  Then, an explosion.

  The air was filled with dust and debris as the academy’s training field erupted in a massive blast, sending students and instructors stumbling backward. A deafening roar followed, shaking the very foundations of the academy.

  From the smoke and flames, a colossal figure emerged.

  A Minotaur King.

  Standing nearly four meters tall, its muscular frame rippled with raw power. Its fur was jet black, its horns gleaming like polished obsidian. The beast's eyes glowed a deep crimson, filled with unrestrained fury.

  In its right hand, it wielded a massive double-bladed axe, the edges lined with ancient runes pulsing with dark energy. Each breath it took was a growl, and every step it made cracked the ground beneath it.

  Panic erupted among the students.

  “That… that’s a Minotaur King!” one of the instructors gasped, his face turning pale.

  “We can’t fight that thing!” another student screamed, stumbling back in fear.

  Minotaur Kings were dangerous creatures, monsters that even veteran warriors would hesitate to face. Their strength was said to rival that of entire armies, their regenerative abilities making them nearly indestructible. They were the apex of their kind—a nightmare on the battlefield.

  Aleron clenched his fists, his body still exhausted from the previous fight. He could feel the Abyssal Wraith Flame inside him, but he hadn’t fully adjusted to its power yet. If he rushed in recklessly, he could burn himself from the inside out.

  Kaelan took a step forward, his expression calm but deadly.

  “Everyone, stand back,” he ordered, his voice carrying a weight that silenced the fear in the air. “I’ll handle this.”

  The Minotaur King let out a thunderous roar, swinging its axe with terrifying force. The sheer wind pressure sent several students tumbling backward.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  But before the axe could hit the ground, Kaelan moved.

  In a blur, he closed the distance between them, his sword flashing like a streak of silver light. With a single, precise strike, he parried the monstrous weapon, redirecting its force away from the students. The impact sent a shockwave through the battlefield, but Kaelan did not budge.

  Aleron’s eyes widened.

  Kaelan had always been powerful, but this… this was something else.

  The headmaster moved like a phantom, weaving between the Minotaur King’s devastating swings with an elegance that seemed almost inhuman. His sword, glowing faintly with energy, struck with pinpoint accuracy, each slash leaving deep cuts on the beast’s hide.

  But the Minotaur did not fall.

  Its wounds regenerated instantly, dark energy sealing the gashes as if they had never existed. It was a battle of attrition, and the beast would not tire.

  Kaelan frowned. "This thing… it's been enhanced."

  The enemy had done something to the Minotaur King—something that made it even stronger than normal. The realization sent a chill down his spine.

  While Kaelan fought the Minotaur King, some of the stronger students regained their courage.

  “We can’t just stand here!” one of them yelled.

  The academy was their home. They had trained for years to become warriors, mages, and defenders of the kingdom. If they ran now, what was the point?

  Several students unleashed powerful spells, beams of fire and lightning striking the beast. Others, wielding swords and spears, charged forward to assist Kaelan.

  For a moment, it looked like they were making progress.

  Then, the Minotaur roared again.

  A wave of black energy exploded from its body, sending the students flying like ragdolls. The ground cracked apart, and the very air became thick with suffocating pressure.

  Kaelan gritted his teeth.

  "Damn it… this isn't enough."

  Aleron watched as his fellow students were knocked unconscious one by one. His fists tightened. The flame inside him burned brighter, as if responding to his emotions.

  He couldn’t just stand here.

  He had already fought today. He was exhausted. His body was barely holding itself together after absorbing the Abyssal Wraith Flame.

  But none of that mattered.

  Because if he did nothing… everyone would die.

  Summoning every last ounce of his remaining strength, Aleron stepped forward.

  The moment he did, the Abyssal Wraith Flame ignited around him, black and violet fire flickering like a living entity.

  Kaelan’s eyes flickered toward him. “Aleron—!”

  Aleron vanished.

  In an instant, he reappeared above the Minotaur King, his body wreathed in flames.

  Aleron struck.

  With a downward slash, his Abyssal Wraith Flame surged forth, searing through the Minotaur’s defenses. The beast let out a pained bellow, stumbling backward as the flames clung to its body, burning not just its flesh but its very soul.

  Kaelan saw the opening.

  “Now!” he shouted.

  With a final explosive strike, he drove his sword deep into the Minotaur King’s heart. The runes on the beast’s axe flickered, then shattered into dust.

  A long, agonizing silence followed.

  Then, with a tremendous crash, the Minotaur King collapsed.

  The battle was over.

  The Vanishing Enemy

  Aleron panted heavily, his vision swimming. The Abyssal Wraith Flame receded, leaving behind an eerie silence.

  Then, something strange happened.

  The enemy’s forces… vanished.

  One moment, they had been there. The next, they were gone without a trace. No bodies. No lingering presence. As if they had never been there in the first place.

  Kaelan frowned. “This wasn’t just an attack.”

  Aleron looked at him. “Then what was it?”

  Kaelan exhaled. “something big is about to happen."

  Aleron’s heart pounded. But what?

  He didn’t have the answers.

  But deep inside, he knew this was only the beginning.