The sky roared.
Lightning swirled like serpents around Alex, crackling, dancing, screaming for release. He stood at the heart of the storm, eyes burning with focus, conjuring the same lightning into his palm.
He was falling.
Falling from the heavens with lightning wrapped around his arm like a vengeful god's whip. The air tore past him—roaring—until, with a gust of wind magic, he slowed midair, descending like a phantom.
Alex looked at his hand—lightning coiled within it.
Then he looked around—all the beasts were dead, falling from the sky like broken puppets.
He laughed.
A wild, untamed laugh.
"It's fun! A lot!"
With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a massive tornado that spiraled through the rain, lifting the fallen carcasses and hurling them far from the cave.
Then—like nothing had happened—he walked back inside, still practicing the lightning form from the battle. Darcy and Leo were asleep, snoring softly. Alex chuckled, sliced some meat, and lit a fire.
"Wake up," he grinned.
The two stirred, groggy.
He handed them food, and once they had eaten, he sat cross-legged, pulling out a tattered book. The rain drummed a steady rhythm outside as he read and absorbed. Slowly, he began understanding the art of passing energy through objects.
He summoned lightning once more, this time channeling it into his blade. Layer by layer, the magic fused with the metal. Each strike grew more intense, more alive.
He laughed. "Brave! Did I reach the advanced level?!"
A voice echoed in his mind—his magical companion:
"Master! You still have to learn elemental magic and rune magic! Trust me!"
Alex grinned.
"Nha! What we need to focus on is storing mana! How much can we hold?!"
"I'm your reflection! You can pour a vast amount into me!"
Laughing, Alex sat in meditation and began absorbing mana. The rain continued for hours… then days… then an entire week.
And during that week, Alex evolved.
He trained like a beast—mastering elemental magic through lightning, rainwater, and sheer will. Though he failed countless times, he refused to stop until he could channel lightning to the very edge of his blade.
His swordplay became something else—something divine.
One Morning..
Alex awoke and stretched. The dawn was pale, but his fire was fierce. He dropped to the ground, doing pushups—Leo on his back, Darcy clinging to his shoulders. Weighted exercises, every morning, as Marvick had taught him.
When done, he trained with water, listening for every whisper of wind, every drip of rain.
But then—
A scream.
"Help! Help…!"
Gasping. Running. Armor clashing. Feet stumbling.
Alex opened his eyes.
The air around him grew heavy as his aura ignited. Leo and Darcy looked toward the cave entrance—eyes wide.
Alex wrapped himself in saber-tooth skin and stood tall.
"Kids… we've got guests. Let's go meet them."
He stepped outside, leapt into the air, and vanished—moving faster than sound.
some In the Forests of ocean demon island
A woman in a noble dress ran through the thick woods, clutching her daughter's hand—both gasping for breath.
The island's gravity crushed their lungs; their kingdom's knights pursued like wolves.
"Ruby, listen to me!" the mother gasped. "They'll kill us no matter what. But you—you must survive."
Steel pierced her chest.
Her daughter screamed as blood spilled onto her hands. Her mother collapsed.
Suddenly, a red-horned beast appeared, snarling and attacking the soldiers. It drove them back—then sat beside the fallen woman and child, watching them silently, as if guarding.
The soldiers closed in.
A sound—a flash.
A figure landed.
Draped in saber-tooth skin, wild hair falling like a beast's mane, a glowing sword crackling with lightning in his hand. The girl and her mother gasped in fear.
"It's okay. You're safe," Alex said, voice calm but sharp. "My pet will protect you."
The blade in his hand pulsed with violent energy. He stepped forward, meeting the gaze of the knight leading the pursuers.
"Why are you trying to kill them?" he asked.
The knight sneered, stepping forward and pointing his blade.
"From your stance… your grip… you're trained. I see it now—you're a Maze-Knight apprentice, aren't you?"
Alex didn't flinch.
"What's it to you?"
The knight spat, "You look noble, yet you act wild. I amRudeus Slain Devious Roeran. And I challenge you, little knight. Let's see what kind of coward you really are!"
Alex smiled.
"I am Alexander Brave Light, Author of Thunder. I accept your challenge—life and death. If I fall, my sword and bond are yours."
The soldiers laughed.
"That child's supposed to be dead! And powerless!"
Alex's eyes gleamed.
"Then why do I hear cowards' mouths, not the clash of swords?"
The knights roared and charged, blades glowing with aura.
Alex stood still.
He recalled Marvick's words:
"Find the path of the sword. Dodge first. Then strike—not from the front, but from within."
"One swing," Alex whispered.
He moved.
In a blink, he parried the knight's aura-blade, deflected the strike, and lightning surged into his arm. With one stroke—clean and silent—he cut through the knight's neck.
Silence.
Everyone froze.
Even the girl and her dying mother stared, speechless.
Alex vanished.
"Damn… that aura was too strong. Without lightning, I'd have been in trouble…"
"I need to finish them before they react."
He reappeared, blade flashing. One by one, the soldiers fell.
Without a word. Without mercy.
As he raised his sword toward the last knight—his instincts screamed.
Run.
Something worse was coming.
Alex leapt back, eyes locked on the knight as pressure began choking the air itself.
"He's an aura master, kid! You can't parry with him—be careful!" the woman hissed, her voice low but trembling.
Alex didn't flinch. His stare burned through the rising tension.
"Okay, lady—save your breath."
His body twitched, his fingers tingled.
"What... what is this pressure? My hands… they're going numb already."
Sweat slipped down his temple as his gaze remained fixed on the knight.
His voice, sharp and cracked with anger:
"Why are you doing this?! Really—why?!"
The knight only laughed—a cold, metallic sound. He unsheathed his sword. A vibrant, blinding blue aura wrapped around the blade like a beast unchained.
Alex's instincts screamed. His body screamed.
"Run."
But he stood his ground.
"Leo! Darcy! No matter what happens, don't leave your position! Protect them!"
Smoke began rising from Alex's body.
Then—
They vanished.
And in the next second—they clashed.
The impact ripped the air apart. A shockwave tore through the ground, rain itself curved away from them. The very storm halted.
Alex's arms went numb, his nerves fried. But he didn't stop. Lightning danced across his skin.
"No matter how many times I try—I can't land a hit!"
"He's parrying every strike—at full speed?! This aura… this is insane. I have to go all out."
He dodged the knight's next strike, sliding through the storm. Slowly—the raindrops began to freeze mid-air.
The knight's eyes widened.
He understood what Alex was doing.
He roared and surged his aura higher—so high it twisted the ground beneath him. He charged.
Alex's arms were reaching their limits—but still, he raised them.
Above, the sky shattered with a deafening boom. Lightning cracked like war drums.
Thunder answered.
The water around Alex swirled—shaping into thorns—and shot toward the knight from all directions.
The knight vaulted into the sky, howling, and hurled his blade down toward Alex.
Lightning followed it.
The sky split.
The lightning struck.
The blast engulfed everything. Water turned to vapor. Smoke veiled the battlefield.
"I got him…" the knight whispered, smiling.
But something was off.
When the smoke cleared, lightning still surged across the air.
And then—he heard it.
"Who do you think I am?"
A figure stood amidst the chaos.
Lightning danced across his body.
White glowing marks ran across his back, and curled around it—a golden dragon, staring at the knight like a predator meeting prey.
Alex's expression? Fearless.
The knight staggered, a tremble in his arms.
"You… survived that? That's impossible. Your father was captured by the Brave Light!" he spat.
"How… in the hell are you not burned by that lightning?!"
Alex's eyes burned with stormlight.
"I was raised by the master of lightning himself."
And then—the sky broke.
Lightning arced madly through the clouds, splitting them like glass.
"I am the prince of Olympus.
The Heir of Thunder.
The Heaven's Wrath."
The knight's aura surged again—his sword screamed with deadly power. It could destroy mountains.
Alex rose.
He soared into the sky—calling all lightning to him.
Thunder roared. Bolts answered.
From above, he looked down at the knight like a god staring at a mortal.
The knight screamed and flew upward to meet him.
Below, the woman and her daughter could only watch—silent and trembling.
Then they clashed.
Mid-air. Thunder. Fire. Lightning.
The shockwave tore through the forest—trees exploded in every direction.
Alex deflected the strike and thrust his arm forward—his blade slammed into the knight's chest. Lightning exploded through his body, hurling him toward the ground like a comet.
He landed, surrounded by crackling electricity. Slowly, he lowered his power.
The storm began to calm.
His back glowed. His breaths steadied.
He took a jacket, slipped it on, and approached the woman. She was wounded—badly.
He knelt beside her, trying to heal her. But the spell fizzled. No effect.
She looked up, eyes wet, heart sinking.
"Are you really… Alexander Bravelight…?"
Alex nodded.
"Yes. And please, calm down."
She smiled through the pain.
"Good grace of stars and gods… we met you. The prince…"
"Please stop calling me prince," he said with a soft chuckle. "I hate that title. Let me heal you."
"It's useless," she whispered. "You can't save me."
She took her daughter's hand and placed it in Alex's.
Then, she pulled out a white-and-gold token and pressed it into his palm.
"Save her. I beg you. Return her to her father."
Alex's expression tightened, but he nodded.
"I will. You may rest."
The girl was crying, holding tightly onto her mother's hand.
And with Alex's hand over hers… the woman died.
Silently, he reached over and gently closed her eyes.