📍 Phoenix Guild Training Arena – a vast space, shielded by layers of cosmic runes capable of containing divine-level energy. The floor glowed with mystical patterns, and the artificial sky reflected constellations that didn't belong to this world.
There stood the three youths who carried the future: Ethan Stormbreak, Ryu Nox, and Ryan Valeborn. Breathless, drenched in sweat, but their eyes burned with determination.
In front of them, arms crossed and a mocking smile on his face, stood the man they called mentor—yet whom the world revered as a living legend: Darius Valtier.
The First Provocation
Ethan broke the silence first. Black lightning of Chaos swirled around his body, and the Blade of Chaos in his hand sparked with raw energy.
— You're just toying with us, sensei… — he muttered impatiently. — Are you going to fight for real, or just keep dodging?
Darius raised an eyebrow, mockery carved on his features.
— Relax, kid. If I had taken you seriously from the start, the three of you would already be crying on the floor, holding each other.
Ryu, with shadows slithering under his feet like hungry serpents, replied coldly:
— Then stop talking… and prove it.
Ryan, emanating Reversum, his black flame with glowing blue edges, kept his gaze steady.
— Don't underestimate us, master.
Darius sighed and spread his arms. Around him, spatial distortions and divine light merged, bending the very fabric of reality.
— Fine, fine… Come then. Show me what you're made of.
Ethan – The First Strike
Ethan charged forward, reckless as always. Chaos exploded in his fist, aiming for Darius' chin.
But space itself bent before the blow could connect. Ethan's hand pierced through an illusory void.
— I've told you a thousand times, Ethan… — Darius appeared behind him and tapped his head lightly. — Strength without control is just noise.
With a burst of light, Darius flung him against the arena wall, extinguishing his black flames.
— One down. Who's next?
Ryu – The Second Strike
Ryu's shadows rose like living spears, engulfing the master in a dark domain.
— I know your spatial tricks, sensei. — he hissed. — You won't slip away this time.
But Darius only sighed. His eyes glowed golden: Seraphim's Gaze. The shadows burned and vanished like smoke.
In an instant, he was behind Ryu. A single punch of condensed light into his stomach sent him crashing down.
— Know my movements? — Darius smirked. — I've known yours since you were crawling.
— Two down.
Ryan – The Last Stand
Only Ryan remained. The Reversum cloaked his body, pulsing with unstable energy. His eyes shone with a blazing blue.
— You endure more than they do, — said Darius, finally releasing his cosmic aura. — So it's only fair I take you a little more seriously.
— I won't fall that easily, master. — Ryan clenched his fists.
Darius chuckled, excited like a child.
— Finally. Let's dance, boy.
The Supreme Clash
🔥 The arena trembled.
Darius unleashed the Valtier Domain: a prism halo, golden rings orbiting like planets, cosmic light overflowing beyond space and time. Every incoming strike bent away, dissolved. He moved through micro-curves, faster than light.
Ryan answered with the Primordial Reflector Mode: Reversum mirrored the universe on his body. Every force against him turned into propulsion. His muscles vibrated at their peak, his black-blue aura shining like shattered cosmic glass.
They locked eyes.
— If you want to inherit the title of hero, — Darius spoke coldly. — Fight as if I were your enemy. There is no master here—only foes.
— Then so be it… — Ryan charged.
Light vs. Inversion
Darius hurled thousands of prisms of light at speeds that bent space. Ryan countered with fists clad in Inverse Impact, shattering beams and reflecting energy.
But Darius warped space itself, making the reflections rebound on Ryan.
— Reversum: Mirrored Collapse! — Ryan roared, absorbing the storm and releasing it in a single punch. Cracks of glowing blue fractured the arena.
Hero #1 vs. Zero Absolute
Darius unfurled his Seraphim Wings—every ray of light a sword, every beat bending dimensions.
Ryan raised his palm, forming the Zero Absolute Sphere – Reconstructive Void.
When light and void collided, the universe fell silent. No color. No sound. No time. Then came the explosion—white and blue tearing the skies.
The Climax
Fist against fist.
Ryan inverted reality, each punch a cataclysm.Darius struck back with spatial light, each blow carrying the weight of compressed stars.
Dozens of collisions per second. The entire arena shook as if the planet itself would split.
The Master's Weight
At the peak, Ryan concentrated all of Reversum into one supreme strike.Darius raised his hand, invoking Stellar Judgment—a golden sphere pulsing like a miniature Big Bang.
The techniques clashed. Silence. Then, blinding clarity.
When the light faded, Ryan was on his knees, drained. Darius, also panting, dimmed his radiance.
— You've already surpassed every student I've ever had, — he admitted. — But you're not ready yet. When you can invert even my Stellar Judgment… then you'll be prepared to defy gods.
Ryan smiled faintly, even on the ground. — Then get ready… because I will.
The guild erupted with voices:
— That kid's already stronger than half the guild leaders!— No wonder Inavy Stormbreak trusted him!
Zen, leaning against the wall, smirked. — Darius… two or three more years, and these brats will surpass you.
Darius laughed. — I wasn't even at 100%.
— WHAT?! — Ryan, Ethan, and Ryu shouted together.
— Truth, — he teased. — If I had gone all out, I'm not sure Ryan's premature Reversum could've held me back.
They laughed, breaking the tension.
The Lasagna
Ryan stepped forward, holding out a package.
— Oh, sensei… my mom asked me to give you this.
Darius opened it, his eyes lighting up like a child.
— LASAGNA! My favorite! — He nearly jumped. — Tell Emi-chan I'm grateful!
Ethan and Ryu froze, confused.
— Emi-chan??? — they said in unison.
Ryan just smiled.
The Bond of Three
As they ate, Ethan nudged Ryan.
— Hey, man. How about we train together these last few days? I want to understand Chaos the way you understand Reversum.
Ryan grinned. — Let's do it, brother.
Ryu raised his fist, excited. — Yeah! Kairon's still out there… and we'll show the world who we are!
Parallel Scene – The Disappearance
Meanwhile, at the Guild of a Thousand Lights, Kelvin Nox reviewed surveillance from HeroCity.
Three days earlier, Annie appeared in a park with Ryan, Darius, and Emily. Then later, alone in an alley.
The feed froze. Kelvin slowed the frame. A portal opened. A white-haired figure with golden eyes stepped through.
Kelvin frowned. — Who the hell is this? Not Hant… he has dreads. Then who…?
He immediately called Phoenix.
— Darius. — His tone was grim. — I need Ryan, Ethan, and Ryu in my office. It's about Annie.
— Something happened to the girl? — Darius asked.
Kelvin closed his eyes, exhausted. — She's missing. Three days. Seems like they want our attention… and also Ryan's head.
He hung up, leaning back in his chair.
— Damn it… these bastards never stop. I need a vacation.
The Final Blow
Back in the arena, Ryu noticed Darius' worried expression.
— What did my father say?
Darius sighed deeply.
— It's Annie… seems she's gone missing.
Ryu bit his lip in anger. — Tch… those bastards.
Ryan's smile vanished. A cold weight crushed his chest. The shadow of Annie's disappearance now loomed over them all.
End of Chapter 98