The moment Ren and Valther moved, the courtyard exploded with force.
CLANG.
Ren's shadow-covered strike collided with Valther's black blade. The impact sent a violent shockwave across the ground, cracking the stone beneath their feet.
Students watching from the edges of the battlefield were forced to step back.
The pressure from the clash alone was overwhelming.
Instructor Varis narrowed his eyes.
"That power…"
Captain Kael gripped his sword tightly.
"He's actually keeping up with a demon general."
In the center of the battlefield, Valther smiled with excitement.
"So fast."
He pushed forward with his blade.
Ren slid backward several meters, his boots scraping across the broken stone.
Valther attacked again instantly.
His sword moved like lightning.
One slash.
Two slashes.
Three.
Each strike carried enough power to split stone walls.
Ren dodged the first attack.
He blocked the second.
The third forced him to leap backward.
Valther's sword cut through the ground where Ren had been standing.
A deep crack spread across the courtyard floor.
Several students gasped.
"That attack would have killed him."
Valther laughed as he continued advancing.
"You're good."
His red eyes gleamed with excitement.
"But you're still inexperienced."
He disappeared again.
Ren sensed the movement at the last moment.
Valther appeared behind him.
The demon general's blade swung toward Ren's neck.
Ren twisted his body and barely avoided the strike.
The sword cut through the air beside his face.
A lock of his hair fell to the ground.
Ren immediately counterattacked.
His shadow energy surged forward like a blade.
Valther blocked the strike with his sword.
But this time he was pushed back one step.
His smile widened.
"Yes."
"That's the power I came to see."
Ren's eyes remained calm.
The shadows around him were growing stronger.
They spread across the courtyard floor like dark smoke.
Valther studied the energy carefully.
"You don't even understand your own power yet."
Ren said nothing.
He rushed forward again.
This time his attack was faster.
The shadow energy exploded around his arm as he struck.
Valther raised his blade.
BOOM.
The impact shook the courtyard again.
But this time Valther slid backward several meters.
Dust rose into the air.
Students stared in shock.
"He pushed the demon general back."
Valther looked at the ground beneath his feet.
Then he started laughing.
A deep, amused laugh.
"Excellent."
He lifted his sword again.
"But let me show you the difference between us."
His demonic aura erupted.
Dark red energy surrounded his body like flames.
The pressure in the courtyard increased instantly.
Several students collapsed under the weight of the energy.
Even some instructors struggled to remain standing.
Lyra clenched her fists.
"That power…"
Valther raised his sword toward the sky.
The weapon began absorbing the surrounding demonic energy.
The blade glowed with a dark crimson light.
"This is the power of a demon general."
Then he swung the blade downward.
A massive wave of demonic energy shot toward Ren.
The attack tore through the courtyard, destroying everything in its path.
Ren didn't move.
The shadows around him suddenly expanded.
They formed a wall of darkness in front of him.
BOOM.
The energy wave crashed into the shadow barrier.
The explosion shook the entire academy.
Dust and debris filled the battlefield.
Students shielded their eyes.
When the dust slowly cleared—
Everyone stared.
Ren was still standing.
His shadow barrier had blocked the attack.
But cracks were spreading through the darkness.
Valther's eyes gleamed with interest.
"So you survived."
The shadows around Ren slowly faded.
His breathing had become slightly heavier.
Valther noticed it immediately.
"You're reaching your limit."
Ren didn't respond.
But deep inside him—
Something strange was happening.
The shadow power within his body was reacting to the intense battle.
It was growing.
Awakening.
Valther suddenly raised his head.
He sensed it too.
"That energy…"
His smile returned.
"Good."
He pointed his sword at Ren.
"Grow stronger."
"Because next time we meet…"
His voice became cold.
"I will kill you."
Before anyone could react—
Valther jumped backward.
His body shot into the air and landed on the broken academy wall.
Several demons gathered behind him.
Captain Kael shouted.
"Don't let him escape."
But Valther simply laughed.
"This attack was only a test."
He looked down at Ren one last time.
"The Demon King will be very interested in you."
Then he disappeared into the dark forest.
The remaining demons retreated with him.
The battlefield finally became silent.
The academy had survived the attack.
But the damage was severe.
Broken walls.
Destroyed ground.
Injured hunters everywhere.
Instructor Varis walked toward Ren slowly.
"You forced a demon general to retreat."
Ren looked toward the forest where Valther had vanished.
"He wasn't fighting seriously."
Kael nodded.
"That's the worst part."
Lyra looked worried.
"If that was just a test…"
She looked at the destroyed courtyard.
"What happens when they launch a real attack?"
Far away in the mountains—
Valther stood on a high cliff overlooking the land.
Behind him stood a massive dark fortress.
Inside the fortress, a terrifying presence slept.
Valther bowed slightly toward the throne room.
"My lord."
His voice echoed through the darkness.
"The shadow child has appeared."
Inside the darkness—
Two enormous glowing eyes slowly opened.
The Demon King had awakened.