The academy, once known as a symbol of prestige and power, had descended into absolute chaos.
The skies above the massive campus were stained crimson by the setting sun, while smoke and ash drifted through the air like a funeral veil. Explosions echoed from every direction. Buildings that once housed proud students and noble instructors were now shattered ruins, their walls cracked apart by monstrous claws and devastating techniques.
Screams filled the battlefield.
Students ran through the courtyards in panic, some desperately trying to fight back while others carried their wounded comrades toward safety. Blood stained the marble pathways of the academy grounds. The stench of death mixed with burning wood and monster flesh spread through the air, making it difficult to breathe.
The monsters were overwhelming the students.
Not because the students were weak.
Far from it.
Most of the academy's students were talented geniuses blessed with powerful Forms and advanced breathing techniques. Under normal circumstances, many of them could easily defeat lower-ranked monsters on their own.
But talent meant nothing without experience.
This was the first real battlefield for most of them.
They had trained in controlled arenas, fought mock battles, and sparred against classmates, but this… this was different. These monsters fought with murderous intent. They did not hesitate. They did not fear pain. They attacked like wild beasts driven purely by instinct and hunger.
And worst of all—
The students refused to work together.
Years of arrogance and rivalry had poisoned them. Many believed themselves superior to others, refusing to coordinate or follow commands. Some recklessly charged into battle alone only to be torn apart moments later. Others panicked after witnessing death for the first time.
Their disorganization was slowly killing them.
"WATCH OUT!"
A male student screamed at the top of his lungs.
A young girl wearing the academy uniform froze in terror as a monstrous creature lunged toward her. The beast was nearly three meters tall, its skin dark and rotting, with elongated arms dragging against the ground like blades. Saliva dripped from its jaws as it roared directly into her face.
She tried to move—
But her body refused.
Fear had rooted her in place.
The monster raised its claw, ready to split her body apart.
SHIIIIING—
A silver flash sliced through the air.
Before anyone could react, the monster's body froze mid-motion.
Then—
Blood exploded everywhere.
Its upper body slid cleanly off its torso before crashing onto the ground.
Standing between the girl and the monster was a tall man dressed in a dark combat coat.
Teacher Lucien Drake.
One of the academy's elite instructors.
His sharp blue eyes scanned the battlefield calmly while his sword rested at his side, dripping with black blood.
"Y-you saved me…" the girl whispered with trembling eyes.
Lucien didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at the surrounding students, many of whom were wounded and exhausted.
"You're injured," he said firmly. "Head for the library. That's the only place the monsters haven't breached yet."
"The library?" another student asked nervously.
Lucien nodded.
"A barrier formation has been placed around it. It should hold for now."
"But Mr. Drake…" a male student said anxiously, gripping his injured arm. "You can't fight all these monsters alone."
The teacher remained silent for a moment.
Then he smiled faintly.
"GO. Now."
His voice carried overwhelming authority.
The students hesitated only briefly before retreating toward the academy's central library.
As soon as they left—
Lucien's expression changed completely.
The warmth vanished from his face.
Only cold focus remained.
He slowly tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword.
Then—
Water began to emerge from the blade.
At first it was only a thin stream, but within seconds it wrapped around the sword like a living serpent. The ground beneath his feet trembled as massive amounts of water spread outward across the battlefield.
The water rose just above his ankles.
Then it continued expanding.
It slithered across the battlefield until dozens of monsters found their feet submerged within it.
The creatures roared in confusion.
Lucien slowly lowered his stance.
The atmosphere around him changed instantly.
Even the monsters seemed to sense danger.
"1-Star Water Breathing…" he whispered.
The water surrounding him vibrated violently.
"Seventh Strike."
BOOOOM—
He vanished.
No—
He transformed.
To the terrified students watching from afar, Lucien's body appeared to become a rushing wave itself. A blur of blue shot across the battlefield at impossible speed.
One strike.
Two strikes.
Three.
The sound of slicing flesh echoed continuously.
The monsters couldn't even react.
In only a few seconds, Lucien reappeared several meters away with his sword lowered.
Behind him—
Ten monsters froze in place.
Then their bodies split apart simultaneously.
Blood erupted like fountains.
The students watching were left speechless.
"He… turned into a wave…"
"No… I couldn't even see him move…"
"That's a real combat breathing technique…"
But Lucien wasn't finished.
More monsters charged toward him from every direction.
His eyes narrowed.
"2-Star Water Breathing…"
The water around him surged upward violently.
"Three Tsunamis."
The ground exploded.
Lucien spun his body at terrifying speed as enormous spiraling torrents of water erupted around him. Within moments, three massive tsunamis formed and rampaged across the battlefield like dragons of the sea.
The monsters caught within them screamed horribly.
The pressure alone crushed bones instantly.
Some creatures were ripped apart by the sheer force of the currents before Lucien's flowing blade severed their heads and limbs within the storm.
Blood mixed into the water, turning the spinning tides crimson.
It was a massacre.
Yet amidst the chaos—
One monster survived.
Unlike the others, this creature possessed intelligence.
Its glowing eyes widened the moment it sensed death approaching.
Without hesitation, it grabbed another nearby monster and threw it directly into the tsunami as a shield while it escaped backward.
The sacrificial monster was instantly shredded apart.
The surviving creature crouched low, waiting patiently.
The moment Lucien's technique ended—
It attacked.
The monster lunged from behind with terrifying speed, claws aimed directly at Lucien's neck.
But before the attack could land—
"1-Star Fire Breathing…"
A calm female voice echoed across the battlefield.
"First Spear."
FWOOOOSH—
A blazing spear of fire pierced through the monster's chest instantly.
The creature let out a distorted shriek before flames engulfed its entire body.
Seconds later, it collapsed into ashes.
As the flames faded, a woman stepped forward from the smoke.
Teacher Elena Vale.
Her long crimson hair danced in the wind while embers floated around her like fireflies. In one hand she held a burning spear formed entirely from flames.
Lucien glanced at her before sighing softly.
"I didn't need your help."
Elena smirked.
"I know, I know," she replied teasingly. "The great Lucien Drake could've handled it himself."
She crossed her arms.
"I just hate seeing you in danger."
For a brief moment, the chaos around them seemed to disappear.
Lucien chuckled quietly.
"I love how I can always trust you to watch my back."
He gently stroked her head.
Elena's confident expression softened slightly as she looked away with a faint blush.
But the peaceful moment didn't last long.
Because in the distance—
Another monstrous roar echoed across the academy.
And this one was far stronger than the others.
The monstrous roar in the distance continued to echo across the shattered academy grounds, vibrating through the air like a warning from death itself.
Lucien slowly removed his hand from Elena's head as both of them turned toward the burning remains of the monster she had killed moments earlier. The creature's corpse crackled within the flames, black smoke rising into the crimson sky.
Yet despite its death—
An unsettling feeling lingered in the air.
Elena rested her flaming spear against her shoulder and smiled softly.
"Of course," she said confidently, "I'm here to protect you too."
A playful grin appeared across her face as embers danced around her body.
For a brief second, the battlefield around them almost felt distant.
But Lucien's expression didn't relax.
Instead, his eyes narrowed.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
"I have a bad feeling about this," he muttered quietly, his gaze fixed on the burning corpse.
Elena tilted her head slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Lucien stepped forward slowly, his boots splashing against the bloodstained water still spread across the battlefield.
"The fact that it avoided death…" he said grimly. "It sacrificed another monster to survive."
His grip around his sword tightened.
"That wasn't instinct."
The flames reflected in his blue eyes.
"That thing made a decision."
Elena's playful expression slowly faded.
"…You think they're evolving?"
Lucien nodded slowly.
"They're becoming intelligent."
The air grew heavier after those words.
Most monsters operated purely on hunger and violence. They attacked recklessly without strategy or self-preservation.
But intelligence?
That changed everything.
Elena looked toward the destroyed academy buildings in the distance.
"How did they suddenly become intelligent?" she whispered. "And an even bigger question…"
Her eyes darkened.
"Who orchestrated this entire attack?"
Lucien remained silent for a moment.
The screams of students echoed faintly in the distance while flames consumed another nearby building.
"You think someone planned this?" he finally asked, though deep down he already knew the answer.
Elena crossed her arms.
"It's too perfect to be a coincidence."
Her voice became colder.
"The monsters attacked during the one period Janet Sky and her brother aren't present at the academy."
Lucien's eyes widened slightly.
She continued.
"And right now, academy security is weaker than ever because everyone's attention is focused on preparing for the upcoming exams."
A gust of wind swept across the battlefield, carrying ash through the air.
Elena slowly looked around at the destruction.
"This attack was timed perfectly."
Lucien exhaled heavily.
"…You make a terrifying amount of sense."
For the first time since the invasion began, genuine unease appeared on his face.
If this attack had truly been planned—
Then someone intelligent was controlling the monsters.
And that possibility was far more dangerous than the monsters themselves.
Lucien turned toward the academy's central tower.
"We need to regroup with the other teachers," he said firmly. "If we gather everyone together, we can push the monsters back before more students die."
Elena nodded.
"Yes, that's probably the bes—"
She suddenly froze.
"…Sorry."
Lucien blinked.
"Huh?"
Confusion crossed his face as he turned toward her.
"What are you talking abo—"
His words stopped.
Everything stopped.
For a single horrifying second—
The world became silent.
A massive axe had pierced directly through Elena's body.
CRUNCH—
The impact was so violent that it completely destroyed her chest. Bone fragments shattered outward as blood erupted from her mouth.
Her heart.
Her organs.
Gone.
Lucien's eyes widened in absolute horror.
The enormous weapon protruded from her torso, its blade drenched in blood. A gigantic iron chain was attached to the axe, stretching deep into the smoke behind them.
Blood dripped slowly from Elena's lips.
Yet somehow—
She smiled.
A weak, trembling smile.
Then—
The chain violently pulled backward.
The axe ripped out of her body with a sickening spray of blood.
Elena's body began collapsing.
But before she could hit the ground—
Lucien caught her instantly.
His sword fell from his hand.
His entire body trembled violently as he stared at the massive hole in her chest.
"No…"
His voice cracked.
No matter how much healing power existed in this world—
No one could survive that injury.
His expression shattered completely.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
His hands shook uncontrollably as blood soaked his clothes.
"Elena…"
He pressed his hand desperately against the wound as if trying to stop reality itself.
"Wake up…"
No response.
"Please…"
His breathing became uneven.
"You can't die like this…"
He shook her gently.
"ELENA!"
His scream echoed across the battlefield.
Again and again he called her name.
Again and again—
Silence answered him.
Then—
Heavy footsteps echoed from the smoke.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
A towering figure emerged slowly from the darkness.
A Minotaur.
Over four meters tall.
Its body was covered in black armor forged from jagged metal plates. Muscles bulged beneath its skin like mountains, and its glowing red eyes stared down at Lucien with cruel amusement.
The massive chain wrapped around its arm rattled violently as it dragged the bloodied axe back toward itself.
The creature grinned.
"Don't waste your breath," the Minotaur said mockingly.
Its deep voice sounded disturbingly human.
"She is already dead."
Lucien froze.
The moment those words entered his ears—
Something inside him broke.
His trembling stopped.
Slowly…
He lowered Elena's body onto the ground with terrifying gentleness.
Then he stood up.
His head remained lowered.
The battlefield around him began trembling.
Water surged violently around his feet.
His spiritual pressure exploded outward like a storm.
"You bastard…"
The words escaped his mouth like a growl.
The Minotaur's grin widened.
Lucien slowly picked up his sword.
Then—
He vanished.
"YOU BASTARDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!"
Lucien appeared before the Minotaur in an instant, rage distorting the air around him.
"2-Star Water Breathing…"
The ground beneath him exploded apart as massive torrents of water erupted upward.
"Three Tsunamis!"
BOOOOOOM—
Lucien's body transformed into a roaring wave once more, while two additional tsunamis manifested beside him like gigantic sea dragons. The three colossal waves surged forward simultaneously, shaking the academy grounds as they crashed toward the Minotaur from different directions.
The sheer pressure alone shattered nearby walls.
Students watching from afar could only stare in terror as the battlefield was swallowed by raging water.
But the Minotaur didn't move.
Instead—
It released the axe from its grip.
CLANG!
The massive weapon slammed into the ground.
Then the creature grabbed the chains attached to the axe and began spinning them violently.
FAAAANG—
The chains rotated faster and faster until they became a deadly steel cyclone. The spinning force generated powerful shockwaves that destabilized the incoming tsunamis, tearing through the currents and disrupting Lucien's attack.
The water spiraled out of control.
"What?!" Lucien's eyes widened.
The Minotaur suddenly roared and swung the gigantic axe horizontally.
Lucien barely reacted in time.
CLAAANG!
He raised his sword and parried the attack—
But only barely.
The impact was monstrous.
A shockwave erupted from the collision as Lucien was launched backward like a cannonball.
BOOM!
He crashed through the academy walls violently, smashing into another room entirely as rubble exploded everywhere.
Dust filled the air.
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then—
A faint sound echoed from within the smoke.
SHIIIIING—
Lucien slowly spun his blade backward.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth while his body trembled from exhaustion.
Yet his eyes still burned with fury.
"4-Star Water Breathing…"
The surrounding water began vibrating violently.
"Countless Blades."
Thousands of water blades suddenly materialized around him.
Each one shimmered like sharpened glass, floating silently in the air.
Then—
Lucien moved.
BOOOOM—
He shot forward at terrifying speed.
At the same moment, the countless blades surged toward the Minotaur like a storm.
SLICE!
CUT!
STAB!
PIERCE!
The attacks rained down endlessly.
Each blade struck harder and faster than the last, tearing into the Minotaur's armored body. Flesh split apart. Blood exploded into the air. Deep wounds began covering the monster from head to toe.
For the first time—
The Minotaur screamed in pain.
Lucien's expression twisted with murderous intent as he continued attacking relentlessly.
The battlefield became a blur of water and steel.
This technique should have killed the Minotaur.
But there was one problem.
The technique consumed an absurd amount of stamina.
Normally, even at full strength, Lucien could only maintain it for two hours at most.
But right now—
He was already exhausted.
Injured.
Emotionally broken.
The fact that he could still draw out this much power was already a miracle.
And an even greater miracle—
Was that he was still standing.
Yet slowly…
His movements began slowing down.
The water blades lost speed.
Tiny openings started appearing within his assault.
And the Minotaur noticed immediately.
Its blood-red eyes flashed.
The instant a gap appeared—
It attacked.
BOOOOOOM!
The gigantic axe swung downward with overwhelming force.
Lucien's exhausted body reacted too slowly.
The axe smashed directly into him, sending him flying through multiple walls as the academy structure collapsed behind him.
CRAAAAASH!
Entire sections of the building shattered apart.
The Minotaur breathed heavily, blood pouring from hundreds of wounds across its body.
It was barely alive.
Just one more strike—
That was all it would take.
Then—
A voice echoed from within the dust.
Cold.
Sharp.
Filled with killing intent.
"4-Star Water Breathing…"
The Minotaur's eyes widened.
"Full Power Star."
The dust exploded outward.
Lucien vanished.
CLASH!
The Minotaur barely blocked the first strike in time.
But before it could recover—
Another attack came.
Then another.
And another.
Lucien moved like flowing water unleashed from restraint itself. Every slash carried enough force to split steel apart. His speed became so terrifying that afterimages filled the battlefield.
CLANG!
SHING!
BOOM!
The Minotaur staggered backward as wounds rapidly multiplied across its body.
Its armor shattered.
Its flesh tore apart.
One arm nearly split open completely.
Lucien appeared above it, then beside it, then behind it in less than a second.
The Minotaur was being overwhelmed.
Students hiding in the distance watched in disbelief.
"He's winning…"
"No… he's destroying it…"
The Minotaur stumbled heavily.
Its body was already on the verge of collapse.
One final strike.
That was all Lucien needed.
He gripped his sword tightly and rushed forward with every remaining ounce of strength.
Water spiraled around his blade violently.
"I'll kill you—"
He raised his sword.
Then suddenly—
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
The Minotaur unleashed an earth-shaking roar.
BOOOOOOOOOOM—
A monstrous burst of aura exploded from its body.
The force alone shattered the surrounding ground and blew Lucien backward, forcing him to jump away instantly.
The atmosphere changed.
Completely.
The Minotaur's body began expanding.
Its muscles swelled massively.
Its horns doubled in size.
A gigantic iron ring formed around its nose as black aura erupted endlessly from its body.
Then something even worse happened.
The countless wounds covering its body—
Started healing.
Every injury vanished completely.
Lucien's eyes narrowed instantly.
"Tch…"
Blood dripped from his sword as exhaustion consumed his body.
"The bastard evolved."
The evolved Minotaur slowly lifted its axe once more, its red eyes glowing brighter than before.
And standing before it—
Was a heavily injured, exhausted Lucien Drake.
The battlefield trembled.
The air itself grew heavy.
And thus—
The true battle between the evolved Minotaur and Lucien Drake was about to begin.