Dust slowly settled across the destroyed battlefield.
Cracked stone, broken ground, and scorched marks covered the entire training field.
Students watching from the academy walls remained completely silent.
The explosion from Raizen's Stormbreaker had shaken the entire academy.
For several seconds, no one could see what had happened.
Then the smoke began to clear.
And the first thing everyone noticed—
Was the darkness.
A massive area of shadow covered the battlefield.
The ground itself had turned black, as if night had fallen only in that place.
At the center of that darkness stood Ren.
Completely unharmed.
But the shadows around him had changed.
They were no longer just smoke-like energy.
They had become thicker.
Deeper.
Almost like a living domain.
Captain Kael's eyes narrowed.
"That power…"
Instructor Varis whispered.
"It's spreading."
The dark field continued expanding slowly across the battlefield.
Any light that entered the area seemed to fade.
Inside the darkness, Shade stood beside Ren like a towering guardian.
Even Shade seemed slightly surprised.
The shadow servant spoke quietly.
"Master…"
"This is new."
Ren looked at his own hands.
He could feel it.
The shadows were responding more clearly now.
Almost like they were part of his body.
Far across the field, Raizen stood surrounded by crackling lightning.
For the first time since the fight began—
He was no longer smiling.
His sharp eyes studied the dark field carefully.
"So this is your next stage."
He stepped forward slowly.
The moment his foot entered the shadow field—
The darkness reacted.
Several shadow tendrils shot upward instantly.
Raizen moved quickly, dodging them with lightning-fast steps.
But more shadows rose from the ground.
They chased him from every direction.
Raizen jumped back outside the field.
The shadows stopped immediately.
His expression changed.
"A territory ability."
Captain Kael muttered from the wall.
"He's controlling the battlefield itself."
Lyra stared in shock.
"Ren didn't have that power before."
Headmaster Aldren watched from the balcony.
His voice was low.
"The Shadow Field."
Kael looked up at him.
"You know this technique?"
Aldren nodded slowly.
"It was mentioned in the ancient records."
"The moment a Shadow King begins awakening…"
"They gain control over darkness itself."
Back on the battlefield, Raizen stepped forward again.
Lightning surged around him.
But this time his expression was serious.
"You just made this fight a lot more interesting."
He raised his hand.
Lightning exploded outward again.
"Let's see if your shadows can handle this."
Raizen dashed forward.
CRACK.
He entered the shadow field at full speed.
Instantly—
The darkness attacked.
Dozens of shadow blades shot from the ground.
Raizen destroyed several with lightning punches.
Others he dodged with incredible speed.
But the attacks didn't stop.
More shadows formed.
They moved like an army protecting their king.
Raizen grinned again.
"Now this feels like a real battle."
He jumped high into the air.
Lightning gathered around both of his arms.
From above, he slammed his fists toward the ground.
BOOM.
A massive shockwave of electricity exploded across the battlefield.
Several shadow structures shattered instantly.
The darkness rippled.
But it didn't disappear.
Instead—
It moved.
The shadows began swirling around Ren like a storm.
Shade stepped forward.
"Master."
"Your command."
Ren looked toward Raizen calmly.
The storm hunter landed on the ground again.
Electricity still crackled across his body.
Both fighters stared at each other across the dark battlefield.
Ren finally spoke.
"You wanted to test my power."
Raizen smiled slightly.
"That's right."
Ren raised his hand slowly.
The shadows around the battlefield began forming shapes.
Large ones.
Humanoid ones.
Lyra gasped from the wall.
"Are those…"
Shade finished the sentence.
"Shadow soldiers."
Dark figures rose from the ground one after another.
Their bodies were made entirely from shadow energy.
Within seconds—
Ten soldiers stood behind Ren.
Then twenty.
Then thirty.
Students watching from the walls were speechless.
Raizen's eyes widened slightly.
"Oh?"
He laughed softly.
"An army already?"
Ren looked directly at him.
"You said you wanted a real fight."
The shadow soldiers slowly raised their weapons.
Raizen's lightning aura flared even brighter.
His smile returned.
"Good."
"Send them."
The storm above the academy roared.
The shadows moved.
And the battlefield was about to explode into chaos again.