Aleron felt like he was falling through an endless abyss of light. The searing heat of the flame didn’t burn him—it embraced him. He should’ve been in pain, but instead, he felt something deep within him stirring, awakening.

Then, visions flooded his mind.

The world around him shifted. He was no longer in the academy. Instead, he stood amidst a battlefield, one unlike anything he had ever seen.

Titanic creatures of fire and shadow clashed, their roars shaking the heavens. Warriors clad in gleaming armor wielded blades wreathed in flames, cutting through hordes of monstrous beings. The ground was scorched black, rivers of molten lava splitting the battlefield.

Then, the scene shifted again.

A palace loomed before him—a massive structure of obsidian and gold, floating high above the clouds. The very sight of it made something inside him ache with familiarity.

He knew this place.

The image burned into his mind, and with it, a single name surfaced from the depths of his memory.

Abyssal Wraith Flame.

The moment the name entered his thoughts, reality snapped back into place.

Aleron gasped, his eyes flying open. He was back in the academy—but something had changed.

Flames crackled around his body, but they weren’t ordinary flames. These were black and violet, shifting like living shadows. The energy coursing through him felt ancient, as if it had always been a part of him.

Across from him, Roderic stood frozen, his expression twisted in shock.

“What… did you just do?” Roderic whispered, taking an involuntary step back.

Aleron didn’t respond. His mind was still reeling from the visions. But one thing was clear—this flame belonged to him.

Roderic’s shock quickly turned to fury. “You… you weren’t supposed to be the one to take it.”

He raised his hand, and a dark spear of energy crackled to life in his palm. “No matter. If you’ve taken the Flame, then I’ll just rip it from your corpse.”

Aleron barely had time to react before Roderic attacked.

Roderic lunged, his dark spear streaking toward Aleron’s heart. Instinct took over. Aleron raised his sword, and in an instant, the Abyssal Wraith Flame surged forward, coating his blade in black fire.

The moment the two weapons clashed, a shockwave erupted, sending both combatants flying backward. The entire chamber trembled from the sheer force of their collision.

Aleron landed on his feet, breathing heavily. His body felt strange—stronger, faster, more aware. The flame coursed through his veins, and for the first time, he felt as if he were no longer fighting against himself.

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Roderic, however, was not deterred. Snarling, he extended his hands, and the shadows around him began to writhe and pulse.

“You think you’ve gained power? You don’t even understand what you hold!” Roderic spat.

Dark tendrils erupted from his body, twisting through the air like living serpents. They lashed toward Aleron at terrifying speed.

But Aleron was already moving.

He vanished from sight, his body flickering like a shadow, reappearing behind Roderic in a blur of black fire. His sword slashed forward, aiming for Roderic’s back.

Roderic barely managed to spin around in time, blocking with his spear. The force of the impact sent him skidding across the ground.

Aleron didn’t stop. He pressed the attack, his strikes relentless. His blade moved faster than before, almost like it had a will of its own. The flames coiled around it, igniting the very air.

Roderic was forced onto the defensive, his expression shifting from rage to frustration.

“How…?” he growled, dodging another slash. “You shouldn’t be able to control it so quickly!”

Aleron didn’t have an answer. He wasn’t thinking—he was simply moving, as if this power had always been a part of him.

Then, Roderic made a mistake.

In his desperation, he overextended, lashing out wildly with his spear. Aleron saw the opening.

He sidestepped the attack and drove his fist into Roderic’s stomach, sending him crashing into the stone wall with a thunderous crack.

Roderic coughed, blood dripping from his lips. His glare was filled with hatred.

“You…” he snarled. “I won’t let you leave here alive.”

He raised both hands, and the shadows around him began to gather. The air itself trembled as a massive spear of darkness took form.

Aleron could feel the energy radiating from it—it was strong. Too strong. If that attack hit, the entire chamber would collapse.

Roderic hurled the spear forward.

Aleron reacted instinctively. He raised his hand, and the Abyssal Wraith Flame surged outward, forming a barrier of black fire.

The spear struck the flames—and instantly began to dissolve.

Roderic’s eyes widened in horror. “No… impossible!”

Aleron stepped forward, his own flames rising higher. The shadows around Roderic recoiled, as if afraid.

Aleron tightened his grip on his sword. He finally understood.

This was his power.

HE WASN’T JUST USING THE ABYSSAL WRAITH FLAME—HE WAS ITS MASTER NOW.

Roderic took a step back. For the first time, fear crept into his expression.

“You… what are you?”

Aleron didn’t answer. Instead, he **vanished again—**and when he reappeared, his sword was already at Roderic’s throat.

Rodric barely had time to react before Aleron struck.

His blade sliced through the darkness, cutting straight through Rodric’s defenses. The former teacher let out a strangled gasp as the black flames consumed him, burning not just his body, but his very soul.

For a moment, Roderic’s eyes met Aleron’s—filled with disbelief.

Then, he was gone.

The shadows that had filled the chamber vanished. The suffocating aura dispersed.

All that remained was Aleron, standing amidst the dying embers of his flames.

The academy was in ruins. The battle outside was still raging, but Aleron could feel it—the tide had turned.

He stumbled slightly, exhaustion settling in. The Abyssal Wraith Flame had merged with him completely, and even though he had won, he knew this was just the beginning.

Then, he heard footsteps behind him.

Turning, he saw Kaelan, his expression unreadable.

For a moment, the headmaster simply studied him. Then, he sighed.

“So, I was right,” Kaelan murmured. “That flame was meant for you.”

Aleron frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Kaelan smiled slightly. “I’ll explain soon. But first, we have a battle to finish.”

Aleron exhaled, gripping his sword tighter.

The war wasn’t over yet.

And he had more questions than ever.

TO BE CONTINUED……