In the distance, Dravan was in the midst of a fierce clash with Towan, Elliot, and the others. He dodged one of Kade’s strikes with a mocking laugh before turning to look at Caleis. “Already? I was just starting to enjoy myself,” Dravan grumbled, cracking his neck.

“Stop playing around,” Caleis snapped, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Dravan sneered but stepped back, leaving the group battered but standing. He turned and strode toward Caleis, the corrupted essence around him swirling like a living storm.

Eryndar took a cautious step forward, his eyes narrowing. “You’re retreating?” he asked, though he knew better than to hope for a victory.

Caleis turned back to him, his smirk returning. “You lost, Eryndar. It’s only a matter of time before your end comes. This world doesn’t belong to you anymore—it belongs to us.”

Eryndar’s fists clenched, but his body refused to move. He could feel his own exhaustion weighing him down, the unbreakable defense draining him rapidly. Still, he held his ground, glaring at Caleis with unwavering resolve.

Caleis chuckled and raised his hand. Shards of corrupted essence appeared around him, floating like broken fragments of a shattered mirror. One by one, he crushed them in his grip, absorbing their energy. The ruins trembled as the corrupted fog thickened, then began to dissipate as the essence was drawn into Caleis’s body.

The air grew still, suffocatingly heavy, as Caleis’s power surged. A swirling vortex of corrupted energy formed behind him, taking the shape of a dark portal.

“This is just the beginning,” Caleis said, stepping toward the portal. “Soon, the corruption will spread farther than you can imagine. And you… You’ll watch it all happen, powerless to stop it.”

Dravan followed him, throwing one last glance at the group he had fought. “You got lucky today,” he sneered. “Next time, I won’t hold back.”

With that, the two stepped into the portal, the corrupted essence vanishing with them. The ruins fell eerily silent, the oppressive atmosphere lifting as if a storm had passed.

Eryndar exhaled slowly, his body sagging with exhaustion. He looked toward the distant silhouettes of his students and their allies, still standing despite the chaos. A small sense of relief washed over him—they had survived.

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But Caleis’s parting words lingered in his mind, like a shadow that refused to fade. This isn’t over, he thought grimly, straightening himself. Not by a long shot.

The arena was silent now, the once-oppressive fog completely gone. Towan and Elliot stood together, catching their breaths, their bodies bruised but their resolve unbroken. Kade leaned against a cracked pillar, his arms crossed, his calm demeanor hiding his exhaustion. Rhys scanned the area, his dark hair matted with sweat.

Lytharos and Axel lay unconscious nearby, their earlier battle taking a toll on them. Seris knelt beside them, checking their vitals with a worried expression.

“They’ll be fine,” she said finally, looking up. “Just need some rest.”

“Good,” Towan muttered, rubbing his shoulder. “Because I don’t think I could handle any more surprises today.”

The sound of approaching footsteps made them all tense, but when Eryndar emerged from the shadows, a wave of relief washed over them.

“Master!” Rhys called out, rushing toward him.

Eryndar raised a hand, signaling for calm. His movements were slower, deliberate, as if every step carried the weight of the battle he had just endured. His usual composed expression was marred by fatigue, but his piercing eyes remained sharp, scanning each of his students and their allies.

“You’re all alive,” Eryndar said, his voice steady but tinged with relief. “Good.”

“Barely,” Kade said dryly, though his tone held a hint of respect. “What happened? Did they…?”

“They retreated,” Eryndar replied, cutting him off. He glanced around the leftovers, his gaze lingering on the spots where the corrupted essence had once swirled. “They achieved their objective. Whatever it was.”

“They left? Just like that?” Towan asked, incredulous.

Eryndar nodded, his jaw tightening. “Caleis absorbed all the corrupted essence here. He’s growing stronger. And Dravan… he’s more dangerous than I expected. Their coordination was…” He trailed off, his eyes narrowing. “They’re planning something bigger.”

Elliot stepped forward, his expression serious. “And we’re just supposed to let them get away? After all of this?”

“We didn’t let them get away,” Eryndar said, his voice firm. “We survived. That’s what matters right now.”

Towan frowned, clenching his fists. “But for how long? If they’re only getting stronger, what chance do we have the next time?”

Eryndar looked at him, his gaze softening slightly. “You have more of a chance than you think. Today, you held your own against Dravan. That’s no small feat.”

Rhys crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. “So what now? Do we chase them down?”

“No,” Eryndar said immediately. “We regroup. We learn. And we prepare. They may be stronger now, but strength without purpose is a hollow weapon. We’ll find their weakness. And when the time comes, we’ll be ready.”

Kade stepped forward, his tone calm but pointed. “You’re not telling us everything, are you?”

Eryndar’s gaze flickered, a brief hesitation crossing his face before he masked it. “I will, when the time is right. For now, focus on recovering. You’ll need all your strength for what’s coming.”

The group exchanged uneasy glances, but no one pressed further

Without another word, he led the way out, the group following close behind, each of them silently vowing to become stronger for the battles yet to come.