The Battlefield Falls Silent
The roar of the storm had finally ceased. The once chaotic battlefield, where lightning had torn through the skies and the ground had shattered under immense power, now lay eerily silent.
Bolt stood in the center of it all, his body trembling from exhaustion, his clothes tattered, and his breath ragged. The Lightning Warborn—a foe of unparalleled strength—was gone, reduced to nothing more than scattered remnants of energy.
And yet, the weight of victory did not feel like triumph.
Kairos stood across from him, his face shadowed in a mixture of rage and disbelief. His master, the one who had granted him power, had been defeated.
The air was thick with tension. The war was not over.
---
Kairos' hands clenched into fists, his entire body shaking. His golden eyes, once filled with confidence, now burned with hatred.
"You… You killed him." His voice was low, but the venom in it was unmistakable.
Bolt narrowed his eyes. "He gave me no choice."
"No choice?" Kairos' voice rose into a snarl. "He was a Warborn! A god among men! You think you've won?!"
He took a step forward, his aura flaring violently, but his body swayed. He was still injured from the previous battles, and his strength had not fully recovered.
Aether, Akane, and Sylva stepped beside Bolt, their weapons at the ready.
"You don't have the strength to keep fighting," Aether stated coldly. "Stand down, Kairos."
Kairos' teeth clenched, his rage bubbling like a storm barely contained. He wanted to tear them apart, to avenge his master—but deep down, he knew.
He was outmatched.
For now.
His golden eyes flickered, then darkened with a newfound resolve. "This isn't over," he whispered.
And before anyone could move—
He vanished.
---
The battle was over.
But it was far from a victory worth celebrating.
Bolt and his faction—now strengthened with Ren and Valea, the two surviving members of the Black Squad—began their journey back to the Academy.
The weight of everything they had endured pressed down on them.
Damian was the first to break the silence. "We should've finished him," he muttered. "Kairos is still dangerous."
"We didn't have a choice," Akane said. "We were all exhausted. If we had pushed any further, we might've lost someone."
Bolt remained silent. He knew Damian was right. Kairos would be back.
Stronger.
Deadlier.
And when that time came, they had to be ready.
---
The Headmaster's Verdict
When they arrived at the Academy, the atmosphere was tense. The entire school was buzzing with rumors of the battle, of the death of the Lightning Warborn, and of Kairos' betrayal.
The Headmaster awaited them in the grand hall, his gaze unreadable as Bolt and his team stood before him.
"You did well," the Headmaster finally said. "But this is only the beginning." His piercing gaze swept across the group. "The death of the Lightning Warborn will send ripples far beyond what you can comprehend."
Aether crossed his arms. "Meaning?"
The Headmaster sighed. "Meaning… the Warborn were never the true enemy."
A heavy silence fell over them.
Bolt felt his chest tighten. If the Warborn weren't the true threat…
Then who was?
And just as the realization settled in, the Headmaster's next words sent a chill down Bolt's spine.
"Prepare yourselves. A greater war is coming."
Deep within the shadows, Kairos kneels before an unseen figure, whispering—
"My lord… he has fallen. What are your orders?"