The Lake of Terror churned violently beneath the boat, waves smashing against its sides as mist curled like living fingers. Class 1-C gripped the edges, hearts pounding. Even after crossing over thirteen kilometers, the lake offered no peace—its black water seemed alive, whispering threats through the spray.
Hiko Shinoegami's cursed flame coiled around his hands, jagged black and red fire pulsing. The real predator has arrived… hissed the devil in his mind. Prepare yourself. This is no ordinary foe.
Hinata Kiyomi, standing beside him, glanced toward the mist. "I can feel it… something stronger than the Kraken is here," she whispered, fear and anticipation mingling in her tone.
From the shadows, Kenzuko Forami emerged. Silent. Precise. His black robes clung to his frame as if painted by shadows themselves. His eyes glimmered with cold amusement, scanning the boat and its occupants.
"Hhah! Let's see your full potential—Mr. Number 1 sorcerer," Kenzuko said, voice calm but dripping with excitement. His lips curved into a faint, psychopathic smile. The fun begins…
He took a single step, activating Era of Domination. "Era of Domination!" The words seemed to echo across the lake as black energy spread in a vast radius. For 200 seconds, his power surged beyond comprehension, stronger than Gold or Rougen, stronger than any human or beast present.
Gold Prasso's golden aura flared in response. "Class 1-C! Stay behind me! I will protect you! GOLD PROTECTIVE DOME!" His voice rang out as a golden sphere enveloped the students. Waves struck the dome, bouncing harmlessly as Gold braced for impact.
Hiko's cursed flame roared around his hands. "CURSED FLAME! I will cut through you!" He lunged forward, slicing the air with fiery spears aimed at Kenzuko.
Kenzuko's black aura shimmered. "I can feel every strike… adapting… absorbing…" His eyes gleamed with thrill. "Destroyer!" He struck with a fist that slammed down with over 300 kg of force, splitting waves and almost crushing the boat. Class 1-C barely avoided the impact.
Rex Calder raised his hands, sparks flying. "EXPLOSION MAGIC! I'll blast him open!" He threw a concentrated explosion toward Kenzuko, who tilted his head, expression amused, as his aura adapted. The flames met the aura, dissipating harmlessly.
"Your magic adapts… but your arrogance entertains me," Kenzuko whispered, voice quiet but thrill palpable. "DOMINATING ZONE!" A black aura expanded outward. Every student inside felt their movements slow, coordination faltering, energy dampened. Kenzuko's dominance surged as the zone pressed against them.
Hiko's flame pulsed, sensing the overwhelming force. "We… we have to endure it," he muttered, hands blazing. "CURSED FLAME! FULL BLAZE!" He lashed the fire in jagged streaks toward Kenzuko, testing the limits of his Domination.
Kenzuko's lips curved upward. "Exciting! You fight with such fury… but futile!" He struck again. "DOMINATE!" A black flash erupted in a 10-meter radius, destroying waves and creating a shockwave that threw Hiko and the others back.
Selene Mora shouted, "ICE BARRIER! Protect the students!" The water solidified briefly, buffering some of the destructive energy.
Even Gold was forced to flinch. "He… he's beyond normal limits…" His aura flared as he repelled another Dominate attack. "I will not let him touch a single student!"
Rougen narrowed his eyes, analyzing. "He's growing stronger with every attack, every movement… Era of Domination is making him near invincible for 200 seconds. I'll need everything…" He took a deep breath, focusing.
"COSMIC ROOM!" Rougen's body became enveloped in astral, starry liquid, every movement leaving streaks of galaxy-like light. The realm shimmered around him, and his voice boomed: "Time to see if your domination can withstand the universe itself, Kenzuko!"
Kenzuko's expression didn't falter—excited now, his hands twitching in anticipation. "Oh! Finally… a challenge worth my attention! DESTROYER!" He punched, waves erupting violently. The clash against Rougen's astral coat sent ripples across the lake.
"ASTRAL STRIKE!" Rougen shouted, thrusting his palm forward, launching concentrated starlight energy that twisted gravity and space. Kenzuko's aura adapted mid-motion, but the strike still forced him backward slightly.
Hiko yelled, "CURSED FLAME! ALL OUT!" His attacks combined with Rina Solis' FIRE BURST! and Lio Fenris' WIND BLADE! The coordinated strikes distracted Kenzuko, but his Domination adapted immediately. He laughed—thrilled by the onslaught.
"This… is exhilarating!" Kenzuko whispered, eyes gleaming. "You push me… I feel alive! ERA OF DOMINATION!" He reinforced the 200-second power boost, every movement growing stronger.
Gold barked orders to the students: "Dain, TOMA! SHADOW BINDING! BARRIER! Protect the boat! You are my responsibility now!" His aura shone like molten sun, deflecting waves and keeping students safe.
Rougen pressed the advantage. "ASTRAL GRAVITY FIELD!" Stars spun violently around him, creating a gravitational pull that tugged Kenzuko slightly off balance. The black aura twisted against the pull, but Kenzuko grinned. "Oh… delicious… CHALLENGE! DESTROYER!" He smashed the water again, testing Rougen's limits.
Hiko's cursed flame burned brighter than ever. "CURSED FLAME! FLAMING SPEAR!" He pierced a tentacle of Kenzuko's aura, forcing him to react. Kenzuko's black eyes flickered with brief fear—a thrill tempered by recognition that Rougen and Hiko were pushing limits he hadn't expected.
Rougen's voice rang clear. "BLACK HOLE!" He formed a miniature singularity of astral magic above his palm, swirling stars collapsing inward. "Time to end this domination!"
Kenzuko's black aura flared in a final attempt to counter. "DOMINATE! ERA OF DOMINATION!" But Rougen's Cosmic Room warped space and magic. The black hole swallowed Kenzuko's aura, Era of Domination, and all adaptive defenses.
The water roared, waves collapsing inward, mist shredded. Kenzuko's eyes widened, the thrill twisting into fear for the first time as the black hole's gravity pressed in. He struggled, attempting one last DOMINATE, but it was insufficient.
Rougen's starry liquid coat pulsed violently as the black hole reached maximum pull. "Face your limits, Kenzuko! The cosmos judges you!"
With a final scream, Kenzuko was pulled into the singularity. Era of Domination collapsed, the 200-second power boost gone. Rougen's Cosmic Room faded, the astral coat dissolving, leaving him ordinary again, exhausted but victorious.
Gold's aura remained bright, shielding the students as they recovered. "Everyone safe?" he asked. The students nodded, trembling but alive.
Hiko exhaled sharply, cursed flame dwindling. "He… actually feared us. For the first time."
Hinata smiled faintly, relief and pride in her eyes. "We survived… together."
Rougen looked at the lake, calm but resolute. "This is only a temporary peace. Kenzuko Forami will survive, adapt, and return. But today… we forced him to fear. And that counts as a victory."
The lake calmed, the mist began to fade, and Class 1-C was safe—exhausted, scared, but alive.
Hiko glanced at Rougen, awe in his eyes. "Your astral magic… it's incredible. I hope I can reach that level someday."
Rougen shook his head. "This magic comes with cost. Cosmic Room is not to be used lightly. Remember your cursed flame—it is enough for now. Train, endure, and grow. The universe is waiting to test you again."
Gold clapped Hiko on the shoulder. "And I'll make sure you get there alive. Class 1-C, stay alert. There's always another challenge waiting. But for now… rest. You've earned it."
The boat drifted further into the Lake of Terror, calm for the first time in hours. Stars reflected faintly on the black water, and the students finally allowed themselves a moment to breathe, though the shadow of Kenzuko lingered in their minds.