The wind on the palace balcony had grown stronger.
Far away, the dark storm above the northern mountains continued to grow.
Lightning flashed inside the clouds again and again.
Saksham stared toward the battlefield.
The pressure of the Void Guardian's energy could be felt even from the capital.
Behind him, Orion stepped forward calmly.
"You said you want to go there."
Saksham nodded.
"Yes."
"Then you must become stronger first."
Orion raised his hand slowly.
Dark mana appeared around his fingers like smoke.
At the same time—
a faint golden light appeared in his other hand.
Saksham's eyes widened.
"You can use both…?"
Orion closed his hands.
The light and darkness disappeared.
"I learned it long ago."
"But the technique is dangerous."
"How dangerous?" Saksham asked.
Orion looked directly into his eyes.
"If you lose control even once…"
"The two elements will destroy your body from inside."
The warning was clear.
But Saksham did not hesitate.
"Teach me."
Orion smiled slightly.
"Very well."
He stepped into the center of the balcony floor.
"First rule of Element Fusion."
"Balance."
He raised one hand again.
Golden light appeared.
His other hand created a sphere of darkness.
The two energies floated in the air between them.
"Light represents order."
"Darkness represents chaos."
"They normally reject each other."
The two spheres began shaking violently.
"But if you control them perfectly…"
Orion slowly pushed the two spheres together.
The moment they touched—
a powerful pulse of energy exploded outward.
The light and darkness merged.
A new energy formed between Orion's hands.
It looked like a swirling mix of gold and black.
Saksham stared in amazement.
"That's…"
"Fusion Mana," Orion finished.
"It is far stronger than normal elemental magic."
He then looked at Saksham seriously.
"But controlling it requires absolute focus."
Orion stepped back.
"Now you try."
Saksham took a deep breath.
He raised both hands.
Golden light appeared in his right hand.
Dark energy gathered in his left.
The two forces immediately began resisting each other.
His arms started shaking.
"Focus," Orion said calmly.
"Control both elements equally."
Saksham slowly moved his hands closer.
The two spheres touched.
For a moment—
everything seemed stable.
Then suddenly—
BOOM!
The energy exploded outward.
Saksham was thrown backward onto the balcony floor.
Orion sighed slightly.
"As expected."
Saksham groaned and sat up again.
"That hurt…"
But he stood back up.
"Again."
Orion watched him carefully.
"You really are stubborn."
Saksham raised his hands again.
Light.
Darkness.
The two elements formed once more.
Far away in the mountains—
the Void Guardian continued destroying the royal army.
The battle was reaching its breaking point.
And while the kingdom struggled to survive—
Saksham continued attempting the forbidden technique.
Because soon—
he would have to face the monster himself.
To be continued…