The arena was burning.
Not with fire…
With pressure.
Ryo stood at the center of fractured stone, shoulders rising and falling slowly, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles trembled. Across from him, the Vorthal Spawn shifted its massive form, dark energy pulsing through its armored body like a living storm.
Behind him, Kael pushed himself upright, breathing heavier than before.
"…Leave," Kael muttered.
Ryo didn't move.
"You're injured."
Still no movement.
Kael's voice hardened.
"You cannot defeat it."
Ryo spoke without turning.
"…You talk too much."
Silence.
Then—
"You think you're above me."
Kael said nothing.
Ryo continued, voice lower now.
"You think I'm weak. You think I can't reach Kai. You think I'm always one step behind."
His aura flickered.
Unstable.
Rising.
"But you're wrong."
The Vorthal Spawn moved first.
It lunged forward with violent speed, claws tearing through the ground as it closed the distance instantly.
Ryo didn't dodge.
Didn't retreat.
Didn't hesitate.
The creature's strike came down—
And Ryo caught it.
Bare-handed.
The impact shattered the arena floor beneath his feet.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…Impossible."
The Vorthal Spawn roared, pushing harder, dark energy surging violently around its arm — trying to crush him.
Ryo's body trembled.
Veins burning.
Aura flaring.
His teeth clenched.
Not from fear.
From fury.
"You don't get it," Ryo growled.
His aura ignited.
Red-gold.
Hot.
Violent.
The air warped around him as heat distorted space itself.
Kael felt it.
The pressure.
The shift.
"…What is this…"
The Vorthal Spawn recoiled instinctively.
For the first time—
It hesitated.
Ryo stepped forward.
And the ground cracked beneath him.
His voice was low… but burning.
"I'm not chasing Kai."
His aura surged violently, flames spiraling outward.
"I'm surpassing him."
The energy erupted.
Not explosive chaos.
Controlled rage.
Focused destruction.
CRIMSON IGNITION.
The Vorthal Spawn attacked again.
Faster.
Stronger.
Desperate.
Ryo vanished.
Not speed.
Displacement.
He reappeared behind it instantly—
And struck.
BOOM.
The impact tore through the creature's armor, sending shockwaves ripping across the arena.
The Vorthal Spawn staggered—
But Ryo didn't stop.
He moved again.
Another strike.
Another shockwave.
Each hit heavier.
Faster.
Overwhelming.
Kael watched in stunned silence.
"…He's evolved."
The creature roared, unleashing a violent surge of dark energy — attempting to overpower him through brute force.
Ryo walked through it.
Unstopped.
Unaffected.
His aura burned hotter.
His voice cold.
"You wanted to see strength."
He raised his fist.
Energy compressed into a blazing core.
"Watch."
SOLAR REND.
Ryo struck.
The impact collapsed inward before exploding outward in a violent burst of red-gold force. The Vorthal Spawn's body fractured instantly, dark armor shattering as cracks of burning energy tore across its form.
It screamed.
Not in rage.
In fear.
The light consumed it.
Its body disintegrated — collapsing into nothing but fading shadow.
Gone.
Erased.
Obliterated.
Silence fell over the arena.
The burning aura slowly faded.
Ryo stood alone at the center of destruction, breathing steady, fists still clenched.
Kael stared at him.
For the first time…
Without superiority.
Without dismissal.
"…You've crossed a threshold," Kael said quietly.
Ryo didn't look at him.
"…I told you."
He turned slightly, voice calm but sharp.
"I'm not beneath anyone."
Far away — Observation Wing
Kai felt it.
The surge.
The ignition.
He looked toward the academy grounds silently.
Elias whispered—
"…Ryo."
Kai smirked, his voice was quiet.
But certain.
"He broke through."
Back in the arena, Ryo looked toward the dark sky.
His voice low.
"…I'm coming, Kai."