Night slowly descended upon the academy.
After the exhausting day, the dormitory halls had grown quiet. Students had already finished dinner and retreated to their rooms.
One by one, the lights went out.
Even Kael, Riven, and Sylven had collapsed into deep sleep after the intense training.
But in one room…
Someone was still awake.
Lyra sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the floor.
Her mind kept replaying the duel from earlier.
Why didn't he use his full power?
She clenched her hand slightly.
What could be the reason…?
Another thought crept into her mind.
Does he think… I'm not worthy of seeing it yet?
The thought lingered.
And it bothered her more than she expected.
Lyra exhaled slowly.
Then—
Click.
Her door opened quietly.
She stepped outside and gently closed it behind her.
The corridor was silent. Only the faint moonlight coming through the windows illuminated the path.
Her footsteps echoed softly.
Tap… tap… tap…
As she walked, her thoughts continued.
Yes… that must be it.
He thinks I'm still too weak.
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
Then I'll train harder.
I'll become strong enough… to face his true power.
Step by step, she walked down the corridor.
Eventually—
She reached the training grounds.
But the moment she arrived—
Lyra stopped.
Someone was already there.
A figure stood alone at the center of the field.
The wind lightly fluttered a cape behind him.
Lyra narrowed her eyes.
Then she realized.
"…Iren."
Suddenly—
Iren turned his head slightly, looking around as if checking whether someone was watching.
Lyra immediately stepped back.
Rustle.
She hid behind a nearby wall.
Carefully, she peeked out.
Iren was standing still.
Facing away from her.
The entire training ground was silent.
Then—
He slowly raised his hand in front of him.
And whispered.
"…Level One."
A pause.
"…Ignition."
Even though his voice was barely audible, the night was so quiet that Lyra heard it clearly.
The moment the words left his lips—
FWOOOSH!!
Violent flames erupted around his body.
A blazing pillar of fire surrounded him.
The flames roared fiercely before gradually calming down.
Lyra's eyes widened.
So that's the power he used against me…
She murmured in her mind.
Level One… Ignition.
A small smile appeared on her face.
That's a pretty cool name.
But then—
Iren spoke again.
His voice was lower this time.
"…Level Two…"
A brief pause.
"…Inferno."
The moment he said it—
BOOOOM!!
A massive eruption of flames burst outward.
The fire surged violently, swallowing his entire body in a blazing storm.
The heat distorted the air.
Iren gritted his teeth.
"Ggh…!"
The power was overwhelming.
But he didn't stop.
He pushed further.
Lyra stood frozen in amazement.
Then—
The chaotic flames slowly began to stabilize.
The raging fire lowered.
And in its place—
A crimson aura covered his body.
It burned like controlled fire.
Lyra's eyes widened even more.
So this is his real power…
Level Two… Inferno.
She stared in disbelief.
But suddenly—
The aura flickered.
Smoke began rising from Iren's body.
"Ggh…!"
His legs trembled.
Then—
Thud.
He dropped to one knee.
Lyra instinctively stepped forward.
Should I help him—
But she stopped herself.
If she stepped out now…
Iren would realize she had been watching him the entire time.
So she remained hidden.
Breathing quietly.
Then she heard Iren mutter while catching his breath.
"…I failed again… to control it."
Lyra blinked.
And instantly understood.
So that's why…
That's why he didn't use it against me.
He hasn't mastered it yet.
But then—
Iren slowly stood up again.
Despite the exhaustion.
Despite the smoke rising from his body.
His eyes were filled with determination.
"No… I have to master it."
He clenched his fist.
"Everyone in the team is training so hard…"
His voice lowered.
"I'm the only one falling behind."
He looked down.
"I don't want to disappoint them."
Then he whispered again.
"…Level Two."
"…Inferno."
FWOOM!!
The flames erupted once more.
Even stronger than before.
His knees bent under the pressure.
His body trembled.
But he forced himself to endure.
"I have to push… beyond my limits!"
His voice echoed across the silent ground.
"I will not disappoint my team!"
His fists tightened.
"And I will keep the promise I made to my master… no matter what!"
Lyra's eyes widened.
The promise…
She remembered the story he once told her during training.
Then—
Iren roared.
"I WILL MASTER IT!!"
The flames surged violently again.
For a moment—
Everything went silent.
Then…
A crimson aura appeared once more.
But this time—
It didn't flicker.
It didn't rage wildly.
It stayed.
Perfectly stable.
Iren looked at his hands.
Breathing heavily.
"…I think…"
A small smile formed on his face.
"I think… I did it."
His eyes widened in realization.
"Yes…"
His voice filled with excitement.
"I mastered it—"
"YES! I—!"
Suddenly—
He covered his own mouth.
His eyes widened.
"…Idiot…"
He whispered to himself.
"Why am I screaming in the middle of the night…"
He looked around nervously.
"I need to leave before someone comes."
The crimson aura slowly faded.
The flames disappeared.
And Iren hurriedly left the training ground through the opposite gate.
Clack.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
On the other side of the wall—
Lyra stood frozen.
Her eyes still wide.
"…He really did it."
She whispered softly.
"He broke his own limits… and mastered it."
She swallowed.
"Level Two… Inferno."
A small shiver ran through her.
"Even the name sounds terrifying…"
Her gaze drifted toward the empty field.
"And he defeated Kael with it… when he had just unlocked it."
She slowly looked up at the moon.
"And now he has mastered it…"
A quiet breath escaped her lips.
"I wonder…"
Her voice softened.
"How far will you go… Iren?"
A small smile appeared on her face.
"If you keep breaking your limits like this…"
She turned toward the academy building.
"…then I'm sure."
"You will never disappoint us."
The night wind blew gently.
And Lyra slowly walked back toward the dormitory.
Tap… tap… tap…
The training ground fell silent once again.
But somewhere within that silence—
A new power had just been born.
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