__________
The ruins had grown quiet again.
Too quiet.
The shattered remains of the guardians dissolved slowly into faint particles of light, drifting upward like dying stars. The control node pulsed steadily now, its glow no longer chaotic.
But the calm felt… temporary.
Izumi stood still, staring at his hand.
A thin layer of frost formed across his fingers without him trying.
Then it vanished.
"…What was that?"
His voice was low.
Uncertain.
Behind him, Mira dropped down from a broken pillar, wiping her dagger clean with a casual motion.
"That," she said, "was definitely not normal."
Izumi glanced at her.
"Helpful."
She smirked.
"Relax. If you blew yourself up, I'd be more worried."
Dianara approached slowly, her eyes fixed on him—not with fear, but deep analysis.
"Do it again."
Izumi blinked.
"…What?"
"That power," she continued, "you activated it unconsciously."
She stepped closer.
"I need to see it again."
Izumi hesitated.
"I don't even know how I did it."
Seraphina's voice cut in.
"Then learn."
They all turned toward her.
She stood near the center of the battlefield, her blade now resting against her shoulder.
Calm.
Composed.
But her gaze was sharp.
"You used something beyond standard elemental magic."
Her eyes locked onto Izumi.
"That makes you a risk."
Silence fell.
Mira rolled her eyes.
"Here we go again."
Izumi frowned slightly.
"A risk?"
Seraphina stepped forward.
"Yes."
"If you lose control in a critical moment…"
Her voice was steady.
"…you could kill everyone here."
The words hit harder than expected.
Izumi clenched his fist.
"I won't lose control."
Seraphina didn't respond immediately.
Then—
"That is what everyone says."
Mira stepped between them slightly.
"Oi."
"Don't push him too much."
Seraphina glanced at her.
"And you."
"You encourage recklessness."
Mira grinned.
"Yeah."
"It works."
Dianara sighed softly.
"This isn't productive."
She turned back to Izumi.
"We'll figure it out."
"But not here."
She looked around.
"The system may be stable for now, but not safe."
Seraphina nodded.
"We move."
A Temporary Rest
They relocated to a nearby structure.
A partially intact building that still held traces of ancient defensive magic.
Dianara reinforced it with a barrier.
For the first time since entering Nerathis—
They had a moment to breathe.
Lior sat quietly in the corner, staring at the fragment floating above his palm.
It glowed softly now.
Peaceful.
But heavy.
"…I can feel it," he said quietly.
Izumi looked at him.
"What?"
"…The other fragments."
Everyone turned.
Dianara stepped closer.
"You can sense them?"
Lior nodded slowly.
"They're… far."
"But connected."
Seraphina's expression sharpened.
"That confirms it."
"The fragments resonate with each other."
Mira leaned against the wall.
"Great."
"So we've got a walking tracker now."
Lior looked down.
"I didn't ask for this…"
Izumi walked over and sat beside him.
"Yeah."
"None of us did."
He gave a small smile.
"But we deal with it anyway."
Lior nodded slightly.
The Truth About Power
Across the room—
Dianara and Seraphina stood together.
Discussing quietly.
"His magic," Dianara said, "it's not just enhanced ice."
Seraphina nodded.
"I sensed it too."
"It felt… ancient."
Dianara hesitated.
"…It reminded me of something."
Seraphina looked at her.
"What?"
Dianara's voice lowered.
"…The same type of energy used in the Forbidden Scroll."
Silence.
Seraphina's expression darkened slightly.
"…That is not good."
"No," Dianara agreed.
"It isn't."
Mira and Seraphina
Near the entrance—
Mira stood alone.
Looking out into the ruins.
Seraphina approached her.
"You're quieter than usual."
Mira didn't turn.
"Just thinking."
Seraphina stood beside her.
"…About him?"
Mira scoffed.
"Don't get the wrong idea."
"But yeah."
She crossed her arms.
"He's changing too fast."
Seraphina nodded slightly.
"That power will either save him…"
"…or destroy him."
Mira smirked faintly.
"Or both."
For once—
Seraphina didn't disagree.
The Next Destination
Dianara called everyone together.
"We don't have time to rest for long."
She projected a small version of the map again.
"Now that one control point is stabilized…"
She pointed to another location.
"…this one is next."
Izumi frowned.
"It's deeper."
"Yes."
"And more dangerous."
Seraphina stepped forward.
"Which means it's a priority."
Mira grinned.
"Finally, something interesting again."
Lior hesitated.
"…Do I have to go again?"
Dianara nodded gently.
"Yes."
"But we'll protect you."
Izumi stood.
"Let's move."
Ending Build-Up
As they prepared to leave—
The fragment pulsed again.
Stronger.
Lior flinched.
"…Something's wrong."
Dianara's eyes narrowed.
"What is it?"
Lior looked toward the distant ruins.
"…Something is coming."
At that exact moment—
A massive surge of dark mana spread across the city.
Stronger than before.
Colder.
Heavier.
Even Seraphina stiffened.
"…That presence…"
Mira smiled slowly.
"…Now that feels like trouble."
Far away—
A new figure stood atop the ruins.
Watching.
Waiting..
The pressure in the water changed.
It wasn't just mana.
It felt heavier—like the ocean itself had become aware.
Everyone froze for a moment.
Even the faint glow of Nerathis dimmed slightly, as if reacting to something far beyond the ruins.
Izumi felt it in his chest.
A slow, tightening weight.
"…This is different."
Seraphina didn't take her eyes off the distant horizon.
"…Yes."
Her voice was quieter than usual.
But sharper.
"This is not a mere agent."
Mira's lips curled into a grin.
"Finally."
"Something worth killing."
Dianara immediately shook her head.
"No."
Her tone was firm.
"This is not something we rush into blindly."
Lior stepped closer to Izumi, his hands trembling.
"The fragment… it's reacting again."
The crystal above his palm flickered rapidly.
Not in fear this time—
But recognition.
Dianara noticed it instantly.
"…That means one thing."
Izumi looked at her.
"…They have a fragment too?"
Dianara didn't answer immediately.
But her silence was enough.
Seraphina turned.
"We move carefully."
Mira scoffed.
"You say that like we have a choice."
Another wave of pressure spread through the ruins.
Closer this time.
Then—
A figure appeared.
Not rushing.
Not hiding.
Just… walking.
Step by step through the ruined streets.
Tall.
Composed.
Wrapped in a long dark cloak that flowed unnaturally in the water.
And behind him—
The currents themselves twisted.
As if obeying his presence.
Izumi's grip tightened on his sword.
"…Who is that?"
Dianara's voice was low.
"…One of them."
Seraphina stepped forward slightly.
Her aura rising again.
"…Be ready."
The figure stopped.
Far enough to keep distance.
Close enough to dominate the battlefield.
Then—
He raised his head.
Calm eyes.
Sharp.
Calculating.
His voice echoed through the ruins.
"So this is the group that interfered."
Mira tilted her head.
"…You talk too much."
He ignored her.
His gaze moved across each of them.
Stopping briefly on Lior.
Then—
On Izumi.
"…Interesting."
Izumi felt it.
Like being seen through.
Completely.
The man smiled faintly.
"I didn't expect to find something like you here."
Seraphina stepped forward.
Her blade lifted.
"State your name."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
"Arman Dagahra."
The name echoed.
The water itself seemed to react.
Dianara's eyes widened slightly.
"…The Exiled Dragon Commander."
Izumi whispered—
"…One of the leaders."
Mira's grin widened.
"Oh, this just got fun."
Arman glanced at her.
Unimpressed.
"Childish."
Then his attention returned to Seraphina.
"You are in my way."
Seraphina didn't move.
"Then turn back."
Arman exhaled slowly.
"…No."
The moment he stepped forward—
The ocean exploded.
A violent storm of water and pressure erupted outward.
BOOM.
The entire area shook.
Izumi was forced to brace himself.
"…What the—"
Dianara shouted—
"Wind and fire magic—combined with water pressure!"
Arman raised one hand.
The currents bent.
Spiraled.
Condensed into a massive rotating force behind him.
A storm.
But underwater.
"Dragon Tempest."
The attack launched forward.
A crushing wave of spiraling destruction.
Seraphina moved instantly.
"Sanctuary Field!"
Golden light expanded.
The storm collided with it.
BOOM.
The clash shook everything.
The ground cracked.
Ruins collapsed.
Even the control node flickered again.
Izumi shielded Lior.
"This is insane!"
Mira dashed forward.
Ignoring the pressure.
"Move!"
She cut through the outer currents, forcing her way toward Arman.
But—
The moment she entered the storm's range—
The pressure increased tenfold.
Her movement slowed instantly.
"…Tch."
Arman didn't even look at her.
"Stay out of battles beyond your level."
Mira's eyes sharpened.
"Say that again."
She forced forward.
Blood magic surged.
Her speed spiked—
And she broke through.
Her dagger swung toward his neck.
SLASH—
Blocked.
Effortlessly.
Arman caught her attack with one hand.
Mira's eyes widened.
"…What?"
His grip tightened slightly.
"Too light."
He threw her.
BOOM.
Mira crashed into a distant pillar, stone breaking on impact.
Izumi's eyes widened.
"Mira!"
Seraphina pushed forward.
Her blade glowing brighter.
"You face me."
Arman finally looked at her properly.
"…Acceptable."
Their clash began instantly.
Light versus storm.
Each strike distorted the water itself.
Izumi tried to move—
But Dianara grabbed his arm.
"Don't."
He looked at her.
"We can't fight him like this."
Her voice was tense.
"He's on a completely different level."
Behind them—
Lior dropped to one knee.
The fragment pulsed violently.
"It's… reacting…"
Dianara turned.
"Why now?"
Lior's voice shook.
"…He has one too."
Silence.
Izumi looked back at Arman.
"…So that's it."
The fragment wasn't just reacting to danger.
It was reacting to another fragment.
The air grew heavier again.
Seraphina was holding her ground—
But barely.
Even her golden field flickered under the pressure.
Arman spoke calmly during the clash.
"You cannot win this."
Seraphina didn't respond.
She pushed forward.
Her blade cutting through the storm.
"I don't need to win."
She struck again.
"I just need to stop you."
Arman's expression didn't change.
"…Pointless."
Then—
His aura spiked.
Stronger.
Wilder.
The storm behind him expanded again.
Larger than before.
Dianara's eyes widened.
"…He's getting serious."
Izumi clenched his fists.
"…Then we can't just stand here."
He stepped forward.
Cold energy beginning to rise again.
Unstable.
Dangerous.
Dianara tried to stop him—
But paused.
Because she saw it.
That same power.
The same one from before.
Starting to awaken again.
Izumi's voice was low.
"…I won't lose again."
The battlefield trembled.
The storm roared.
And deep beneath Nerathis—
The sealed entity stirred once more.