The battlefield had transformed completely.
What was once the academy's training ground had become a dark war zone.
Ren stood at the center of the Shadow Field.
Around him, dozens of shadow soldiers had risen from the darkness.
Each one held a weapon made from pure shadow energy.
Their glowing eyes stared silently at their enemy.
Raizen.
The Storm Hunter stood alone on the opposite side of the field.
Lightning crackled around his body like living electricity.
He looked at the army in front of him and smiled.
"So this is your power."
Ren did not move.
The shadows behind him continued to grow.
More soldiers slowly rose from the ground.
Students watching from the academy walls were stunned.
"That's not normal summoning."
"He's creating them from nothing."
Lyra gripped the stone railing tightly.
"They're not just illusions."
Captain Kael nodded.
"They're real combat constructs."
Back on the battlefield, Raizen stretched his arms.
"Alright then."
Lightning surged violently around him.
"Let's see how good your army is."
Ren lowered his hand.
The shadow soldiers moved instantly.
Twenty of them rushed forward at the same time.
Their movements were fast and coordinated.
Raizen laughed.
"Come on."
CRACK.
Lightning exploded around him.
His body vanished.
A blur of electric speed shot through the charging soldiers.
The first shadow warrior swung its blade.
Raizen ducked under the attack and drove his fist through its chest.
BOOM.
The soldier shattered into black smoke.
But before Raizen could move again—
Another soldier attacked from behind.
Then another.
Then five more.
They attacked from every direction.
Raizen's lightning punches destroyed several of them instantly.
But more shadows kept replacing them.
Each time one was destroyed, the darkness beneath the battlefield created another.
Raizen landed back on the ground.
Shadow soldiers surrounded him.
He grinned.
"This is getting crowded."
He slammed his foot into the ground.
Lightning erupted outward in a circular blast.
BOOM.
Ten soldiers were destroyed instantly.
But the remaining ones stepped forward again.
Without hesitation.
Without fear.
Lyra whispered from the wall.
"They're not slowing down."
Captain Kael nodded.
"They can't feel pain."
Raizen noticed the same thing.
"These things don't stop."
His eyes moved toward Ren.
"So the longer this fight goes…"
"the more soldiers you create."
Ren answered calmly.
"Yes."
Raizen laughed loudly.
"That's broken."
The storm above the academy roared louder.
Lightning bolts struck the battlefield.
Raizen raised his arms.
Electricity surged across his entire body.
"Alright."
"If it's a war you want…"
Lightning exploded outward.
"Let's make it a real one."
CRACK.
Raizen shot forward again.
This time he moved faster than before.
He tore through the shadow soldiers like a lightning storm.
Each punch shattered another soldier.
Each kick destroyed another.
Within seconds, more than fifteen shadows had fallen.
But the darkness beneath the battlefield continued moving.
New soldiers rose again.
Raizen landed near the center of the field.
His breathing remained calm.
But his eyes had sharpened.
"You're dangerous."
Ren stepped forward slightly.
Shade moved behind him like a silent giant.
"You came here to test me."
Raizen smiled again.
"And I'm impressed."
He pointed toward the shadow army.
"But you're still holding back."
Ren didn't deny it.
Instead, he raised his hand slowly.
The shadow soldiers suddenly stopped moving.
Raizen noticed immediately.
"Oh?"
The shadows around Ren began gathering together.
The dark field beneath the battlefield started pulling inward.
All the scattered shadow energy moved toward one place.
Toward Shade.
The massive shadow servant absorbed the energy.
His body grew larger.
Darker.
More powerful.
The ground beneath his feet cracked from the pressure.
Students watching gasped.
"That thing is getting bigger."
Lyra whispered nervously.
"What is Ren doing?"
Captain Kael answered quietly.
"He's concentrating the entire Shadow Field."
Back on the battlefield, Raizen's grin slowly returned.
"Well now…"
"This is interesting."
Shade's glowing eyes burned brighter.
The giant creature stepped forward.
Each step shook the ground.
Raizen rolled his shoulders.
"Looks like the real fight is about to begin."
Lightning surged violently around him.
The sky above the academy exploded with thunder.
Storm versus shadow.
And the next clash would be far more destructive than the last.