The wind drake cut through the storm like a dark arrow.
Cold air rushed past Saksham as the creature flew toward the northern mountains.
Lightning flashed across the clouds, briefly lighting up the entire sky.
Below them, the forest stretched endlessly like a black sea.
But far ahead—
a massive surge of dark energy illuminated the ruins of Velkar Temple.
Saksham leaned forward slightly, trying to see the battlefield clearly.
The moment the drake broke through the storm clouds, the entire scene became visible.
The temple ruins were in complete chaos.
Broken stone pillars lay scattered across the courtyard.
Large parts of the ancient structure had collapsed during the battle.
Flames burned across the battlefield where magic attacks had struck the ground.
Royal knights were fighting desperately.
Some were still standing, holding their swords with determination.
Others were injured and struggling to move.
At the center of it all—
stood the monster.
The Void Guardian.
Even from the sky, the creature looked enormous.
Black crystal armor covered its entire body.
Massive wings of dark energy stretched from its back.
Its glowing red eyes scanned the battlefield like a predator searching for prey.
Each time it moved, the ground cracked beneath its feet.
Saksham felt the pressure of its power immediately.
His chest tightened slightly.
"So that's the Void Guardian…"
Orion guided the wind drake lower toward the battlefield.
"Yes."
"And right now, the royal army is losing."
Below them, Captain Leon struggled to stand.
His armor was cracked.
Blood ran down one side of his face.
But he still refused to fall.
He raised his sword again.
"Knights… regroup!"
A few remaining soldiers gathered behind him.
But their numbers were much smaller than before.
Across the battlefield, the cultists watched calmly.
They didn't even seem worried.
Because they knew the royal army could not defeat the Guardian anymore.
At the temple steps, the cult leader stood with his hands behind his back.
His long black robes moved in the storm wind.
He watched the battlefield with a calm smile.
"Eighty-eight percent," he said softly.
"One final push."
Beside him, several cultists continued chanting around the ritual circle.
Dark energy flowed through the ground like veins of shadow.
The Void Guardian roared again.
The sound shook the mountains.
Leon gritted his teeth.
"If we don't stop it now…"
He knew the truth.
The kingdom would fall.
At that exact moment—
a loud screech echoed through the sky.
Everyone on the battlefield looked up.
The wind drake burst through the storm clouds.
Its massive wings cut through the air as it descended toward the ruins.
One of the cultists pointed upward.
"Something is coming!"
The drake landed on a broken section of the temple wall.
Stone shattered beneath its claws.
Saksham jumped down onto the ruins.
Orion followed behind him.
For a brief moment—
the entire battlefield became silent.
Both knights and cultists stared at the two newcomers.
Captain Leon blinked in confusion.
"A boy…?"
But the cult leader's eyes narrowed.
He recognized the man standing beside Saksham instantly.
"…Orion."
The name echoed quietly through the courtyard.
Orion looked toward the temple steps.
"Well," he said calmly, "it's been a while."
The cult leader smiled slowly.
"I was wondering when you would show up."
The wind howled across the ruins as the two men faced each other.
Saksham looked between them.
"You know him?"
Orion nodded.
"Yes."
"He used to be my teacher."
The cult leader chuckled softly.
"Former teacher."
"Now traitor."
Saksham frowned slightly.
Teacher?
That meant the cult leader was even stronger than Orion.
Meanwhile, Captain Leon approached carefully.
"Who are you two?"
Saksham turned toward him.
"We're here to stop that monster."
Leon looked at the Void Guardian again.
The creature towered over the battlefield like a living mountain.
"You realize dozens of knights couldn't defeat it."
Saksham looked directly at the monster.
His expression remained calm.
"I'm not dozens of knights."
Inside his mind, the system suddenly activated.
SYSTEM ALERT
Enemy Identified: Void Guardian
Threat Level: Extreme
Awakening Progress: 89%
Recommended Strategy: High-Level Fusion Combat
Saksham slowly raised his hands.
Golden light gathered in his right palm.
Dark energy formed in his left.
The two forces began rotating around each other.
Leon stared in disbelief.
"Two elements…?"
The light and darkness spun faster.
Then they merged.
Fusion Mana appeared.
A swirling sphere of gold and black energy pulsed between Saksham's hands.
The air around him vibrated with power.
Several cultists stepped back instinctively.
The cult leader's smile widened.
"Interesting."
"So you're the child with both elements."
Orion glanced toward Saksham.
"Remember what I told you."
"Balance."
Saksham nodded.
Then he stepped forward toward the battlefield.
The Void Guardian turned its glowing eyes toward him.
The monster sensed the new power immediately.
It roared loudly.
The ground shook.
Saksham stood directly in front of it.
Wind pushed against his clothes as the monster towered above him.
But he didn't step back.
Instead—
he raised the swirling fusion energy in his hand.
And smiled slightly.
"Let's see how strong you really are."
The Void Guardian lifted its massive claw.
And the first true clash was about to begin.
To be continued…