BOOM.
The sky had already cracked open.
The Dark Dragon God's massive body had half-emerged from the portal, its wings tearing through the night as black lightning danced violently above the guild hall.
But this time… there was no chaos.
There was formation.
And at the center of it all, levitating in a calm golden aura, was Mevis Vermilliom.
There was no fear in her eyes.
Only calculation.
"Everyone, listen carefully!"
Her voice was soft — yet the entire battlefield fell silent.
"Ignar, take the right flank. Zephyr, maintain opposite pressure. Raizen, aerial suppression. Magnus, if the dragon fully emerges, you handle direct impact. Seraphina, support and emergency response. Levy, track mana flow and barrier stability."
For a brief second, the guild stood stunned.
This was no longer a casual guild hall.
This was a war council.
And Mevis was a true tactician.
Thorn stood slightly to the side, hands in his pockets, observing her.
She's shining… Not just a gentle guild master. A battlefield mind.
Mevis glanced at him.
"Thorn. You are final control. Your role is not solo victory. Your role is balance."
He raised an eyebrow. "So I'm the babysitter?"
A faint smile curved her lips. "You're the backbone."
The Dragon God roared, releasing a shockwave that shook the skies.
This time, Thorn did not immediately react.
Instead—
Raizen shot into the air. Lightning exploded from his body in a blinding beam that struck the dragon's face directly.
The creature staggered.
Simultaneously, Ignar ignited into blazing flames and launched forward with a roaring strike. Zephyr countered from the opposite side with a barrage of ice constructs that temporarily froze one of the dragon's wings.
Seraphina activated her transformation, demonic energy surging outward. Magnus dashed forward, his Crush magic detonating against the dragon's scales.
The sky trembled under the impact.
Through it all, Thorn remained calm.
His gravity field subtly regulated the battlefield. Falling debris froze midair before it could hit the guild hall. The dragon's movements became slightly heavier — subtly restricted. Portal energy spikes were absorbed and dispersed before destabilizing the formation.
If I used full power, this would end in ten seconds. But Mevis is right… this is their moment.
The dragon's tail swept violently toward Ignar.
Before it could connect—
Space bent.
The trajectory shifted slightly.
Ignar landed safely and shouted, "Oi! Thanks!"
Thorn shrugged casually. "Don't mention it."
Around Mevis, glowing magical circles formed as she calculated mana flow in real time.
"Levy," she called, "there's instability in the dragon's core. If we overload the right wing, the portal will collapse!"
"Understood!"
Zephyr adjusted his ice pressure instantly. Raizen changed his lightning angle. Magnus altered his impact rhythm.
The dragon roared in pain.
Then its crimson eyes deepened.
From the portal, black chains burst outward, wrapping around guild members.
Seraphina was bound. Zephyr's arm was restrained. Raizen's lightning flickered out. Ignar was slammed to the ground.
For the first time, tension crossed Mevis' face.
"Dimensional anchor chains…"
Thorn exhaled slowly.
"Alright. Enough warm-up."
He stepped forward.
No explosion. No dramatic surge.
Just—
Silence.
Then gravity flipped.
The chains binding the guild suddenly multiplied in weight, collapsing under their own mass. The dragon's wings compressed. The air thickened. The portal flickered violently.
"…Monster," Raizen whispered.
Magnus grinned wider. "Now we're talking."
Mevis met Thorn's eyes.
"Stay in control."
"Always."
I could destroy the world. But if she told me to stop… I would.
Mevis reacted instantly. "Everyone — after Thorn's gravity pulse, you'll have a three-second opening. All-out attack!"
Thorn raised one hand.
He didn't snap.
He simply closed his fingers.
An invisible sphere tightened around the dragon, restricting eighty percent of its movement.
"Now!" Mevis commanded.
Ignar unleashed his full power. Raizen activated lightning armor. Zephyr intensified his ice form. Seraphina released a demonic blast. Magnus struck with maximum Crush output.
The sky was swallowed in white light.
The dragon's roar distorted.
The portal cracked.
Energy spiraled out of control.
Calmly, Thorn folded space inward. The portal compressed into a shrinking sphere — like a collapsing star.
Then it vanished.
Silence returned.
The sky cleared. Stars reappeared.
Half the guild hall was damaged — but still standing.
Ignar laughed loudly. Zephyr leaned on a broken pillar, smirking. Raizen approached Thorn.
"You held back."
"Didn't need more," Thorn replied.
Magnus placed a heavy hand on his shoulder. "You're dangerous, kid. I like it."
Seraphina smiled gently. "Thank you for protecting everyone."
As celebration filled the hall, Mevis floated quietly beside Thorn.
"You did perfectly."
"Lazy enough?" he asked.
"Strong enough."
He looked away slightly. "Guild's safe. That's enough."
"And you're part of this guild," she replied softly. "Not above it."
Something shifted within him.
Power wasn't the greatest force.
Trust was.
Far beyond the horizon, dark clouds flickered with another pulse of energy.
Thorn felt it immediately.
Heh… so that was just a scout.
Mevis sensed it too. Her expression grew serious.
"The storm isn't over."
He grinned faintly. "Good. It was getting boring."
Three days passed.
The guild hall was under repair. Magical reinforcement circles were drawn. Physical reconstruction continued. The atmosphere felt different.
Everyone knew what came before was only a test.
And what was coming next would be the real storm.
On the balcony, under a golden sunset, Thorn stood with his hands in his pockets, eyes fixed on the horizon.
"The dragon's power was high… but what I felt at the end was worse."
Soft golden particles drifted beside him as Mevis floated into view.
"You're overthinking again," she teased gently.
"Guild master spying?"
"Guild master monitoring."
A comfortable silence settled between them.
"You held back," she said.
"It was their moment. If I did everything… they wouldn't grow."
Her expression softened. "That's leadership."
He exhaled slowly. "Don't misunderstand. I'm just lazy."
"Lazy people don't control battlefields with that precision."
His thoughts darkened.
If I lose control… it won't just be enemies that fall.
"Are you afraid of yourself?" Mevis asked quietly.
He paused… then nodded slightly.
"When power is absolute… the cost of a mistake is infinite."
"You're not alone," she replied.
Below them, Ignar shouted for a spar. Zephyr yelled back. Raizen smirked. Magnus laughed. Seraphina teased from afar.
Life continued.
That night, strategy maps covered the guild table. Reports confirmed one thing.
"They were measuring Thorn," Raizen said.
"Let them," Thorn replied calmly.
Mevis stepped forward. "No. They will try to isolate you next time. We adapt first."
He raised an eyebrow. "Guild master's plan?"
"Divide the threat before it divides us."
Later, in the quiet of the library, candlelight flickered.
"If one day you had to choose," Mevis asked softly, "power or people?"
"People," Thorn answered instantly.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Power only matters if there's someone to protect."
Golden light shimmered brighter.
He stepped closer. "Why do you trust me?"
"Because you choose restraint," she said. "And someone who can destroy everything but chooses not to… can be trusted."
A faint smile touched his lips. "Careful. I might become more dangerous for you."
"I won't be afraid," she whispered.
For a brief moment, golden aura and gravity aligned.
No confession.
No dramatic words.
Just two forces finding balance.
Then—
Far in the sky, a darker crack flickered open.
Stronger than before.
Alarms rang below.
Raizen's lightning ignited. Ignar's flames roared. Zephyr formed ice. Magnus cracked his knuckles.
Mevis inhaled deeply. "Gravity Guild…"
"Aye!" the hall echoed.
Thorn's eyes glowed faint silver.
"The storm's coming," he said calmly. "And this time… I won't just be the shield."
On the balcony, golden light met dark horizon.
"Next time," Mevis said quietly, "it may become personal."
"Good," Thorn replied. "I'm ready."
Far beyond the clouds, something ancient stirred.
And the slow burn between strategist and sovereign had only just begun.