The Green Dragon didn't hesitate. It unleashed a torrent of emerald fire so immense it vaporized the surrounding foliage instantly. Connell slammed his hands into the earth, raising a massive stone wall, but the dragon's flames hit with the force of a battering ram. The wall shattered, sending Connell spiraling through the air until he collided with a jagged rock, knocking him unconscious.
As the beast lunged forward to feast on the fallen boy, Kendris dove into the shadows. In a desperate flicker of darkness, she reached out and pulled Connell's limp body into the shadow realm, narrowly saving him from the dragon's jaws. Heart hammering, she tried to locate Leon through the darkness to save him as well—but to her horror, his presence had vanished from her shadow-sight.
Suddenly, the natural order of the world began to unravel. The ground groaned and shook with a violent tremor that uprooted ancient trees. The sky, which had been bright moments ago, plunged into a darkness deeper than night. Wind howled hysterically, and lightning rumbled with a frequency that felt like the earth itself was screaming.
Kendris cowered in the shadows, certain this was the Green Dragon's true power. She was wrong.
Through the pitch-black woods, a blinding light erupted. Leon stood amongst the wreckage, but he was no longer the trembling boy from the morning. His silver hair glowed with a celestial radiance, and his golden eyes burned like twin suns. He had become a glowing, sentient being of pure aura.
The Green Dragon, sensing a predator far above its own station, shrieked in terror and launched a desperate fireball. The massive flame streaked toward Leon, only to dissipate into nothingness the moment it touched his golden light.
The dragon turned to flee, but it was too late. With a single hand, Leon snatched the colossal beast by its tail and slammed it into the earth like a mere toy. He raised both hands to the blackened sky, and a ball of concentrated flame—so large it could be seen from the capital miles away—materialized above him.
He brought his hands down.
The resulting explosion was cataclysmic. A shockwave ripped through the forest, flattening trees for miles and sending a wall of heat and dust beyond the woods. The rescue teams and the other student groups, who were already rushing toward the Green Dragon's roar, were thrown backward by the force. Many sustained injuries just from the secondary blast.
As the dust settled, the sky bled back to its natural color and the earth fell silent. The forest now contained a massive, smoking crater. In the center of the devastation stood Leon, staring blankly at the charred remains of the dragon—nothing was left but its severed head and half of its tail.
Kendris emerged from the shadows, trembling, just as the rescue team and Prince Lloyd arrived at the edge of the crater. They stood in stunned silence.
The glow had faded from Leon's hair. His eyes dimmed, and the weight of the power he had just unleashed finally took its toll. Without a word, he collapsed into the ash. His teammates and the instructors rushed toward his unconscious form.
Prince Lloyd stood at the edge of the smoking crater, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He stared at the severed head of the Green Dragon, his usual calm replaced by a cold, burning resentment.
"Once again," Lloyd hissed, his voice trembling with a mixture of envy and rage. "Once again, you've managed to outshine me."
Beside him, Kendris emerged from the shadows, still trembling as she supported Connell's limp, unconscious body. She stared at the devastation, her mind unable to process the scale of the magic. "What... what just happened?" she stammered. "Did he really... did he singlehandedly defeat a Green Dragon? Just who is this kid?"
Leon woke up in the school infirmary, the sterile smell of medicine filling his senses. He felt hollow, his mind clouded by a thick, white fog. The last thing he could recall was the disappointed looks on his teammates' faces before the world went black.
"It feels like a part of my memory is missing..." Leon muttered, rubbing his temples. "Yudris?"
His guardian appeared instantly, her presence a shimmering contrast to the drab hospital room. "Young Lord, how may I be of help to you?"
"What's wrong with me?" he asked, his voice cracking with sadness. "I can't remember anything."
"You created a Soul Palace," Yudris explained softly. "Seeing those gods turn against you terrified you so deeply that you subconsciously placed a mental seal on your own abilities. As of now, you are unable to consciously use your true power."
"Consciously?" Leon caught the distinction immediately.
"Yes. You destroyed a Green Dragon while you were unconscious—the very same beast that nearly killed you while you were paralyzed by your own fear."
Leon's eyes widened in shock. "I did that? Did... did anyone see me?"
"No one saw the fight itself," Yudris stated. "But they know it was you. There was no one else left standing."
Leon sank back into his pillow, a heavy weight settling in his chest. "I have a lot of explaining to do," he sighed. He took a long pause before looking back at Yudris. "Is there a way to remove the seal? I don't want to live like this—terrified of my own shadow. I don't want to be afraid of myself anymore."
"There is a way," Yudris replied, her voice turning grave. "The only way to break a mental seal is to face yourself."
"Face myself? How do I do that?"
Yudris looked him directly in the eyes, her expression unwavering. "You must recreate the Soul Palace."
"No! I can't go back there! I don't..." Leon's voice trailed off into a panicked whisper as he sat on the edge of the infirmary bed.
Before the fear could swallow him, Yudris reached out. Her hands were warm and steady as she cupped his cheeks, forcing him to meet her gaze. "Young Lord," she said softly, "you will be fine. I am still here, and I am not going anywhere."
Leon looked at her, his eyes welling with tears. "Then why? Why didn't you save me all this time? Why do you hesitate to protect me, Yudris... why?"
"I am not allowed to interfere in your battles," she explained with a solemnity that felt like an ancient, unbreakable law. "There are only two circumstances where I may step in: if you grant me explicit permission, or if your actions pose a direct threat to existence itself."
Leon sat in silence, processing the weight of those words. He realized that his strength had to be his own, but he didn't have to walk the path alone. He looked up, his gaze hardening with a newfound maturity.
"Is that so? Then walk with me, Yudris. Show me how to be less scared of myself. Show me how to become the best version of who I am meant to be," Leon stated firmly.
"As you wish, Young Lord," Yudris replied, a flicker of pride in her eyes. "But first, you must face your fears. Remember—I am always with you."
Leon did not wait. He checked himself out of the infirmary, ignoring the curious glances of the medical staff, and marched straight back to his hostel room. This was the place where he had first lost control, and it was the place where he would reclaim it.
He stood in the center of the room, his breathing deep and measured. He stretched his hands forward, feeling the mental seal straining against the torrent of power rising from his soul. This time, his hands didn't shake. He wasn't running anymore. He whispered softly
"Behold a race of gods,
Each skill and its Lords.
A pantheon of endless gods,
Born from nothing.
Soul Palace: Realm of the Almighty!"
And in that instant reality broke.