The Magma Buffalo lifted its head with a muffled roar.
Its red eyes paused on Kaise for a moment… then suddenly, its massive hand shot out and grabbed Ashlor by the collar.
Ashlor was shocked.
"Wai—wait!"
But the beast no longer listened.
With a colossal leap, it soared into the air.
The classroom ceiling shattered with a deafening crash.
Boom!
Stone, wood, and glass rained down, and the monster carried Ashlor high above.
For a moment, everyone was frozen in disbelief.
Then the teacher shouted in horror:
"No!"
He rushed toward the huge hole in the ceiling, intending to follow.
But just then—
Vooom!
A massive wave of energy slammed into his chest, like hitting an invisible wall.
His body flew back several meters, slamming against the wall.
Cracks spread, and the sound of breaking stones echoed through the classroom.
The teacher gasped in pain, muttering,
"What… was that?"
He raised his head, looking around.
Students were huddled in fear…
Dust still swirled through the air…
But—
Kaise was gone.
The teacher's eyes widened.
He quickly scanned the ceiling hole.
Amid the debris and dust… a shadow was speeding toward the beast.
He whispered in disbelief,
"Kaise…"
The seven-year-old boy leapt behind the Magma Buffalo without hesitation.
For only one purpose:
To protect his brother.
The teacher shouted,
"Kaise! Don't go!"
But the boy didn't even look back.
"Come back! I'll handle this myself!"
His voice was lost in the wind and dust.
Kaise approached the Magma Buffalo in midair.
His eyes were no longer golden… almost pure white.
Veins bulged at the sides of his face, still bloodied from the earlier blow.
Yet in his gaze, there was only one thing:
Rage.
He clenched his teeth and muttered under his breath,
"How dare you… touch my brother?"
His fist tightened.
Golden light flared around his body once more.
It was as if a tiny sun had ignited above the school grounds.
Kaise rushed at the Magma Buffalo at an insane speed.
The wind whistled past him, golden flames wrapping around him.
He raised his fist, trembling with raw magic.
"Let go of my brother!"
He slammed his fist down with all his strength.
But—
Boom!
The beast didn't even flinch.
At that moment, its massive leg struck like lightning.
The heavy kick hit Kaise directly.
His body was thrown to the ground like a cannonball.
Crash!
The earth cracked under the impact, and his body sank several meters into the dirt.
Dust filled the air.
In the schoolyard, the students were frozen with horror.
One whispered shakily,
"Wh-what… is happening?!"
Another took a step back.
"That… that's a monster?!"
The heavy steps of the Magma Buffalo echoed across the yard.
The beast landed, still holding Ashlor in its grasp.
The ground beneath its hooves cracked.
Kaise stirred in the hole he had created.
He raised his head with pain.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
But when he looked up… his eyes widened in terror.
The Magma Buffalo had raised Ashlor.
Ashlor struggled.
"Let me go! Damn—"
Before he could finish, the monster pressed him against its chest.
Ashlor's body slowly sank into the beast, as if its flesh and bones were being swallowed whole.
Ashlor screamed in fear,
"Wait! No—"
And in a flash… half his body disappeared inside the chest.
Kaise whispered, eyes trembling,
"…Brother…"
Then he shouted:
"BRROTHERRR!"
He clenched his teeth.
Golden light exploded around him.
He launched himself into the air at a reckless speed, directly at the monster.
The ground shattered beneath his feet.
"Get your hands off my brother, you damned beast!"
He got closer.
He raised his fist and slammed it into the creature with all his might.
Boom!
But something went wrong.
It felt like hitting a mountain.
The power of Kaise's punch rebounded.
His body was hurled backward.
Blood spurted from his mouth.
He spun through the air several meters before crashing to the ground.
Crash!
Stones in the yard cracked under the force.
Kaise lay on the ground, mouth bloody, but his gaze was fixed—
On the monster…
And the spot where his brother had disappeared inside.
Master Varan rushed through the dust.
Reaching the yard, the first thing he saw was Kaise's body, sprawled on the ground…
Lips bleeding… clothes torn… breathing heavy.
Varan muttered under his breath,
"Damn it…"
Then he looked up.
A few meters ahead, the Magma Buffalo stood.
Its red eyes blazed.
The chest moved as if alive… exactly where Ashlor had been swallowed.
Varan gritted his teeth.
He raised his hand and began chanting a spell in a serious tone:
"Divine magic… Phase two…"
Blue and silver energy coiled around his hands.
The ground beneath him trembled.
The beast suddenly turned its head.
Its eyes fell on Varan's glowing hands.
For the first time… fear flashed in its gaze.
Varan shouted louder,
"One more step and you're finished!"
The Magma Buffalo let out a short roar.
Then suddenly—
It leapt into the air.
The ground cracked beneath its hooves.
Stones flew in every direction.
A student shouted in fear,
"It ran away!"
Another said,
"Where… where's it going?!"
The monster sped past the school walls, heading straight for the forbidden forest.
Seconds later, only silence remained.
Varan slammed his fist down in frustration.
"Damn it…"
Kaise stirred.
He slowly rose from the ground.
His head turned left and right.
His eyes still glowed white.
He muttered in a hoarse voice,
"…Where's my brother?"
No one answered.
He shouted louder,
"ASHLOR?!"
Varan quickly stepped forward, gripping his shoulders.
"Kaise… calm down…"
But Kaise shot him a sharp look.
Varan sighed, speaking gently:
"Don't worry… we'll find Ashlor."
Kaise snapped,
"When?! He's inside a monster right now!"
Varan placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Listen, rushing will make it worse…"
Kaise stared into his eyes.
But in that gaze, there was nothing—
No obedience, no calm.
Only pure rage.
He pushed Varan aside with force.
"Move out of the way!"
In that moment—
Magic runes appeared under Kaise's feet.
The same summoning circle from the classroom…
Only bigger.
Golden light erupted from the lines.
The ground shook.
Varan exclaimed in shock,
"Wait… Kaise! You're still injured—"
But it was too late.
Kaise raised his hand.
His eyes blazed.
Golden light suddenly exploded.
Boom!
A wave of magic swept through the yard.
Students retreated in fear.
One yelled,
"He's summoning again!"
Another asked,
"But without chanting…?!"
The light gradually concentrated.
From within emerged a massive creature.
The Ice Spirit Wolf.
Bigger than ever…
Icy horns…
Golden eyes…
And the glowing blue stone on its forehead.
The air around instantly turned cold.
Frosty breath billowed into the atmosphere.
The entire yard fell silent.
Students were frozen.
Teachers who had just arrived stopped in their tracks.
The principal said softly,
"This… is impossible…"
One of the professors whispered,
"That's just a child…"
The massive wolf lowered its head, looking at Kaise.
Then, in a deep voice, it spoke:
"Command me… Master Kaise."
Several students stepped back in fear.
"It… it spoke!"
Kaise calmly stood on the wolf's back.
His eyes still burned with rage.
He looked toward the forbidden forest.
And said just one sentence:
"We're going to get my brother back."
The wolf growled softly.
Frost spread under its paws.
Everyone understood…
This was only the beginning.
Kaise stood on the Ice Spirit Wolf's back.
Golden light still emanated from his body, and cold air radiated from the beast.
Opposite him, Varan stood,
With the Emperor Dragon at his side, casting its massive shadow over the yard.
Its red scales glowed like molten lava.
For a few moments, a heavy silence fell between them.
Kaise said softly,
"Master Varan…"
His eyes still filled with rage.
"I've respected your position as a teacher until now…"
His hand rested lightly on the wolf's neck.
"But from now on… things are different."
His voice lowered, dangerous:
"Because my brother's life is at stake."
Several students glanced at each other nervously.
One whispered,
"He really wants to fight his teacher…"
Kaise continued,
"Either you step aside…"
The golden light around him intensified.
"Or you… fall with your dragon."
The teachers held their breath.
At that moment—
Slow footsteps were heard.
The school's elderly principal stepped forward.
His long white beard draped over his robes, thick eyebrows casting shadows over his sharp eyes.
He looked at the Ice Spirit Wolf for a few moments, then at the Emperor Dragon.
He said calmly,
"I don't think…"
Everyone turned to him.
"The Emperor Dragon… standing against a great spirit, part of the shard of the Kali God…"
Several whispered in astonishment,
"Shard of…?"
The principal said in a heavy voice,
"If it holds for two minutes…"
The yard fell silent.
The dragon growled softly.
Varan smiled.
He locked his gaze on Kaise.
His eyes became serious.
"Kaise…"
His voice calm but firm:
"Consider me your enemy."
Kaise frowned.
Varan continued,
"Let's see…"
The Emperor Dragon spread its massive wings and breathed a stream of fire.
"Can you withstand the greatest summoner of all Shomrok Kingdom…"
He completed the sentence:
"Kaise Shomrok."
The Ice Spirit Wolf growled deeply.
The ground beneath its paws froze.
Kaise clenched his fists.
Cold and fire faced off in the schoolyard.
And everyone knew—
If these two fought…
Nothing would remain of the school.