the 5 year time skip(1)

Five years had passed.

The world had changed in ways none of them could have imagined.

The academy that had once been their battlefield of growth and rivalry was now behind them. The once-young warriors had transformed into legends, and now they stood at the forefront of humanity's defense against the impending war.

Dakota, the one who had always stood above the rest, had officially been recognized as the strongest human in history. He had gained the title of Legendary Hero, an honor only given to those who transcended the limits of humanity itself. But more than that, his unmatched mastery over flames had earned him the fearsome title:

Dakota - The Emperor of Flames.

Henry had followed closely behind, his swordsmanship unparalleled. His blade could cut through anything, and his skills had ascended to beyond human level. He was now known as:

Henry - The Sword Saint.

Ava, whose flames could burn through even the void itself, had gained her own fearsome moniker:

Ava - The Flame Empress.

Lucas, cold and calculating as ever, had honed his ice magic to the point where he could freeze entire cities in a single moment. He had become:

Lucas - The Ice Emperor.

Liam, who had once only dreamed of surpassing his limits, now commanded lightning with the force of a devil. His name shook the battlefield as:

Liam - The Lightning King.

Jack, always silent, always deadly, had refined his magic to its purest form, gaining the title of:

Jack - The Phantom Executioner.

Amelia, whose radiant light magic could purify even the darkest evils, had rightfully become:

Amelia - The Queen of Light.

Mia, the genius healer, had advanced her magic to levels unseen in centuries. She could bring back the dead, defy mortal wounds, and block blazer's flames. She was:

Mia - The Saintess of Rebirth.

And Luna, quiet but ever-watchful, had grown into one of the deadliest assassins alive. She had earned the name:

Luna - The Silent Reaper.

Now, they were no longer just students. They were humanity's last hope.

And the war that had been looming for years was finally upon them.

A massive hall within the capital's government headquarters. Golden chandeliers illuminated the long table where Dakota and his companions sat. Across from them, government officials, military generals, and kingdom leaders watched in tense silence. The war was only a month away, and this was the final discussion before everything began.

A high-ranking general spoke first. His voice was sharp, commanding.

General Voss:

"We have intelligence confirming that the devils and djinns have already begun their invasion preparations. They will launch their assault in exactly one month. Our scouts report that their armies number in the millions, and their strongest warriors are gathering. We do not have the numbers to match them head-on."

Duke:

"We cannot afford to fight a war of attrition. The devils have unlimited reserves, and the devils are too powerful. If we don't strike first, humanity will be wiped out."

A heavy silence filled the room. Many of the officials looked uneasy. They had fought wars before, but this was different.

Dakota leaned forward, his golden eyes calm but unwavering.

Dakota:

"We already knew this was coming. The devils and djinns have been planning this for centuries. But we are not fighting blindly."

Everyone turned to him. His presence alone silenced even the most powerful figures in the room.

Dakota:

"I've already developed a strategy to ensure our victory."

The officials stiffened. The strongest human in history, the Emperor of Flames, was about to speak.

Henry:

"Alright, let's hear it."

Dakota slowly stood, placing a map on the table. His fingers traced over key locations.

Dakota:

"First, we will not fight a war of numbers. Instead, we will eliminate their commanders. The devils and djinns rely on hierarchical power—if we take out their leaders, the lower-ranked forces will fall apart. Without strategy, they are nothing but wild beasts."

Lucas smirked.

Lucas:

"A decapitation strike. Makes sense."

Dakota nodded.

Dakota:

"Second, we need to divide their forces. If we let the devils and djinns combine their strength, we will be overwhelmed. But if we split them up, we can handle them separately. I have already determined the locations where we can set traps."

Mia frowned slightly.

Mia:

"Setting traps against devils and djinns? They aren't that stupid."

Dakota's eyes gleamed with confidence.

Dakota:

"That's where you're wrong. The devils are arrogant, and the djinns are predictable. We can manipulate them into going where we want. They won't even realize it until it's too late."

Ava crossed her arms, her flames flickering in excitement.

Ava:

"So, what you're saying is… we lure them into their own graves?"

Dakota smirked.

Dakota:

"Exactly."

Liam cracked his knuckles.

Liam:

"Finally. A real fight."

Amelia nodded, her golden light shimmering.

Amelia:

"We will need to be at full strength for this. The strongest djinns and devils will come after us directly."

Dakota's voice dropped slightly, his tone serious.

Dakota:

"That's the point. We are the strongest humans alive. We are the last line of defense. If we don't fight the strongest enemies, then no one else can."

Silence filled the room once again. Then, after a moment, General Voss stood.

General Voss:

"Your strategy… it is dangerous. But it is the best chance we have. The government will provide full support."

Franklin followed, nodding firmly.

Franklin:

"Humanity places its faith in you, Dakota. We will follow your lead."

Dakota's gaze swept over his friends, each of whom nodded back. The Legendary Heroes would lead this war.

Dakota:

"Then it's settled."

As the meeting came to an end, everyone prepared for war. But before they could finalize their training and battle formations, Dakota spoke up again.

Dakota:

"One last thing."

The room turned toward him once more.

Dakota:

"I will be gone for one week."

Ava, Henry, and the others didn't react. They were used to this by now. Dakota had always disappeared for periods of time, only to return stronger each time.

Liam sighed.

Liam:

"Another one of your secret trips?"

Dakota smirked.

Dakota:

"You know me too well."

Mia crossed her arms.

Mia:

"Do you at least plan on telling us where you're going this time?"

Dakota shook his head.

Dakota:

"Nope."

Jack let out a chuckle.

Jack:

"Figures."

Lucas sighed, rubbing his temples.

Lucas:

"Just don't die."

Dakota grinned.

Dakota:

"No promises."

With that, he turned and walked toward the exit. The world was about to face its greatest war in history, and Dakota—the Emperor of Flames, the Strongest Human in History—had one last mission before it all began.

Where he was going, and what he was after, remained a mystery.

But one thing was certain.

When Dakota returned, he would have a very important item.