The air was thick with the aftermath of battle. The training field—once an arena for simple sparring matches—was now a crater-ridden warzone. Blackened scars of Rift energy crackled across the ground, a reminder of the fight that had just taken place.
Kai remained frozen, staring at his own hands. His blade had vanished, his body felt drained, and worst of all…
He had felt something else inside him when the Rift had opened.
Something watching him.
Luna approached cautiously, still gripping her arcane spear. "Kai."
He exhaled, shaking himself out of his daze. "Yeah, I'm good. Just… processing."
Before Luna could press him further—
A new alarm blared across the academy.
"WARNING! HIGH-THREAT HELLION DETECTED!"
Luna's heart clenched. Already?!
Then, a shadow fell over them.
Both of them turned just as a massive Rift split open in the sky above the academy.
From the depths of the dark swirling void, a Hellion unlike any before descended.
It was twice the size of the others, its body covered in obsidian armor, glowing red cracks running along its form like magma. But what truly set it apart—
It wore a cloak.
And in its right hand, it carried a blade.
The creature slowly lifted its head, revealing its piercing crimson eyes, filled not with mindless rage like the others—
But with intelligence.
Luna felt a chill crawl up her spine. "This one's different."
Kai tightened his fists, his energy flickering weakly. "Yeah… and I don't like it."
The Hellion slowly raised its sword, pointing it directly at Kai.
"You. SSS-Rank Anomaly."
Kai froze.
Luna's breath caught. It knows about him?
The Hellion's voice was deep, distorted, but clear. Unlike the other Hellions, this one… spoke with purpose.
"You are unbalanced. You are unstable. You are an error."
Kai narrowed his eyes. "Okay, that's rude."
The Hellion's blade crackled with dark energy, a corrupted form of Rift power swirling around it.
"I am Varzon, Commander of the Hellion Legion. And I will erase you."
With a single step, the air cracked apart—
And Varzon vanished.
Luna's eyes widened. "Kai, move!"
BOOM!
Kai barely had time to dodge before Varzon's blade crashed into the ground where he stood, splitting the earth apart.
The shockwave sent Kai hurtling backward, slamming into the academy walls.
Luna summoned a barrier, but before she could react—Varzon was already in front of her.
She swung her spear, but he caught it with his bare hand.
Her stomach dropped.
Varzon's grip tightened, and with one swift movement, he shattered the spear's energy, sending Luna flying across the battlefield.
She crashed into the rubble, coughing, trying to push herself up. Too fast… he's too fast!
Varzon turned his attention back to Kai.
"Your kind is an aberration. The Rift rejects you."
Kai groaned, shaking off the impact. "Yeah? Well, I reject your ugly face, so I guess we're even."
Despite his usual sarcasm, he knew this fight was different.
Varzon wasn't like the other Hellions. He wasn't just a creature born from the Rift—
He was a soldier. A warrior. A commander.
And worst of all…
He knew exactly who Kai was.
Luna stumbled to her feet. "Kai! We can't fight this thing alone!"
Kai wiped the blood from his lip, standing tall. "Yeah, well…"
He summoned his energy blade again—but it flickered weakly.
Varzon charged.
And this time—Kai wasn't sure if he could stop him.