Black snow. Apocalypse

They returned to the surface, tension clinging to their breaths like frost.

Lia broke the silence. "What were you really doing down there?"

Josh sighed. "We were… searching for something. An orb. Our research led us there."

"Orb?" she blinked. "What orb?"

The two hesitated. She looked between them, brows raised.

"Please," she added softly. "Let me in on this."

Kaen hesitated, then nodded reluctantly.

Josh leaned closer. "It's called the Demon Orb. A dangerous relic. We think… it's somewhere in the school."

Lia raised a brow and casually flipped her hair. "You could've told me earlier."

"What?" Josh and Kaen said in unison.

She grinned. "My basic power is invisibility. I could've snuck us down there unnoticed."

Kaen stiffened. "Thanks, but… never mind. We only went down to clear our heads. Nothing more."

They parted ways. As they walked, Josh turned to Kaen.

"Why didn't you trust her?"

Kaen replied quietly, "It just didn't feel right. And if anything bad happens… we'd put her in danger too."

Josh nodded. "Fair."

---

THE MONSTER MISSION

Later that day in class, a report echoed across the school:

> "A monstrous beast breathing blue fire is terrorizing the city of Vaelcrest."

Vaelcrest was one of the five cities under Rank S student protection.

Whispers rose:

"Monster attacks are increasing..." "Is this a pattern?"

The principal, Mr. Zed, stepped into class. His tone was grim.

"Josh, Kaen, Lia, and Zephyr—you're being deployed to handle the threat."

They nodded. Zephyr—the white-haired, telekinetic Rank S student who once challenged Josh—grinned. "Finally."

Josh slipped on his purple cloak. The principal raised his wand and with a flash of teleportation magic, they vanished.

---

THE BATTLE BEGINS

They appeared on the scorched outskirts of Vaelcrest. Before them stood a monstrous beast: Drah'vorr, a 10-foot wolf-dragon hybrid cloaked in deep blue flames. Its eyes burned like dying stars.

> System Alert: Threat detected: Drah'vorr Threat Level: Tier 10

Josh's eyes widened. "Tier ten?! Be careful!"

> System Ping:

New Threat Detected:

❖ Human Commander of Drah'vorr

❖ Rank: S-Class

❖ Objective: Eliminate the master

From atop the beast, a man in black robes leapt down—his presence alone made the ground pulse.

Josh growled. "I'll take him. You three handle the beast."

As he stepped forward, the man whispered, "Slower."

Josh's legs locked, his pace faltering.

> System Warning: Power in play: Verbal Reality

Overriding in 3...2...1

The dagger—coated in golden mist—lunged at Josh.

Just before it hit, the system broke the curse.

Josh dodged and countered with a Soul Fist, sending the man flying.

The man snarled. "Impossible! My word is law!"

Josh smirked. "Not for me. I'm no longer bound by natural law."

---

THE MONSTER VS THE TEAM

Meanwhile, Kaen, Lia, and Zephyr battled Drah'vorr.

Kaen unleashed Level 4 Fire, channeling it through his sword and slicing the beast's side—but it retaliated with a devastating blast of blue flame.

Zephyr yanked Kaen away using telekinesis. "Stay sharp!"

Lia vanished mid-run and stabbed the beast from above, activating arrays she'd formed with her wand.

"NOW!" she shouted.

Zephyr summoned pillars of earth and crushed the beast's limbs.

The team worked in sync, slowly weakening Drah'vorr.

---

THE FINAL STRIKE

Josh activated Fogbeast Armor and drew Blightfall.

> System Unlock: New Sword Skill: Phantom Slash

The enemy gasped at the sight of Blightfall. "That sword… no. It can't be…"

Josh realized he had the upper hand. The man attempted a dark illusion spell, summoning the visages of Josh's dead parents.

Josh's heart ached—but he growled and shattered the illusion with a burst of will.

"I've seen worse. I survived worse."

He then activated the array he had placed earlier—engulfing the man in fire.

"How… when?" the man screamed.

Josh answered, "While we fought, my eyes never left you."

Using water manipulation, he froze the man's legs.

Then—he whispered, "Phantom Slash."

Blightfall glowed with eerie purple light, slashing the air—

And the man fell.

> System: Primary Threat Eliminated. Extracting Core…

Core Absorbed.

✦ Level Up: Speed: 80%

Durability: 80%

Sword Compatibility: 80%

❖ New Basic Power Unlocked: Verbal Reality – Level 1

Your words bend the rules. But beware… the world listens back.