Black snow. Apocalypse

After a flurry of battles that left the entire school breathless, only three stood victorious: Josh, Kaen, and Zephyr. They were hailed by the formless figure as the top three fighters who would represent their school in the grand event set to take place in just two days—the long-awaited Trial of Ascendancy.

As the crowd slowly dispersed and students returned to their quarters, Josh and Kaen walked side by side in silence. The weight of what had happened between them hung in the air like an unspoken wound. Finally, Josh broke the silence, his voice low and filled with remorse.

"Kaen... I know I was wrong. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Kaen kept his eyes forward, but his jaw clenched. When he spoke, his voice carried pain Josh had never heard before.

"All my life," Kaen began, "I've had friends. But they never lasted. Some wanted something from me. Some just got tired and left. I stopped trying... until you. You were different, Josh. I gave it one more chance. I let someone in. But what happened on that stage... it wasn't just a fight. It was betrayal. And I—I don't hurt the people I care about. Ever."

Josh's heart shattered at every word. His eyes welled up with tears, and his voice cracked. "Kaen, I swear on everything... I wasn't in control. That wasn't me. Please... believe me."

Kaen stopped walking, glanced at Josh, and sighed. "Maybe. Just maybe... I believe you. But I still feel like something's broken."

Then, as if fate had been waiting for the perfect moment, Kaen took a deep breath. His voice trembled. "Josh... there's something I have to tell you. Your vill—"

"Josh! Kaen! Wait up!"

The moment shattered as Zephyr sprinted toward them, panting slightly, his white hair bouncing with each step.

"Man, you guys walk fast," he said, slapping Kaen on the back playfully. "You think we're ready? For the final round? The real competition against other schools?"

Josh gave a small smile. "Ready or not, we'll have to give it everything."

The trio chatted as they walked, the tension between Josh and Kaen slowly fading into the background. Eventually, Zephyr branched off onto another road, waving them off with a smirk.

"See you guys tomorrow! Don't slack off!"

Josh and Kaen arrived home, greeted by the aroma of a warm meal. They sat at the table, joined by Kaen's family. The moment was peaceful, a rare calm before the storm.

Just then, the door creaked open. Mr. Starks entered, his shirt partially untucked, sweat glistening on his brow.

"You're finally back," his wife said. "Rough day?"

"Emergency order from the Capital," Mr. Starks replied, dropping into a chair with a sigh. "Tight security business."

Josh raised an eyebrow and whispered to Kaen, "Your dad works at the Capital?"

Kaen nodded. "High-level security division."

Later that evening, they retired to their rooms. The moment Josh shut his door, the system pinged.

System Alert: Blightfall Curse: Not Cured. Effect in 10 seconds. Warning: You may go berserk.

Josh's heart raced. "No, not now. Not here."

He rushed out of his room, telling Kaen, "I'll be right back!"

Josh activated the combat arena, disappearing into the void. There, his body convulsed as immense power surged through him. His eyes burned violet. The aura of Blightfall corrupted his limbs. His voice distorted as he let out a guttural roar, magic overflowing, consuming the false arena.

Minutes passed before he returned, drained and trembling.

Kaen rushed to his side. "Josh! What happened? Are you okay?"

Josh collapsed onto a chair, still panting. "Kaen... that night during our fight... I wasn't me. I was trapped inside my own body. The Blightfall curse took over. I just confirmed it now. The system says the only way to cure it... is to absorb the Demon Orb."

Kaen's face darkened. "What?! That orb is sealed by terrifying magic. There's a dragon guarding the second seal. We couldn't even get past it the last time. And you're saying we need to go deeper?"

Josh nodded grimly. "Yes. And the system warns me. If we don't do something soon... I might lose control permanently."

Kaen stood in silence, fists clenched. "Then we do it. Before the Trial of Ascendancy. We find a way. We break the seal. And we end this curse. Together."

Josh looked up at him, the faintest smile forming. "Together."

But deep within him, the blight still whispered—and its voice was getting louder.