PRIMORDIAL FURY

Sofie cleared her throat quickly, face warm. "W-Well then… we're, uh… we're officially lovers now."

Klaus chuckled under his breath, eyes softening as he looked at her. "Guess we are."

They smiled at each other again before finally heading back down. In the hall near the sleeping quarters, they paused.

"Goodnight, Sofie."

"Goodnight… Klaus."

She disappeared into her room. Klaus turned—only to come face-to-face with Lady Sera.

"Oh," he blinked.

She smiled warmly. "How was the dinner? And your stay—comfortable, I hope?"

"Yes. Thank you… Lady Sera."

"Stay as long as you'd like. You're always welcome here." She then handed him a sealed envelope. "This was given to me by Kaen. He asked that I give it to you directly."

Klaus tilted his head, surprised. "A letter? From Kaen? …Why?"

Curious, he made his way to his room, shut the door, and immediately tore the envelope open.

The Letter:

"Klaus.

Hope you're holding up, brother.

I won't be around by the time you read this—I've been called to Kuro personally due to the Nexomorph incident at the tournament. Something's not right there, and it needs looking into.

Varnyx will still be around though. He'll meet you at the location I mentioned.

Also, this next part is from Kuro himself.

Head to Japonica. From there, make your way to Mibu Village. And after that… Ashina Castle.

You'll be expected.

P.S. — This is Kuro's request. He wants your training to continue.

Klaus sat back on the bed, reading it twice. Then a third time.

"Kuro…" he murmured. The last time he saw his teacher was.... Harsh, silent… but always watching out for him.

He smiled faintly, folded the letter, and set it beside the bed.

Sleep took him quickly.

A golden hue lit the room through paper-thin curtains. Klaus sat cross-legged on the floor, meditating deeply, breath slow and steady.

But this time, something shifted.

Inside.

He felt himself… deeper.

His mind drifted inward, into a void of soft static.

And there—floating at the center of it all—two glowing orbs.

One black as a void star.

One red, pulsing like a heartbeat.

"…Is this what Lunaria meant?" he whispered.

He tried to move toward them. Reach out. But each attempt passed through—like grasping mist.

No reaction.

After a few more failed tries, he sighed and let the vision fade. He stood, freshened up, and made his way to breakfast.

The table was long and warm-lit. Bread, fruit, eggs, meats, fresh juices. Klaus entered and sat down, still half-thinking about the orbs.

"Morning!" Sofie chimed, a bit too cheerfully.

"Good morning, Klaus," Kael added—but with a grin.

"Good morning… brother-in-law."

Klaus choked on his drink. Varion, sitting across, gagged on his tea.

Sofie burst into laughter, nearly falling out of her seat. "KAEL!"

Lady Sera giggled behind her napkin. The maids tried to hold it in—but ended up giggling too.

Kael just leaned back, smug.

"Just practicing for the future."

Sofie punched him in the arm. "Shut it, you oaf!"

After breakfast, as the plates were being cleared and the air remained light from Kael's joke, Kael suddenly turned to Klaus with a determined look.

"Hey, Klaus," he said. "I want to spar with you."

Klaus blinked, puzzled. "Huh? What for? I mean… there are military instructors here, aren't there?"

Kael leaned forward, eyes serious now. "Yeah, but none of them fight like you do. I saw you go head-to-head with my father. And then you faced down a mutated Nexomorph inside its domain and lived to tell the tale."

Klaus was quiet for a moment, unsure how to respond.

Kael continued, "Please. I need this. I want to push myself. I only have three days left before I head back to the Imperium Crest Academy. I'm entering my sixth and final semester… and after that, straight into military service."

Klaus let out a slow breath and scratched the back of his head."…Well, what about your father? Ask him to train you."

Kael gave a dry chuckle. "You think he has time for that?"

Klaus sighed again. "…Alright then. Let's get to it."

Deep beneath the estate, Klaus, Kael, and Sofie stepped into a chamber unlike anything Klaus had seen before. The air was thick with energy, humming through stone and steel alike. Massive reinforced walls, etched with runic symbols, lined the underground coliseum. The very air seemed to bend in reverence.

Kael turned to Klaus with a proud grin. "Built for father. It contains his power—and can change the battlefield itself. Mountains, plains, even pocket realms… all simulated."

Sofie eyed him warily. "Are you sure about this, Kael?"

Kael tightened the grip on his greatsword. "Completely."

As they walked toward the center platform, Klaus asked, "So… what's your academy life like?"

Kael shrugged. "Fun at first. First year's all flair and making friends. Second year's mild—then hell starts. Half the kids flunk their exams or burn out."

"That rough?" Klaus raised a brow.

"I went three nights without sleep to pass Elemental Dynamics," Kael said dramatically.

Sofie burst out laughing. "Mom said he still passed with the lowest mark."

"Hey!" Kael shot her a glare. "Speaking of which, Sofie's getting ready to enter the academy too. Mom and Dad are already making arrangements."

Sofie suddenly went quiet. Kael chuckled, enjoying the momentary reversal.

Then Kael turned to Klaus. "What about you? You gonna enroll too?"

Klaus shook his head. "Nah."

"What?" they both exclaimed at once.

Klaus smiled faintly. "Isn't it expensive? Plus… I've got too much on my plate to be worried about school."

They reached the center of the facility. The ground shifted, shimmering into a volcanic plain, the terrain jagged with cooled magma and glowing rifts of lava. Heat rippled in the air.

Kael stood ready, his greatsword resting on his shoulder. "This chamber is bound to father's bloodline. Only a Monarch-tier body can survive prolonged exposure in some zones. So…" He took a deep breath. "Please, with all due respect—go all out."

Sofie glanced at Klaus nervously.

Klaus cracked his knuckles, bounced on the balls of his feet, loosening his body. "Alright. Ready when you are."

Kael moved first—his entire body erupted in flame. His aura blazed, turning white-hot as the area around him twisted with scorching heat. The chamber shook as he called his move:

"Rising Sun!"

Flames gathered above him, forming a giant solar blaze. The heat was so intense, the ground blackened. Even the reinforced walls trembled slightly.

Sofie covered her mouth as the dry air split her lips. "This is crazy," she muttered and summoned a protective dome to shield herself.

Klaus stood completely calm, his hair flicking from the pressure, his eyes sharp and cold.

"Fire… needs oxygen," Klaus thought. "Let's cut it off."

He extended both hands and summoned the energy and wind from the atmosphere, a glowing sphere of wind and aura forming in his palms. In an instant, he crushed it—and the oxygen was vacuumed away.

The massive fireball vanished in an instant, imploding as Kael stared, stunned.

"Wha—?!"

Before he could react, Klaus had disappeared.

A voice whispered behind him, "Too slow."

Klaus's foot connected with Kael's back—a brutal kick—sending him flying across the volcanic field.

Kael rolled, gritting his teeth. "Alright."

He stood, his body now fully engulfed in flames—his silhouette blazing, veins glowing orange. His greatsword was ablaze, molten heat dripping from the edge,

vaporizing the stone it touched.

The temperature soared. Even inside her dome, Sofie felt the blistering heat.

Kael's eyes narrowed as he charged forward.

"Solar Rend!"

His sword unleashed a scorching slash of heat and flame—tearing through the volcanic landscape in a molten arc.

Klaus dodged into the air, but Kael roared and raised his sword once more.

"Sun Eater!"

A colossal wave of fiery power, surged forward like a dying star collapsing.

Klaus was stunned, but then grinned.

He thrust both hands forward, aura igniting. Golden winds sparked with lightning around him—then it screamed.

He clashed both hands forward, and the fire waves dispersed violently against his raw energy control.

The wind around him gathered and condensed with lightning threads weaving through it—a massive spinning crescent vortex formed behind him.

The tornado of light and wind howled across the battlefield, erasing all remaining fire with sheer force and pressure.

Kael shielded himself, gritting his teeth, a thrill rushing through him.

Sofie stood wide-eyed inside her dome. "They're insane…"

The facility was scorched, the arena floor flattened in a spiral from the sheer pressure of Klaus's aura.

Lightning crackled along his arms, threads of violet coursing violently as streams of wind surged around him like blades in a storm. Every movement he made distorted the air—fast, brutal, unpredictable. Kael swung his blade, trying to keep up, barely parrying the incoming storm of attacks. Sparks flew. Winds howled.

Klaus blinked behind him.

Kael spun—too late.

Klaus raised his hand, absorbing all ambient fire from the surroundings. The warmth vanished instantly, sucked into the swirling core around Klaus's chest. Kael's own elemental attack fizzled into sparks as Klaus stepped forward, his fist pulled back and charged with lightning and wind.

Kael's eyes widened—but the punch never landed.

Klaus stopped inches from his chest, hand buzzing with power. "Enough,

" Klaus said coolly. "Stand proud… you are strong."

Kael's legs gave out as he slumped to his knees, panting. "Damn… that was…"

He chuckled between exhausted breaths. "...satisfying."

Moments later, Sofie came running toward them. "Kael! Are you insane!?" she scolded, crouching beside him and grabbing his wrist. "Your hands—gods, they're burned! What were you thinking!?"

Kael glanced at Klaus with a grin, lifting his trembling, reddened hand. "You held back… because of this, didn't you?"

Klaus looked away and muttered, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Kael laughed. "Hah. Your boyfriend's a softy, Sofie."

Sofie smirked. "Tell me something I don't know."

The three of them sat there, scorched battlefield behind them, laughter ringing through the air—an unexpected moment of peace.