Chapter 16 — The battle of power and strategy
The battlefield was a wasteland.
Deep fractures spiderwebbed the ground. Shattered rocks and scorched earth stretched in every direction. The sky had darkened, heavy clouds gathering as if the heavens themselves recoiled from the clash below.
At the center stood two figures.
Kashihero and Lucas.
Master and servant.
Bound by the Soul Door.
Opposite them waited the remnants of Hollow Sigil: fifteen elite spirit users, two elders, and the monstrous underworld creature.
The final stage had begun.
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Lucas vs the Fifteen Elites
The elites struck first.
Fifteen veterans moved as one, spirit energy flaring—fire spirits, lightning spears, stone golems, all surging forward.
Lucas stood unmoving.
The Soul Door hummed. Kashihero’s vast energy flowed through him—a fraction, yet overwhelming.
He whispered, “Shadow Devour.”
The ground darkened beneath the elites. Black shadows erupted like tendrils.
Several leaped back. Others attacked with spirit blasts.
Lucas vanished.
He reappeared before the axe-wielder. Abyssal Blade formed.
One strike.
The elite crumpled, blood spraying in a clean arc.
The others froze. “One strike?!”
“Don’t hesitate!”
The field exploded again—attacks from every angle.
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Lucas moved like a dark storm.
Precision. Speed. Perception expanded by the link—he felt every flow of energy, every weakness.
A lightning spear thrust at him.
He caught it mid-air.
“Permission granted,” Kashihero’s voice echoed.
“Spirit Crush.”
The spear shattered.
The wielder followed.
Seven elites fell in minutes.
The survivors realized the truth.
They weren’t fighting a servant.
They fought two souls in one body.
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Kashihero vs the Two Elders
Kashihero faced Seraphel and Varkul.
Seraphel’s wind spun violently, invisible blades circling.
“You’re stronger than expected,” Seraphel said calmly.
“But strength alone won’t defeat us.”
Varkul stayed silent. Shadows coiled at his feet.
Kashihero met their gazes.
“I never planned to fight alone.”
In the distance, another elite fell to Lucas.
Seraphel glanced back. “...Interesting servant.”
His aura erupted.
“Storm Dominion.”
A towering cyclone rose, filled with thousands of air blades.
It collapsed toward Kashihero.
He raised one hand.
Spirit energy surged.
A dark wave met the storm.
The collision shook the field.
Seraphel’s eyes widened. “...What?”
Kashihero appeared behind him.
Seraphel blocked with a barrier.
The impact hurled him back.
Varkul acted.
“Abyssal Prison.”
Dark chains wrapped Kashihero.
Energy surged through them.
“Your spirit is vast,” Varkul said calmly.
“But useless if you cannot move.”
Kashihero looked down at the chains.
A faint smile.
“You’re right.”
His energy exploded.
Chains shattered.
Varkul’s expression changed. “...Impossible.”
Kashihero stepped forward.
“I’m done holding back.”
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The Underworld Monster Awakens
The monster roared.
Its body swelled.
Dark energy poured from wounds.
Armor thickened. Spikes grew. Chains snapped.
Full berserk evolution.
Lucas glanced over.
“...It finally evolved.”
The creature charged like an avalanche.
Claws slammed down, cratering the earth.
Several elites were crushed.
Lucas raised his blade.
“Underworld Fire.”
Black flames gathered.
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Arin in the Capital
Far away, Arin ran through the streets.
Breath ragged.
He’d tried the guild—no one believed a low-rank student about Hollow Sigil and underworld monsters.
Now he faced the Capital Holy Guard fortress.
Two guards blocked the gate.
“Stop.”
Arin bowed desperately.
“Please! There’s a battle outside—Hollow Sigil elders, a monster from the underworld!”
The guards exchanged looks.
One spoke. “...Wait here.”
Arin stood, fists clenched.
Please... someone help them.
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Final Clash
Lucas unleashed the black flame sphere.
The monster charged into it.
Explosion lit the sky.
Kashihero moved faster than sight.
Seraphel’s storms clashed against his energy.
Varkul’s chains attacked from shadows.
But the balance shifted.
Lucas cut down the last elite.
Fifteen gone.
He turned to the monster.
“Master.”
“Yes.”
“Shall we finish this?”
Kashihero looked at the elders.
“Yes.”
His spirit energy peaked.
Lucas’s flames rose.
The monster roared.
And in that moment, the battlefield burned with the light of two souls united.
The Academy Arc ended in fire and shadow.
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End of Chapter 16
