While Erika and Gray fought Magnus, and Kai Alden clashed with Zeran Drake, another fierce battle raged nearby—
Dawn vs. Seraphina.
The ground trembled as thick roots burst from the soil, twisting and crawling like snakes.
They shot toward Dawn from every direction, trying to trap her.
Dawn stood in the center, gripping her iron rod tightly. Her eyes darted around, searching for the first strike.
Then she spun her rod once, water magic swirling around her hands.
"Water Magic: Serpent Network!"
Dark-blue serpents made of water burst from her rod, hissing through the air.
They crashed through the roots, tearing them apart one by one.
Seraphina smirked slightly. "Huh… is that what I think it is?"
But her moment of distraction cost her—
The serpents combined at Dawn's command, forming a massive Water Dragon that roared and lunged toward her.
Seraphina calmly raised a single finger.
Sharp roots exploded from the ground, spearing straight through the dragon's body.
The dragon shattered into splashes of water.
At that moment, Dawn gasped—her vision flickered black, her body suddenly heavy.
She stumbled, clutching her chest.
Dawn: "Wh-what's happening to me…?"
Seraphina: "So she's feeling it already. That means she could become a threat. I'll finish this quickly."
More roots rose from the ground, twisting into clones of Seraphina.
They rushed at Dawn from all sides.
Dawn swung her iron rod fiercely, striking the clones.
Each time her rod hit, the clones burst apart into tangled roots.
But Seraphina appeared behind her and trapped her with real vines, wrapping her tightly.
Dawn struggled, but the roots only tightened around her.
Then—splash!
Her body burst into water.
Seraphina: "What?!"
It was a water clone.
From behind, Dawn emerged from a swirl of mist, standing atop a rising column of water.
She held her rod high, forming a glowing blue sphere above it.
"Water Magic: Concentrated Bubble!"
The sphere floated forward, humming with power. Seraphina quickly formed a wall of roots in defense, but the moment the sphere touched it—
BOOM!
The explosion threw Seraphina backward, tearing through her wall.
Seraphina groaned, planting her hand on the ground.
She made a hand sign, and from the earth, a huge flower bloomed—its petals glowing gold.
Magic energy gathered at its center, bright and blinding.
Dawn slashed at it with streams of water, but the flower didn't even crack.
Seraphina raised her eyes, voice calm and cold.
"Solar Beam."
The flower fired a thick golden beam.
The entire battlefield flashed white—like the sun itself had fallen to earth.
The blast roared through the air, swallowing Dawn in pure light.
Then, in a second, everything went dark again.
Smoke drifted. The roots swayed in silence.
Seraphina: "Is she… done?"
The smoke slowly faded.
Seraphina lowered her hand, breathing calmly. The roots around her moved like living guards, waiting for her next command.
Then — a small ripple in a puddle nearby.
A faint blue light glowed under the dust.
Seraphina's eyes narrowed.
"Still alive?"
The ground suddenly exploded — water burst upward, and Dawn leaped out. Her clothes were torn, her body covered in bruises, but her eyes still burned with determination.
Dawn: "You'll have to try harder than that!"
She spun her iron rod, and streams of water formed glowing blue spears.
They shot toward Seraphina in a fast spiral.
But Seraphina didn't even move.
With a wave of her hand, thick roots rose and twisted into shields, blocking every hit.
Each spear shattered like glass against them.
Seraphina: "Your control is good, but your heart hesitates."
She smiled coldly. "And hesitation means death."
Her hand pressed into the ground — and in an instant, hundreds of roots exploded from beneath Dawn.
They wrapped around her arms and legs before she could react.
Dawn: "No—!"
She spun her rod, sending a burst of water to break free, but another root whipped across her back, throwing her into a tree.
The ground shook from the impact.
Dawn gasped and forced herself up. Blood dripped from her lip.
Still, she glared forward. "I… won't stop…"
Seraphina's green eyes glowed. "Then drown in your own magic."
She lifted both arms, and the battlefield changed.
The roots around them bloomed with red flowers that glowed faintly. The scent filled the air — thick and dizzying.
Dawn felt it. Her breathing grew fast.
Her body felt heavy, her legs weak.
Seraphina walked through the flowers like a queen.
"These roots drink the magic from the air itself," she said softly. "Every spell you use only feeds me."
Dawn tried to summon another water serpent, but as soon as it appeared, the flowers absorbed it — the water disappeared before reaching Seraphina.
Seraphina: "Hopeless, isn't it?"
She flicked her fingers. Roots shot forward again, slashing across Dawn's arm.
Dawn blocked one, but another struck her side and sent her stumbling.
Each attack came faster, sharper.
Dawn barely dodged them, each movement draining more strength.
Then one root hit her directly, knocking her across the ground. Dirt and water splashed as she rolled to a stop.
Her iron rod fell from her hand.
She coughed hard, her vision spinning.
"I… can't even land a hit…"
She tried to lift her arm again — then froze.
Something pulsed deep inside her chest.
It wasn't pain. It wasn't fear.
It was something else — dark and cold.
Her hand trembled as she looked down. For a second, her reflection in the water didn't look like her.
Her eyes looked darker — almost black.
Dawn (whispering): "What… is this feeling…?"
Seraphina felt it too. The air shifted. The puddles around Dawn started to shake.
Everything went quiet.
Only the soft rustle of roots could be heard.
Seraphina: "What are you…?"
Dawn blinked, shaking her head. "I'm… me."
She grabbed her rod again and stood tall.
"But I'll never fall here!"
She swung her rod, sending a huge wave forward. The water roared like a storm, but Seraphina easily raised her roots to split it apart.
Seraphina: "Brave… but useless."
The roots struck again, wrapping tightly around Dawn's arms.
But this time, the strange pulse in her chest grew stronger.
Once. Twice.
The puddles nearby started to tremble violently.
A faint dark light flickered beneath Dawn's skin.
She didn't notice it, but something deep inside her was awakening.
Seraphina: "This energy… it isn't water magic."
Dawn looked up, breathing heavily. Her eyes now glowed faint blue with a shadowy outline.
"I don't know what's happening to me…"
She gritted her teeth. "But I'm not done yet!"
Water spiraled around her again — but now, black streaks mixed within it, twisting like smoke in the current.
Seraphina smiled slightly. "Interesting… Show me more."
Scene shift .
The battlefield shook as two giant beasts appeared — one covered in blue scales that shimmered like flowing rivers, and the other soaring above with silver wings cutting through the clouds.
Ashenfang roared, fire blazing from his fangs. His body glowed faintly red, the heat rising around him like a furnace.
From above, the Sky Beast dove down at lightning speed.
With a single flap of its wings, it released a slicing wind slash straight toward Ashenfang.
The attack hit — but Ashenfang didn't move.
His hardened scales took the full impact without even a cry. The ground cracked beneath his feet, smoke rising, but his fiery eyes stayed locked on the sky.
Beside him, Tracey was already in his half-beast form.
Flames flickered along his arms, his claws glowing orange.
He dashed forward, fast as a flash, heading straight for the Water Beast.
The Water Beast let out a deep roar and lunged, waves bursting from its body.
Tracey met it head-on — his flaming fist collided with the beast's water-covered claws.
Steam exploded around them as fire and water crashed violently together.
Up above, Ashenfang opened his jaws wide.
"Flame Thrower!"
A massive stream of fire shot toward the Sky Beast.
The flames hit one of its wings, scorching it. The beast shrieked and spun in the air, losing its balance.
But before Ashenfang could attack again, the Sky Beast twisted its body mid-air, regaining control.
Then — in a flash — it dived down like a silver jet.
WHOOSH!
Its wings sliced through the air, cutting across Ashenfang's side at blinding speed.
Sparks and blood scattered from the impact.
Ashenfang growled deeply, his body sliding back, claws digging into the ground to stop himself.
The Sky Beast soared upward again, circling the sky like a predator waiting for its next strike.
Tracey looked up, teeth clenched. "Ashenfang! You okay?"
Ashenfang's eyes flared bright orange.
"I'm fine… but that one's fast."
Tracey smirked, tightening his flaming fists. "Then we'll just have to be faster."
The air trembled — one filled with heat, the other with storms.
The battle between fire, water, and wind was just beginning.
The air trembled.
Ashenfang's flames burned hotter than ever, turning the ground beneath him red. The air shimmered around his body like a living firestorm.
Tracey's heartbeat echoed in his ears. He could feel the rhythm of Ashenfang's soul — the same flame that burned within him.
His half-beast form began to shift — claws sharper, eyes glowing gold, flames crawling across his shoulders like armor.
The bond between man and beast pulsed.
They didn't need words anymore. Their breaths matched. Their power united.
Tracey (low voice): "Let's go all out… Ashenfang."
Ashenfang roared — a sound that shook the sky itself
The Sky Beast dived again, wind blades cutting through clouds.
At the same time, the Water Beast summoned giant waves from the ground, flooding the battlefield.
But this time, Tracey didn't dodge.
He slammed his foot down.
Fire burst from under him, spinning around his body in rings.
Tracey: "Beast Fusion — Blaze Synchronization!"
Flames from Tracey's body flowed into Ashenfang's, and Ashenfang's energy poured back into Tracey.
Their auras merged — a storm of fire and spirit, burning brighter than ever.
Ashenfang's scales turned glowing red, and his wings of flame spread wide.
Tracey's eyes shone orange and gold, his arms covered in fire markings that pulsed like veins.
They stood together — fire and fury in one form.
The Water Beast roared and sent a giant surge forward.
The Sky Beast swooped down, wind blades spinning around it like a tornado.
Tracey dashed ahead, faster than before.
He jumped from a piece of floating rock, flames swirling behind him like a comet's tail.
He punched the wave — fire exploded, turning water into steam.
Ashenfang followed instantly, blasting fire upward into the sky beast's path.
BOOM!
The two beasts crashed through the flames — roaring, struggling — but Tracey and Ashenfang didn't stop.
Tracey: "Ashenfang, now!"
Ashenfang leaped high, his wings of fire spreading wide as his jaw opened.
A burning symbol glowed beneath them, drawn in light and flame.
"Ultimate Bond Technique: Infernal Sky Break!"
A pillar of flame erupted upward, splitting the storm clouds apart.
The Sky Beast screamed as fire tore through its feathers, and the Water Beast howled as the heat boiled the waves dry.
The explosion of light swallowed the entire field — red, orange, and gold.
Wind turned to steam. Water turned to fire.
When the light finally faded, both beasts crashed into the ground — scorched, weakened, but still alive.
Tracey landed beside Ashenfang, both breathing heavily.
Smoke rose from their bodies, but their eyes still burned bright.
Tracey: "They're still standing…"
Ashenfang growled softly, his breath glowing like lava.
"Then so will we."
They looked forward — ready .
The ground shuddered beneath Tracey's feet as crimson energy flared outward.
His heartbeat echoed like thunder — every pulse sending a surge of beast magic through the air. The lines across his skin glowed brighter, his eyes burning with gold and fire. Around him, the world itself seemed to tremble.
"Beast Zone—complete."
His voice rumbled through the storm, deeper, stronger — almost overlapping with Ashenfang's growl.
The two auras merged.
Flames wrapped around Tracey's arms like molten armor, his claws lengthening as his aura thickened, more savage, more alive. He didn't change shape — but his presence felt overwhelming, like standing before a living inferno.
Ashenfang's body ignited with the same rhythm. Their flames pulsed together, heartbeat for heartbeat. The ground beneath them split, lava-colored cracks spreading outward.
Above, the Sky Beast screeched, its wings slicing wind into blades. It descended in a furious spiral, wind slicing through trees and rocks alike. Below, the Water Beast rose again, waves towering behind it like the crest of a storm. Both roared in unison, shaking the battlefield.
But Tracey only smiled — wild and confident.
"Come on, then!"
The Sky Beast dove first — a jet of green wind.
Tracey jumped, leaving a crater beneath him, and met it mid-air. His right arm, burning with Ashenfang's flame, clashed against the beast's claw. The explosion that followed lit the entire sky.
Wind screamed. Fire exploded.
The force threw waves in every direction, and the shockwave bent the trees around them.
Tracey was thrown back slightly — but instead of falling, Ashenfang's roar met him from below. The beast shot a column of flame upward, cushioning Tracey's fall and propelling him higher again.
"Go!" Tracey shouted.
Ashenfang opened his jaws wide, flame spinning into a vortex. The Infernal Spiral burned bright, its heat distorting the air. Tracey dove through it, his body merging with the flames as he struck down toward the Sky Beast.
The Sky Beast flapped desperately, releasing violent gusts — but Tracey tore through them. His flaming claw slammed into its chest, the heat melting its feathers into ash. The explosion shook the sky, painting the clouds red.
But before he could land, the Water Beast below roared — launching a massive pressurized jet upward.
The torrent hit like a cannon. Tracey crossed his arms to block, but the force pushed him down hard, slamming him against the ground.
Ashenfang snarled, his eyes glowing red.
"Not again…"
He leapt forward, fire trailing behind him like a comet. His claws dug into the ground, absorbing Tracey's impact. The flames expanded outward in circles, boiling the entire lake that had formed beneath them.
Steam burst up — thick, white, and blinding.
Through the haze, Tracey stood again, his body covered in black marks from the heat, but his eyes sharper than ever. He reached out and touched Ashenfang's side. Their energy connected — fusing, synchronizing completely.
"Let's end this together," Tracey said, voice steady.
Ashenfang's tail whipped through the ground, flames spiraling around them both. The steam turned red from the reflection of their power.
The Water Beast roared again and slammed its body forward, creating a massive tidal surge. The Sky Beast recovered above, its wings glowing green, wind magic condensing for one final strike.
Two forces — sky and sea — rushed toward them.
Tracey and Ashenfang didn't move at first. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, time itself slowed.
Then — they leapt.
Tracey charged straight through the wall of water, his flames parting it instantly. Ashenfang followed, his body blazing like a meteor.
"Flame Beast—Dual Impact!"
The fire erupted outward, fusing both their powers into one devastating attack.
The ground split beneath the force.
The sky turned crimson as the explosion tore upward, consuming both elemental beasts in the inferno.
The Water Beast screamed, its form melting into vapor. The Sky Beast tried to ascend, but Tracey's flaming claw caught it mid-air, dragging it down through the blaze.
The sound was deafening — like the earth itself roaring.
When the light faded, the battlefield was unrecognizable. The entire field was scorched, rivers turned into steam, the air hot and trembling.
Ashenfang landed heavily, smoke rising from his scales. His breaths were rough, but his eyes still burned bright. Tracey dropped to one knee beside him, panting, his body trembling with exhaustion.
He looked up through the smoke — the two beasts lay motionless, their forms slowly fading into magical mist.
Tracey let out a low breath.
"It's done…"
Ashenfang gave a soft, rumbling growl — half satisfaction, half exhaustion.
Tracey smiled faintly, resting his hand on Ashenfang's neck.
"We did it. Together."
The crimson light of the Beast Zone began to fade, the air cooling slightly.
The clouds parted above, and the first streaks of sunlight broke through, shining across the burned field.
For a moment, everything was still — no wind, no sound, just silence and heat.
Tracey closed his eyes, letting the flames around his body die down. His beast energy slowly receded, the glow on his arms dimming.
But even as the power settled, a faint shimmer still pulsed under his skin — the residue of the Beast Zone's might.
Ashenfang turned his head toward the horizon, growling softly. Tracey followed his gaze.
Far away, dark clouds were forming again.
The battle might be over — but something bigger was coming.
The smoke finally began to fade.
Tracey dropped to the ground, panting hard. "Finally… it's over. And now I am the strongest beast user ."
Ashenfang stood beside him, flames flickering off his scales.
Then, out of nowhere—
Ashenfang: "Barely. You almost fried your own hair off."
Tracey froze. "…Wait—WHAT?! Did… did you just talk?!"
Ashenfang tilted his head. "Of course."
Tracey blinked rapidly. "You—you can TALK? Since when?!"
Ashenfang gave a lazy snort. "Since forever. I just didn't feel like it."
Tracey stared in disbelief. "So all those times I talked to you, you were just—ignoring me?!"
Ashenfang grinned, showing sharp teeth. "It was funny watching you argue with yourself."
Tracey groaned. "Unbelievable. I risk my life with you, and you pick now to start talking?!"
Ashenfang flicked his tail, amused. "Well, you finally hit Beast Zone. Guess you earned subtitles."
Tracey gawked. "SUBTITLES?!"
Ashenfang smirked. "You're loud enough to need them."
Tracey pointed at him. "You're impossible."
Ashenfang's flames flared lightly. "And you're my problem."
Tracey sighed, half-laughing. "This partnership's gonna be chaos."
Ashenfang grinned. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
Scene shift
Magna vs. Finn.
Magna stepped forward, molten heat rolling off his shoulders like steam. His eyes locked on Finn, sharp and burning.
"I've got a score to settle with you," Magna said, his tone low but heavy. "Let's see if you're really deserving of being member of the strongest squad in the Empire… or if it's just politics keeping you and your squad there."
Finn didn't answer. His expression stayed calm — unreadable.
"Good," Magna muttered, cracking his knuckles. "Then we skip the talk."
He stomped once.
The ground split open, glowing cracks spreading outward as lava erupted, painting the battlefield in a furious red.
Finn reacted instantly — his hand flashed.
Earth Magic: Stone Wall!
The wall rose just in time, lava crashing against it and spilling in glowing waves. But Magna was already moving — he slammed his fist forward again.
Fire Magic: Crimson Surge!
A wave of pure flame blasted through the broken stone, roaring toward Finn.
Finn countered with a sweep of his arm.
Water Magic: Aqua Burst!
The two elements collided midair, fire and water screaming against each other — steam exploded, blinding the field.
Then in… silence.
Far the battlefield, beneath the ancient Pillar, a black crystal pulsed faintly.
The same one that once held Imperial.
It flickered—once, twice—then glowed pitch black.
To be continued.