CHAPTER 17 — Zero Vs Voltraz
The air rippled as the dimensional portal tore open.
Zero stepped back instinctively as three overwhelming auras spilled out like a tidal wave.
Voltraz.
Ignarion.
Zephyros.
Three Commanders—each enough to destroy an entire region alone—now stood directly in front of him.
Zero's heartbeat thudded painfully inside his chest.
Voltraz smirked. "Finally… we meet."
Zephyros's golden eyes scanned the area.
"So… it's just you? No other intruders?"
Zero stiffened. Kyren—where? He glanced around, but Kyren was nowhere to be seen.
Then he sensed it.
Kyren had completely erased his presence, hiding perfectly behind the layers of Zero's aura.
Good… stay hidden, Kyren. Don't let them find you.
Zero stepped forward calmly. "It's just me."
Voltraz tilted his head. "Name. Origin. Why are you here?"
Zero answered, steady but curt. "My name is Zero."
The moment the words left his mouth—
BOOM.
The ground exploded beneath Voltraz's feet as he unleashed his aura in full.
Fire spiraled around him
Lightning crackled through the air
The sky turned red
The forest trembled like it feared him.
Ignarion narrowed his eyes.
He's not even showing his full power yet.
Zephyros crossed his arms, watching quietly.
Voltraz took one slow step forward.
"So you're the rat who killed Dravos."
Zero didn't answer.
Voltraz raised his hand—and the world erupted.
A sea of flame burst outward in every direction, devouring the jungle.
Trees disintegrated.
The earth melted.
Entire mountain ridges cracked.
Within seconds, a radius of hundred kilometers was engulfed in flames.
Zero reacted instantly.
Shadow Step.
His body dissolved into darkness, reappearing far behind Voltraz.
But the Commander's eyes locked onto him immediately.
"Fast," Voltraz whispered. "But not fast enough."
His body vanished.
Zero barely had time to breathe before a fist wrapped in fire and lightning slammed toward him.
Shadow Camouflage.
His form blurred, merging into the shadows of burning debris, bending light around him—
But Voltraz swung his hand and dragged Zero out of the darkness like he was pulling a thread.
"You think that tricks will save you?"
Zero slid across the ground, dust exploding behind him.
He jumped up and multiplied his presence—
Shadow Clone.
Four figures of Zero appeared, dashed in separate directions, each with their own killing intent.
Voltraz laughed. "Nice."
Lightning crackled along his leg as he stomped the ground.
A single shockwave erupted—
SHATTERING all the clones instantly.
The real Zero used the opening to appear behind Voltraz, blades of darkness gathering on his arm—
Shadow Slash!
Voltraz turned, grabbed the attack with his bare hand, and crushed it.
"Dark Elemental user… i see."
He coated his arm with spiraling flames and hurled Zero off like a broken doll.
Zero crashed through three massive trees before landing hard on scorched soil.
Blood trickled down his lips.
He's strong. Too strong.
If I still had my elemental full power… Voltraz wouldn't even be a threat.
But now he had only one thing left.
Zero breathed deeply.
Invisible energy gathered around him.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
Inner Energy — Release.
A barrier of pure inner force wrapped around him like a shining armor of invisible pressure.
Voltraz's expression shifted.
"What energy is this…?"
Zephyros's eyes widened.
"That energy… I've felt it before. During the war… one hundred years ago."
He frowned. "But the aura i sensed weeks ago was different. This boy… something about him is strange."
Ignarion glanced at Voltraz.
He's still holding back. Why? Is he… playing with the intruder?
The battlefield cracked as the two forces collided again.
Voltraz moved first.
He ignited his legs with lightning—
Fire swirled around his fists—
And his entire body blurred into a streak of destructive speed.
Zero barely had time to react.
Every punch carried enough force to flatten a mountain.
Every kick scorched the ground until it turned black.
Zero parried using inner energy, each impact sending shockwaves across the burning forest.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Voltraz's laughter echoed through the chaos.
"You're strong, Zero! Stronger than I expected!"
Zero panted, arms trembling, legs weakening.
He countered with Dark Elemental Surge, sending shards of condensed shadow exploding toward Voltraz—
But Voltraz snapped his fingers.
A dome of fire expanded outward—
Burning all the shadow fragments into ashes.
Zephyros finally spoke.
"Voltraz. Stop wasting time. Finish it."
Voltraz stopped moving.
He stood still.
Silent.
Empty.
Then a slow grin crawled across his lips.
"You're right."
Lightning erupted around him again—
But this time it used perfectly with the flames at his hand.
His aura spiked—
Twice.
Three times.
Four.
Zero's eyes widened.
He wasn't using even half of his real strength…?
Voltraz vanished.
Zero's instincts screamed.
He created a Shadow Clone instantly—
But Voltraz appeared behind the real Zero, hand glowing like a small sun.
"You won't survive this."
Zero turned—too slow.
Voltraz's palm descended—
And the world exploded in blinding light.
The shockwave split the earth.
Ripped trees from the ground.
Left a crater kilometers wide.
Smoke and heat roared across the battlefield.
Zephyros watched the inferno form like a blooming flower of fire.
Ignarion whispered,
"If he survived that… then that boy is far more than just an intruder."
The flames settled slowly, revealing a silhouette kneeling in the crater.
Zero.
Barely breathing.
Blood dripping.
Body shaking.
But still alive.
Voltraz's smile widened.
"Oh… this is going to be fun."
He stepped forward—
And then, behind the smoke… another presence awakened. Voltraz did NOT expect that coming.