Night had fallen over the royal capital.
The storm above the northern mountains had grown even larger.
Dark lightning flashed again and again in the distant sky.
On the palace balcony, Saksham stood in the center of the stone floor.
Sweat covered his face.
He had already tried the Element Fusion technique many times.
And every time—
it failed.
Orion watched quietly from the side.
"You're forcing the elements together," he said calmly.
"That's why they explode."
Saksham wiped his forehead.
"Then how do I stop it?"
Orion crossed his arms.
"You don't control them separately."
"You control them as one."
Saksham frowned.
"That makes no sense."
Orion smiled slightly.
"Exactly."
He stepped forward and raised his hand again.
Golden light appeared in one palm.
Dark energy gathered in the other.
But this time—
he did not push them together.
Instead, he slowly moved his hands in a circular motion.
The two energies began rotating around each other.
Like two stars orbiting the same center.
"They are not enemies," Orion explained.
"They are opposite halves of the same force."
The light and darkness spun faster.
Then suddenly—
they merged smoothly into a single sphere.
A swirling energy of gold and black floated above Orion's palm.
Saksham's eyes widened again.
"So instead of forcing them…"
"You let them balance themselves," Orion finished.
He dismissed the energy sphere.
"Your turn."
Saksham took a deep breath.
He raised both hands again.
Light appeared in his right hand.
Darkness in his left.
The two elements immediately resisted each other.
But this time—
he didn't push them together.
Instead, he slowly moved his hands in a circular motion.
The two energies began rotating.
They spun faster and faster.
Saksham focused completely.
The pressure in his arms increased.
"Balance…" he whispered.
The two spheres moved closer.
For a moment—
they trembled violently.
Orion watched carefully.
"Stay calm," he said.
"Do not panic."
Saksham steadied his breathing.
The energies rotated again.
Then finally—
the two elements touched.
Instead of exploding—
they merged.
A small swirling sphere of gold and black appeared between his hands.
Saksham's eyes widened in shock.
"I did it…"
The energy pulsed with incredible power.
The air around him vibrated.
Orion smiled slightly.
"Congratulations."
"You just created your first Fusion Mana."
But the moment didn't last long.
Suddenly—
far away in the mountains—
a massive roar echoed through the sky.
The sound reached even the capital.
Saksham looked toward the storm.
Inside his mind, the system activated again.
SYSTEM ALERT
Void Guardian Awakening:
85%
Royal Army Status:
Critical
Saksham's expression turned serious.
"They're losing…"
Orion nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Saksham closed his hand.
The fusion energy disappeared.
Then he looked directly at Orion.
"I'm ready."
Orion studied him for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Good."
He pointed toward the distant mountains.
"Then let's go hunt a monster."
To be continued…