Battle roared across the broken battlefield.
The sky itself seemed torn apart by the clash of powers.
Shockwaves rolled through the ruined land as heroes and warriors threw everything they had at Lord.
Energy beams, explosions, blades of force — everything collided with the dark presence standing at the center of the chaos.
But Lord did not move.
He stood calmly.
Like a mountain.
Every attack that reached him was either deflected… or erased.
"Is this all?" Lord said coldly.
Several fighters rushed him again.
BOOM.
With a single movement of his arm, the ground shattered and bodies were thrown across the battlefield.
Then—
Someone stepped forward.
Lance.
Dust covered his clothes, but his eyes were steady.
He walked past the others slowly.
"Asher," he said quietly without looking back.
"Let me try."
Asher's eyes narrowed.
"Lance—"
But Lance was already walking toward Lord.
Step by step.
The battlefield seemed to quiet slightly as everyone noticed.
Lord watched him approach.
"…You?" Lord said with mild curiosity.
Lance stopped a few meters away.
His fists tightened.
"I've been wanting to hit you for a while."
Lord tilted his head slightly.
Then suddenly—
WHOOSH.
Lance dashed forward.
His speed cut through the wind.
He threw a powerful punch straight toward Lord's face.
But Lord moved faster.
BOOM.
Lord's fist slammed directly into Lance's stomach.
The impact folded Lance's body instantly.
Blood burst from his mouth.
He was launched backward across the battlefield and crashed hard into the ground.
For a moment—
Everything went quiet.
Lance coughed.
Blood stained the ground beneath him.
As he slowly tried to stand again…
A memory surfaced.
Years ago.
The first day Lance arrived at WHU.
He stood near the entrance hall, awkward and silent.
His shoulders were hunched.
His eyes avoided everyone.
He barely spoke to anyone.
People passed by him without much attention.
Until someone stopped.
Sebastian.
"Hey."
Lance looked up nervously.
Sebastian smiled warmly.
"You're the new recruit, right?"
Lance nodded slightly.
"…Yeah."
Sebastian studied him for a moment.
"You look like someone who thinks too much."
Lance blinked.
Sebastian chuckled.
"Come on. Let's train."
Lance hesitated.
"But… I'm not that strong."
Sebastian turned and began walking toward the training field.
"That's fine."
He looked back over his shoulder.
"Neither was I."
That day…
For the first time since arriving—
Lance felt like he belonged somewhere.
Day by day…
Training.
Laughing.
Fighting side by side.
Sebastian never treated him like a weakling.
He treated him like a friend.
And slowly…
The shy boy disappeared.
Lance became stronger.
More confident.
More alive.
The memory faded.
Back in the present—
Lance slowly stood again.
Blood ran down his chin.
Lord watched him calmly.
"You should stay down."
Lance wiped the blood from his mouth.
"Nah."
He took a step forward.
"I promised someone I'd get stronger."
Lord raised an eyebrow.
"Sebastian?"
Lance smirked slightly.
"Yeah."
Energy gathered around Lance's fist.
His muscles tightened.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
"Let's see if this works."
In a flash—
Lance lunged forward again.
His arm pulled back.
Then—
IRON BREAKER PUNCH.
BOOM.
His fist connected directly with Lord's face.
For the first time—
Lord's head snapped slightly to the side.
The shockwave tore through the battlefield.
For a brief moment…
Silence.
Then Lord slowly looked back at Lance.
And smiled.
"A good punch."
Before Lance could react—
Lord moved.
His hand struck Lance with terrifying force.
BOOM.
The blow sent Lance flying across the battlefield.
He crashed into a cliffside.
The rock wall shattered.
Then—
A massive chunk of stone collapsed.
The boulder fell directly onto Lance.
CRASH.
Dust exploded into the air.
The battlefield froze.
Asher turned toward the sound.
His eyes widened.
"LANCE!"
The dust slowly rose into the air…
And the silence became unbearable.