The Nightmare Drake’s roar echoed through the grand hall, shaking the chandeliers and sending a wave of fear rippling through the nobles who had gathered to watch. Its dark, obsidian-like scales reflected the flickering light of the room, and its molten gold eyes locked onto Vax with an unrelenting hunger.

Vax took a deep breath, his mind racing. This creature wasn’t just strong—it was cunning. He could see it analyzing him, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

“Your move, commoner,” Aisha said, her smirk widening as she leaned against a pillar.

Vax ignored her. He couldn’t afford distractions. He raised his hand, summoning a sphere of crackling lightning that hovered above his palm. The air grew heavy as magical energy built around him.

The Drake lunged.

Scene: The Battle Unfolds

The beast’s claws raked across the marble floor as it charged, leaving deep gouges in its wake. Vax dove to the side, the creature’s massive tail whipping past him and shattering a nearby column.

With a swift motion, Vax hurled his lightning sphere at the Drake’s flank. The spell struck true, sending arcs of electricity dancing across its body, but the creature barely faltered. Instead, it turned its glowing eyes on him, a low growl rumbling deep in its throat.

“Impressive,” Aisha said mockingly, her voice cutting through the chaos. “But it’ll take more than parlor tricks to bring it down.”

Vax gritted his teeth. He didn’t have time for her games. Drawing on the energy reserves he had been training to control, he began weaving a more complex spell. His hands moved in intricate patterns, the air around him shimmering with heat and light.

The Drake lunged again, its jaws snapping inches from Vax’s face. He released the spell at the last second, a barrier of pure force erupting between them. The creature slammed into it, the impact sending shockwaves through the room.

Scene: A Turn in the Tide

As the Drake recovered, Vax noticed something—the creature’s movements were slower than before. The lightning spell had left scorch marks along its flank, the magic weakening its defenses.

“Everyone out!” Vax shouted, turning to the nobles who were still watching from the sidelines.

To his surprise, they hesitated. Aisha’s eyes narrowed, but she finally waved them off with a dismissive gesture. “Go,” she ordered. “Let the commoner play hero.”

The room emptied quickly, leaving Vax and Aisha alone with the beast.

“You’re insane,” Vax said, his voice tight with anger.

Aisha shrugged. “I prefer ambitious.”

The Drake snarled and lunged once more, its claws raking across Vax’s barrier. The force of the attack sent him staggering back, his magic reserves dwindling. He needed to end this quickly.

Scene: Unlocking the Power Within

Desperation clawed at Vax’s mind as he searched for a solution. He had trained for this, prepared for moments of crisis, but the Drake was unlike anything he had faced before.

Then, deep within him, he felt it—a spark of something ancient, powerful, and overwhelming. The same power the principal had warned him about.

The Demon Lord’s magic.

It surged through him, burning like fire and ice all at once. His vision blurred, the world around him fading until there was only the Drake and the power coursing through his veins.

“No,” Vax whispered, his voice trembling. “Not like this.”

But the magic didn’t listen. It demanded to be unleashed, to be used.

The Drake roared, charging again, but this time Vax didn’t dodge. He raised his hand, and with a cry of defiance, released a torrent of dark energy. The spell struck the creature head-on, the impact shaking the very foundation of the hall.

The Drake howled in pain, its massive body convulsing as the dark energy consumed it. When the light faded, the creature was gone, leaving only scorch marks and silence in its wake.

Scene: The Fallout

Vax fell to his knees, his body trembling from the effort of the spell. The power within him receded, leaving behind an emptiness that made him feel hollow.

Aisha stepped forward, her expression unreadable. “What was that?” she asked, her voice low.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” Vax replied, his voice hoarse.

Aisha’s eyes narrowed, but before she could press further, the doors to the hall burst open. The principal entered, flanked by several professors. His gaze swept the room, taking in the destruction and the scorch marks where the Drake had stood.

“What happened here?” he demanded, his voice sharp.

Vax hesitated, but Aisha stepped forward. “There was an accident during training,” she said smoothly. “The situation is under control.”

The principal’s eyes lingered on her, then shifted to Vax. “We will discuss this later,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

As the professors began to assess the damage, Vax turned to Aisha.

“Why did you cover for me?” he asked quietly.

Aisha smirked, though it lacked her usual confidence. “Because whatever that was, it’s far more interesting than anything I could plan. Consider this a temporary truce, commoner.”

She walked away, leaving Vax alone in the wreckage of the battle.

Scene: The Demon’s Whisper

That night, Vax sat alone in his room, replaying the events of the day in his mind. The power he had unleashed frightened him—not just because of its destructive potential, but because of how natural it had felt.

As he stared at his hands, a voice echoed in the back of his mind, soft and sinister.

“You are more than they will ever understand, Vax. Embrace it.”

He shivered, pushing the voice away. But deep down, he knew it wouldn’t be the last time he heard it.