Zero’s gaze locked onto Miki, fury blazing in his eyes. "Wait… this can’t be…" His voice dropped, venomous and menacing. "Michelle."

The oppressive aura that emanated from Zero darkened the arena. Miki’s breath hitched as an overwhelming pressure forced her to her knees. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed.

Joon darted forward, erecting a luminous shield to protect them both. But Zero’s anger was far from extinguished, his power threatening to engulf them all.

Zero’s voice was menacing, its echoes reverberating throughout the arena. A shiver ran down Miki’s spine as his aura darkened, becoming oppressive and suffocating. His eyes burned with fury, and the malevolence radiating from him caused Miki’s legs to buckle. She collapsed to the ground.

Joon rushed to her, shielding them both with a protective barrier. Nearby, Aden, standing beside Zero, reached out in an attempt to calm his friend. But Zero pushed him away with a forceful gesture, his attention fixating on Joon.

“Zero, stop!” Aden shouted, but the words fell on deaf ears.

Zero charged at Joon, his magic spiraling out of control. Without hesitation, Aden summoned a massive cube of darkness, directing it toward his friend. At the last moment, the cube enveloped Zero, sealing him within. Aden exhaled in relief, lowering his hands as he turned toward Joon and Miki.

"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" Aden asked, his voice sharp with concern.

Miki glanced at him and laughed nervously, brushing the sweat from her forehead. Joon helped her to her feet, his grip steady and reassuring. Aden, however, clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“I still can’t get used to his powers,” Miki admitted, her voice trembling slightly.

“He lost control again,” Aden muttered. “Luckily, Mr. Kim isn’t here.”

Joon, ever watchful, studied Miki closely before releasing a relieved sigh. Despite his calm demeanor, tension lingered in his expression.

“We need to calm him down,” he said gravely. “Otherwise, he’ll turn into a beast in no time.”

From within the dark cube came guttural, beast-like cries. A voice, warped and filled with rage, echoed through the arena.

"Burn. Burn. Burn everything. Enough of this."

Joon turned to Miki, his tone urgent. “Can you handle it now?”

Miki nodded, her resolve returning. “Yes... I’m fine. Let me get close to him.”

With steady steps, she approached the cube, drawing a deep breath. Crossing her arms over her chest, she summoned the energy of Yan. A brilliant glow radiated from her hands, her hair flowing as the power surged through her.

Placing her left hand against the cube, Miki channeled her energy. A blinding white light burst forth, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. When the light faded, Zero sat on the ground before her, his gaze dark with displeasure. Without a word, he stood abruptly, muttering under his breath as he turned to leave.

"Sorry," he said, his tone resentful, before walking away.

As he exited the arena, two figures—Harabi and Rumiya—rushed toward the group, their expressions fraught with worry. Rumiya immediately ran to Miki, grasping her hands tightly.

“Miki, Miki…” she repeated, her voice trembling as she searched for words. Seeing Miki’s weary eyes, she pulled her into a tight embrace. “You’re alright, aren’t you?”

Meanwhile, Harabi approached Joon and Aden, her brow furrowed in confusion. “What was that just now?”

Joon glanced at her, his expression grim. “He lost control of his magic.”

“So easily?” Harabi asked, her voice laced with disbelief. “I thought that was rare among mages.”

“It is,” Joon replied. “But Zero’s magic is different—it’s fueled by his emotions. Any strong feeling can turn him into… that.”

Aden nodded, his tone somber. “It started two years ago. During a lesson, he got angry after losing to Damien. The teacher had to step in to calm him down.” He paused before adding, “His magic grows stronger with time, and for now, only Miki can bring him back.”

Rumiya, still holding Miki’s hand, glanced around the arena uneasily. “I heard something strange,” she murmured.

The group turned toward her, startled. Miki tensed, gripping her friend’s hand tightly. “You heard it too?” she asked hesitantly.

Harabi’s expression darkened. “At first, we thought it was some kind of beast. But what exactly did he say?”

“Burn,” Rumiya replied, her voice barely audible. “Burn… everything.”

Aden remained silent, his jaw tight and his gaze fixed on the spot where Zero had stood moments ago. Finally, he exhaled sharply and turned to his friends. “We can’t ignore this anymore. If we don’t find a way to help him, things could get worse. Much worse.”

The group fell into a heavy silence, the weight of Aden’s words settling over them. Slowly, Joon, Miki, and Aden turned to face each other, their expressions betraying a mix of fear, uncertainty, and determination.