The scene shifted to Zone 3: The Frozen Wastes.

Ashen and Serina stood in defensive stances, Serina positioned strategically behind Ashen's massive bulk.

Raul hummed with amusement, his black mask gleaming in the pale arctic light.

"Senior Raul doesn't have any special element," Ashen muttered to Serina, his voice low and urgent. "But he has monster-level mastery in Titan Slaying Arts—techniques 

His white hair was matted with sweat and blood. "Dodge like your life depends on it. Because it does."

Raul chuckled, the sound echoing across the frozen wasteland. "Shouldn't you follow your own advice?" He gestured mockingly at Ashen's bloody, split lips.

Serina gritted her teeth and fired a lightning bolt that struck Raul's face directly with a thunderous crack.

He tanked it without even flinching, the electricity dispersing across his body harmlessly through sheer physical conditioning.

Ashen rushed forward, his massive fist cocked back in what appeared to be a straightforward punch—

But it was a feint to obscure Raul's vision. The real attack came from a different angle. Ashen's other fist crashed into Raul's liver with explosive force, the impact creating a visible shockwave.

For the first time, blood trickled from Raul's lips.

Then Ashen started pummeling him—rapid, brutal strikes to face and throat, each one carrying enough force to shatter stone. The sheer speed and power of the combination was overwhelming.

Raul was actually pushed backward, his feet carving furrows in the ice. He muttered, "Definitely, definitely Aurora's younger brother. Those hits are legitimately hard."

Taking a deep breath, Raul's entire body shifted into a different combat stance—

Ashen fired his Dragonfire Breath point-blank, the concentrated flames engulfing Raul completely.

But through the fire, Raul grabbed Ashen's jaws, forcibly closing his mouth and cutting off the flame. He slammed his forehead into Ashen's face with brutal efficiency, their skulls meeting with a sickening crunch.

"Don't get grabbed, you moron!" Serina screamed desperately.

A powerful gust of wind suddenly blew Raul away from Ashen, separating them forcibly.

He landed gracefully—and immediately a lightning bolt struck his face again. This time it actually burned slightly, leaving a scorch mark as he'd blocked it with his raised hand at the last instant.

He looked directly at Serina, noticing her eyes shaking with a mixture of fear and exhilaration. "Oh! So after experiencing a Chain Strike, you're finally fired up and serious!"

Ashen appeared behind Raul to deliver another devastating punch—

Raul stomped the ground with explosive force, the ice shattering in a massive radius. The footing of everyone broke simultaneously, chunks of ice flying into the air.

Instantly recognizing the threat, Ashen screamed, "Look out!"

Serina startled, her concentration breaking. She looked up to see Raul approaching at impossible speed. Her mind went completely blank with terror—

He leaped forward, landing on top of her, grabbing her face with one massive hand and smashing it with his knee. The impact was so brutal it knocked her unconscious instantly, her body going limp.

He grabbed her by the hair, lifting her like a ragdoll, and threw her away. She tumbled across the ice, leaving a trail of blood.

Raul looked at Ashen with something like pity. "I'm sorry, but you're not even close to Aurora's level. Honestly, I never thought the difference between siblings would be this enormous."

His voice dropped, becoming crueler. "No wonder your father picked her over you as successor to House Drakonis. A wise decision, clearly."

Ashen groaned, his mind racing with fury and shame. "I'll pummel you into the ground for that."

To his threat, Raul merely chuckled. "Do you seriously think you can overpower me through brute force?"

Raul folded his arms casually, looking at Ashen with genuine disappointment. "I thought you wanted to be better than Aurora, right? To be someone more than just her shadow. But you're acting worse than a shadow—you have no substance at all. You rushed into battle without strategy, ignored your mage who was supporting you, and now you're completely cornered. It's important to be self-reliant, yes—but also to be aware of your allies. Without them, you'll be crushed."

"Quit lecturing me!" Ashen gritted out.

Raul closed the distance instantly. His punch landed clean on Ashen's jaw, a perfect strike that rattled his brain.

Ashen punched back desperately—only to have it blocked effortlessly. Raul simply pounded him with brutal efficiency, each strike precise and devastating.

Massive draconic wings erupted from Ashen's back. He flew into the air, pouring down torrents of hot flame.

Raul clapped his hands together hard, the shockwave dispersing the flames. "Come down. Don't embarrass yourself further."

Raul launched himself into the air through pure physical might, closing the impossible distance. Ashen dodged and punched—Raul blocked it.

Then Raul frowned. "Stronger? You're getting stronger mid-combat?"

He saw Ashen's body beginning to transform further, scales spreading across skin. "Alright... you're just dumb. A dumb, passionate idiot."

Ashen's body grew explosively—grew massively—into his complete True Dragon Form. His flames flickered wildly, uncontrolled and unfiltered, burning monsters and potentially nearby students indiscriminately.

Raul quickly grabbed the unconscious Serina and placed her safely under a tree far from the combat zone.

Then he launched himself back into the air, his Titan Slaying Arts: Heaven Piercer technique allowing impossible vertical movement.

Ashen's dragon body was magnificent—"white-gray scales"  covering most of his form with striking yellow scales around his massive wings. He had two powerful arms, enormous wings that blotted out the sky, and thick, muscular legs. His serpentine neck ended in a fearsome draconic head.

He rushed toward Raul, jaws opening to incinerate—

Raul pierced through the flames completely unbothered, his hands glowing with concentrated technique energy. "Idiot."

His fist connected with the dragon's head with devastating force, instantly cracking Ashen's skull. The young Drakonis collapsed from the sky, transforming back to human form as he fainted.

"Sighing... to think I'll have to save the very students I'm supposed to eliminate. What a messy situation," Raul muttered. "But you know what? I like that passion of yours. Just remember—passion shouldn't come at the cost of others' safety."

His smile widened as he sensed something. He turned to see Serina standing, her eyes opened impossibly wide. Her face was blank, almost doll-like.

"Her presence was completely still. Empty. Waiting."

"An awakening?" Raul hummed, grinning with genuine excitement. "You keep surprising me, Serina!".