Journey to Become the Zenith

A Dread Beyond the Soul

The battlefield had been set.

The clash between Victor and the six Spirit Rulers was about to begin.

For several long seconds, no one moved.

The evening breeze swept through the clearing, carrying fallen leaves between the two sides. Even nature seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the first strike.

Instead of attacking immediately, the six Spirit Rulers exchanged silent glances.

Through their spiritual link, voices echoed directly into Isabella’s mind.

The Spirit Ruler of Water spoke first, her gentle voice carrying a hint of concern.

”Isabella... is this truly the opponent you wanted us to face?”

The Spirit Ruler of Earth folded her arms, her expression composed.

”His mana is unusual... but I don’t sense any hostility yet.”

The Spirit Ruler of Wind tilted her head curiously.

”He’s smiling.”

”Who smiles before facing six Spirit Rulers?”

The Spirit Ruler of Lightning chuckled.

”Either a fool... or someone frightening.”

The Spirit Ruler of Light narrowed her eyes.

”You rarely summon us together.”

”Tell us everything.”

Finally, the Spirit Ruler of Fire looked toward Isabella.

”Leave nothing out.”

Isabella answered them through telepathy while keeping her eyes fixed on Victor.

”His name is Victor.”

”He saved Fantom City.”

”He rescued the Prince of Skyfall from the Ox King.”

”He has accomplished countless impossible feats in an unbelievably short time.”

She paused briefly.

”He isn’t evil...”

”But the path he’s walking could ignite a civil war throughout Skyfall Kingdom.”

”I tried persuading him.”

”He refused.”

The six Spirit Rulers quietly absorbed her words.

The Fire Spirit sighed.

”So that’s why you released six seals.”

”You truly believe he’ll force you this far.”

”Yes.”

There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in Isabella’s reply.

”Don’t underestimate him.”

The Spirit Rulers finally shifted their full attention toward Victor.

Initially...

They had believed Isabella was overreacting.

She had always been cautious whenever she called upon them.

Perhaps this time she had simply become too concerned.

That thought lasted only a heartbeat.

Victor stood quietly with both hands tucked inside the pockets of his golden jacket.

His black hair danced gently in the wind.

His handsome face carried an unusually relaxed smile.

From the outside...

He looked like nothing more than an ordinary young man.

Then...

The six Spirit Rulers sensed his mana.

Their expressions changed instantly.

”...”

The atmosphere around Victor wasn’t violent.

It wasn’t oppressive.

Instead...

His mana flowed with perfect harmony.

It rotated around him in slow, elegant circles, as though obeying laws that none of them could understand.

Every strand of mana moved with impossible precision.

The Spirit Ruler of Earth frowned.

”Impossible...”

The Spirit Ruler of Water’s eyes narrowed.

”How can someone’s mana be this stable?”

The Spirit Ruler of Wind whispered.

”It’s alive...”

The Spirit Ruler of Lightning slowly lost her smile.

”I’ve never seen anything like it.”

The Spirit Ruler of Light quietly closed her eyes.

”Let’s look deeper.”

One after another...

The six extended a thread of spiritual perception.

Not to attack.

Only to understand.

Their divine senses brushed against Victor’s soul.

The instant they crossed that invisible boundary...

Everything changed.

...

Darkness.

An endless, boundless darkness.

Within it stood an indescribable silhouette.

Ancient.

Silent.

Watching.

None of them could discern its true form.

None of them could understand what they were seeing.

Yet every instinct they possessed screamed only one thing.

Leave.

Run.

Do not look any further.

A suffocating dread gripped their souls.

It wasn’t fear born from power.

It was something far older...

The instinctive terror of standing before something that existed beyond their understanding.

The six immediately withdrew their spiritual senses.

Several of them unconsciously took half a step backward.

The Spirit Ruler of Wind’s breathing became uneven.

”W-What...”

The Spirit Ruler of Water placed a trembling hand over her chest.

”What... was that?”

The Spirit Ruler of Earth slowly shook her head.

”I... don’t know.”

The Spirit Ruler of Light looked unusually pale.

”I’ve never experienced anything like it.”

”Don’t ever peer into his soul again.”

”Ever.”

Even the usually fearless Spirit Ruler of Lightning remained silent.

For the first time in countless years...

None of them had an explanation.

Then...

Their gazes shifted past Victor.

Someone else stood quietly behind him.

Diana.

She hadn’t moved from her place.

Her crimson eyes remained calm as she silently observed everything unfolding before her.

The moment the six Spirit Rulers looked at her...

Their bodies froze.

Unlike Victor...

They immediately understood why terror gripped them.

The aura surrounding Diana was perfectly concealed.

Yet her very existence carried an authority that made every spirit instinctively lower their guard.

It was as though they were standing before someone whose rank far surpassed their own.

Their souls instinctively recoiled.

The Spirit Ruler of Fire clenched her fists.

”That woman...”

The Spirit Ruler of Light whispered.

”She’s... no ordinary spirit.”

The Spirit Ruler of Water swallowed nervously.

”How can someone like her exist...”

The Spirit Ruler of Earth gritted her teeth.

”We cannot afford to underestimate this battle.”

Without hesitation, the Spirit Ruler of Fire turned toward Isabella, her voice echoing urgently through their telepathic connection.

”Izzy, quickly summon the last Spirit!”

Isabella’s eyes widened.

”Why?”

”Is Victor really that powerful that we need to call for her?”

She hesitated.

Summoning the seventh Spirit Ruler came at an unbearable price.

Every single time...

She would lose consciousness for months.

It wasn’t a decision she could make lightly.

The Spirit Ruler of Fire immediately cut her off.

”There’s no time to explain!”

Her usually confident voice carried unmistakable urgency.

”Summon her!”

”The moment she’s here...”

”Run as far away as you possibly can.”

”Teleport...”

”Dig underground...”

”Do whatever you must...”

”But escape!”

------------------------------

Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Journey to Become the Zenith* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!

With love,

Scorpio_saturn777

Creator of Journey to Become the Zenith

--------------------