He opened his eyes to the violet glow of a strange world. **Zayren**, as he was now called, had spent his past life in an ordinary world, immersed in a thrilling novel called *Fate's Wrath*, where heroes fought to protect the world from demonic forces. But in a twist of fate, he'd reincarnated into that same story—as **Zayren Stormborn**, a notorious villain with storm powers who'd die before the second volume was over.
A surge of power flowed within him, potent and raw. He stretched out his hand, feeling the familiar, eerie chill of ice and the crackling energy of wind swirling around him. As an apostle of Boreas, god of the North Winds, he commanded these elements. In the mirror, his new self stared back—long purple hair, piercing blue-violet eyes, and a cold aura that radiated danger.
He clenched his fist, determination flaring in his gaze. He was the villain, true, but he didn't intend to follow the same path.
Suddenly, a knock echoed through his dorm room door, pulling him from his thoughts. He opened it to reveal a girl with jet-black hair and dark, penetrating eyes: **Lyra**. She exuded a quiet confidence, a natural affinity for darkness and shadows dancing in her gaze.
"Zayren. They're starting the practical trials. Are you ready?" Her voice was smooth, unyielding.
He gave a slight nod, picking up his weapon—a gleaming spear, its tip shaped like a snowflake edged with ice. He knew this wasn't a friendly exercise. These trials tested students' strengths in the presence of real threats and, of course, their compatibility with their respective elemental bonds.
As he strode alongside Lyra, a vast presence loomed above him. His bonded creature, the legendary **Simurgh**, circled in the skies, a storm-bird with feathers shimmering in every shade of frost. He could feel the creature's power radiating, a bond that felt natural, like breathing.
The training field stretched out before him, a massive arena designed to withstand elemental combat. A crowd of students filled the stands, watching eagerly. Among them was **Alec**, the original protagonist of *Fate's Wrath*. Alec's aura was bright and filled with holy power, making Zayren's stormy presence feel like a dark cloud in comparison.
"Look who decided to show up," Alec sneered, his voice loud enough for others to hear. "Just make sure not to blow anything up this time, Stormborn."
Zayren smirked, but the remark stung. Alec was well-loved, his holy abilities granting him unmatched power and insane luck. But Zayren wouldn't allow himself to feel weak—not this time.
The trial began with waves of low-ranking demons summoned into the arena. Zayren gripped his spear, watching as the demonic creatures surged forward. The wind whistled in his ears, carrying a familiar thrill. Beside him, Lyra moved in a fluid motion, shadows gathering around her hands as her dark powers took form.
Zayren thrust his spear forward, summoning a gust of icy wind that hurled the first wave of demons back. His Simurgh let out a screech from above, and a storm cloud began to form, darkening the arena with a frosty mist. The demons' red eyes gleamed in the fog, but they faltered, slowed by the cold as Zayren advanced, his spear crackling with raw power.
Lyra appeared in his shadow, her hands enveloped in darkness as she slashed at a demon, dissolving it into nothingness. "Don't get in my way, Zayren," she warned with a playful edge.
"Could say the same to you," he replied, grinning.
Alec, nearby, was plowing through the demons, radiant energy flashing in bursts around him as he fought. His presence commanded the battlefield, his movements a strange mix of brute force and elegance. But as he cut through the crowd, Alec's eyes kept drifting toward Zayren, an intensity lurking there.
The battle raged for another hour, and soon, they were the last three left standing in the arena. The crowd was silent, holding its breath as the instructors stepped forward, assessing the battlefield.
"Well done," the head instructor said. "But don't get comfortable. There's still the one-on-one duels ahead. Prepare yourselves."