The morning sun cast a pale glow over Star Academy, its light brushing across towers of stone and glass. But despite the clear sky, an icy tension hung in the air, seeping into the bones of every cadet, every professor, every guild member who walked the grounds.
It wasn't just nerves before an exam or the usual rivalry between cadets. Something had shifted in the night — an invisible weight pressing on them all.
Rumors had spread like wildfire: strange flickers of light near the academy's outer walls, waves of distorted mana sweeping through the forests, and worst of all, the shattering of the outer detection barrier that had stood undisturbed for decades.
Inside the vast briefing hall, normally used for graduation ceremonies and celebratory gatherings, the mood was grim. Headmaster Arcan stood at the center, his long cloak heavy on his shoulders, his eyes sharp despite the exhaustion lining his face.
Around him gathered the academy's elite: top-ranked cadets, seasoned professors, and representatives from the most powerful guilds — all summoned on urgent notice.
Arcan's voice was low, but it carried through the hall with a gravity that silenced even the most restless.
"The breach last night wasn't an accident."
A hush swept over the room.
Arcan raised his hand. Resting in his palm was a shard of black crystal, its surface pulsing faintly as if alive. It emitted a soft, almost imperceptible hum that vibrated through the floorboards.
"The Whisperers," Arcan said quietly. "They've sent a message. And they've marked the academy as their next target."
At those words, a ripple of alarm swept through the crowd.
Yujin stood near the front, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. Beside him, Kain's gaze hardened, his fingers twitching near the hilt of his sword. Mira stood close, her arms folded, brows drawn together in thought. Sylvia adjusted her glasses, her mind already racing through tactical scenarios.
"This isn't just another training exercise," Mira murmured under her breath. "This is war."
Rowel Vayne, one of the academy's most brilliant professors, stepped forward. With a flick of his wrist, detailed maps unfurled across the long oak table at the center of the room.
"They breached near the western forest," Rowel said, pointing to an area marked in red. "We believe they've set up a hideout underground. We need an infiltration team."
Before anyone else could speak, Yujin's voice cut through the air.
"I'll lead it."
Heads turned. His tone left no room for debate.
"You're not going alone," Kain added, stepping forward with calm determination. "We're with you."
Sylvia gave a firm nod. "Count me in. I've been waiting to test my new equipment."
Mira smirked faintly, the corner of her mouth curving upward. "We've been preparing for this. Let's show them what they're up against."
For a long moment, Arcan watched them in silence. Then, with a small but resolute nod, he spoke.
"Very well. You depart at dusk. Remember, this is a reconnaissance mission — do not engage unless you have no other choice."
But deep down, they all knew.
The first breach wasn't a warning.
It was a declaration.
---
The hours until dusk felt both painfully slow and maddeningly fast.
Yujin sat alone on the academy rooftop, the cold wind ruffling his hair. His fingers hovered over the small silver pendant he always carried, a relic of the past, a symbol of the weight he bore on his shoulders.
The world had called his ancestor, Lee Hajin, a "Gun Breaker without guns," a man who could shoot bullets from his fingers and pierce through the mightiest foes. But Yujin…
He wondered if he could live up to even a fraction of that legacy.
Footsteps approached. Kain dropped beside him, the Phantom Blade resting across his knees.
"You're thinking too much again," Kain said, offering half a grin. "Relax a little, will you?"
Yujin chuckled softly, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit. "Coming from you, that's rich."
Before Kain could fire back, Mira appeared, her dark hair tied back, eyes bright and sharp.
"We're ready when you are, captain."
Sylvia appeared a moment later, hauling a small device over her shoulder. "I tweaked the scanners — we'll pick up anything moving within a hundred meters."
Yujin rose, tucking the pendant back beneath his shirt. "Let's move."
---
By the time they reached the breach site, dusk had fallen like a curtain of ash, staining the sky in shades of violet and gray. The remnants of the academy's outer barrier crackled weakly, shards of broken energy littering the ground like dying embers.
Etched into the dirt were strange symbols, pulsing faintly beneath the moonlight.
Sylvia crouched, scanning them with her device. "These aren't just magical runes," she whispered. "They're alive — pulsing with some kind of will."
"I don't like this," Kain muttered, tightening his grip on his sword.
A sound stirred the air — faint at first, then unmistakable.
A whisper. But it wasn't words. It was a presence.
Then, from the shadows, a figure stepped forward.
The Herald.
Cloaked in ancient armor, his face hidden behind a cracked helm, only his burning eyes were visible. They glowed with an eerie light, casting ghostly shadows across the ground.
"I've been waiting," the Herald said softly, his voice like a memory carried on the wind. "For the last light of Lee Hajin's bloodline to appear."
Yujin's breath caught. "You know my family?"
The Herald's smile was slow, almost mournful. "I fought beside your ancestor. And now… I must test you."
Without warning, he drew a jagged black blade, the air around it warping from its sheer force.
Kain stepped forward, sword raised. "We fight together."
But Yujin placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"No," he said quietly, his gaze locked on the Herald. "This is mine."
For a heartbeat, the world fell silent.
Then, with a flash of movement, steel met steel.
---
The clash rang out like a bell through the forest, the sound sharp and cold under the stars.
Yujin's mind raced. The Herald moved like no opponent he'd ever faced — graceful, brutal, impossibly fast. Sparks flew with every strike, the force of the blows rattling his bones.
But in the chaos, Yujin found clarity.
He saw the openings, the weaknesses, the rhythm beneath the violence.
He remembered his ancestor's stories — not just of strength, but of insight.
As they fought, the others watched, hearts pounding.
"Come on, Yujin," Kain whispered under his breath.
Sylvia gritted her teeth. "He's pushing himself too far."
Mira's fists clenched. "He's… learning."
With a final surge, Yujin twisted, his fingers crackling with raw energy.
For a brief second, his bloodline awakened.
A pulse — like a bullet through air.
The Herald's blade froze inches from his throat.
Slowly, the ancient warrior stepped back, lowering his weapon.
"You are… worthy," the Herald murmured.
Yujin's chest heaved, sweat dripping down his brow.
The Herald turned, his form already fading into mist. "The true war begins soon. Prepare yourselves."
And then he was gone.
---
The cadets stood in the moonlight, the night eerily quiet once more.
Kain clapped a hand on Yujin's shoulder. "Show-off."
Yujin laughed softly, exhaustion softening his features. "Had to keep the tradition alive."
Sylvia let out a shaky breath. "That… was too close."
Mira tilted her head, eyes thoughtful. "This was just the beginning."
As they made their way back to the academy, Yujin glanced up at the fractured stars above, the weight of his legacy pressing close.
The first breach had been survived.
But the fractures were only beginning to spread.