The following day while Leo is sitting in his room meditating when an unexpected visitor comes to see him .
A young man who looks like an older version of Leo but lean and tall with jet black hair,violet eyes and wearing a black suit is looking at him with a calm expression.
Both stare at each other for half a second before the man's face breaks into a warm smile.
" Aren't you going to say hello to your big brother Leo "
" What's up Michael?"
Michael walks up to Leo and ruffles his hair while chuckling.
" That's no way to greet your elder brother Leo"
" Hey hey I just finished brushing that"
Both chuckle lightly
" Dad sent me to check on you"
" Of course he did.. how is he?"
The two brothers talk for a while about a myriad of things before Leo goes for class and Michael heads to master Ren's office.
******************************
On the other side of the world far away from Skycrest Academy.
A large city is seen from miles away, it's large and imposing walls a testament of great bettles and riches.
This is the city of Marrowdeep, one of the cites affiliated with the beast empire lead by the beast sovereign.
It's streets are full of people of different species moving about in peace and harmony. But below its welcoming exterior in darkened streets drowned in silence. Just below the cracked stone bridge leading into the Undermarket District, a red mist drifts through the air—thick, heavy, and laced with death.
Inside the ruined underwater headquarters of the Blood Vulture Syndicate one of the main underworld groups,blood dripped from the chandeliers. What remained of one of the worlds largest underworld organizations was nothing but charred bones and silence and lingering black flames.
At the center of the carnage stood a group of thirteen.
They wore no uniform save for a long black coat with numbers ranging from 1 to 13 on their backs, yet their presence was unmistakable—like living calamities cloaked in youth.
All wore demon masks and the thick black energy pouring from the made them look more like devils straight from hell.
---
A young man stepped on the barely breathing corpse of the Blood Vulture boss red claw, the result is a blood curdling scream and coughs of blood from the defeated boss .
His real name unknown like all the others yet his burning red eyes sparks fear into the battle hardened warriors of the underworld.
He walks beside a scorched wall, tracing the gang's emblem with his finger until it turned to ash. "Another branch gone. Their greed stank worse than their wine."
Behind him, a girl in dark lace floated inches above the blood-drenched ground,
On her back the number six written in blood red letters
"You are getting stronger " she said, voice like silk. "Truly deserving of the third rank "
. " Burning the souls of weaklings is not something to rejoice at " another voice says, the same that was watching Leo and the others at the academy, on his back the number four written boldly
"They served their purpose," the man in their middle says coolly. "And we've confirmed what we needed."
He lifted a scroll—salvaged from the vault—etched in forbidden script. A Celestial Map, pulsing faintly.
"The energies we felt in the forest were no accident," he said. "The boy—he's already awakened"
All of them look at the red haired man who is tossing the bodies of their dead victims into his storage bracelet , the number one written on his back. " The time is nearing..... I wonder would you be ready Leo "
******************************
Back in the Forest
Hours earlier, one of their own had lingered in the trees during the class practical, cloaked in null energy.Her rank 8th,
She had watched Leo awaken part of his power. Had felt the moment space bent around the purple flame. And had recorded everything before fading into the mist.
******************************
Within the broken sanctum of the blood vulture Syndicate, the 13 now gathered in a circle, standing before a strange altar of black stone.
Upon it lay a glowing crystal replaying everything.
"The fragments are waking," murmured the ranked five in the group . "And so is he."
" It doesn't matter" said the rank one as he stepped forward, his voice now low with malice
" It will soon be time for the inter school tournament right .. " a dangerous glow passes his eyes " Skycrest Academy is going to be in for a big surprise"
A laugh rippled through the group, not one of joy but one with the promise of chaos and destruction.
******************************
To wrap up their purge of the Blood Vultures, number one raises one hand, while the bearly breathing red claw in his other hand.
" What are you? " Red claw speaks through a bloodied face
" We are the zodiac " number one says coldly
A low ominous hum filled the chamber.
Then the world cracked.
From his palm, threads of lightening ripped through reality—dozens of jagged fractures forming in the air like broken glass.
Through them, screams echoed. Then stops . Death remained .
"Let this place be erased," he whispered.
He clenched his fist.
The building collapsed inward—not in , but in a flash of crimson lighten. A reverse implosion of unnatural void.
In seconds, nothing remained.
Just a crater. And wind.
The 13 turned their backs and walked into the night.
******************************
Back at Starcrest
That same evening, Master Ren stood atop the main tower of the academy, staring into the distance.
He had felt it.
Not just the energy—but the signature behind it.
He closed his eyes.
"Brother…"
Behind him, Michael appeared.
"Is it true?" he asked softly. "They've returned?"
Master Ren nodded slowly. "And they're far more organized than before. They're planning something."
He turned to face the stars.
"And Leo… is now caught in the center."
" He's progressing fast.... I just hope he is ready in time"
******************************
In his dorm, Leo sat up from a dream—sweating, heart racing.
A name lingered on his lips. A name not his own, yet connected to him.
" Ace chambers"
He didn't know what it meant.
But the demon within him stirred—and for the first time…
…smiled. " Come"
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