"Congratulations to all the surviving students. I hope you enjoyed our… greeting."
The academy's speakers crackled back to life. The distorted voice sent chills down the spines of every student.
"I hope you don't think this is all we can offer."
A low, sinister laugh rolled through the halls.
"Like I said—this was just a greeting. We sent the weakest of our members. But it's not all bad news. Each of you who managed to defeat one of them… will have the chance to join us, and be part of the new rulers."
The voice paused—then when it returned, the playful tone was gone.
"I want you all to look at the ground you're standing on."
Students glanced down, puzzled.
"What… is that?"
"It's glowing!"
"It looks like a magic circle…"
Runes pulsed faintly beneath their feet, glowing with an eerie blue light.
"You've noticed," the voice continued. "The runes beneath you form a magic circle surrounding the entire academy. In exactly thirty minutes, it will activate—and detonate. So, if you don't want to die… I suggest you come out of hiding, and join me at the academy's entrance."
The voice cut off. Silence swallowed the halls for a moment—then panic set in. Students started moving, some stumbling, others shoving their way toward the exit.
Isaac, watching them file out one by one, sighed.
"What should we do?" Trish asked.
"I'm not sure yet… but he wasn't lying about the magic circle."
"Arnold is fine now—just needs to recover his stamina. But Liam's still out cold," Claire said, joining them.
Isaac leaned against the wall, eyes narrowing as he thought. Then he turned toward Leo.
"Other than this bulky piece of metal"—he jabbed a thumb toward the headless knight—"what can you do?"
Leo muttered to himself, clearly checking his system.
"My class is… Dark Magician. My skills are: Undead Knight Summon, Corrosive Mana, and Dark Contract."
Isaac's lips curled into a smile. Perfect. The kid was destined for trouble.
"Good. Claire—keep an eye on Maya and Liam. Arnold, Leo—you've got an important mission."
Arnold frowned. Trish instinctively took a step back. But Leo's eyes lit up like a puppy finally being told he was useful.
---
Five minutes later, Isaac and Trish emerged alongside the crowd of students at the academy's entrance.
The courtyard was a patchwork of fear—some students huddled in groups, others sat alone, trembling. In one corner, awakened healers worked frantically over the injured, Maya and Claire among them. Liam lay unconscious atop Claire's lion familiar.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
"Can I have your attention, please?"
A man descended slowly from the sky, wearing a sleek black suit and a mask covering the lower half of his face. His shadow shifted unnaturally as he landed—then spat out the battered body of a woman.
It was the principal.
Bruised, bloodied, barely conscious—she looked like she was clinging to life.
"This is your principal," the masked man said coldly. "A supposed high-ranking awakener. Even she couldn't stop us."
He threw her to the ground like garbage, dusted his gloves, and raised his arms in a salesman's flourish.
"You're probably wondering why I'm doing this. The answer is simple. Awakeners like her are too far gone—corrupted. They don't fit with our beliefs."
His voice hardened.
"But you… all of you… are different. Seeds of the future. Potential leaders. I've been watching you fight." His eyes glimmered with greed. "I want you all to join me."
He stopped mid-sentence. His gaze snapped toward the healers.
"…How dare you," he snarled, "use the blessings God gave you… on worthless people."
Two figures erupted from his shadow, sprinting toward the healers. Shadowy whips lashed out.
Claire's wall of flame roared to life, stopping the whips for a moment—but the attackers dove straight through the fire.
Only to be caught mid-air by a crimson mist, weaving itself into a massive spiderweb.
The intruders thrashed, but the web twisted and shrank, wrapping them tighter until it formed a sphere. From inside came the sound of bones—or something—snapping.
When it finally opened, it dropped two broken humanoid dolls onto the ground.
"cheap tricks again," Isaac said with a smirk.