Chapter 52 — The Rising Primal
The world came back to Vaibhav in fragments — blurred light, distant voices, the faint vibration of chanting energy all around him. His eyelids felt heavy, like they were weighed down by the world itself.
When he finally managed to open them, the first thing he saw was a golden ceiling — intricate runes spiraling like rivers of starlight. Then came the murmurs. Hundreds of them.
The Hall of Valor.
He pushed himself upright, wincing at the pull of his muscles. The vast marble floor shimmered beneath his feet, etched with sigils of triumph. Banners of every academy division hung proudly from the high arches, yet all eyes were fixed on him, Shin, and Alicia — the trio who had just rewritten the history of Null Spire Academy.
Shin stood beside him, still pale but grinning faintly. Alicia's expression was calm, her eyes glowing faint traces of green beneath the silver light filtering through the crystal roof.
They were surrounded — professors in ceremonial robes, senior cadets whispering, and students pressing forward, disbelief painted across their faces.
"…Three first-years?"
"…That can't be right, right?"
"They survived the Primal Trials?"
"Senior Aria said they achieved Ascendancy— no way…"
The murmurs turned to awe, then envy. A few second-year elites at the back crossed their arms, faces tightening.
"Those brats think they're special just because they made it through some trial?" one muttered.
"Let's see how long that arrogance lasts," another hissed.
Their words carried, but Shin only smirked. "Guess we're popular now."
Vaibhav's lips twitched in amusement, but the humor faded when he glanced down at his hands. The faint crimson glow still lingered around his fingers, flickering like unstable flame. It wasn't normal — it pulsed erratically, reacting to his heartbeat.
Aria Nakamura stepped forward, her presence silencing the hall instantly. Dressed in obsidian robes, her voice carried both authority and quiet pride.
"They've achieved what most don't even dare to attempt," she said, her tone even. "But remember this—"
She paused, eyes sweeping across the crowd, then settled on the trio.
> "Power isn't a crown. It's a burden. From now on, eyes will follow you — some to learn from you… and some to destroy you."
The words echoed like a warning bell through the chamber. Even Tanjiro, standing near the back, said nothing — only folded his arms with the faintest shadow of approval in his gaze.
Aria's expression softened slightly. "Rest for now. What comes next will demand more than strength — it will demand balance."
She turned and left, her cloak whispering against the marble. Tanjiro lingered a moment longer, meeting Vaibhav's eyes before murmuring, "Keep your instincts sharp. The stronger you get, the closer danger comes." Then he was gone too.
Silence followed — a heavy, sacred kind.
The trio stood there a moment longer, absorbing the weight of what they'd done.
Outside the Hall, the academy's bells rang — a rare, ceremonial chime reserved for the rise of new champions. Students poured into the training fields and corridors, talking, speculating, envying. The story of the three first-years who survived the Hunt of Ascension spread like wildfire.
By evening, the trio finally escaped the chaos, finding quiet on the edge of the academy's cliffside training grounds. The setting sun stretched red and gold over the sky, painting their faces with the same color as Vaibhav's faint aura.
Alicia sat cross-legged, meditating as a soft green glow rippled through her — steady, rhythmic, like the heartbeat of the earth itself. Her breath was calm, her spirit balanced.
Shin, as restless as ever, twirled his wooden practice blade lazily. Every motion left faint lightning trails hanging in the air, shimmering before fading.
Vaibhav stood with his arms folded, gazing at the distant horizon where the academy towers rose like sentinels. His crimson energy flickered and dimmed, pulsing in uneven bursts. He could feel it inside him — wild, powerful, but unrefined.
Alicia opened her eyes and looked at him. "You're still trying to control it?"
He nodded slightly. "It's… different. It doesn't feel like it's part of me. More like something trying to see if I'm worthy of it."
Shin smirked, leaning against a railing. "Then make it obey you. That's what beasts do, right?"
Vaibhav glanced at him, half-smiling. "Maybe. But I think this beast doesn't want a master. It wants an equal."
Shin chuckled quietly. "You and your dramatic lines. I missed this."
The three of them stood in comfortable silence for a while, watching the clouds shift across the fading sky.
Then Shin broke the quiet, eyes still fixed on the horizon.
"We're not done yet."
Alicia smiled faintly. "No… this is just the beginning."
Vaibhav's grin returned — tired, but full of conviction.
"Then let's see how high we can climb."
The wind swept past them, carrying the faint scent of ozone and spirit essence. The academy below pulsed with life — training fields buzzing, students sparring, gossip spreading like wildfire. But here, at the cliff's edge, everything felt… still.
It was the calm before something larger. They could all feel it.
And in that stillness, far across the academy grounds, a hand tightened around a crystal cup until it shattered.
Kaen Dross — second-year elite, eyes cold as forged steel — stood in the shadow of a towering spire, shards of glass falling from his fist.
Blood dripped down his palm, unnoticed.
> "So they've awakened their primal…" he murmured, voice sharp as broken ice. "Let's see how long they survive."
He turned, walking into the darkness of the training hall, the echo of his footsteps fading like a quiet promise of conflict yet to come.