Ava walked through the academy halls alone.
Students crowded both sides, limping, bandaged, bruised from yesterday's chaos. As he passed, their whispers rose around him like drifting smoke.
"I heard we're getting recruited…"
"War's just beginning. I'm scared."
"I want revenge. Those Outer Gods were insane."
"They attacked us. How dare they?"
"I heard the Dark Lord is coming to campus."
Ava didn't look at anyone as he passed the crowded hallway. His steps were steady, sharp, controlled. He reached Professor Lunark Vail's classroom and slipped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
Lunark looked up from a stack of battlefield reports, his single demonic eye glowing with cold violet light.
"What can I do for you, Lord of Chaos?" he asked.
Ava folded his arms, jaw tightening. "I need answers. I heard there's a special war council today the Dark Lord, his generals, his commanders, everyone. Is it true?"
Lunark's expression darkened. "Yes. The rumors are accurate. The Outer Gods' assault didn't target just us. They hit multiple Dark Lord installations across several hyperverses. Entire domains…" He hesitated. "Some have already fallen under their control."
Ava nodded once, absorbing the weight of it. "And you'll be present in that meeting?"
"I will," Lunark confirmed.
"Good." Ava stepped forward, his presence deepening like gravity thickening the air. "Then listen carefully."
Lunark straightened.
"When you speak to them," Ava said, "you will mention my team. All of us. We're not sitting on the sidelines while hyperverses burn."
His eyes glowed faintly with restrained power.
"Tell them we're ready for deployment. Tell them we want official missions, full wartime authorization, and our rankings established immediately."
A beat of silence passed.
"We're joining this war," Ava finished. "Make sure the Dark Lord knows it."
Lunark bowed his head. "Yes, Lord Chaos. I understand."
Before he could say more, the classroom door cracked open.
Professor Gorath Valoron stepped inside, the door closing behind him with a low echo.
"Well, well," Gorath said, folding his arms. "Quite a sight. You two in the same room again. For months, you've been practically inseparable."
Ava gave a mild shrug. "I wouldn't say inseparable, Professor. Lunark has been a good instructor. I owe him a lot. Ever since he saved my life from that traitor the one we defeated together we've simply worked closely."
Gorath arched a brow. "A team… for which side, exactly?"
Ava didn't flinch. "For the Dark Lord's side, of course."
He glanced at the clock. "Anyway, I should get going. I can't be late for class."
He slipped out between them and shut the door behind him.
Silence hung for a moment.
Gorath exhaled slowly, then turned to Lunark. "Come. The war council awaits."
Lunark collected his documents. "Yes, yes, I'm coming."
But Gorath didn't move.
His gaze remained fixed on the closed door, deep concern settling over his stern features.
"I do not trust that boy, Lunark," he said quietly. "Ever since his arrival, the academy has been plagued with… anomalies. That captured spy, the Outer Gods' sudden assault and this academy is hidden in a location no outsider should ever be able to detect. So how did they find it?"
Lunark stiffened. "Ava is a talented student, nothing more. He is not our enemy. We uncovered the spy together. He"
Gorath cut him off, voice low and grim.
"That spy you found… we examined him, Lunark. His mind is obliterated. Not just brainwashed rewritten. His entire narrative overwritten from the inside out. It took a team of senior wizards weeks just to identify the damage. Whoever did this is exceptionally dangerous."
Lunark's expression tightened. "Are you implying Ava did that? That he brought the Outer Gods here? He was beside us, fighting for his life."
"I have no definitive proof," Gorath said. "But yes I suspect him. And I suspect he's compromised you as well. You've been… uncharacteristically dismissive these last months, Lunark. Not like yourself at all."
Lunark's voice snapped sharper than intended. "I am not compromised. I am not altered. My loyalty to the Dark Lord is absolute. I will not tolerate these accusations."
He brushed past Gorath, heading into the corridor with clipped steps.
Gorath followed more slowly, eyes narrowed with worry as he watched Lunark's rigid posture.
As the professors advanced toward the war meeting, Ava walked alone through the ruined halls of the academy a quiet shadow drifting between shattered stone and scorched walls.
Parts of the building were collapsed. Walls were torn open, windows shattered, ceilings cracked wide. Students limped past him in groups bandaged, burned, bruised, exhausted.
The emergency alarms wailed overhead:
"All students report to the gym. Immediate assembly. Important announcement."
Ava followed the stream of injured students until he stepped into the massive gym long lunch tables lined the floor, chairs scattered everywhere, medics rushing between rows.
He scanned the room.
Where's my team?
"Ava! Ava!"
He turned and saw Dallas, Demeter, and Star waving him over. He joined them at their table.
"How you guys holding up?" Ava asked.
Dallas winced, rubbing his ribs. "Still pretty wrecked from yesterday, but… a little better. And hey I got a date to prom, so that helps."
Demeter nodded stiffly. "I'm fine. And I'm ready for revenge. I need to find that girl, Morrígan the Phantom Queen, again. The one who said she knew my past. I'm not letting that go."
Ava frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Demeter looked down. "I'll talk about it later."
Star placed a hand on Demeter's shoulder. "We'll find her. My flames are connected to hers I can trace her through my flames." She exhaled softly, As she says to Ava. "I feel a bit better myself. I used my magic to heal overnight."
Ava opened his mouth, hesitating before speaking. "I want to apologize… to all of you. I wasn't fast enough or strong enough to stop you from getting hurt."
Dallas, Demeter, and Star all started protesting "Ava, no" "It's not your fault" "We"
But Ava cut them off, voice firm:
"No. It is my responsibility. As team leader, protecting you comes first. I won't fail you again."
Star shook her head gently. "We're a team. We'll get stronger together. No one expects you to carry everything alone."
Dallas looked past Ava suddenly and pointed. "There she is!"
Demeter blinked. "Who?"
"The girl I'm going to prom with the one who saved my life yesterday!"
He waved both arms. "Over here! Hey Uzuhana! Over here!"
Uzuhana turned at his voice, smiling as she and her entire squad approached Ava's team.
She bowed politely. "Hello. I'm Uzuhana. It's nice to meet you all."
Then she stepped aside and motioned to the first member at her right.
"This is Kabuka."
Kabuka's presence was impossible to ignore.
His armor was patterned in black-and-white zebra stripes, but the white stripes weren't still they drifted and curled like living clouds rolling slowly across his body. Wisps of vapor circled his arms, trailed around his legs, and wrapped his shoulders like a gentle storm that refused to settle. Even his clothes flowed like drifting fog caught in a breeze.
Kabuka bowed with a soft, lilting accent.
"Greetings… I am Kabuka," he said, raising his hands as clouds spiraled around his fingertips. The vapor swirled upward, forming a round puff of white above his head. "The Cloud Eater."
As he tapped the floating cloud, it solidified into a puffy, oversized hat. Kabuka placed it on his head with a flourish.
"Nice to meet you all," he added warmly.
He reached into the cloud-hat, and with a magician's flair, pulled out two small flowers each with a smiling cartoon half-face. The little expressions blinked and wiggled their tiny eyebrows as he held them out.
"For the lovely ladies," Kabuka said, bowing again as he handed one to Star and one to Demeter.
Both girls accepted the strange flowers, smiling with a confused laugh.
"Thank you…?" Star said.
Demeter tilted hers, watching the tiny animated face grin back at her.
Then, in a soft poof of mist, both flowers vanished into harmless puffs of cloud.
Uzuhana stepped toward the next towering figure.
"And this," she said with a proud smile, "is Ryujin."
He was colossal half man, half dragon his body encased in burning orange, midnight black, and deep cerulean armor that glowed like smoldering embers. Sharp, obsidian horns curved from his skull, framing a face carved with ancient fury. Massive wings rested folded behind him, each membrane faintly steaming with heat. His long draconic tail swayed slowly, thudding the floor with each heavy movement.
Across his back, four enormous swords were crossed in an X formation each blade sheathed in a different elemental aura, crackling faintly as if alive.
Ryujin dipped his head once, the simple gesture carrying the weight of thunder.
"Name's Ryujin," he rumbled, his voice shaking the air.
"Ryujin the Dragon Swordsman."
"Name's Ryujin Dragon King," he said, his voice like thunder.
Finally, Uzuhana introduced the last member.
"And this is Lilith."
Lilith stepped forward with slow, deliberate confidence.
A short black-and-purple skin-tight dress clung to her form, ending high at the thighs. From her tall purple heels rose sleek black thigh-high stockings, wrapping her legs in a smooth, shadowy sheen. Velvet-dark gloves hugged her arms, each fingertip sharpened by elegant purple nails.
Her black curls spilled around her shoulders, framing two twisted demonic horns that crowned her head. Pointed elf ears gleamed with earrings that caught the light when she moved.
Behind her, her wings unfurled slightly batlike, deep purple, the membranes smooth and shadowy as they stretched. Her serpentlike tail curled and swayed with every step, completing the dark, seductive aura that followed her wherever she moved.
Lilith approached Ava first, extending her hand with a sly smile.
"My name is Lilith."
Ava shook her hand. "Avalokita. But you can call me Ava."
"I have a nickname too," she murmured. "Moonlight. But you can call me whatever you want. I don't mind."
Before Lilith could lean closer, Star slid between them, inserting herself with a little too much force.
"Hi, Lilith," Star said, voice bright enough to crack. "I'm Star."
Lilith didn't blink. "I don't care."
The air instantly tightened.
Uzuhana tugged lightly on Lilith's sleeve. "Be nice."
Lilith's eyes never left Ava. "Trust me," she murmured, "I'll be very nice. You don't have to worry."
Both teams slowly drifted into casual conversation, filling the table with noise, laughter, and clashing personalities.
Ava, however, quietly slipped away, settling on the far end, hands together, tapping nervously as he thought.
After a moment, Lilith suddenly rose without a word
She walked the length of the table, heels clicking, tail swaying lazily behind her then sat down right next to him.
Ava looked at her. "Can I help you?"
Lilith popped a cherry between her lips, her tail stabbing another from the bowl with effortless precision before feeding it to herself.
"You looked alone," she said. "Thought you might want company."
"I don't really need company," Ava replied. "But… you can stay if you want."
Lilith's eyes dissected him like a blade. "Where are you from?"
"I'm from Earth. An Earthling. You?"
"I'm from a very far hyperverse," she said softly. "Different than this one." She rolled another cherry around her tongue. "My species is called Dominaera. I'm one of the few left. And I don't appreciate being lied to. You're not a true human."
Ava blinked. "What happened to your species? And… I'm not lying."
"Yes, you are." Lilith's voice was calm almost bored. "But I'll get back to that. My species wiped itself out. Almost entirely. We're born either alpha, or not. Some earn alpha by killing. I killed many of my kind to reach my rank. I slew even alpha males."
Her eyes dimmed, but only for a breath.
"All our alphas destroyed one another. Fighting, testing each other, claiming, dying. That's why so few of us remain."
She leaned closer.
"And my species is special. When an alpha female meets an alpha male of any species and he claims her, she gains strength similar to her mate. It is instinct. Power. Dominance. And my instincts…" her eyes slid over him, studying every atom, "… I can tell you are not truly foley human."
Ava exhaled. "I am a human."
Lilith smiled sharp, knowing, hungry.
"My instincts say otherwise. These eyes of mine see a male's true potential. They show me when someone is a perfect mate. They show me what power lies inside."
Her voice lowered.
"And yours has no limit. Your potential is greater than anyone I've ever seen. Everything about you screams chaos, even though you pretend to be calm. I can feel it. You want to be loose."
Ava swallowed. "You're… very interesting."
Before he could finish, her tail snapped toward his face like a spear.
Ava barely caught it, two fingers stopping the strike inches from his skin.
"What are you doing? Trying to kill me?"
Lilith's grin sharpened.
"Just testing your speed. And your reaction time. I want to see if these eyes are lying about the potential I see…" She leaned in even closer. "…in you. And in us."
Ava blinked at her. "What do you mean 'us'? There is no us."
Lilith's expression sank into a frown.
"I should've known," she muttered. "Someone like you is already taken."
Ava glanced at Star across the room. "No. I'm not. I just… prefer to stay focused on school and training."
Lilith narrowed her eyes. "I told you you can't lie to me. My senses feel everything. So what… you like that goody-goody two-shoe?"
She flicked her gaze between Star and Ava.
Ava shook his head. "No way. We're just friends."
Lilith smirked. "Well, since you're just friends, and you're not taken by anyone… why not live a little? You're way too stressed about school. You're plenty strong, Ava. Like I said, you're already destined for greatness."
She leaned in slightly, eyes glinting. "We should go to prom together. Your friend Dallas is already going with my teammate, Uzuhana."
Before Ava could respond, Star suddenly appeared and sat down right beside him, sliding into his space like she owned it.
"Sorry to interrupt you guys," Star said sweetly. Then her tone cooled as she looked at Lilith. "Your teammates are hilarious."
Lilith smiled. "Yeah, my teammates are pretty awesome."
She stood up. "I'll be right back. I'm getting more cherries."
As she walked away, Star's hand immediately grabbed Ava's under the table.
"Why are you talking to her alone?" Star whispered, leaning closer.
Ava blinked. "I'm just being nice."
"It looks like more than nice to me," Star murmured.
Ava pulled his hand slightly. "Why do you care? You said yourself we're just friends. And your father wouldn't approve of me."
Star's grip tightened on Ava's arm, her body inching closer until their shoulders touched.
"I know what I said," she whispered. "It's complicated. I'm a princess… and you're a human. My family wouldn't want to see us together. None of my people would."
She breathed out shakily. "But after three months at this academy… and every day in those dungeons which is three years… fighting together, laughing together, living together…"
Her voice softened.
"I really like you, Ava. I don't want to lose what we have. I don't want you thinking I don't care just because I'm not loud about it."
Ava sighed, looking down. "I really like you too. But you're ashamed of me."
Star's eyes snapped up, trembling. "No, I'm not."
Ava turned his face away. "We both know that's a lie."
"I'm not lying!" she snapped, louder than she meant to. She lowered her voice quickly. "If my people wasn't here, it would be different I swear."
Ava cut her a look. "If you really mean that… then would you go to prom with me?"
"Of course I can," Star said… then added quietly, "But… we can only go as friends."
Ava laughed under his breath, but it wasn't happy. "See? You are ashamed. You care more about what others think than how you feel."
He leaned back. "Don't come to my room tonight. Maybe we should just be friends. Nothing more. I don't want this making our team fall apart."
Star leaned in, panic in her voice. "Stop it. Why are you saying that? I can't even remember the last time I didn't fall asleep right next to you."
Ava stayed silent.
"Ava." Her voice cracked. "Say something."
Right then, Lilith returned, a bowl of cherries in hand. She slid gracefully back into her seat, eyes flashing with mischief.
"Trouble in paradise, you two?" she purred.
Ava stayed silent.
Star quickly answered, "What do you mean? We're just friends."
Lilith raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then why are you almost sitting on top of him? Why are you holding his hand?"
Star instantly pulled her hand back. "I didn't realize. It was an accident."
More students arrived, filling the long table. Several from Star's race, Pyraeans sat down beside her.
"Princess Star!" one greeted. "Have you found a date to prom yet? If not, would you do me the honor"
Before Star could respond, Lilith cut him off sharply:
"She can't. She's obviously going with Ava."
She popped a cherry into her mouth and smiled wickedly.
The group burst into laughter.
"Star would never go with a peasant," one of them snickered.
Star laughed awkwardly. "We're just friends."
Ava's jaw tightened. He stood up abruptly and walked away from the table.
"Ava, wait!" Star called after him.
Lilith rose as well, giving Star a slow, cutting stare before following Ava.
Catching up beside him, Lilith spoke softly, her voice brushing against his ear.
"For two people who 'aren't together,' I feel a lot of tension."
Ava kept walking. "I really want to be left alone right now."
Lilith's tone melted into a purr.
"Well… you never answered my question. About prom." She smiled sideways. "But that's fine. I enjoy waiting. And I love chasing."
Her tail flicked behind her as she added, "If you ever need someone to help you release all that tension, you know where to find me."
She turned and walked back toward her teammates and Ava's.
Before Ava could even exhale, a thunderous boom shook the entire gym.
BOOOOM.
Lights trembled. Students stumbled or screamed.
Then, in blinding flashes of radiance, multiple teachers and high generals materialized at once.
Their presence crushed the noise instantly.
The high generals stood like living monuments of war towering figures in heavy, battle-forged armor. One wore volcanic black plates streaked with glowing red fissures. Another stood encased in gleaming silver armor shaped in sharp, wing-like angles. A third bore a helm crowned with massive curved horns that spiraled outward, each etched with faintly glowing runes. Their capes swept across the floor like banners from conquered realms, and the weight of their aura pressed on the air until it felt thick with power.
Even the teachers who appeared looked nothing like the casual instructors the students saw in class. Many wore hardened armor etched with sigils of ancient magic; others had spectral wings or masks shaped like beasts or demons. All of them radiated the unmistakable presence of seasoned warriors ready for battle.
One of the generals let out a single word, and his voice struck like thunder.
"Enough."
The pressure of his shout sent loose papers swirling and even pushed a few students back a step. Chaos died in an instant.
Another general strode forward, armored in a blue sheen almost too bright to look at. Two large horns curled from his helmet like the crest of a celestial ram ready to crush mountains. His voice cut through the silence like a blade.
"Silence, students."
The words hit with absolute authority.
"You stand in times of war now. The age of comfort is over. Things are going to change."
One by one, the students quieted. Even the loudest troublemakers froze under the sheer force of presence gathered before them.
The general let his gaze sweep across the crowd, eyes burning with command.
"This is only the beginning. Listen well."
He inhaled to continue.