[Location: Academy City - Central Plaza]
[Time: 08:00 AM]
[Event: The Morning After]
A massive purple portal swirled open in the middle of the Academy's Central Plaza.
Ryan stepped out, looking like a king. His new black trench coat billowed in the wind. Behind him, Kelly (The Shadow Lich) floated silently. His team—Grog, Felix, Violet, Annabelle—followed, looking battle-hardened and epic.
Ryan took a deep breath of fresh air.
"Ah, smells like civilization. And burgers."
He expected cheers. He expected confetti. He expected his classmates to run up and ask for autographs.
Instead, he was met with silence.
The Plaza was empty.
Except for Military Tanks.
And hundreds of Armed Soldiers pointing rifles at him.
Standing in front of the army was not Director Malik.
It was a man in a Golden Suit. He had a smug face and held a scroll.
General Ironwood (The brother of the Professor Ryan humiliated).
"Ryan," Ironwood announced, his voice amplified by magic speakers. "You are under arrest."
Ryan blinked. "Excuse me? I just saved the world. Or at least, a city."
"Correction," Ironwood sneered. "You entered a Forbidden Zone (Zone Z) without authorization. You consorted with Demon Lords. And you used Forbidden Necromancy."
He snapped his fingers.
A massive hologram appeared above the Academy.
It showed a doctored video.
It showed Ryan shaking hands with the Grey Hood (The villain from the invasion).
It showed Ryan laughing while the Academy burned. (The video was fake, obviously).
"WANTED: RYAN. S-RANK CRIMINAL. TRAITOR TO HUMANITY."
"ALIVE OR DEAD."
Ryan looked at the screen. Then at Ironwood.
"Wow," Ryan chuckled darkly. "Deepfakes? Really? Who edited that? The lighting is terrible."
Ironwood's face turned red. "Silence! Surrender your weapons and your... monsters. Or we open fire."
Ryan looked at his team.
Grog was scared. "Boss? Are we bad guys now?"
Violet was mixing a poison vial. "I can melt the tanks."
Annabelle licked her knife. "Can I kill the loud man?"
Ryan sighed.
"Kelly," he whispered to his Lich. "Can we fight them?"
Kelly's hollow voice echoed in Ryan's mind. "We can kill them all, My Lord. But it will destroy the city. Innocents will die."
Ryan clenched his fist. He wasn't a hero, but he wasn't a mass murderer. Sarah was in this city. If he started a war here, she might get hurt.
"New plan," Ryan said. "We run."
"Run?" Felix cried. "They have tanks!"
Ryan tapped his Pandora watch.
"Pandora... Form Change: Smoke Launcher."
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
Three canisters of thick, black smoke exploded in the plaza.
"FIRE!" Ironwood screamed.
Bullets and magic beams tore through the smoke.
But Ryan and his team were already gone.
[Skill: Shadow Exchange]
[Location: The Underground Sewers]
[Time: 09:00 AM]
They materialized in the dark, damp sewers beneath the Academy.
"Gross," Violet pinched her nose.
Ryan leaned against a wall, checking his System.
[Reputation Update: 'Public Enemy No. 1']
[Bank Account: FROZEN.]
"They froze my money," Ryan's eyes glowed with pure rage. "Okay. Now it's personal."
Suddenly, a shadow moved in the tunnel.
"Who's there?" Grog raised his club.
A figure stepped out. She wore a hooded cloak.
She lowered her hood.
It was Instructor Viper.
She looked tired. Her arm was bandaged.
"I knew you would escape," Viper said, leaning against the wall. "Took you long enough."
"Teach?" Ryan frowned. "Did you betray me too?"
"If I did, you'd be dead," Viper tossed him a secure phone. "Ironwood staged a coup last night. Director Malik is missing. They say he 'retired'. I say he's in a dungeon."
Ryan checked the phone. It had access to the Dark Web.
"So, I'm a fugitive."
"We both are," Viper sighed. She reached into her bag.
"And I have a problem that only a Necromancer can solve."
She pulled out the Dragon Egg (The one Ryan stole for her).
It was grey. Cold. Dying.
"It won't hatch," Viper said, her voice cracking. "It needs mana, but it rejects my poison mana. It's dying, Ryan. It needs... death energy."
Ryan looked at the egg.
[System Scan]
[Target: Dying Dragon Egg]
[Requirement: Infusion of Necrotic Essence.]
[Result: Transformation into 'Shadow Dragon'.]
Ryan looked at Viper.
"If I save it... I keep it. Or at least, we share custody."
Viper hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. Just save him."
Ryan placed his hand on the cold egg.
He channeled his new Necromancer Lord power. Purple lightning crackled from his fingers.
"Wake up, little guy. Breakfast is ready."
CRACK.
The shell split open.
A burst of black smoke filled the sewer.
From the smoke, a small head poked out.
It had black scales, glowing purple eyes, and tiny wings made of shadow.
It looked at Ryan.
It sneezed. A puff of black fire came out.
"Kyu!"
[System Notification: Pet Acquired.]
[Name: ??? (Please name your Dragon)]
[Rank: S (Growth Type)]
[Ability: Shadow Breath / Flight / Terror Aura.]
Ryan grinned.
"Welcome to the Suicide Squad, Nero."
He looked at Viper.
"Okay, Teach. We have a Dragon. We have an Army. And we have a grudge."
"Let's go steal my money back."