Four Days Later
"Come with me..."
"Don't leave me..."
"Why are you going..."
The figure turned into a skeleton.
"Ugh!" Zavian jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat, his entire body trembling.
Riju shot up in panic. "You okay, Zav?!"
Zavian's voice shook. "I'm... fine. Just a memory I wanted to forget."
Riju didn't press further. He lay back down. It was still 4 AM.
---
The Next Morning
After five days of absence, they finally saw Eshar again.
Eshar announced flatly, "This academy's system is simple. One subject every two months. Understood?"
The new students chorused, "Yes, understood!"
Eshar continued, "Your first lesson is History. Professor Gram will teach you in 15 minutes. Dismissed."
Zavian immediately perked up. "Canteen, guys?"
Yui—who had been quietly following them since yesterday, looking lost—protested, "Are you insane?! Class starts in a few minutes!"
Riju shrugged. "Canteen can wait. Let's go to class first."
They walked to the main building and entered the classroom. The atmosphere shifted instantly—dark, heavy. Professor Gram was already seated at his desk.
---
16 Minutes Later
Gram's cold voice cut through the silence. "Three students are still missing."
The door burst open. Three figures rushed in. "Sorry we're late! Had to use the restroom!"
Without hesitation, Gram drew a pistol and shot one of them in the hand. The student screamed, collapsing.
"The CCTV shows you were at the canteen," Gram said icily. "You said restroom. I despise liars. Get him to the infirmary."
His cold nature was already evident.
---
"First lesson: Edein I."
Gram began his lecture.
"Long ago, an event known as the 'Loss of Humanity' reduced the global population from 25 million to just 32 survivors. This catastrophe was caused by the former Humanity Union's attempt to exterminate the Ogoreis Whale species—named after its discoverers, Reis Okman and Ogomeksperos. What began as a whale hunt became a slaughter of humanity. These whales were 4 times more ferocious and 3 times stronger than a Greyshark. Based on recovered remains, they measured approximately 17 meters in length. The whales were eventually wiped out—but humanity was nearly destroyed along with them."
Riju whispered to Zavian, "That's one of the Lost Memories you mentioned, isn't it? Different name though."
Gram continued, ignoring the side conversation.
"Years later—specifically 23 BC—Purgosh was born. A small nation led by a 19-year-old named Edein I. Several years after, Birush emerged under Jounse I. The founding of Birush became the basis of the world's calendar, still used today. For 50 years, dozens of nations formed."
"In the year 51, Volas was founded by Men Hosin. Gold was discovered there—390 tons. Birush invaded, but after four years, Volas's military repelled them. Birush was forced to surrender three cities in exchange for peace. This earned Volas the respect of all equatorial nations, and they united to form the Holy Volas Empire—so named because they considered themselves 'purified' from the sin of killing. A total of 49 nations joined; the rest integrated into Purgosh."
"Thirty years later, a man named Fuimetas changed everything. He built a new nation: Kuras."
"For 50 years, nothing remarkable happened. But in 134, Purgosh experienced a revolution led by Alistair. Quick and ruthless, Alistair couped the sitting leader and publicly beheaded him before citizens who had grown sick of economic collapse. Thus, Tisup was born."
"Five years later, Volas merged with Tisup, forming the Tisup Theocracy. Around the same time, Kuras's new leader—Yohaks—showed his fangs. He invaded Birush, crushing them easily, seizing their territory. Then he turned on Tisup Theocracy. He died nine years later during the siege of Obelsa, Birush's capital."
"For 25 years, Kuras had no ruler. The territories they'd taken from Tisup Theocracy and Birush were reclaimed. But no one dared push further—the polar regions were too dangerous."
"Finally, a worthy leader emerged: Chalkos I, with his close friend Nakas as deputy."
"Kuras resumed its invasions. Nakas was given massive funding for research. Two years later, the first pistol was invented. Within another year, Kuras's army was fully equipped with them."
"Chalkos and Nakas achieved the impossible: they conquered every nation, becoming the most powerful force in existence. Their territory was even larger than modern Vanpien. Let me show you."
Gram pinned two maps to the board.
"Notice something?"
"In 301, after Nakas's death, Kuras was couped. It was renamed Vanpien, after the two coup leaders: Van Sekmon and Pientoka."
"Simultaneously, Birush collapsed economically. 3,000 Kois could barely buy one loaf of bread. Revolution erupted. Tisup Theocracy seized the opportunity, invading and capturing the capital and coastal border regions. Birush became East Fikxes."
"Four years later—305—the Pins and Sepins currencies became dominant, adopted by the World Union as the international standard. Today, 3 Pins equals one loaf of bread."
Zavian interrupted, outraged. "Wait—3 Pins for a loaf?! I just paid 3.1 Pins! Price gouging!"
Riju smacked his head lightly. "You think they don't want profit?"
Gram ignored them and pressed on.
"For 250 years, nothing significant happened. But in 561, a man who would revolutionize warfare was born: Koirus Sekmon."
"An orphan raised in a group home, Koirus entered politics at 17. Two years later—at 19—he won the general election as an independent candidate against the powerful Osokos Party, Vanpien's largest."
"He immediately overhauled the entire military. Incompetents were fired. Training became brutal. You Vanpien students probably know the infamous 'Polar March'—soldiers walking the frozen streets for three days in nothing but shorts. 60 percent mortality rate. It was considered insane."
"At the time, Vanpien was the weakest of three polar nations. But Koirus boldly declared war on East Fikxes—and won, using guerrilla tactics and swift strikes."
"His most famous quote: 'I'm not afraid of your nation. Try me. I will win. You won't dare conquer this land—you're fools, and you'll never win. We will.'"
Gram glanced at the clock. "Time's up. Class dismissed. Nothing left to discuss."
He left, students trailing behind.
---
Elsewhere
Giurmes pressed his temples. "What's the status?"
The commander's voice trembled. "Annihilated, sir. By the Hisme military. All of them."
Giurmes gripped his head. "320,000 troops... all dead?!"
The commander swallowed hard. "I was at the scene. He stepped out of a vehicle and single-handedly slaughtered our unprepared forces. 263,000 confirmed kills."
Giurmes's eyes narrowed. "What did he look like?"
"Equatorial features. Wearing glasses on one eye. Eccentric clothing."
Giurmes exhaled slowly. "It's him. The Nameless One."
The commander blinked. "Nameless One? Who?"
Giurmes's voice was grave. "A figure even the World Union doesn't know by name. He's the fifth Great... holding the title 'The Terror.'"
---
To be continued...