No one moved.
Even after it was over.
The space where the creature had been—
Still felt wrong.
Like something had been torn open…
And not fully closed.
The instructor stood still.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then—
"…clear the area."
His voice was calm.
But tighter than before.
No one argued.
Students began to move back.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like the ground might break again at any moment.
Zane exhaled sharply.
"…what the hell was that?"
Eira shook her head.
"…that wasn't normal."
Nyra didn't respond.
Her eyes were still on Kaizen.
"…you felt it too."
Kaizen didn't deny it.
"…yes."
Zane looked between them.
"Felt what?"
Kaizen paused.
"…something opening."
Eira frowned.
"…I didn't feel anything like that."
Nyra nodded slightly.
"…only certain types can."
Zane blinked.
"…what does that even mean?"
No answer.
Because even Nyra—
Wasn't fully sure.
The instructor turned.
His gaze swept across the group—
Then stopped.
On Kaizen.
"…you."
Zane immediately pointed at himself.
"Me?"
"…no."
A pause.
"…him."
Kaizen stepped forward.
Not confidently.
Not hesitantly.
Just—
Direct.
The instructor studied him.
"…repeat what you did."
Silence.
Zane whispered:
"…this is bad."
Eira nodded.
"…very bad."
Kaizen raised his hand slowly.
Focused.
That same pattern.
That same break.
Energy gathered—
Thin.
Unstable.
Then—
It held.
For a moment.
A faint line formed again.
Visible.
Real.
Then—
It collapsed.
Gone.
The instructor didn't react immediately.
But his eyes—
Sharpened.
"…do it again."
Kaizen tried.
Again.
Same result.
A little longer.
A little clearer.
Then gone.
"…interesting."
That word—
Changed the atmosphere.
Zane blinked.
"…interesting?"
Eira whispered:
"…that's not good."
Nyra didn't speak.
But she understood.
The instructor turned away slightly.
Thinking.
"…you're E-rank."
Not a question.
A statement.
"…yes."
"…and yet you can shape energy."
Another pause.
"…without a stable circuit."
Silence.
Then—
"…you shouldn't be able to do that."
Kaizen didn't respond.
Because he already knew.
That's what made it real.
The instructor looked at him again.
Longer this time.
"…from today onward—"
A slight shift in tone.
"…you train separately."
Zane froze.
"…what?"
Eira's eyes widened.
"…seriously?"
Nyra's gaze deepened.
"…of course."
Kaizen didn't react outwardly.
But inside—
Something clicked.
Separate.
Not recognized.
Not promoted.
Observed.
The instructor turned to the rest.
"Training is suspended for today."
"Return to your quarters."
No one complained.
They left quickly.
Too quickly.
Zane grabbed Kaizen's shoulder.
"…don't die."
Kaizen looked at him.
"…not planning to."
Eira smiled slightly.
"…try not to get experimented on either."
Nyra stepped closer.
"…be careful."
A pause.
"…you're not the only one who noticed."
Kaizen met her gaze.
"…I know."
Because he felt it.
Not from the instructor.
Not from the students.
But—
From above.
That same presence.
Watching.
Waiting.
And this time—
It didn't feel distant.
It felt closer.
Interested.
Kaizen looked up again.
The sky looked normal.
Unbroken.
Silent.
But he knew.
"…it's still there."