Morning arrived at the Demon Hunter Academy, but the atmosphere was far from peaceful.
Workers and hunters were already repairing the destroyed sections of the academy walls. Broken stones were being replaced, and injured students were taken to the medical hall.
The demon attack had left a deep mark on everyone.
Groups of students stood around the courtyard, quietly discussing what had happened the night before.
One student spoke nervously.
"A demon general appeared inside the academy."
Another added.
"And the new student fought him."
"Ren Akatsuki."
The name had spread quickly through the entire academy.
Some students looked at him with admiration.
Others with fear.
Inside the training hall, Ren sat alone near a window.
His arm rested on the wooden table while he stared at the palm of his hand.
The shadow energy from the battle still lingered faintly around him.
Something about it felt different now.
Stronger.
But also heavier.
He closed his hand slowly.
Footsteps approached from behind.
Lyra stopped beside him.
"You should be resting."
Ren replied calmly.
"I'm fine."
Lyra crossed her arms.
"You fought a demon general yesterday."
Ren looked out the window toward the repaired wall.
"He wasn't trying to kill me."
Lyra frowned.
"That doesn't make it better."
She sat down across from him.
"What exactly is that power you use?"
Ren stayed silent for a moment.
Then he answered.
"I don't fully know."
Lyra stared at him.
"That's not comforting."
Before Ren could say anything else, the door to the hall opened.
Captain Kael entered.
His expression was serious.
"Ren."
Ren stood immediately.
Kael walked toward him.
"The academy headmaster wants to see you."
Lyra looked surprised.
"The headmaster?"
Kael nodded.
"Now."
Ren followed him out of the hall.
They walked through several long corridors inside the academy's main tower.
The deeper they went, the quieter the building became.
Finally they stopped in front of a large wooden door.
Kael knocked once.
A calm voice answered from inside.
"Enter."
Kael opened the door.
The room inside was large and filled with ancient books and scrolls.
At the center of the room sat an elderly man with long white hair and sharp eyes.
He looked up slowly.
This was the headmaster of the academy.
Master Aldren.
Kael spoke respectfully.
"Headmaster, this is Ren Akatsuki."
Aldren studied Ren carefully.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he stood up.
"Come closer."
Ren walked forward.
The old man stopped directly in front of him.
His gaze focused deeply on Ren's eyes.
"I felt your power during the battle yesterday."
Ren didn't react.
Aldren continued.
"Shadow energy is extremely rare."
He turned slightly and walked toward a large window overlooking the academy.
"Throughout history, only a few people have possessed it."
Ren asked calmly.
"What does it mean?"
Aldren's expression grew more serious.
"It means your power is not normal."
He turned back toward Ren.
"Shadow energy does not belong to humans."
The room became silent.
Kael watched carefully but said nothing.
Ren asked quietly.
"Then where does it come from?"
Aldren replied slowly.
"From the ancient war."
Ren waited for him to continue.
Thousands of years ago, humans fought a massive war against the demon race.
During that war, a forbidden power was discovered.
A power that could manipulate the darkness itself.
But that power was unstable.
Those who used it often lost control.
Many of them eventually became monsters themselves.
Aldren looked directly at Ren.
"That power was sealed and erased from history."
He paused.
"Until now."
Ren remained calm.
"So you think I will become a monster."
Aldren shook his head.
"I don't know."
He walked back to his desk.
"But I do know something else."
He opened an old book filled with ancient symbols.
Inside the book was a drawing.
The picture showed a warrior surrounded by living shadows.
Ren stared at the image.
The figure looked almost identical to the energy he used.
Aldren spoke quietly.
"The ancient records called them Shadow Monarchs."
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly.
"They were powerful enough to destroy entire demon armies alone."
Lyra's voice suddenly came from the doorway.
"That sounds useful."
Everyone turned.
Lyra had quietly followed them.
Kael sighed.
"You weren't invited."
Lyra shrugged.
"I was curious."
Aldren closed the book slowly.
"The problem is that every Shadow Monarch eventually disappeared."
Ren asked one final question.
"What happened to them?"
The old man answered in a low voice.
"No one knows."
The room became quiet again.
Then suddenly—
A loud explosion echoed somewhere outside the academy.
BOOM.
The windows shook violently.
Kael instantly turned toward the sound.
"That came from the training grounds."
Another explosion followed.
Students outside began shouting.
A guard rushed into the room.
"Headmaster!"
His voice was filled with panic.
"There's something inside the academy."
"What kind of something?" Kael asked.
The guard swallowed nervously.
"A demon."
Everyone froze.
The guard continued.
"But not like the others."
His voice trembled.
"It appeared out of a shadow."
Ren's eyes slowly darkened.
Something deep inside him reacted to those words.
Outside the academy—
A massive dark creature was rising from the ground.
And it was looking directly at Ren.