The hallway outside the chamber was silent.
Empty.
Still.
Then—
Click.
The door opened slowly.
A woman stepped inside.
Her figure moved with confident elegance—an hourglass silhouette framed by a sleek, dark dress that hugged her curves perfectly. Each step she took carried deliberate rhythm, her heels tapping softly against the marble floor.
In her hand was a bright red lollipop.
She lazily rolled it across her lips, licking it with slow amusement as she walked deeper into the room.
Her golden eyes scanned the interior.
A smirk touched her lips.
"Looks like the others didn't bother showing up…" she said casually.
Inside the chamber, several figures were already waiting.
On one sofa sat five boys.
At the center of them was a red-haired boy, leaning back arrogantly with one leg crossed over the other.
This was Flash.
Beside him sat:
A pink-haired boy with sharp eyes — Rin Aokawa
A white-haired boy with a cold, unreadable face — Yuki Shirogane
Two golden-haired twins, both nearly identical — Rael and Kael Solaris
Across from them, another sofa held three girls.
A tall, composed girl with long black hair sat calmly, legs crossed.
This was Crystal.
Next to her sat a voluptuous red-haired woman with a confident posture and bold expression.
Her name was Scarlett Vermilion.
On the far side sat a black-haired woman in a silver dress, elegant and composed.
Her name was Selene Noctis.
At the corner of the room—
A small girl sat quietly, writing in a book without lifting her head.
Her name was Mika Hoshino.
And finally—
Near the far wall, a girl lay stretched across a couch.
Her body relaxed.
Her face hidden behind a book.
She wore a pure black dress.
Still.
Silent.
Sleeping.
(No name yet.)
The woman with the lollipop stepped forward, her heels clicking softly across the polished floor.
"Looks like only the chosen ones showed up," she said lazily.
Flash smirked.
"What's the matter?" he said arrogantly. "Even if the others don't come, it doesn't matter."
He leaned forward slightly.
"This ceremony is meant only for the strongest."
His crimson eyes gleamed.
"And looks like… you've already got the strongest here."
The woman chuckled softly.
"I guess you're right."
She walked between the sofas.
At the center of the room stood a large table.
Behind it—
A single chair.
She sat down slowly, crossing her legs with casual dominance.
Then—
She smiled.
A dangerous smile.
"Shall we begin… the Succubus Ceremony?"
The moment the words left her lips—
The air trembled.
WHOOSH.
Dark energy erupted from her body.
Black wings burst from her back.
Curved horns extended from her forehead.
Her aura deepened, thick and overwhelming.
Her figure shifted—more elegant, more powerful, more dangerous.
At the same moment—
The others reacted.
Flash stood.
Crimson wings burst from his back.
Horns curved upward from his head.
His eyes glowed deep red.
Crystal followed.
Black wings unfolded gracefully behind her.
Her horns emerged like polished obsidian.
Her crimson eyes burned with calm intensity.
One by one—
Scarlett.
Selene.
Rin.
Yuki.
Rael.
Kael.
Even little Mika.
All of them revealed their true forms.
Succubi.
Only one remained still.
The sleeping girl.
Unmoving.
Untouched.
The book still covering her face.
The woman at the center rose from her chair.
Her presence filled the room.
This was Uzumaki.
Principal of the academy.
And the strongest among them.
She stepped forward and looked at Flash and Crystal.
"You know…" she said lazily, swirling the lollipop between her fingers, "I don't like red hair very much."
Flash gritted his teeth.
"But I can't deny it," she continued. "You're the strongest male succubus we have."
Then her gaze shifted.
To Crystal.
"And you…"
Her tone softened slightly.
"You are the strongest female."
Crystal remained calm.
Unmoving.
Silent.
"Be proud of that," Uzumaki added.
Then she turned back to Flash.
"And you…" she said with a grin. "Better hope nobody stronger shows up. Otherwise—"
She tapped her chin.
"You might get kicked off your throne."
Flash clenched his jaw.
"You really do have a foul mouth," he muttered.
Uzumaki laughed.
"Looking at your face," she replied casually, "don't expect me to be nice."
Then—
Her expression changed.
Serious.
Dangerous.
Her aura surged.
She raised her hand.
The air itself cracked.
CRRRRACK.
Space split apart.
Two glowing tears opened in midair.
From within them—
Two rings floated outward.
Ancient.
Glowing.
Radiating overwhelming power.
The entire room trembled under their presence.
Uzumaki caught both rings in her hands.
Then stepped forward.
She held them out.
One toward Flash.
One toward Crystal.
"Take them," she said.
Her voice carried weight.
Authority.
Power.
"This… is the strongest artifact possessed by our kind."
Flash swallowed slightly.
Crystal's eyes narrowed.
"As soon as you accept it," Uzumaki continued, "you swear to protect it… guard it… and use it wisely."
Her voice lowered.
Cold.
"If you misuse it…"
Her aura surged violently.
"Remember this."
She smiled.
"I am still alive."
The room fell silent.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Flash reached forward.
Crystal followed.
They both grabbed the rings.
The pressure in the room lifted instantly.
Flash looked down at his artifact.
The ring shifted.
Twisted.
Transformed—
Into a brass knuckle.
Power radiated from it.
Crystal studied hers.
Her ring shimmered.
Then reshaped—
Into a sleek bracelet around her wrist.
Elegant.
Deadly.
"We are succubi," Uzumaki said calmly.
"And what you hold…"
Her gaze hardened.
"Is given only to the strongest male and female among us."
She leaned back casually.
"Do not misuse it."
She smirked.
"And if you do…"
Her eyes glowed.
"I'll personally come for you."
Then—
She suddenly smiled brightly.
"Alright! Ceremony complete!"
Her tone flipped instantly.
Relaxed.
Casual.
"Hope you all have a nice day."
She waved lazily.
"Class dismissed."
Then added sharply—
"And do your damn homework."
Everyone froze.
Uzumaki crossed her arms.
"I might be the principal of this academy…"
Her eyes narrowed.
"But I'm not going easy on you brats just because we're the same species."
She turned toward the window.
"Now get lost."
She sat back down and pressed a button.
Music began playing softly through hidden speakers.
Her wings slowly faded.
Her horns disappeared.
The room returned to normal.
One by one—
Students began leaving.
Flash turned toward the exit.
But before leaving—
He stopped beside Crystal.
He glanced at her bracelet.
Then at his glowing brass knuckle.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Looks like we're both the strongest," he said quietly.
His voice carried amusement.
"This is going to be fun."
Crystal didn't reply.
She simply watched him.
Silent.
Unimpressed.
Flash turned and walked away.
Rin, Yuki, Rael, and Kael followed behind him.
As Flash stepped into the hallway—
The artifact on his hand glowed faintly.
Crimson energy flickered.
Dangerous.
Alive.
And far away—
In another part of the school—
Kai unknowingly stood on a collision course with the same boy.
The same red-haired boy.
Flash.
The fight that had just begun earlier…
Was only the beginning.