Kelvin ran.
He didn't stop.
He didn't look back.
Branches struck his face as he raced through the eastern forest.
His breathing became heavier with every step.
But he kept going.
Four faint soul signatures were somewhere ahead.
Sofia.
John.
Michael.
Lydia.
They were alive.
That was all that mattered.
"Hold on."
Kelvin pushed himself faster.
"I'm coming."
His Soul Perception remained active.
The forest around him became a strange mixture of physical objects and glowing spiritual shapes.
Trees.
Animals.
Insects.
Magical energy.
And, in the distance—
Four familiar souls.
Kelvin's heart eased slightly.
Then he noticed something else.
There were other souls surrounding them.
At least twelve.
His expression hardened.
"Enemies."
The System appeared.
[Warning.]
[Multiple hostile soul signatures detected.]
[Recommended action: Retreat.]
Kelvin ignored it.
"Not without them."
He continued forward.
The forest became darker.
The trees grew larger.
Soon, he reached a clearing.
Kelvin stopped behind a tree.
There they were.
Sofia.
John.
Michael.
Lydia.
They were standing inside a large circular formation.
They weren't injured.
But they couldn't move.
Black chains surrounded them.
Not physical chains.
Soul chains.
Kelvin's eyes widened.
"What..."
A figure stepped forward.
It was the stranger from the Academy.
The black-cloaked figure.
"You came."
Kelvin stepped out.
"Release them."
The stranger smiled.
"Exactly as expected."
Kelvin looked around.
Twelve figures emerged from the trees.
All wore black cloaks.
"Who are you?"
"No one important."
Kelvin's eyes narrowed.
"Then why take my friends?"
The stranger looked toward the four trapped students.
"Because they are important to you."
Kelvin clenched his fists.
"Release them."
"Show us your Soul."
"No."
The stranger laughed.
"Then watch."
A black chain tightened around Sofia.
She gasped.
"Sofia!"
Kelvin took a step forward.
John shouted.
"Don't!"
Michael yelled.
"It's a trap!"
Lydia shook her head.
"Kelvin, run!"
Kelvin froze.
The stranger smiled.
"Now you understand."
Kelvin's Soul Perception examined the formation.
The chains weren't ordinary magic.
They were connected to the souls of everyone inside the circle.
If Kelvin attacked recklessly, his friends could be harmed.
He needed another way.
He closed his eyes.
Think.
His mother had always told him to think before acting.
His father had taught him that strength without control was useless.
Kelvin took a deep breath.
Then activated Soul Perception again.
The entire formation became visible.
Four soul chains.
Twelve anchors.
One central core.
Kelvin's eyes widened.
"There."
He had found the weakness.
The central core controlled everything.
If he destroyed it...
the chains would disappear.
But there was a problem.
It was protected.
The stranger stepped forward.
"Give up, Kelvin."
Kelvin opened his eyes.
"No."
The stranger's smile disappeared.
"You don't understand your situation."
"I understand enough."
Kelvin raised his hand.
"Soul Thread."
A black thread shot forward.
The stranger dodged.
Another thread followed.
Then another.
The cloaked figures moved.
One attacked from Kelvin's left.
Kelvin barely avoided it.
Another struck from behind.
He rolled beneath the attack.
He was weaker.
Much weaker.
But Soul Perception gave him something his opponents didn't expect.
He could see their souls.
He could predict their movements.
Kelvin ducked.
A fist passed above his head.
He kicked the attacker's leg.
The figure stumbled.
Kelvin immediately sent a Soul Thread toward the central core.
TING!
The thread struck it.
The formation shook.
The stranger's expression changed.
"Stop!"
Kelvin pulled.
The black core cracked.
CRACK!
The soul chains around his friends weakened.
Sofia suddenly broke free.
"Kelvin!"
She rushed toward him.
"Get back!"
Another attacker appeared behind her.
Kelvin's eyes widened.
"Sofia!"
He moved.
He reached her just before the attacker.
BOOM!
Kelvin took the impact.
He was thrown across the clearing.
HP: 31/100.
He hit the ground.
Sofia screamed.
"Kelvin!"
He tried to stand.
His body refused.
Everything hurt.
The stranger walked toward him.
"You are still too weak."
Kelvin looked at his friends.
Sofia was free.
John was breaking his chains.
Michael was using his darkness to cut through the restraints.
Lydia was helping the others.
They were fighting.
Together.
Kelvin smiled faintly.
"I don't need to be stronger than all of you."
The stranger stopped.
Kelvin slowly stood.
"I just need to be strong enough to protect them."
The black mark on his palm began glowing.
His Soul Core pulsed.
THUMP.
The ground beneath him cracked.
The System appeared.
[Emotional threshold exceeded.]
[Soul Core activation: 0.03% → 0.10%.]
[New skill available.]
SOUL SHIELD
Rank: F
Description: Creates a defensive barrier formed from Soul Energy.
Kelvin stared at the message.
The stranger's expression changed.
"Impossible."
Kelvin raised his hand.
A black translucent barrier appeared around him.
The stranger attacked.
BOOM!
The barrier shook.
But it held.
Again.
BOOM!
It held.
Kelvin gritted his teeth.
"Everyone!"
John broke free.
"What?"
"Run!"
Michael understood immediately.
"He's right."
Sofia grabbed Lydia.
They began retreating.
The cloaked figures tried to pursue.
Kelvin maintained the barrier.
His Mana fell rapidly.
Mana: 21/100.
15/100.
9/100.
The barrier began cracking.
Kelvin knew he couldn't hold it much longer.
"Go!"
His friends ran.
The stranger stared at Kelvin.
"You would sacrifice yourself for them?"
Kelvin shook his head.
"No."
He smiled.
"I'm buying them time."
The barrier shattered.
CRACK!
Kelvin was thrown backward.
But his friends had escaped.
The stranger walked toward him.
Kelvin struggled to stand.
"You've lost."
Kelvin looked toward the forest.
His friends were gone.
Safe.
That was enough.
Then the stranger raised a hand.
"Perhaps."
A black portal opened behind them.
"But this was only the first test."
The stranger stepped backward.
"Next time, we won't take your friends."
Kelvin's eyes narrowed.
"What will you take?"
The stranger smiled.
"Your past."
The portal closed.
Silence returned to the forest.
Kelvin stood alone.
His System appeared.
[Emergency Quest: Complete.]
[Reward: 500 EP.]
[Level requirement reached.]
[LEVEL UP.]
LEVEL 2
Kelvin stared at the message.
He had gained his first level.
But he didn't feel victorious.
Because one thought remained in his mind.
Your past.
What did they know about his father?
What had happened on the night of the Beast Tide?
And why was everyone suddenly interested in his Soul?
Kelvin looked toward the direction his friends had run.
He whispered:
"I'll find the truth."
Then he turned toward Valoria.
"I'll become strong."
His eyes hardened.
"And when they come again..."
He clenched his fist.
"...I won't let them take anyone from me."
Far away, beneath the forest floor, something ancient opened its eyes.
It had been listening.
And it whispered:
"The first bond has been formed."
TO BE CONTINUED...