The moment Aarav crossed the gates of the Legacy Academy, he felt it.
Pressure.
It hung in the air like an invisible mountain.
Power flowed through every stone of the academy grounds, ancient runes carved into the pathways glowing faintly beneath his feet. The seven towers rose high above the clouds, each radiating a distinct aura.
The Tower of Solaris burnt with golden flames.
Frostveil shimmered in icy blue.
Stormborn crackled with lightning.
The blood moon glowed silver beneath the evening sky.
Ironclad stood like an unbreakable fortress.
Verdantis pulsed with emerald life.
And at the farthest edge—
A ruined black tower.
Silent.
Broken.
Forgotten.
House Umbra.
Aarav's gaze lingered on it for a moment.
One day, he would restore it.
But not today.
Today, he had to survive.
A loud bell echoed across the academy grounds.
DONG!
Students from every direction began moving toward a massive circular arena at the centre of the campus.
Stone steps surrounded it in rising layers like a colosseum.
Thousands of students filled the seats.
The air buzzed with excitement.
Whispers followed Aarav wherever he walked.
"That's him."
"The fake Umbra heir."
"Did you see his eyes at the gate?"
"He's probably some stray awakened from the slums."
Aarav ignored them.
Kael's voice echoed calmly in his mind.
Noise is the first weapon of the weak. Ignore it.
At the centre of the arena stood a tall man in silver robes.
His presence was overwhelming.
The very air around him trembled with mana.
A long scar ran across his left eye, giving him a stern and battle-hardened look.
He raised one hand.
Instant silence.
"I am Professor Valen Drake."
His voice boomed across the entire arena.
"Master of combat trials and head examiner of the first-year ranking test."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Even the arrogant nobles straightened their posture.
Professor Drake continued.
"Every new student entering the Legacy Academy must pass the First Ranking Trial."
He waved his hand.
The arena floor split apart with a thunderous rumble.
From beneath, ten black stone pillars rose into view.
Each pillar glowed with ancient runes.
"The trial consists of two stages."
He pointed toward the pillars.
"Stage One: Legacy Resonance."
"You will touch the pillar assigned to your house. The pillar will judge the strength of your bloodline, mana core, and combat potential."
The crowd stirred with anticipation.
"Stage Two: Direct combat."
This time, the excitement exploded into cheers.
Professor Drake's eyes swept over the students.
"Your rank determines your academy privileges."
"Training grounds."
"Resources."
"Access to restricted libraries."
"Tower residency."
The nobles around Aarav suddenly looked far more serious.
This was no simple test.
This trial would decide the status.
A smirk appeared on Aarav's face.
Perfect.
The students were called one by one.
A girl from Frostveil stepped forward first.
The moment she touched the blue pillar, frost spread across its surface.
A large symbol appeared above it.
A-Rank
Applause broke out.
Next came a muscular boy from Ironclad.
His strike against the pillar caused metal sparks to burst.
B-Rank
Then, a beast tamer from Verdantis.
A-Rank
The tension rose with every name.
Finally—
"Riyan Solaris."
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
The arrogant heir from the gate walked forward confidently, flames dancing around his fingertips.
He placed his palm against the golden pillar.
The pillar erupted in brilliant fire.
A flaming lion manifested above it and roared.
The symbol appeared.
S-Rank
The crowd exploded.
"As expected!"
"He's a Solaris heir!"
Riyan turned toward Aarav with a smug smile.
His expression clearly said, Try matching that.
Professor Drake nodded.
"Excellent."
Then his eyes moved toward Aarav.
"Aarav… Umbra."
Silence.
Every eye turned toward him.
Even the professors seated above leaned forward.
Aarav stepped into the arena.
The black Umbra pillar stood at the far end.
Unlike the others, it was cracked and covered in dust.
Forgotten.
Abandoned.
As he approached, something strange happened.
The shadows around the arena began to stir.
Kael's voice grew serious.
Be careful. The pillar still remembers your bloodline.
Aarav placed his hand on the black stone.
For one heartbeat—
Nothing.
Then the entire arena darkened.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
The sun above disappeared behind a dome of shadow.
The cracked pillar trembled violently.
Dark energy erupted upward like a storm.
The dust vanished.
The cracks began repairing themselves.
Ancient silver runes ignited one after another.
Then—
A massive shadow crown appeared above the arena.
A pressure wave spread outward, forcing several weaker students to stumble back.
Professor Drake's expression changed for the first time.
Shock.
The symbol finally appeared.
SS-Rank
The arena fell into stunned silence.
Then chaos.
"SS-RANK?!"
"That's impossible!"
"The Umbra pillar is active?!"
Riyan's face twisted in disbelief.
Lyra Moonveil, seated among the Bloodmoon students, narrowed her silver eyes.
Aarav slowly withdrew his hand.
The pillar now stood whole.
Restored.
Professor Drake's voice cut through the noise.
"Interesting."
His gaze sharpened.
"Very interesting."
Riyan stepped forward angrily.
"This is fraud!"
"He's a nobody!"
Professor Drake turned toward him.
"Do you wish to challenge the ranking?"
Riyan smirked.
"Yes."
A cruel grin spread across his face.
"I challenge him to Stage Two."
The crowd instantly erupted in excitement.
A duel.
On the first day.
Professor Drake looked toward Aarav.
"Do you accept?"
Kael's voice echoed.
This is your chance. Break his pride.
Aarav unsheathed Nightfall.
The black blade shimmered under the arena lights.
"I accept."
The arena barriers rose around them.
Golden shields of mana enclosed the battlefield.
Professor Drake's voice thundered.
"Stage Two begins!"
The moment the words fell, Riyan attacked.
A wave of fire rushed forward like a beast.
The heat hit Aarav's face instantly.
He moved.
A flash of darkness.
The flames missed him entirely.
Gasps rose.
"Shadow step?"
Riyan spun.
Too late.
Aarav was already behind him.
Nightfall slashed downward.
Riyan barely blocked with a flaming sword.
The impact sent sparks flying.
Riyan grinned.
"So you do have some skill."
Flames erupted around his blade.
He swung again.
This time, Aarav met the strike directly.
Steel clashed.
Fire against shadow.
The arena trembled.
Riyan launched a rapid barrage of strikes.
Each one faster than the last.
But Aarav's movements were unnaturally smooth.
Every time the flames approached, he slipped through the darkness.
Then Kael's voice came.
Now. Use the first art.
Aarav's eyes flashed.
The shadows beneath Riyan's feet suddenly rose.
"Shadow Bind."
Black tendrils wrapped around Riyan's legs.
His eyes widened.
"What—?!"
Aarav moved instantly.
Nightfall stopped just an inch from Riyan's throat.
Silence.
The crowd stared in disbelief.
The entire fight had lasted less than a minute.
Professor Drake raised his hand.
"Winner: Aarav Umbra."
The silence broke into explosive noise.
Some were shocked.
Some are excited.
Some are terrified.
Riyan's face burnt with humiliation.
Aarav stepped back, lowering his blade.
Their eyes met.
Riyan's expression was filled with hatred.
This was far from over.
Professor Drake's voice echoed across the arena.
"By right of ranking, Aarav Umbra is now placed in the elite first-year division."
A murmur spread instantly.
Elite division.
That meant top resources.
Top training.
And most importantly—
Direct access to the central towers.
Aarav looked toward the ruined Umbra tower in the distance.
His first step had been taken.
Lyra, watching from above, whispered.
"So the shadow has truly returned. …"
The academy had just gained its most dangerous student.
And everyone now knew his name.