Treasure Hall – Hero Academy
Ray stared at the glowing mission screen, frustrated. A mission popup now? Seriously… Could this timing be any worse? The weight of the new task pressed on him before the celebration had even ended.
Before Ray could sort his thoughts, B broke in, his tone half-serious, half teasing. "Oh, you've got a mission now, kid? Even if it's rated low-level, I wasn't expecting anyone with real skill to show up in this place."
Ray let out a short laugh. "Come on, B, if the threat is low-level, how hard could it be? I just took down an S-rank samurai—"
"That's your problem," B interrupted sharply, more stern than usual. "You think 'low level' means easy? You barely walked out of that last fight with your life, and that samurai was only rated low in the system. Now you have to take on two targets at once. Don't get cocky. If you try to face both alone, you'll be killed before you know it. Kid, sometimes knowing your limits is just as important as breaking them."
Ray's confidence faded for a moment as the memory of pain flashed through his mind. If even that last opponent was just a 'low' threat, two at once… That could be impossible for anyone to handle alone.
Still, Ray quickly hashed out a plan in his head. But this time, I won't be fighting alone. The principal's here. With Grey Ford at my side, handling two enemies should be manageable. As long as they come for the treasure, we'll deal with them right here in the hall…
He glanced around the room once more, trying to sense any change in the air, ready for the smallest disturbance.
Near the Academy Entrance
Meanwhile, the two strangers—one in a crisp black suit, the other in spotless white—glided smoothly past the shattered main gates they had left behind. Their eyes, sharp and unblinking, scanned their surroundings for threats or signs of discovery.
Suddenly, the man in black paused, raising his wrist and watching as a faint series of lights blinked on his device. "I'm picking up the signal. It's coming from deep inside the campus, in a restricted section."
The man in white huffed, his tone faintly incredulous. "Hard to believe, isn't it? The very treasure our President has been searching for is hidden away in a place like this—a backwater continent, stashed in a mere academy."
The black-suited one's eyes glinted. "If the order hadn't been to stay subtle, I'd love to burn this whole place down."
His companion smirked as he looked up at the vast academy buildings. "No. President's orders stand. We stay low profile. Use the stealth devices."
Efficiently, both men pressed the blue buttons on their identical watches. Instantly, their outlines shimmered and then faded, erased from sight. They were not merely invisible but undetectable, their presence erased from every mundane and magical sensor across campus.
They slipped forward, soundless, moving with murderous intention along the marble floors, following the pulse of the signal—straight toward the heart of the academy, and the treasure hall that Ray now guarded.
Inside the hall, Ray kept his eyes open and his mind sharp. He could feel, even without seeing, that something unseen was drawing closer. He steeled himself with a quiet promise: Whatever comes next… I'm ready—at least, as ready as I'll ever get.