Creak…
The sound of the bed echoed through the quiet room as I sat up, leaning forward, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"Right now, I should have a day and some hours left to prepare," I muttered, shifting my gaze toward the faint sunlight bleeding through the window blinds.
"Going to the Academy now is pointless… this city won't exist for long. I need to get out here."
I closed my eyes, digging through my memories — trying to piece together everything I knew.
A base. A shelter.
Somewhere strong enough to withstand the first mana wave.
Then it clicked.
The bunker.
If I'm not mistaken, there's an old military bunker on the outskirts of the city.
Abandoned after the infrastructure was deemed outdated — but still, a bunker is a bunker.
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"With reinforced walls and underground levels, it should be able to shield me from both the wave and the chaos that follows."
I paused, then added under my breath, "Also… food. Food's important."
Reaching toward the small bedside table, my fingers brushed against my phone beside the alarm clock.
It was an old model — screen cracked, casing chipped — but still clinging to life.
"Thank goodness I didn't take this out yesterday," I muttered. "It wouldn't have been as lucky as my keys."
The screen flickered to life as I swiped it open, it was sluggish but functional.
I went straight to my account balance.
A few seconds later, the numbers appeared.
"Yeah… this should do."
It wasn't much, but enough to cover the essentials — food, water, maybe even a bus ticket out of the city.
I exhaled slowly, the faintest trace of relief slipping through my voice.
"Money won't mean anything soon," I murmured, setting the phone down, "but at least I won't have to rob a store. Or worse… walk all the way there."
Click—
The door shut in front of me with a dull thud.
For a moment, I stood there — hand still resting on the worn handle, the cold metal grounding me in the silence of the corridor.
"Huff…" I let out a slow breath, shoulders rising and falling.
"Alright…" My voice came out low, steady. "Let's go."
-----------
The low growl of the engine and the faint murmur of conversation filled the bus, blending into a strangely peaceful rhythm.
I sat near the back, head resting against the window.
Outside, the city rolled by — tall buildings, flickering signs, and people rushing nowhere. The sight stirred something faintly nostalgic in me.
My gaze drifted to the faint reflection on the glass.
Crimson eyes stared back.
"…Weird," I muttered.
Yesterday, in the mirror, they'd been light red.
And before that… they were black. Always black.
My brows furrowed. The thought lingered for a second too long — until the bus radio crackled to life.
"…satellites have detected an unexpected storm front moving in. Heavy rainfall expected for the next three days. Citizens are advised—"
The driver twisted the dial, cutting it off halfway.
I sighed. "That makes things a little tougher."
Turning back to the window, I watched as the western sky began to darken — thick clouds crawling over the horizon like a slow-moving tide.
#Narrator's Voice#
HUNGSTON ACADEMY —
This country's super academy.
Every nation has one.
A single, state-sponsored academy where only the elite — or the outrageously brilliant — ever set foot inside.
The wealthy send their children there through connections and influence.
The poor but gifted? They fight tooth and nail through brutal, mind-twisting competitions just to earn a scholarship.
So… why is a super academy so important?
Well, despite the name, it has nothing to do with people having superpowers.
(AN: At least, not yet…)
After high school, every student must attend an academy for two years before pursuing higher education.
There are many academies — but only one super academy per country.
In short?
Graduating from a super academy sets you for life. Like… literally.
#Author: "Anyways…"#
---
The massive iron gates of Hungston Academy parted slowly as a sleek black car glided through.
It rolled toward the security checkpoint, pausing as uniformed guards stepped forward.
The tinted window slid down halfway. A quick scan, a moment's verification — then a nod.
The second gate opened, revealing the vast grounds beyond: pristine lawns, gleaming towers of glass and steel, and a campus that screamed money.
The car wound its way to the parking area before coming to a smooth halt.
"Master Donald, we have arrived."
The young man in the back seat stirred.
Lazily, he reached for the wine glass in the cup holder, took a slow sip, and set it down again.
"Oh…" he murmured, tone unreadable.
The driver waited a beat before speaking.
"Regarding the task you assigned me, sir — I've gathered information on the subject."
The car's interior dimmed as a holographic screen flickered to life between the seats.
A man's face appeared, rotating into a 3D avatar as data lines and text filled the display.
Donald's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Interesting…" he muttered, voice calm but edged with intrigue.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tsshhhh—
Standing at the drop-off point, I watched as the bus doors closed with a hiss and it pulled away down the empty road.
It was headed for another city — so this was where I got off.
I pulled out my phone, flicking through the map app.
From where I stood, the bunker was about seventeen kilometers away.
Not too far… but I'd have to cut through the woods to reach it.
"Should take me around four hours to get there," I muttered, shifting the weight of the backpack strapped across my shoulders. "Though it might take longer with this load."
Glancing back at the screen, I checked the time — 1:04 p.m.
The clouds above had thickened, swallowing most of the light.
It didn't look anything like a normal summer afternoon.
A low rumble rolled in the distance.
"Gotta move," I sighed, tightening my grip on the straps. "Need to get there before the storm hits."
And with that, I started walking.
-------------------
Huff.
Huff…
"Fuckin—"
Huff.
"—hell."
Ragged breathing echoed through the quiet forest.
A lone figure leaned against the trunk of a large tree, chest rising and falling, sweat clinging to his skin like a second layer.
"Shit," I muttered between breaths.
"This body… no— I'm too weak, physically."
I took another deep breath, forcing air into my lungs, trying to calm the hammering in my chest.
When the dizziness faded, I straightened up and adjusted the straps of the backpack, legs trembling beneath me.
Still, I chuckled weakly.
"Nah… if there's one thing I won't be doing…" I muttered, voice low, determined.
"…it's giving up."
Step by step, I pushed forward.
"We don't do that here," I whispered to myself.
-----
The bush thickened around me.
Parting through the tall grass, I finally saw it — a faint outline through the clearing.
A tall metal fence, half-rusted but still standing, stretched across the edge of the woods.
I exhaled, relief slipping from my lips—
Then froze.
"…That ain't right," I whispered, my eyes narrowing as I focused on the fence.