Kael slowly stood up.
The faint thread of energy around his fingers flickered… then stabilized.
Better than before.
Much better.
"…So it grows the more I use it," he said quietly.
Not just growth.
Adaptation.
His ability wasn't fixed like the others.
It was changing.
Evolving.
A sudden chill ran down his spine.
For a brief moment, the energy around him pulsed on its own—slightly darker… slightly heavier.
Kael frowned.
"…What was that?"
Before he could think further—
A loud alarm echoed across the academy.
WOOOOOOO—
Every student froze.
"What's going on?!"
"An emergency?"
"Incoming portal breach detected near the outer training zone. All instructors report immediately."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
A portal… inside the academy's range?
That wasn't normal.
Students began rushing toward the main area, voices filled with panic and excitement.
"This is real!"
"No way—they're letting us see it?!"
Kael didn't move at first.
He could feel it.
That same strange energy…
Calling to him.
From the direction of the breach.
His fists clenched.
"…Perfect."
Without hesitation, he started walking toward the chaos.
Outer Training Zone
The atmosphere was tense.
Students were held back behind a reinforced barrier, its surface glowing faintly with protective energy. Instructors stood ahead, forming a defensive line, their expressions sharp and focused.
Kael slipped through the crowd, stopping near the front.
Then he saw it.
The portal.
It hovered in the air, larger than any training simulation—its edges unstable, flickering violently as dark energy leaked from within. The ground beneath it cracked, unable to withstand the pressure.
"This isn't a standard gate…" one instructor muttered.
"It formed too quickly."
"Something's wrong."
Kael's eyes locked onto it.
His heartbeat slowed.
That pull…
It was stronger now.
Much stronger.
It wasn't just calling him.
It was reacting to him.
"…What are you?" he whispered.
Suddenly—
The portal expanded.
A massive claw tore through the opening.
BOOOOM.
The barrier shook violently as a creature forced its way out.
It was larger than anything the students had ever seen—its body covered in jagged armor-like scales, its eyes glowing with a deep crimson light. Dark mist poured from its mouth as it stepped forward, its presence alone making the air feel heavy.
"Form ranks!" an instructor shouted.
"Defensive formation!"
But before they could act—
The creature roared.
A shockwave burst outward, slamming into the barrier and sending cracks across its surface.
Students screamed.
Some stepped back.
Others froze.
Kael didn't move.
His eyes sharpened.
"…Finally."
The creature lunged forward, smashing into the barrier again.
CRACK.
"Hold it!" an instructor yelled, pushing more energy into the defense.
But Kael could already tell.
It wasn't going to hold.
The portal pulsed again—
And another shadow began to form inside.
More were coming.
"…This is bad," Luna's voice came from behind him.
Kael glanced back slightly.
She stood there, calm—but her eyes were serious.
"This isn't a normal breach," she said. "If that barrier breaks—"
"It will," Kael interrupted.
Luna went silent.
Because she knew he was right.
Another impact.
CRACK.
The barrier fractured further.
Drex stood nearby, flames flickering around his hands, a grin forming despite the danger.
"Now this… this is what I've been waiting for."
Kael turned back toward the portal.
The energy inside him stirred again.
Stronger this time.
Hungry.
The moment the creature struck again—
The barrier shattered.
BOOOOOOM.
The shockwave blasted outward, throwing students back as the monster stepped fully into the training zone.
Chaos erupted.
"Instructors, engage!"
"Protect the students!"
"Fall back!"
But Kael…
Stepped forward.
Luna's eyes widened. "Kael—don't!"
He didn't listen.
He couldn't.
That pull—
That connection—
It was overwhelming now.
The moment the creature's gaze locked onto him—
Kael felt it.
A surge.
A reaction.
Like his power had found something it wanted.
Something it needed.
Dark energy exploded around him.
Not wild.
Not unstable.
Controlled.
Focused.
Alive.
The ground beneath his feet cracked as the energy coiled around his body like a storm.
The monster roared—
And charged.
Kael didn't move.
He raised his hand slowly.
"…Let's see what happens," he said.
And for the first time—
He stepped into a real battle