The Grand Auditorium was packed to the brim. The air buzzed with nervous energy and quiet conversations as first-year students filled the lower seats while senior students occupied the upper tiers. Large holographic screens floated above the central stage, ready to display information during the ceremony.
Vivienne leaned slightly toward Lucas, her voice low but serious.
"Lucas, are you sure about your choice of professor and faction? From here on, things are going to become really nasty. If we don't have solid support from both, the others are going to eat us alive."
Before Lucas could reply, Yuna leaned forward from his other side, her pink eyes flashing with irritation.
"You can back off if you don't want to follow him, blondie. I'll follow whatever choice Lucas makes."
Vivienne's expression darkened. She turned her head and spoke coldly.
"You speak as though blind loyalty will be enough to survive what's coming. This isn't a game."
Yuna's eyes narrowed dangerously, but before she could respond, Lucas's calm voice cut through the tension.
"Enough."
Both girls immediately fell silent and looked at him. He turned his head slightly toward Vivienne, his blue eyes steady.
"Vivienne, my goals and desires aren't small. If I play it safe now, I'll never reach them. I'm not asking you to follow me blindly. But know this — if you choose to follow me, I won't leave you behind. The choice is yours."
Vivienne stared at him for a few seconds before sighing and leaning back into her seat. Her fingers drummed lightly against the armrest as she fell into thought.
I thought Lucas could help me deal with my brother. But it seems like it won't be that easy.
Just then, the atmosphere in the auditorium shifted.
The students suddenly became excited. Whispers and murmurs spread rapidly across the hall as people turned toward the main entrance.
"They're here…"
"The top ten factions are entering!"
Lucas turned his head toward the entrance along with everyone else.
The massive doors of the auditorium opened, and the representatives of the top factions began walking in one by one, each group accompanied by its members. The air grew heavier with every new faction that entered.
10th Rank – Crimson Fang
A group of rough-looking students entered first. Their leader, a tall young man with a scar across his cheek, walked at the front with a confident stride. They were known for their aggressive raiding style and high casualty rate. Many students gave them a wide berth.
8th Rank – The Nobles
The next group that entered drew significantly more attention.
Dressed in refined, elegant uniforms with silver and broad blue accents, the Nobles walked in with an air of superiority. At the front was a handsome young man with sharp features and long blonde hair tied in a low ponytail — Elijah Laurent, Vivienne's older brother and the current leader of The Nobles.
Vivienne's fingers stopped drumming. Her expression turned cold the moment she saw him.
Elijah walked with calm confidence, occasionally glancing at the first-year section with a faint, arrogant smile. When his eyes briefly passed over Vivienne, his smile widened slightly before he looked away.
Yuna noticed the change in Vivienne's expression and stayed quiet.
7th Rank – Brotherhood
A rowdy and aggressive group entered next. Their uniforms were dark red and black, and many of them carried themselves with open hostility. This was the faction William used to belong to before he was expelled.
Several members of the Brotherhood glanced toward Lucas's direction with unfriendly eyes, clearly still holding a grudge after what happened with William and the Obsidian Circle.
6th Rank – Obsidian Circle
The moment this group entered, the atmosphere in the auditorium changed.
Dressed in sleek black and dark violet uniforms, the Obsidian Circle walked in with disciplined steps. Their presence was heavy and oppressive. At the front was their leader — a tall, sharp-eyed young man with short black hair and a calm but dangerous aura.
Marcus Veylan is the current leader of the Obsidian Circle.
As he walked past the first-year section, his eyes casually swept across the seats. He first looked at Alex Vanderbilt and gave a small, respectful nod. Then, his gaze shifted slightly and landed on Lucas. After a brief pause, Marcus nodded at him as well — not as deeply as the one he gave Alex, but still noticeable.
It was a clear acknowledgment.
Many students began whispering among themselves.
"Did the Obsidian Circle just acknowledge both of them…?"
Lucas remained expressionless, but a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
After the Obsidian Circle took their seats, a few more factions entered in succession. The 5th- and 4th-ranked factions walked in with their respective leaders — both strong, well-known figures in the academy — but the real shift in atmosphere came when the next group appeared.
The massive doors opened once again.
This time, only women walked in.
Dozens of female students in dark blue uniforms with gold accents entered the auditorium in perfect formation. Their presence was cold and disciplined. Unlike the other factions that carried an air of aggression or arrogance, this group felt… lifeless. Their expressions were blank, and an eerie silence followed them as they walked.
At the very front was their leader.
A tall, stunning woman with long, silky silver-blue hair that reached down to her waist. Her face was coldly beautiful, with sharp features and a single visible crimson eye that gave off an unsettling pressure. She wore a high-collared dark blue military-style coat that hugged her curvaceous figure tightly. Her aura was heavy — almost suffocating.
Vivienne's eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the woman.
"That's Lin Ruoxi," she said quietly. "Leader of the Silent Requiem."
Lucas turned his head, observing the woman. Even from this distance, he could feel the dense, chilling death energy radiating from her. It wasn't loud or flashy like normal killing intent. It was quiet, cold, and endless — like standing in front of an open grave.
"Damn…" Lucas muttered under his breath. "I can feel the coldness just from looking at her."
Vivienne nodded, her voice low.
"She's one of the most dangerous people in this academy. Since the academy's founding, no student has killed as many people as Lin Ruoxi. If any man looks at her with lust in their eyes, she drags them into deadly battles without a shred of mercy. Many have died because they couldn't control their gaze."
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"And her master?"
"The Vice Principal," Vivienne answered. "She's his personal disciple."
Lucas nodded slowly. As he continued watching Lin Ruoxi, a strange prickling sensation ran down his spine. Suddenly, her single crimson eye turned in his direction.
Their gazes met.
For a brief moment, Lucas felt like death itself was staring straight at him. His heart began pounding violently against his chest.
Fuck… why is she looking at me?
But something far more intense and unexpected happened next.
A sudden, violent surge of heat exploded low in his abdomen. His cock throbbed hard, swelling almost painfully fast as it strained against the fabric of his pants. The reaction was so abrupt and visceral that Lucas's breath caught sharply in his throat.
It wasn't normal arousal — it felt like something primal and ancient had been violently awakened inside him, clashing against the cold death energy pouring from her gaze.
This… this isn't right. Her aura is triggering something in me…
The sensation was overwhelming — thick, heavy, and insistent. His body reacted on a level he couldn't immediately control, blood rushing downward with almost painful intensity. He could feel the fabric tightening uncomfortably, the outline becoming obvious.
Yuna, who was sitting right beside him, turned her head at that exact moment. Her eyes widened when she noticed the blatant, throbbing bulge in Lucas's pants. Her lips parted slightly in shock, a faint flush rising to her cheeks.
Lucas quickly shifted his posture, one hand moving subtly to adjust and conceal the obvious reaction. His jaw tightened as he forced his breathing to steady.
How the hell did she affect me this much with just a look…?
Lin Ruoxi stared at him for two more seconds before calmly looking away and walking toward her faction's designated seats. The moment she sat down, the female students in the auditorium became noticeably more active and excited, whispering among themselves.
Lucas let out a slow, controlled breath and adjusted his posture again, trying to will his body back under control. The heat still lingered low in his gut, stubborn and distracting. He could feel Yuna's gaze on him — not mocking, but intense, curious, and carrying a flicker of something possessive.
Yuna didn't say anything. She simply turned her head forward again, though her fingers had curled slightly against her thigh.
Before anyone could speak, the atmosphere shifted once again.
2nd Rank – Azure Sword Pavilion
A group of students dressed in elegant white and azure-blue robes entered the auditorium. Their formation was clean and disciplined. At the very front walked a young man with neck-length blonde hair, a perfectly built physique, and a friendly, charming smile on his face.
He waved casually at the students as he walked, looking completely relaxed and approachable.
Vivienne's expression turned serious.
"That's Adrian Chen," she said. "Leader of the Azure Sword Pavilion. They call him the Sword Maniac."
Lucas observed the senior. Even from afar, he could feel the sharp, refined sword intent radiating from Adrian's body.
"He's strong," Lucas commented.
Vivienne nodded.
"Extremely. He's already reached Layer 3 – Integration in his Sword Art. At his age, that's almost unheard of. No one in recent years has reached the third layer of a Secret Art this fast."
Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly.
Adrian Chen continued walking with that same friendly smile, but Lucas could tell — beneath that charming exterior was a terrifying level of swordsmanship.
After the Azure Sword Pavilion took their seats, the atmosphere in the auditorium shifted once again.
The massive doors opened, but this time, there was no loud cheering or excited murmurs. The Student Council walked in steadily and quietly. Their Vice Leader, a tall young man with glasses and a sharp face, led the group from the front.
The members followed behind him in perfect formation, their black and gold uniforms giving off a clean, authoritative presence.
Unlike the other factions that entered with fanfare and reactions from the crowd, the Student Council's arrival was met with a strange, heavy silence. Many students unconsciously straightened their postures the moment they appeared.
Lucas watched them with mild interest and muttered,
"Wow… I didn't expect this. Out of all the factions, these guys look the most normal."
Vivienne didn't take her eyes off the entrance. Her voice was calm but carried a clear warning.
"That's because she hasn't arrived yet."
Lucas turned to look at her.
"She?"
Vivienne didn't answer immediately. Instead, she glanced upward.
"You should focus on the sky."
Lucas frowned in confusion.
"What?"
He raised his head and looked toward the ceiling of the auditorium. Through the large open skylight, he could see the clear blue sky and the bright sun hanging above. There was nothing unusual.
Just as he was about to ask what Vivienne meant, a small black dot appeared directly beneath the sun.
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
"Uh… what's that?"
The black dot began to grow larger at a frightening speed. The closer it got, the more its shape became clear. A heavy, bone-chilling pressure started to fill the entire auditorium.
Then—
ROOOOOOOAR—!!
A deafening, earth-shaking roar exploded across the sky, causing the entire auditorium to tremble. Many students instinctively covered their ears. The sound carried a terrifying pressure that made weaker students feel like their hearts were being squeezed.
Lucas's breath literally got stuck in his throat.
His eyes widened as he finally saw what was descending from the sky.
Tha—that's… a fucking dragon…?
A massive Eastern dragon, its body covered in deep Golden-black scales with faint glowing crimson patterns, was diving straight toward the auditorium. Its long body twisted through the air with terrifying grace, and its glowing red eyes radiated overwhelming pressure.
Sitting calmly on the dragon's head was a woman.
She had long, silky black hair that flowed behind her like a waterfall. Her features were coldly beautiful, almost unreal — sharp eyes, pale skin, and an expression so calm it felt detached from the mortal world. She wore a black military-style coat with gold accents, and a simple yet elegant katana rested at her waist.
Her presence was absurd.
It didn't feel like a student. It felt like a goddess had descended among mortals. The sheer weight of her aura was so heavy that even breathing became difficult for many people in the auditorium.
Vivienne spoke quietly beside Lucas, her voice unusually serious.
"That's the master of the dragon… Rachel Park."
Lucas couldn't take his eyes off her. Even from this distance, he could feel it — this woman was on an entirely different level. Her aura didn't just suppress people. It felt like it could crush them without any effort.
As the dragon descended, it let out one final low growl before slowly landing on the large open platform behind the auditorium. The moment its claws touched the ground, the entire structure shook.
Rachel Park calmly dismounted from the dragon's head. The massive creature lowered its head respectfully as she stepped off, then rose back into the sky and disappeared into the clouds as if it had never been there.
She walked toward the auditorium with unhurried steps.
With every step she took, the pressure in the hall grew heavier. Many students unconsciously lowered their heads, unable to meet her gaze.
Lucas felt his heartbeat quicken against his will.
For the first time since arriving at the academy, he felt a genuine sense of danger from another student.
Rachel Park had arrived.
**
On my Patreon, you get immediate early access to the next several chapters (they're already written and waiting), plus a whole library of exclusive stories, bonus scenes, alternate endings, and spicy content I can't share anywhere else.
https://www.patreon.com/c/DevilsWhisper