Han Li sat calmly atop a floating platform of crystal skyglass, eyes closed, breath slow. But within the Realm of Echoes, ancient forces began to ripple.
The mirror-realm was never meant to contain beings like him.
It noticed.
Deep beneath its illusory surface, an eye opened—an ancient fragment of a forgotten consciousness, sealed since the founding of Twilight Academy. It pulsed once, then bled shadows.
The world around the students began to twist.
—
Xun Fei had just defeated his echo—an arrogant older brother who once tossed him aside like trash—when the sky above his trial space cracked.
From it, a tendril of black mist emerged, hissing.
"This wasn't part of the trial…" he muttered, readying his bow.
Suddenly, his bow pulsed—Han Li's rune engraved along its spine activated, burning the mist away in golden light.
But the damage was done.
All of Class D began to sense it: something was changing.
—
Outside, Elder Sun gasped as the formation mirrors began to distort.
He turned to Han Li. "This—this isn't from our realm's intent. Something foreign has awakened."
Han Li opened his eyes. They glowed faint silver.
"I know."
"Should we pull them out?" Elder Sun asked.
"No," Han Li said. "This is part of their path now. And mine."
He stood.
"If the Realm wants to test me, it can."
He raised his palm. A golden broom rune appeared, glowing faintly. At its touch, the mirror-space around him stilled… as if the Realm itself was afraid.
High above, the ancient eye blinked—and began reshaping the realm into a battlefield.
The real trial… had begun.