Astralis Academy's internal campus wasn't designed for comfort—it was built to impress.
Towering spires floated in precise orbit above the main citadel, forming a constantly shifting constellation of mana-reactive structures. Crystal monorails zipped through the sky between towers. Hovering platforms carried students to specific class sectors. Below, the Academy Square was filled with luminescent flowers, stone golems sweeping leaves, and fountains that whispered mana-rich air into the wind.
At the very top of the West Wing tower, just beneath the Central Observatory, sat the secluded floor reserved only for the elite—the top performers of the entrance evaluation.
Class Zero.
Twelve students.
Each one a prodigy.
And right now, the top seat—Hades Draker—was lounging across a spell-sealed bench with his hands behind his head, one leg crossed over the other, and a satisfied grin tugging at his lips.
He was the first to arrive.
Of course he was.
"Nice view," he murmured, gazing out the transparent mana-glass wall. "Nice bench. Nice… me."
His uniform was crisp today—silver accents pressed to perfection, buttons aligned, collar folded neatly. But as usual, he wore it with a slight creative spin: gloves tucked into his waist sash, sleeves rolled up just a little, and a silver mana pin resting on his collar like an accessory rather than rank.
He didn't break dress code.
He styled it.
And somehow made everyone else look underdressed without trying.
[System Notification]
P_REX System — Version 2.0
Seraphim Core: Sync 47%
Mana Threads Stable
Health: Optimal
Aura Signature: 18% Higher Than Peer Average
System Note: You're glowing again.
Response Logged: "Get used to it."
Footsteps echoed.
He glanced toward the large double-doors just as they hissed open, revealing the second arrival—Kaela Valenne.
Short crimson hair. Bronze-class uniform variant. Emerald pendant resting at her collarbone. She walked like she'd fought in a hundred duels and didn't lose many. Confident, sharp, and proud.
Her amber eyes swept the room—then locked on him.
"You again," she said.
"Me forever," he replied, grinning. "You here to congratulate me or challenge me?"
She rolled her eyes. "Neither. But I did enjoy your evaluation performance."
"I aim to impress. But I settle for making people sweat."
"I noticed."
She took the seat across from him, far enough to avoid direct teasing, close enough to keep him in reach.
Smart.
Over the next twenty minutes, more students trickled in.
Twelve seats total. Ten now filled.
Most of them kept their distance from Hades. A few nodded respectfully. One boy glared before sitting on the opposite end of the platform.
Hades gave him a slow wink.
He flinched.
"Classic."
The clock struck.
Mana threads in the walls lit up.
A voice echoed through the tower.
"Instructor arriving. Class Zero: Stand."
The doors opened again—this time with force.
In walked a tall man dressed in sleek, enchanted black robes trimmed in violet. His hair was snow-white, cropped tight. His expression was cold steel wrapped in control. Around his waist hung a thin saber, and his eyes glowed faintly with a soft, eerie gold.
"I am Instructor Veylan," he said, voice like gravel wrapped in mana.
"No applause?" Hades whispered to Kaela.
She snorted.
"I am your combat supervisor, tactical evaluator, and escalation handler. I will not praise you. I will not save you. If you fall behind, you will be cut."
"Man, this guy's got bedtime-story energy."
Several students stiffened.
Instructor Veylan paused. His gaze locked on Hades.
"You."
"Me," Hades said, smiling.
"Draker."
"In the face and the bloodline."
"You're the one with the highest score in twenty years."
"I'm also very modest."
The class stayed deathly quiet.
Veylan's eyes narrowed.
Then—he moved.
In a blink, he stood three feet from Hades, hand resting on his saber.
"I don't like jokes," he said.
Hades stared up, blinking slowly. "That's okay. I brought enough for both of us."
Kaela inhaled sharply.
Veylan didn't smile. But he didn't attack either.
He turned.
"You will begin with a demonstration. Controlled simulation. Two combatants. Magic and physical integration. No injury spells. Step forward if you think you can lead Class Zero."
Silence.
Tension.
And then…
"Sure," Hades said, pushing off the bench and adjusting his cuffs. "I'm always happy to volunteer for my fans."
The room transformed as Veylan activated the dueling field.
A circular arena expanded, glowing blue lines forming the boundaries. Instructor-runed dummies circled the edges, monitoring safety limits.
"Opponent?" Veylan asked.
Before Hades could answer, a voice cut through the silence.
"I'll go."
Renis Cartaine. Second-ranked. Golden-blonde hair, violet robes, and eyes like sharpened glass. The kind of noble who measured power in reputation and hated losing in public.
Hades grinned.
"Ah. The angry one."
"You act like a clown," Renis snapped, stepping into the circle.
"And you dress like a disappointed sugar cookie. Let's see who falls harder."
The crowd tensed.
Veylan nodded. "Begin when ready."
Renis moved first—firing a pair of crystalized mana bolts with pinpoint speed.
Hades tilted his head, letting one skim past him, then swatted the second mid-air.
"Cute. But let's try this."
He stepped forward, eyes glowing.
Seraphim surged inside his chest, syncing with the movement of his arm as he swept sideways with a clean arc of raw force—not explosive, just precise.
Renis tried to parry.
Hades vanished behind him with a flicker of mana-enhanced movement, tapped his shoulder, and whispered:
"Peekaboo."
Renis whipped around too late.
Hades reached into his coat, pulled out a small stun flash-seal, and slapped it to the ground.
A burst of light blinded Renis for two seconds—enough for Hades to trip him gently and stand on his back.
"Lesson one," Hades said cheerfully. "Always be stylish. But never be predictable."
[System Update]
Duel Completed
Result: Victory — Nonlethal
EXP +60
Skill Progress: Swordsmanship → Lv. 3
Charisma +1
Seraphim Sync: +1%
New Subskill Unlocked: Flash Step (Lv. 1)
Veylan raised a brow.
"…You're reckless."
"I'm efficient," Hades replied. "With flair."
The class stared.
Renis sat up, fuming but silent.
No one clapped.
But no one laughed, either.
Because somehow, Hades had made even a mocking duel look brilliant.
And just like that, Class Zero had its first real lesson:
In this academy, brilliance came in many forms.
And Hades Draker? He was all of them.