The entrance to the ancient ruin was buried beneath moss-wrapped pillars and shattered archways, hidden deep in the western wing of the Astralis training wilds. Carved glyphs shimmered faintly as the mana-rich air thickened the deeper they went.
Escorting high-ranking delegates from the elven, dwarven, and beastkin factions through a zone known for monster flare-ups was not what Class Zero had expected to be doing on a weekend.
But when you're the best, the school expects more.
And when you're Hades Draker, they expect the impossible—with flair.
"Remember," Instructor Veylan's voice echoed in their comm glyphs, "no unnecessary aggression. This is a diplomatic mission."
"Copy that," Kaela replied.
"Understood," Selwyn added.
"Agreed," Mirth said, tapping runes into his tablet.
"I'll be nice unless they breathe wrong," Hades said with a grin.
"Hades…" Kaela warned.
"What? I'm just defending interspecies trust—with sarcasm."
The group moved through the outer ruins in formation: Kaela led the main guard with two dwarves, Selwyn scouted the ridge above, Mirth analyzed surrounding mana distortions, and Hades kept stride beside the elven envoy—a sharp-eyed highblood named Aereth.
She watched him with mild curiosity. "You don't act like the other human nobles."
"That's because I'm not one," Hades replied, eyes scanning the terrain. "I'm the prototype."
"Confident."
"Earned."
As they reached the third marker, the ground trembled.
From the shadows of a collapsed corridor, three monstrous shapes emerged—troll-hounds, hunched, armored in jagged rock plates, eyes glowing a sickly yellow.
"Contact," Mirth called.
Kaela raised her blade instantly. "Protect the envoys!"
Selwyn summoned wind barriers.
The dwarves readied compact rune cannons.
Aereth drew her bow.
Hades?
He didn't move.
He just stared at the approaching beasts, rolled his neck, and stepped forward slowly.
The first troll-hound roared and lunged—only to be met by a sudden ripple of invisible pressure.
It froze in mid-air, eyes wide, unable to move.
The other two flinched.
"Down," Hades whispered.
All three dropped like stone.
Aereth blinked. "Did… you cast something?"
"Nope," Hades replied. "I'm just extremely persuasive."
The group moved forward through the corridor, deeper into the ruins. Strange glyphs activated near Seraphim's frequency, glowing faintly as Hades passed.
Dwarven envoy Gragnil rubbed his beard. "That's old war-craft. This place predates the empire."
Aereth narrowed her eyes. "You're resonating with the stone."
"More like it's recognizing I'm the upgrade," Hades replied.
They reached the heart of the ruin—a circular chamber with a giant inactive portal ring. As the delegates began to examine it, P_REX whispered quietly in Hades' mind.
[Unknown Core Signature Detected Nearby]
[Warning: Shadow-type summon approaching. Signature: Duskborne]
[Identified: Laziel Ebonshade]
A low rumble echoed from the upper floor balcony as Laziel stepped into view, flanked by two spellbound specters.
"I warned you, Draker," he called. "That I would surpass you."
Hades looked up at him, unimpressed. "And I warned you not to bore me."
Laziel raised his hand, and the specters descended, twin shadows spinning into blade-form.
Aereth, the dwarves, and the beastkin envoy readied defenses.
Hades raised one hand lazily.
"Stay back," he said. "He wants a scene. Let me give him one."
The first specter swung.
Hades didn't flinch.
His Seraphim pulsed once, and with a whisper of air, the specter shattered into light fragments.
The second tried to flank.
He stepped forward, snapped his fingers, and a light-bind rune appeared mid-air—locking it instantly.
Laziel's eyes widened.
"That's impossible. You didn't cast anything."
"I don't need to cast," Hades replied, stepping onto the balcony, completely calm. "I just exist more efficiently than you."
He snapped again.
A pulse of mana shattered the balcony beneath Laziel, dropping him to the ground like an embarrassed meteor.
Instructor Veylan arrived moments later, arms crossed.
"Care to explain, Ebonshade?"
Laziel struggled to stand. "He… cheated…"
"I don't cheat," Hades said, adjusting his collar. "I just don't follow your limits."
Veylan didn't even question it.
Because when you're that good, even the instructors know it's better not to ask.
Later, as the ruins were fully secured and the diplomatic team debriefed, the Headmaster stood at the edge of the tower, watching Hades through a viewing crystal.
He turned to his aide.
"Begin preparing the higher war table. The Crown Accord might be forced into action soon."
"The boy?"
"He's not just the future. He's the balance point."
Back in his room, Hades entered the Seraphim chamber again.
This time, new memory threads connected.
He saw glimpses of a dragon pact, an elven sanctuary lost to corruption, and a dwarven forgeblade designed to respond only to a "Draker core bearer."
He opened his eyes slowly.
"They built this world with people like me in mind," he murmured.
"Time to remind it why."