The island shuddered. The air thickened. Every creature — every blade of grass, every drop of mana in the air — froze in terror.
Then came the alarm.
> ⚠️ ALERT! UNKNOWN ENTITY DETECTED.
Rank: EX+ Threat Level.
Evacuation Protocol Active.
The notification appeared before every student's eyes, glowing in crimson red.
A prompt followed beneath it:
> Teleport Back to the Academy Now?
[YES] / [NO]
Most didn't hesitate. The island was shaking violently, a storm of black mana swallowing the horizon. Students screamed, pressing YES and vanishing in flashes of light.
But three remained.
One unconscious.
One ice-cold.
One divine.
Sylus Varellis' sharp blue eyes glinted under the dimming sky. Her frost aura formed a dome around herself, Liyana, and Sho's unconscious body.
"Liyana… this mana—it's wrong. It's alive."
Liyana's silver hair shimmered faintly in the darkness, her expression calm but serious.
"Don't move. Something ancient just woke up."
---
Royal Academy Observation Chamber
Mana screens flickered violently, static coursing through the entire observatory. Professors and upperclassmen crowded in panic.
Chroma Valen stood, his voice grave. "The barrier around the exam island is breaking. Something's tearing through it from below."
Asfi Larethia tilted her head with her usual teasing smile. "Ooh, darling, you look tense. Want me to hold your hand?"
Chroma: "Asfi, not now—"
Principal Alice Valefor leaned back in her chair, her tone almost playful.
"An intruder, hmm~? It's been a while since we've had something interesting."
Chroma slammed his hand on the table. "Principal! That's an EX+ reading — if it breaches containment, the capital could—"
Alice smiled, eyes glinting with intelligence that could outshine gods.
"Relax, Chroma. If they're in real danger, we'll step in."
She tilted her head, smirking. "Besides… I'm curious to see how that Celestial girl handles it."
---
On the Island
The ground caved in.
A single pulse of mana shattered the earth, forming a massive crater in the forest. Trees turned to dust, rivers boiled away. From the pit, black mist seeped upward — swallowing the light itself.
The air grew cold and colorless. Even the sound died.
Then—
> THOOM.
A massive, humanoid figure rose from the darkness.
Veiled in living shadows, with a single glowing, distorted eye, and a face that shifted like a broken mask. Its presence devoured mana, emotion, and warmth.
Sylus took a step back. "What… is that thing?"
Liyana: "A being that feeds on mana. A remnant from beyond the Abyssal Gates."
The entity tilted its head — its voice came not as sound, but as a vibration in their minds.
> "FeEd… lIGht… FeEd… SoUL…"
The air imploded.
---
The First Clash
Sylus didn't wait. She gathered frost into her arms, eyes narrowing.
> [Royal Art: Frost Dragon's Chain!]
Dozens of icy serpents burst from her palms, wrapping around the monster's limbs. The ground froze solid.
But the moment the ice touched it — the frost blackened and shattered like glass.
Sylus' eyes widened. "It absorbed it?!"
The entity's arm shot forward like a blur — but Liyana raised her hand.
> [Celestial Breath: Starfire Burst]
A beam of pure golden mana erupted from her mouth — divine fire that roared across the battlefield. The blast swallowed the monster whole, lighting the night like a newborn sun.
When the light faded, the entity was half-melted — but reforming, bit by bit.
Liyana's voice trembled slightly. "It's feeding on my mana… adapting."
Sylus grit her teeth. "Then I'll freeze its core to dust!"
She vanished in a flurry of steps.
> [Martial Art: Frost Dragon Steps!]
Her body moved faster than sound, weaving around the entity, landing blow after blow, each punch infused with freezing ki.
But with every strike, cracks formed — not on the monster — but in reality itself.
---
🌌 The Abyssal Roar
> "AAAAA—Aaaaa—AaaAAHhh—"
The sound wasn't just heard — it was felt.
The roar spread like a shockwave. Space rippled. Entire chunks of the island disintegrated.
Liyana threw up both arms.
> [Barrier of Eternity]
A divine golden shield enveloped her, Sylus, and Sho's body.
The barrier flickered — cracks spread, her celestial glow dimming.
Sylus: "Liyana! It's breaking—!"
Liyana: "Not yet… Hold your ground!"
The entity raised its massive claw again — but this time, Sylus charged, fist glowing icy blue.
> [Martial Art: Frost God's Palm!]
Her strike connected — the air rippled like glass shattering underwater.
The monster stopped—for one heartbeat—then sent her flying with a single flick.
Liyana caught Sylus midair, eyes blazing gold. "Fall back!"
---
🌠 Celestial vs Abyss
Liyana's aura exploded.
The ground beneath her feet turned to molten gold, the air shimmering with divine power.
> [Celestial Authority: Starlit Domain]
The world inverted — the island now bathed in golden starlight. Every star above mirrored her heartbeat.
Sylus stared, breathless. "You're… unreal."
Liyana: "And you're stubborn. Let's end this together."
The entity lunged again, a massive arm tearing through the domain.
Liyana caught it barehanded — divine flames burning it back.
> [Celestial Breath: Starburst Nova!]
A radiant explosion from her mouth vaporized half the creature — light so bright it blinded the entire battlefield.
Sylus slammed her palms together.
> [Frozen God's Barrier!]
A dome of solid diamond-ice formed, containing the blast. The explosion painted the horizon gold and blue.
---
🕯 Aftermath
When the light faded, silence returned.
The entire forest was gone — reduced to crystalline ash.
The entity was missing… or rather, what remained of it. A black crystal vein pulsed faintly beneath the crater.
Liyana knelt down, breathing heavily.
Sylus supported her shoulder, equally exhausted.
Sylus: "You… actually vaporized it."
Liyana: "No… not entirely."
The ground rumbled. Beneath the earth, the black vein opened an eye.
> "YoU… caNNoT… sEaL… ThE vOid… fOReveR…"
Both of them froze.
Liyana's expression darkened, her eyes glowing once more.
"Then I'll keep doing it until forever breaks."
The screen in the Academy's hall flickered.
Principal Alice whispered, smiling faintly.
"Ah… the stage of destiny has just opened."
To Be Continued.