Aiden barely slept.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Lorian's expression—cold, certain, terrified.
Someone inside the academy gave you that system.
They're coming tomorrow.
For you.
By dawn, his hands were still shaking.
Kael leaned against the wall, cleaning his dagger in the dull lamplight. "Your face looks worse than when the monster hit you."
Aiden ignored him and stood. His legs felt weak, but his chest burned with something sharp—fear mixed with something else.
Resolve.
He had to survive.
He had to climb.
And now… he had to avoid being erased.
Lorian returned exactly at sunrise. Not with food. Not with medicine.
With uniforms.
"Put these on," Lorian ordered. "Today's the Ranking Induction Ceremony."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Should he really be walking?"
"No," Lorian said. "But he has no choice."
Aiden grabbed the uniform, hands still trembling. "What if the investigator sees me? What if they sense the system?"
"They won't." Lorian's expression tightened. "Not if you don't use it. Not even once."
Aiden swallowed. "And if I can't control it?"
Lorian's jaw clenched. "Then run. As far as you can."
Kael chuckled. "He wouldn't make it three steps."
Lorian glared at him. "Shut up."
They stepped out of the hidden passage and into the academy grounds. For the first time since the Trial incident, Aiden saw other students.
Hundreds.
Walking. Talking. Laughing.
Completely unaware that a forbidden system pulsed under his skin.
Aiden's heart raced. Every one of them had something—a staff, a ring, an item glowing faintly with mana. He spotted a girl with a floating spellbook, a boy with gauntlets wrapped in lightning, another with a sentient cloak that shifted colors.
Aiden had nothing.
Except a system that could kill him.
Kael flicked his hair. "Try not to look terrified. Predators smell fear."
Aiden didn't respond.
Because at that exact moment—
The sky darkened.
Clouds twisted unnaturally, spiraling above the main academy tower. Every student froze. Whispers spread like wildfire.
Footsteps echoed. Slow. Precise. Heavy with authority.
A figure stepped through the arched gate.
The investigator.
A tall woman with stark white hair tied in a short braid, wearing black armor etched with silver sigils. Her gaze was sharp enough to split stone.
The instructors bowed instantly.
The students followed.
Aiden felt the air being crushed out of him.
Kael whispered, "Don't stare. She'll notice you."
Too late.
Her head turned—slowly, deliberately—toward Aiden.
Their eyes met.
Aiden felt a pressure slam into him, like his ribs were being crushed from the inside.
[WARNING: SYSTEM INSTABILITY SPIKING]
[USER EMOTION LEVEL: CRITICAL]
[FORCED AWAKENING RISK: HIGH]
No. No no NO—stop—
Aiden clenched his fist, fighting the burn under his skin. Fighting the surge. Fighting the tattoo's glow.
Lorian stepped subtly in front of him, blocking the investigator's view for a split second.
Her eyes narrowed.
Then she walked toward the stage.
The pressure faded.
Aiden exhaled shakily.
Kael leaned close. "She felt something."
Aiden's stomach plummeted.
Lorian whispered under his breath, "Keep your head down, Aiden. Do not react to anything."
The ceremony began.
The academy headmaster stepped forward and announced the new protocol:
"Due to the Trial incident, the Survival Ranking Exam has been moved to today."
Students gasped. Aiden's blood ran cold.
"What? Today?" Kael snapped.
The headmaster nodded grimly.
"In the presence of Special Investigator Seris Valehart, all lower-rank students will be tested for anomalies."
Aiden froze.
Anomalies.
Kael's eyes widened. "They're checking for illegal systems."
Aiden felt heat crawl up his spine.
Lorian whispered harshly, "Aiden. Lose control here and you're dead."
Then—
Seris Valehart, the investigator, spoke.
Her voice cut through the courtyard like a blade.
"I detected a fluctuation the moment I entered the grounds."
Aiden's heart stopped.
Kael subtly reached for his dagger.
Lorian's fingers twitched near a concealed charm.
Seris scanned the crowd slowly.
Cold. Precise. Unavoidable.
Her next words hit like lightning:
"Someone here… awakened something forbidden."
Students whispered frantically.
Seris lifted her hand.
Silver mana surged around her, forming a massive detection circle.
Aiden felt his tattoo burn like fire.
[WARNING: SYSTEM IS BEING TARGETED]
[AUTO-SHIELD: UNLOCKED]
[COUNTER-SCAN: PREPARING…]
Aiden's eyes widened.
No. Stop. Don't activate. DON'T—
Seris raised two fingers.
The mana circle expanded—
Aiden's tattoo flared—
Kael whispered, "Aiden, HOLD IT—"
Too late.
The system triggered.
A burst of black energy exploded from Aiden's arm, invisible to everyone—
Except Seris.
She snapped her head instantaneously toward him.
Her eyes widened.
Not with confusion.
With recognition.
She pointed directly at him.
"YOU."
The entire courtyard turned.
Aiden's breath froze.
Kael went still.
Lorian's face drained of color.
Seris' voice cracked like thunder:
"—YOU. STEP FORWARD."
Aiden couldn't move.
Because in that moment—
His system issued a command he had never seen before.
[FORCED QUEST: REVEAL]
[OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE THE INVESTIGATOR]
[PENALTY FOR FAILURE: DELETION]
A cold wind cut through the courtyard.
Aiden's vision flickered with unstable symbols.
Seris took a step toward him.
"Student," she said, voice ice-cold.
"What exactly are you hiding?"
Aiden felt the system surge again, stronger than ever.
His tattoo split into glowing lines.
Students screamed.
Seris' eyes widened in shock.
"Oh no…" Lorian whispered.
Kael whispered, "Aiden… RUN."
Aiden's system roared.
The ground beneath him cracked.
Everyone stared.
Even Seris.
And then—
Aiden vanished.