The courtyard of Astra Dominion Academy was still filled with noise after the ranking announcement.
Students were talking excitedly about the results. Some celebrated their ranks while others argued loudly, claiming the system had made mistakes.
But most of the whispers revolved around one name.
Leo.
Kai was still staring at him with disbelief.
"Rank twelve," he said again. "I still can't believe it."
Ryu leaned against a stone pillar with a smirk.
"Maybe he's secretly some martial arts master."
Milan adjusted his glasses thoughtfully.
"The ranking system doesn't make random decisions. It analyzes combat data very carefully."
He looked at Leo.
"You must have shown something unusual during the tests."
Leo shrugged slightly.
"I just reacted normally."
Kai laughed.
"If that's your normal, the rest of us are doomed."
Around them, several students were still glancing toward Leo with curiosity. Some of them looked impressed, but others looked suspicious.
One student whispered nearby.
"He didn't even show any mana during the awakening test."
"Then how is he rank twelve?"
"It doesn't make sense."
Leo ignored the whispers.
Instead, his gaze slowly lifted toward the sky.
Something felt strange.
Very strange.
The air felt heavier than before.
Almost like the atmosphere itself had become tense.
Inside his chest, the faint pulse of divine blood stirred slightly.
A quiet instinct warned him.
Something was coming.
Suddenly, a loud mechanical alarm echoed across the entire academy.
The peaceful atmosphere shattered instantly.
"Warning. Barrier disturbance detected."
Students froze.
Kai blinked.
"Barrier disturbance?"
Milan's expression immediately turned serious.
"That's impossible."
Ryu frowned.
"What barrier?"
Milan pointed toward the distant horizon.
A faint glowing dome surrounded the academy. It was barely visible during normal times, but now it shimmered clearly in the air.
"The academy is protected by a high-level defensive barrier," Milan explained quickly. "It prevents monsters from entering the campus."
The alarm sounded again.
This time it was louder.
"Warning. Unknown entity approaching."
Students began looking around nervously.
"What's happening?"
"Is this a training exercise?"
"No… something feels wrong."
Leo continued staring at the sky.
Then he saw it.
A crack.
High above the academy, the sky suddenly twisted.
The air split open like broken glass.
A dark tear appeared in the atmosphere itself.
Students gasped in shock.
"What is that?!"
The crack expanded slowly.
Dark energy poured from the opening like smoke.
Then something moved inside the darkness.
Two enormous claws pushed through first.
They were the size of small trees.
Next came a massive armored head covered with black scales. Glowing red veins pulsed across the creature's body like burning lava.
Four enormous wings spread from its back.
The monster forced its entire body through the rift.
When it fully emerged, the creature hovered above the academy like a living mountain.
Its roar shook the entire campus.
Students screamed.
"MONSTER!"
"Run!"
The academy barrier flickered violently around the campus.
Then the glowing dome shattered like glass.
The creature had broken through it.
Fear spread instantly across the courtyard.
An A-rank monster could destroy entire cities.
Most students had never even seen one before.
Within seconds, several powerful instructors appeared in the courtyard.
Instructor Kael stepped forward first.
His voice was calm but powerful.
"Everyone stay calm!"
He raised his hand and shouted loudly.
"Students evacuate to the underground shelters immediately!"
Instructor Mira appeared beside him, magical energy already forming around her hands.
Roland activated emergency defense systems.
Mira looked up at the creature with a serious expression.
"This isn't a normal monster."
Kael nodded.
"I can feel its pressure."
He stared directly at the creature floating above the academy.
"This is at least an A-rank beast."
Students began running toward the emergency shelters beneath the buildings.
Fear filled the air.
Kai grabbed Leo's arm.
"Come on!"
Ryu and Milan were already moving toward the shelter entrance.
But before they could reach it, the monster attacked.
The creature opened its enormous jaws.
A sphere of burning energy began forming inside its mouth.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"MOVE!"
The monster fired.
A destructive beam of energy shot downward toward the academy courtyard.
Instructor Mira raised both hands instantly.
A massive magical barrier formed in front of the students.
The beam slammed into the barrier with a deafening explosion.
The ground shook.
Dust and debris filled the air.
Students screamed and ran faster.
Kai pulled Milan toward the shelter.
"Where's Leo?!"
Ryu looked behind them.
Leo was still standing in the courtyard.
He hadn't moved.
Kai shouted desperately.
"LEO! RUN!"
But Leo remained where he was.
His eyes were fixed on the monster.
Because something felt wrong.
The creature wasn't attacking randomly.
It was searching.
Its glowing eyes scanned the courtyard again and again.
Almost as if it was looking for something.
Or someone.
High above the battlefield, a bright flash of violet light suddenly shot into the sky.
A powerful beam struck the monster's wing.
The creature roared in pain.
Students looked upward.
Standing on top of the academy tower was Luna.
Her silver hair flowed in the wind as magical symbols formed around her glowing hands.
Another blast of violet energy shot toward the creature.
The attack pushed the monster backward through the air.
Students stared in amazement.
"That's rank one…"
"She's incredibly strong!"
But Luna's expression was serious.
Because she had noticed something strange.
The monster was not focusing on the instructors.
It was not focusing on the buildings.
Slowly, the creature turned its head.
Its burning eyes locked onto someone standing in the courtyard.
Leo.
The monster roared loudly.
Then it began flying downward.
Straight toward him.
Students screamed.
"It's coming this way!"
Kai's face went pale.
"LEO RUN!"
But Leo did not move.
Inside his chest, the divine blood pulsed once more.
The sleeping god within him stirred faintly.
A quiet voice echoed inside his mind.
"This creature senses the divine presence."
Leo exhaled slowly.
"Yes," he thought calmly.
"I can feel that too."
The monster landed heavily in the courtyard.
The ground cracked beneath its massive weight.
Its enormous shadow covered Leo completely.
The creature lowered its giant head until its glowing eyes were only a few meters away from him.
For a moment, everything became silent.
Then the monster raised its massive claw.
And prepared to strike.