The night was unusually silent.
No wind.
No distant sounds.
Even the academy, usually alive with energy, felt unnaturally still—as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Leo stood by the window of his room, his gaze fixed on the dark sky.
He hadn't slept.
Not because he couldn't…
But because something inside him refused to rest.
The divine blood within him was awake.
Not fully.
But enough to warn him.
Something was coming.
Far above the Earth…
Beyond clouds.
Beyond sight.
A crack opened in space.
Not violently.
Not loudly.
But smoothly… like reality itself was being peeled apart.
From that tear, a figure stepped out.
Tall.
Covered in dark armor that seemed to absorb light itself.
No face.
Only a faint glow where eyes should be.
This was not a monster.
Not a demon.
Not even a god.
It was something created for a single purpose.
A hunter.
A voice echoed from within the crack before it closed:
"Retrieve the bearer of divine blood."
The figure said nothing.
It simply began descending.
Back at the academy…
Leo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…It's here."
The voice inside him responded immediately.
"Stronger than the fragment."
Leo exhaled slowly.
"…Good."
The ground outside the academy trembled.
Very slightly.
Too small for normal people to notice.
But not for everyone.
Luna's eyes snapped open inside her room.
She sat up instantly.
"…This presence…"
Her grip tightened around her blanket.
"…It's worse than before."
On the training grounds, Kai suddenly woke up in his dorm.
"…Why do I feel like I'm about to die again?"
Ryu sat up as well.
"…Yeah… I feel it too."
Milan, already awake, whispered,
"…It's here."
The academy alarms suddenly activated.
A loud, sharp sound echoed through the entire campus.
WARNING. UNKNOWN ENTITY DETECTED.
Students rushed out of their rooms.
Confusion spread instantly.
"What's happening?!"
"Another attack?!"
"Is it a drill?!"
Teachers quickly began organizing defenses.
But the tension on their faces revealed the truth—
This was not a drill.
At the main gate of the academy…
The air distorted.
Then—
BOOM.
The ground shattered on impact.
A figure landed at the center of the broken battlefield.
Dust rose slowly.
But no sound followed.
The figure stood still.
Its presence alone made the air heavy.
Like gravity itself had increased.
A senior instructor stepped forward.
"Identify yourself!"
No response.
The figure raised its head slightly.
Then—
It moved.
Faster than sight.
The instructor didn't even have time to react.
A single strike.
Clean.
Precise.
He was thrown across the ground, unconscious instantly.
Silence followed.
Fear spread.
Students stepped back.
Some froze.
Some trembled.
"This… this isn't normal…"
"Run…"
"No… we can't run…"
Then—
Leo arrived.
Walking calmly through the chaos.
His eyes locked onto the figure instantly.
The hunter.
The moment their gazes met—
The world felt heavier.
The hunter spoke for the first time.
"Target confirmed."
Its voice was cold.
Empty.
Without emotion.
It took a step forward.
"I will eliminate resistance."
Leo stepped forward as well.
"You're not taking anything."
The hunter paused.
Then tilted its head slightly.
"…You resist."
Leo's voice remained calm.
"I don't like being hunted."
Behind Leo, the others gathered.
Kai whispered,
"…Why does this feel worse than before?"
Ryu clenched his fists.
"Because it is."
Milan spoke quietly,
"…This one isn't playing."
Luna stood silently.
Her eyes moved between the hunter and Leo.
"…Be careful."
Leo didn't turn.
But he heard her.
The hunter raised its hand.
The space around it began to distort.
Not like before.
This was sharper.
More precise.
More dangerous.
Thin lines of energy appeared in the air.
Almost invisible.
Leo's eyes sharpened.
"…Spatial cutting."
The lines moved instantly.
Everything they touched—
Trees.
Ground.
Stone.
Was sliced cleanly.
Like paper.
Leo moved.
Dodging effortlessly.
But one line passed close—
A small cut appeared on his arm.
A drop of blood fell.
The moment it touched the ground—
A faint golden glow spread for a split second.
The hunter froze.
Its head turned slowly toward the drop.
"…Confirmed."
Its voice shifted slightly.
"…Divine blood."
The pressure increased instantly.
The hunter's energy rose.
"Priority increased."
Leo looked at the cut.
Then at the hunter.
His expression changed slightly.
Not fear.
Not anger.
But something deeper.
"…So you can sense it."
The voice inside him spoke:
"Do not hold back too much."
Leo exhaled slowly.
"…Fine."
A faint golden aura appeared around him.
Stronger than before.
Not fully unleashed.
But no longer hidden.
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
The air around him stabilized.
The distortion from the hunter weakened slightly.
For the first time—
The hunter stepped back.
"…Threat level rising."
Leo raised his sword.
His eyes glowing faintly.
"You wanted a target."
A slight smile appeared on his face.
"Now deal with it."
Silence filled the battlefield.
Students watched from a distance.
Breath held.
Hearts racing.
Because they all understood one thing—
This was no longer a fight they could comprehend.
This was something beyond their world.
And in the center of it—
Leo took a step forward.
And the real battle…
Finally begin.