Morning came quietly.
But the academy no longer felt ordinary.
Something beneath the surface had begun moving — unseen, unresolved, inevitable.
And everyone could feel it.
Upper Training Fields
The wind carried faint sparks of Aetherion across the platform as students trained in scattered groups. Energy flickered in bursts — controlled strikes, failed attempts, quiet determination.
Ryo stood at the center of the main platform.
Barefoot.
Focused.
His eyes closed.
A faint red-gold spark flickered around his body — weak, unstable.
Then—
Gone.
He exhaled sharply.
"…Still slipping."
Across from him, Kai watched calmly.
"You're forcing it again."
Ryo opened one eye.
"You're one to talk."
Kai didn't react.
"The ignition came from your core, not your muscles. You must reach it — not chase it."
Ryo frowned.
"You always say things like they make sense."
Kai stepped forward slightly.
"Then stop trying to overpower the state."
Silence.
Then—
Ryo ignited again.
This time slower.
Less explosive.
The red-gold aura flickered… held… then faded.
But not instantly.
Progress.
Ryo smirked faintly.
"…Better."
Kai nodded once.
"Yes."
Around them, other students watched quietly.
Kael among them.
Not judging.
Not dismissing.
Observing.
A student nearby whispered:
"His energy… it's different now."
Another replied:
"He erased that creature."
Kael spoke quietly—
"He broke a threshold."
The students fell silent.
Research Wing — Dimensional Analysis Chamber
Light projections rotated slowly around Elias as he studied layered Rift data streams. Ancient script fragments hovered in translation cycles, each revealing partial pieces of something far older than Earth.
Mira stood beside him, arms crossed.
"You haven't slept."
Elias replied without looking away:
"I don't need sleep right now."
She sighed lightly.
"…You feel it too."
Elias finally spoke:
"The pattern is clear now."
He expanded the projection — revealing a concentrated pulse hidden beneath Rift signatures.
"This signal isn't random energy."
Mira stepped closer.
"…Then what is it?"
Elias hesitated.
Then answered—
"A convergence point."
The display shifted again, ancient translated text stabilizing briefly:
DIVINITY CORE — CONCENTRATED EXISTENCE ENERGYEXTRACTION TARGET — HIGH-PRIORITYENTITY DESIGNATION — DEVOURER
Mira whispered—
"…The God Killer."
Elias nodded slowly.
"If this 'Devourer' hunts Divinity Cores… then the Riftborn are not invaders."
He paused.
"…They are scouts."
Silence fell.
Training Grounds — Later
Ryo sat on the platform edge, staring at his hand.
"…I almost lost control when it happened."
Kai stood nearby.
"Yes."
Ryo glanced at him.
"You didn't."
Kai replied quietly—
"I will."
Ryo blinked.
"…What?"
Kai looked toward the sky.
"The more the seal fractures… the harder control becomes."
Ryo smirked faintly.
"Good. Means you're still human."
Kai didn't respond.
Because he wasn't sure that was true.
Research Wing — Elias' Experiment
Elias stood alone now.
A small sphere of condensed spatial energy hovered before him — unstable, trembling.
"…Control first," he whispered.
The sphere compressed slightly.
Then expanded.
Then—
Stabilized.
For the first time, the energy held without distortion.
Elias' eyes widened slightly.
"…Precision improved."
Not stronger.
But clearer.
Sharper.
More controlled.
Mira re-entered quietly.
"You did it."
Elias nodded once.
"…Not enough."
But it was a beginning.
Academy — Shared Moment
Evening approached.
Kai, Ryo, and Elias stood together again beneath the open sky.
For a moment—
No training.
No research.
Just silence.
Ryo broke it.
"So… we're all getting stronger."
Elias nodded.
"Yes."
Kai spoke quietly—
"…Because something is coming."
Ryo grinned faintly.
"Then we'll be ready."
Elias looked toward the fading sky.
"…We must be."
Because far beyond their sight…
Something had already begun moving.