The light in the cathedral faded, and the space surrounding me shattered with a noise like a screeching siren. Air compressed, and in a single moment, everything snapped back into place.
I found myself back in my room at the U.A. dorms.
I got out of bed. The fatigue, bleeding, and scars from the battle with Igris were completely gone, but the feeling inside my chest was brand new. Where the simple Ether Core had previously pulsed, the Embryo of the Black Heart of Ether now resided. It beat in an irregular, deep rhythm, pumping a boundless, ice-cold power fused with the darkness of the monarch through my veins with every stroke.
"Unbelievable..." Agron's voice echoed, his shadow presence within my mind having become unimaginably stable and clear. "I feel the change, my Lord. Your capacity is no longer human. We are on an entirely different level."
I ran my hand across my chest and gave a silent command: System, open Status.
A translucent, purple-glowing screen immediately popped up before my eyes:
[Status:]
Titles: Player, Shadow Monarch
Name: Mephisto Darkness
Level: 59 -> 68
Skills: Ether Core (Evolved into Embryo of the Black Heart of Ether) - Quirk, Divine Body - Quirk, Ruler's Authority, Murderous Intent, Shadow Extraction (2/5 -> 25), Mana Rotation, Shadow Weapons, Elemental Magic, Artificial Shadow Soldiers (1/3 -> 5), Shadow Domain, Stealth, Shadow Exchange, Dagger Mastery
Equipment: King of the Orcs' Eye
I looked at my new level with deep satisfaction. The jump from level 59 to 68 perfectly reflected the pure hell I had endured in the cathedral. My shadow storage capacity had expanded to 25 units, and thanks to the Embryo of the Black Heart of Ether, my overall energy pool had skyrocketed to astronomical heights.
There was no longer any risk of draining all my Ether after just a few minutes of intense combat like I did against the Nomu at the USJ. With unlocked skills like Shadow Exchange and Dagger Mastery, my arsenal was complete.
I was ready for anything. And the timing couldn't have been better… the events of Season Two were beginning… With that thought, I headed to class.
When Mr. Aizawa entered the classroom, still wrapped entirely in bandages like a mummy from his severe injuries at the USJ, a dead silence immediately fell over the room.
"Stand up and sit down," Aizawa muttered in a raspy voice through his bandages. "Your battle at the USJ may be over, but the school administration has decided we cannot afford to slack off."
Midoriya swallowed nervously in the front row, while Bakugo let out a malicious smirk.
"Ahead of us is an event the whole of Japan is waiting for," Aizawa continued, his single visible pupil sweeping across the classroom before pausing briefly on me. "The U.A. Sports Festival is about to begin."
"Yeah!" Kirishima shouted, leaping out of his chair with a clenched fist. "This is it! The chance to show all the pro heroes what we're made of!"
"While that's great, is it really safe to hold the festival so soon after the villain attack?" Tsuyu asked with concern.
Aizawa nodded. "That's precisely why we're holding it. To show that U.A.'s security system is unwavering and that we won't be intimidated. For all of you, this is the biggest opportunity of your lives. Scouts from across the country will be watching. They'll be hiring you for internships—your futures are being shaped right here. If you want to go pro, this is where you have to shine."
The class erupted into discussions. Uraraka clenched her fists with determination, Iida spoke about their duty to represent the school, and Todoroki sat quietly by the window. His cold gaze was directed straight at me and Midoriya.
When class ended and we made our way out, the doors of 1-A were blocked by a massive crowd of students from other departments.
"What's the meaning of this?! Why are you blocking our way?!" Bakugo barked immediately, shoving his way to the front.
"They came to inspect the competition, Bakugo," I said calmly, stepping past him.
A guy with wild purple hair and dark circles under his eyes stepped out from the crowd. "You guys in Class 1-A became famous after the villain attack. But if you think you're something special just because you're in the hero course, you're mistaken. At the festival, I'll do whatever it takes to crush you and take your spot."
Bakugo growled and prepared to lunge at him, but I stopped directly in front of Shinso.
I didn't need to yell or summon shadows. I released just a tiny, barely perceptible pressure of my Murderous Intent.
Shinso froze for a second, his pupils dilated, and a drop of cold sweat ran down his forehead. Instinctively, he took a step back, as did the other students in the crowd, who unknowingly parted before us to create an open pathway.
"Train all you want," I said softly to the whole crowd in the hallway, passing right through them.