The rain continued long after Graystone Mountain had fallen.

Kael stood silently before the pile of shattered stone that had once been the entrance to the ancient cave. Around him, rescue teams searched for survivors while healers treated the wounded students.

No one spoke to him.

Some looked at him with gratitude.

Others looked at him with fear.

The stories had already begun to spread.

“The F-Rank student defeated monsters.”

“A giant knight bowed before him.”

“Darkness obeyed his command.”

Within a single night, Kael had become the center of countless rumors.

---

Three days later…

Astravia Hunter Academy reopened.

As Kael walked through the front gate, hundreds of students stopped talking.

Every pair of eyes followed him.

The same students who had mocked him only weeks ago now stepped aside without saying a word.

Leon stood near the training grounds.

For several moments, he simply watched Kael approach.

“I heard what happened.”

Kael nodded quietly.

“So… the rumors are true.”

“I don’t know.”

Leon frowned.

“You’re different.”

Before Kael could answer, the academy’s emergency bell echoed across the campus.

Every student looked toward the central tower.

The Headmaster himself appeared on the balcony.

His usually calm expression had disappeared.

“Attention!”

“Effective immediately, the academy is entering lockdown.”

A wave of confusion spread through the crowd.

“The Royal Capital has reported multiple attacks during the night.”

“Several Hunter Guilds have been destroyed.”

“The attackers are believed to belong to the Shadow Cult.”

Whispers filled the courtyard.

“The Shadow Cult?”

“I thought they were just a myth.”

The Headmaster continued.

“The Royal Army has ordered every academy to strengthen security.”

“No student is allowed to leave the campus until further notice.”

Kael’s heart sank.

They were looking for him.

---

That evening…

Unable to sleep, Kael wandered through the academy gardens.

The moon was hidden behind dark clouds.

Everything was unusually quiet.

Then…

He heard footsteps.

Not ordinary footsteps.

Someone was following him.

Kael stopped walking.

“So you’ve noticed.”

A calm voice echoed through the darkness.

A young man wearing a long black coat stepped out from behind a tree.

He looked no older than twenty.

Silver hair fell over his sharp blue eyes.

Unlike the cultists, he wore no mask.

Only a black sword rested across his shoulder.

“My name is Elias.”

“I’m not your enemy.”

Kael didn’t lower his guard.

“What do you want?”

Elias smiled.

“I came to warn you.”

“Leave this academy.”

“Tonight.”

Kael frowned.

“Why?”

Instead of answering, Elias looked toward the academy walls.

“They’re already here.”

At that exact moment…

The academy’s protective barrier shattered.

A deafening explosion echoed through the campus.

Students screamed.

Flames erupted near the main gate.

Dozens of masked warriors flooded into the academy.

The Shadow Cult had arrived.

Chaos spread instantly.

Teachers rushed to defend the students.

Magic filled the night sky.

Explosions lit up the darkness.

Kael reached for his sword.

Elias grabbed his arm.

“Don’t.”

“They’re not after the academy.”

“They’re after you.”

Before Kael could respond, Varek appeared on top of the academy’s central tower.

His voice echoed across the campus.

“Kael Ardyn!”

“There is nowhere left to run.”

“If you surrender peacefully…”

“I’ll spare everyone else.”

The Headmaster stepped forward.

“You’ll have to kill me first.”

Varek smiled.

“So be it.”

He raised one hand.

A giant circle of black light appeared above the academy.

From within it…

Monsters began falling from the sky.

Winged beasts.

Armored wolves.

Shadow creatures with glowing crimson eyes.

Students ran in every direction.

The academy had become a battlefield.

Kael watched as one monster charged toward a group of first-year students.

Without thinking, he rushed forward.

His sword flashed through the air.

The creature collapsed before it could reach them.

Another attacked from above.

Kael dodged and struck again.

More monsters surrounded him.

One after another, they fell.

Even so…

There were too many.

The Headmaster shouted from across the battlefield.

“Kael!”

“Get out of here!”

“We’ll hold them back!”

Kael looked around.

Teachers were risking their lives.

Students were fighting despite their fear.

All because of him.

His hands tightened around his sword.

“I can’t keep dragging everyone into this.”

Elias stepped beside him.

“Then stop running.”

Kael looked at him.

“What?”

“If you truly want to protect them…”

“Become stronger than everyone hunting you.”

Before Kael could answer, a powerful explosion shook the academy.

The main tower collapsed.

Smoke covered the battlefield.

Through the dust…

A massive shadow slowly appeared.

It was nearly twice the size of Darius.

Its body was wrapped in black armor covered with crimson flames.

Behind it stretched six enormous wings made entirely of darkness.

Even Varek lowered his head respectfully.

“The Emperor…”

Kael felt his blood run cold.

The creature slowly opened its glowing golden eyes.

Its gaze locked onto him from across the battlefield.

Then…

It smiled.

“So…”

“The last heir of the Void finally stands before me.”

The Emperor lifted one hand.

The sky above Astravia split apart.

A giant black portal opened over the city.

From within the darkness…

Thousands of glowing crimson eyes slowly opened.

The invasion had begun.