Richard's POVThe astral beast’s roar shook the sparring pits, its massive form blotting out the light as violet shadow tendrils lashed toward us. Lena stumbled back, her wounded arm trembling, her face pale but her eyes blazing with defiance. I grabbed her wrist, my grip firm, pulling her behind me as Null Drive flared. The air warped, the beast’s law-infused attacks slowing as my ability suppressed them. But the creature was a juggernaut, its presence alone cracking the stone beneath us, sending fissures spider webbing across the ground.“Run!” I shouted, shoving Lena toward the exit. Her gaze flicked between me and the beast, hesitation etched in her features.“Richard, you can’t—”“Go!” I barked, my voice raw. She nodded, reluctance heavy in her eyes, and sprinted for cover.I turned to the monster, my core humming with Rank E power, glyphs pulsing wildly under my skin—sacrificial, elemental, constructive, and quantum. I didn’t know if I could win, but I’d hold it off. For her. Nu

Richard's Pov The training grounds of Miracle Academy hummed with energy, the air thick with the tang of ozone and the faint glow of law-infused runes etched into the stone. I stood alone in a sparring pit, breath steady despite the sweat dripping from my brow. My glyphs pulsed faintly under my skin—sacrificial, elemental, constructive, quantum—each a whisper of power I was determined to tame. Null Drive and Null Counter were my edge, but they were wild, unpredictable, and I was pushing them harder than ever. “Focus, Sol,” I muttered, clenching my fists. The pit’s runes flickered, amplifying the laws I channeled. I activated Null Drive, and the air warped, lights dimming as nearby elemental sparks fizzled. Pain needled my temples, but I pushed deeper, weaving Null Counter into the mix. The ground trembled, and for a moment, I felt it—control, raw and electric. Then my core spasmed, glyphs flaring gray, and I staggered, dropping to one knee. “Damn it,” I gasped, wiping blood from my

Richard’s POVThe air in Miracle Academy’s training grounds was sharp with the scent of scorched stone and sweat, the runes along the walls pulsing faintly under the dawn’s gray light. I stood in the center of a sparring pit, my breath steady despite the ache in my limbs. My glyphs, sacrificial, elemental, constructive, quantum, hummed beneath my skin, a restless chorus I was still learning to conduct. Null Drive and Null Counter were sharper now, but every use felt like threading a needle through my bones. Rank E was a milestone, but it wasn’t enough. Not with Caleb’s taunts ringing in my ears, Ara’s cryptic warnings, and the council’s eyes boring into my back.I rolled my shoulders, gripping the hilt of my void-edged blade, a weapon I’d chosen to channel Null Counter more precisely than my fists allowed. The blade’s faint hum matched the rhythm of my core, a low vibration that felt alive, like it was whispering back. I’d been at it for hours, running drills alone, dodging automated

Attendance was never compulsory in Miracle Academy, but as first years, we still attended classes because we had much to learn. “Hey! Richard! Over here.” Nyx called out to me unnecessarily as I had already noticed her. With quick strides, I approached my squad members and grabbed an empty seat. “You came. Figured you'd be in some training room running your body ragged.” Gin said. “It's Leroy's class,” Caleb said without looking up from his book. “Even Sol knows better than to miss it.” “Was that almost a compliment?”, I teased.“Don't ruin it.” Caleb turned to the next page of his book. I knew he was right. I had too many questions about my core to miss such an important class that could tell me what I needed to know. A sudden pressure pulsed through my skull as the other consciousness stirred. A slight grimace flashed across my face.