The deep gash carved into the stone pillar was impossible to ignore. Arman stared at it for only a heartbeat before another scream echoed through the cafeteria. His eyes snapped toward the sound. A Blue badge rookie barely managed to dodge as a Red badge holder lunged at him, sending trays and chairs crashing across the floor. "Kid," Ievon said calmly, "forget the pillar for now. Whatever caused that... isn't revealing itself. If you lose focus, you'll be eliminated before you uncover the truth." Arman clicked his tongue. "...Right." His gaze lingered on the cut for another second before he forced himself to look away. The timer hanging above the cafeteria continued its relentless countdown. 04:59 Only five minutes remained. The game had entered its final stage. Panic had completely taken over. Some rookies shouted for teammates whose badges had already changed. Others hid beneath overturned tables, afraid to move. Several Red badge holders worked together, driving isolate

The cafeteria was eerily quiet. The countdown had already reached zero, yet no one moved. Arman remained crouched behind a toppled table, chest heaving, sweat streaming down his face. Around him, every rookie stood frozen, their glowing badges still illuminating the darkness. Even the Red badge holders had stopped attacking. The oppressive silence felt heavier than the chaos that had come before. Then, slowly, the lights flickered. The deep reds and bright blues of the badges dimmed. The fluorescent glow that had pulsed across the cafeteria for what felt like hours began to fade. Arman exhaled, letting his body relax just slightly. The strange Void resonance lingering in the room finally faded away, leaving behind an uneasy silence. Around him, rookies cautiously peeked from behind overturned chairs and tables. Some had badges flickering weakly; others had changed colors permanently. A few were gone—eliminated. “Status?” Ievon asked calmly. Arman scanned the room. “Most of the r

Instructor Lira left the classroom, and as soon as the door closed, everyone let out a breath they had been holding.Kenny leaned back in his chair and stretched. “Damn… she’s intense. I kinda like it.”Arman smirked. “You would.”They were talking quietly when the classroom door suddenly slammed open so hard that half the class jumped.Three boys walked in.The one in the middle stood out instantly — green spiky hair, sharp eyes, a smirk that screamed trouble.The other two flanked him like bodyguards. They looked like twins, almost identical, except one had black hair and the other had brown. Both were tall, muscular, and walked with heavy steps.The class went silent.Nobody said anything.The green-haired boy scanned the room slowly… like he owned it.Then he spotted someone at the back.A small boy.Thin arms. Small frame. Weak posture. Big round glasses. His uniform looked slightly oversized.He sat alone near the window, holding a notebook to his chest like a shield.Arman look

The training ground was loud with footsteps and breath.Dust rose constantly as students moved, sparred, fell, and got back up again. Shouts echoed across the field, mixed with the dull thud of fists hitting arms, elbows crashing into guards, and shoes scraping against sand.Some rookies were already panting.Some had bruises forming.Some were still trying to understand how their bodies moved.Arman stood still for a moment.His eyes were locked on Kenny.Kenny rolled his shoulders, cracked his neck, and grinned like he was enjoying himself a little too much.“Alright, rival,” he said. “Let’s see what you learned.”Arman didn’t answer.He shifted his stance slightly. Left foot forward. Weight light. Hands relaxed.Then—He suddenly sprinted forward.Fast.Direct.No wasted movement.Kenny reacted instantly. His arms came up, elbows tight, reading Arman’s shoulder movement.Arman’s right fist shot forward.Kenny moved to block——but the punch stopped halfway.A fake.Before Kenny’s br

The evening air bit cold against Arman’s skin the moment he stepped out of the spatial rift.Shrrrk—Behind him, the tear in space sealed seamlessly with a soft hiss, leaving only the quiet, dimly lit streets of his neighborhood.He unlocked the door to his small house, greeted by nothing but silence. After changing into loose, casual clothes, Arman collapsed onto his bed, staring blankly at the dark ceiling.The day’s events flickered through his mind like a broken reel.Jim’s face.The terror etched into his eyes.The oppressive pressure of that strange, desolate realm.And Kael Dravorn... kneeling before Ievon."...Was that really the right thing to do?" Arman whispered to the empty room. "I didn't hurt him... but..."Silence hung in the air for a few long seconds.Then, a voice echoed directly inside his mind—calm, deep, and ancient.Kid.Arman closed his eyes."...Yeah?"You’ve been agonizing over that fight ever since we stepped through the threshold."I frightened him, Ievon."