All Chapters of Resonance: Awakening of the Unknown: Chapter 11
- Chapter 20
35 chapters
Shadows of the Past
By the time classes ended after that spar, a talk of the sparring match had already swept through the whole Combat Division.The corridors buzzed with half-heard gossip."Did you see it? Kang Jisoo lost!""To an E-rank, no less—how?""Instructor Baek was actually watching. That's serious."Jiwoo heard the whispers as he left the hall. Students passing by gave him quick glances—some curious, some impressed, others just wary—but he paid them little mind.Minjae jogged to catch up beside him, grinning wide."Bro, you realize you just became an urban legend, right? E-rank slays S-rank, no mana used—boom! Instant myth."Jiwoo didn't even slow his pace. "It was just a spar.""Yeah, and I'm just a comedian performing to a bunch of mana-junkies," Minjae said, deadpan. "Seriously, you need to work on accepting praise.""I'll pass," Jiwoo said.They stepped into the courtyard. Afternoon light cut between the spires of the academy, glinting on the glass channels where mana flowed underfoot. For
The Announcement
The morning bell rang across Eclipse Academy, echoing down the old corridors like a warning.Today wasn’t normal. No classes, no schedule. Every student was told to gather in the main auditorium, but no one knew why.“Okay, I’m calling it,” Minjae said as he and Jiwoo followed the crowd. “They’re either expelling someone, or we all failed as a species.”Jiwoo gave him a side glance. “You really think they’d cancel class just to kick someone out?”“You’d be surprised,” Minjae muttered.The auditorium was already packed — voices bouncing off the metal walls, holograms flickering above the stage. The LED strips overhead buzzed faintly, struggling to keep up with the heat of too many bodies in one place.Instructors stood along the sides, arms crossed, faces unreadable. That was never a good sign.Then the lights dimmed.A hush fell over the room as the side door opened and Headmaster Elias Kain stepped out. He didn’t need a microphone — his presence alone was enough to shut everyone up.
Before the Storm
Morning light bled through the clouds, touching the empty combat field with gold.Jiwoo's breath came steady — in, out — as he swung his wooden sword through the crisp air.Each motion was precise. No wasted movement.The echo of his strikes cut through the silence, rhythmic and controlled.He paused only long enough to wipe sweat from his brow before resetting his stance.The duel with Kang Jisoo still played in his head — the way the strikes connected, the sound of wood clashing, the flicker of something inside him that even he couldn't name.He'd been chasing that feeling ever since.From the edge of the field, Instructor Baek watched quietly, arms folded.The faintest smirk tugged at his lips."Good. He's learning how to feel the fight, not force it,"he muttered under his breath before turning away.He didn't need to correct Jiwoo anymore. The kid was starting to understand instinct — the difference between moving and knowing when to move.Later that morning, the training field w
The Beginning of the Selection
Morning in the Eclipse Academy's arena, the air itself trembling under the voice of thousands of spectators. For the first time in years, the great banners of Eclipse didn't hang in shame — they blazed under the morning light like challenges to the world.A wave of cheers followed — deafening, electric, hungry. After years of silence, Eclipse was alive again.In the prep hall below, tension replaced the noise. Students stretched, paced, or whispered silent prayers.Minjae stared at the trembling walls, his gloves half-pulled on, voice dry."Tell me this doesn't feel like we're marching into an execution."Rina's lightning sparked faintly across her fingertips, the air around her crackling in rhythm with her heartbeat."Maybe it is," she said flatly, eyes sharp."Encouraging," Minjae muttered, tugging at his collar.Across the room, Jiwoo adjusted his training jacket, gaze steady and calm.He could already feel the pressure of the crowd — like a storm pressing against his chest."Just
The Flicker Beneath the Blade
The arena was still buzzing even after Jiwoo’s match ended.“He beat someone from the top leaderboard!”“And without using mana again—did you see that finish?”Jiwoo stepped off the stage, wooden sword still in hand. His breathing had calmed, but his pulse hadn’t. The rhythm of the fight still ran through him—each strike, each parry, every precise shift of balance.Seo Nara had been faster, sharper. He’d only won because he didn’t panic—because something inside him guided his movements before he even thought.He ignored the chatter behind him and walked down the corridor.“Bro! Bro! Over here!”Minjae’s voice echoed, cutting through the noise. He waved like he was calling a celebrity.Jiwoo sighed. “You don’t have to shout.”“Excuse me? You just made half the school question the ranking system! I should be printing shirts with your face on them!”“You’d just embarrass yourself,” Jiwoo said flatly.“Worth it,” Minjae grinned. “She was ranked twelve! Do you even get what that means?”“I
Sparks on the Stage
The crowd’s roar shook the coliseum before the sun had fully risen. The mana field shimmered faintly under the morning light, humming with energy. “First match of the day!” the announcer’s voice echoed. “Kang Rina versus Seo Yuri!” Cheers exploded from the stands. Rina stepped onto the arena floor, sparks dancing faintly along her arms. Across from her, Seo Yuri grinned, twirling her staff. “Rina, right? Heard you’re quick with lightning. Let’s see if you can keep up.” “We’ll see,” Rina replied. The referee raised his hand. “Begin!” Yuri moved first—no hesitation. A bolt of white lightning ripped through the air, striking where Rina had been a second earlier. The flash lit half the arena. Rina rolled sideways, boots grinding against the dirt. Another strike followed—then another. She blocked one with a mana shield, but the impact threw her several meters back. “Fast,” she muttered. “Too slow already!” Yuri smirked, mana flaring around her. She swung her staff, sending an arc
Clash of Swords
The crowd was louder than yesterday. Jiwoo could feel it in his chest — the hum of mana amplifiers, the buzz of expectation, the whisper of his name spreading through the stands. Everyone wanted to see if his last victory had been luck.Rows of students leaned forward, eyes fixed on the barrier ring that separated the arena from the audience. Real swords today. Real mana.Jiwoo adjusted his grip on the academy-issued longsword. The leather felt rough, the weapon heavier than anything from training. Across the field, his opponent waited — Shin Taekho, second-year, fire attribute, ranked seventeenth in the Combat Division. His sword was already burning faintly orange.The announcer’s voice carried across the arena.“Match Sixteen! Han Jiwoo of First Year Combat Division versus Shin Taekho of Second Year Combat Division!”Cheers followed — mixed with laughter.Taekho raised his sword, fire trailing from the tip. “You’re the E-rank who beat Seo Nara, huh?”Jiwoo nodded once.Taekho smirke
The Dancing Blade
The sun dipped low over Eclipse Academy. The final match of the day was about to begin.“Last match!” the announcer shouted. “Han Jiwon versus Ryu Taemin!”Jiwon walked out with a bright grin, twirling her sword once before resting it on her shoulder.“Wow, they saved me for last. I feel honored already,” she said, half-joking the referee.Across from her, Ryu Taemin cracked his knuckles, smiling back. “You really talk this much before a fight.”“Of course, my tongue is sharper than my sword ” Jiwon replied, her tone was light and playful.The crowd laughed; even a few instructors chuckled.From the stands, Minjae leaned over toward Jiwoo. “She’s so chill. It’s like she’s about to host a cooking show, not a duel.”Jiwoo smirked. “Just count for about five seconds.”The referee raised his hand. “Begin!”The smile vanished.In a single breath, Jiwon’s posture changed — her stance lowered, her eyes sharpened, and the cheerful aura evaporated like mist.The ground split beneath her feet.
Weekend Break Before the Quarter Finals
Saturday morning sunlight poured over Eclipse Academy’s outer gates. Students milled around in casual clothes, laughing, stretching, actually relaxed. The academy had officially declared the weekend a rest period before the quarterfinals.Jiwoo stood by the entrance, hands in his pockets, watching the street beyond the walls.Minjae waved from behind him. “Finally! Civilization! Real food! Fresh air!”Rina appeared next, wearing a cap and a gray hoodie. “You make it sound like you’ve been imprisoned.”“I was,” Minjae said. “In a cage of stress and Instructor Baek’s death training.”Jiwoo smirked. “You lasted a month.”“A month? It feels like it’s been a year already!”Rina rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. “Where are we even going?”“The city market,” Minjae said. “Food, arcade, maybe the riverside if we don’t get lost.”Jiwoo nodded. “Sounds fine.”Rina tilted her head. “You’re really coming along? I thought you’d spend the weekend practicing like usual.”Jiwoo looked ahead toward
Quarter Finals
The arena roared back to life Monday morning.Banners of Eclipse rippled against the wind, the academy crest catching the sunlight like fire.Students filled the stands, voices merging into a single electric buzz.After the weekend break, every face looked sharper—focused, ready.Minjae groaned as he stretched. “I knew we should’ve stayed in the city. My body’s not ready for public humiliation.”Rina crossed her arms. “You act like you weren’t going to lose anyway.”“Wow. Motivational speech. Thanks.”Jiwoo walked beside them. “She’s right, though.”“Traitor,” Minjae muttered. “Both of you are traitors.”They stopped when the screens lit up with the day’s match list.The crowd’s noise doubled instantly.Upper Bracket:Kang Hyunwoo vs Choi Minseok (2nd-year Mage)Han Jiwoo vs Kwon Daesung (Rank 6 – Mage)Park Doyun vs Kim Haneul (Rank 9 – Mage)Lower Bracket:Han Jiwon vs Seo MinjaeKang Jisoo vs Rank 7 – Combat ClassKang Rina vs Rank 8 – Combat ClassThe stadium shook with excitement