The grand library of Arcana High Academy stretched three stories high, with shelves that seemed to touch the painted ceiling. Dust particles floated in the afternoon sunlight that poured through the arched windows, making the whole place look like something out of a dream. "Gather around everyone," the homeroom teacher called out, her voice echoing off the marble floors. Over fifty students shuffled into formation, their chatter bouncing off the old stone walls. All of the students wore the standard academy uniform which was dark blue robes with silver trim, though some had already loosened their collars or rolled up their sleeves. The teacher, Professor Aldine, was a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and red hair pulled into a tight bun. She gestured dramatically at a massive, heavy woven cloth with decorative pictorial designs hanging on the far wall. "This library has stood for over eight hundred years," she began, pacing before the crowd. "During the Great Beast Wars, a Titan-

"What just happened?" Kade asked, his voice shaking as he stared at the now lifeless map. Mira glanced at him, her usual calm expression had finally cracked, replaced with confusion. "I'm as confused as you all are. I didn't think it would react this way." "D-did everyone see those weird words and hear that strange voice just now?" Jace stammered, pushing his glasses up with a trembling finger. "It said something about a trial being initiated." They all nodded slowly, still trying to process what had just occurred. Raiden's mind raced with multiple different thoughts. The glowing words were still hovering at the edge of his vision, they were faint but persistent. When he focused on them, they became clearer. When he looked away, they faded into transparency. It was like having a screen permanently attached to his sight. "What do we do now?" Jace asked, looking between them desperately. Before anyone could answer, a loud explosion boomed from somewhere outside the library. The f

Seven students were backed against a stone wall as five zombies staggered toward them with uneven, hungry steps. Among the trapped group were four boys and three girls. Two of those girls screamed in pure terror as they clung desperately to a boy with a buzz-cut, their faces covered in tears and snot running down their chins. "What do we do, Ash? I don't want to die!" one of them wailed, her voice cracking. "Waaahh!" the other girl sobbed even louder, her nails digging into Ash's arm. The sound of their crying filled the courtyard, drawing even more attention from nearby zombies. Ash, the buzz-cut boy they clung to, furrowed his brows as worry and bitter regret twisted his face. Had he known things would turn out like this, he would've dumped these dead weights the moment the chaos started instead of playing hero. You see, he'd had a momentary spike of lust back in the library when he saw these beautiful girls cowering in fear. Like every self-proclaimed 'gentleman', he'd offer

The current situation was dreadful for everyone in the Bluestar World, but there was nothing they could do about it except continue to survive. Perhaps their act of 'accidentally' awakening the map was their fault, but they couldn't unwrite what had happened. The damage was done, and the world had already changed. Adapting to the circumstances was the only solution for now. Raiden turned to face the students he'd just saved. His eyes quickly scanned the group, doing a mental headcount. "Six people?" The buzz-cut guy, Ash, had disappeared already. Raiden's jaw tightened slightly. He hadn’t noticed the coward slipping away the moment no one was looking. While he felt disgusted by Ash's earlier actions of pushing those girls toward the zombies to save his own skin, Raiden couldn't be bothered to enforce judgment in this chaotic time. Everyone was fighting for survival. Some people just showed their true colors faster than others. "What are your names?" Raiden asked the remaining

Kade stepped forward, positioning himself with a clear line of sight to the supply shed. His hands were already beginning to glow with orange light as he gathered mana into his palms.The shed was about forty meters away. He could get a clean shot from this distance because it was well within his range, and also not close enough to accidentally draw the zombies directly to them. At least, that was the plan."Everyone get ready," Raiden whispered, his grip tightening on the Silvermoon Sword. "The second those zombies start moving toward the fire, we go fast and quiet."Mira nodded, positioning herself at the front with Raiden. Jace stood slightly behind them with the metal rod gripped so tightly in his hands that his knuckles had even turned white. The eleven survivors clustered together at the back, trying to make themselves as small as possible.Kade took a deep breath, focusing his energy. His eyes locked onto the shed."Flame Lance!"A spear of concentrated fire erupted from his pa