The Jaeger units moved first. Ten silver Mechanical Eagles, gleaming under the carrier’s spotlights, sliced through the forest canopy with the roar of mana-propelled blades cutting the air. In each Beast sat an Imperial soldier, sitting upright, their tactical helmets covering their entire faces. Each was equipped with magi-thermal sensors capable of scanning for a mouse behind twenty layers of steel plating. They were no ordinary soldiers; they were anomaly hunters, a special unit sent to purge genetic stains too dangerous to leave behind.In the middle of the ruin-strewn battlefield, Kenzo Julian did not panic. His eyes, now burning a deep, crimson red after manifesting Nihilus, analyzed every shadow and shift in the air. The defensive net woven into this forest was no longer a secret. Everything had been scanned and logged into his data."They aren’t just any hunters, they’re chasing the Void frequency trace that Nihilus is emitting," Kenzo muttered to himself, speaking to Nihilus,

The cold from the stone walls of the old library beneath Aethelgard Academy crept up Kenzo’s arms. The pitch-black crystal key Instructor Hauer had given him felt strange in his palm, seemingly draining the warmth from his fingertips. The dim blue light of the Eye of Origin illuminated dusty bookshelves crammed with ancient manuscripts and worn data tablets. The scent of decaying paper mixed with a faint, sharp chemical odor that made Kenzo shudder. This was the heart of the Empire’s lies, and he was incredibly fortunate that Hauer had granted him access."System, initiate archive scan. Prioritize data related to Project Chimera," Kenzo ordered quietly, his voice a whisper that carried clearly in the stillness of the room.The holographic interface, visible only to him, flickered, projecting threads of data and blurred images pulled from every scroll and tablet he touched. Thousands of years of information were embedded in these stone slabs and magical fibers. It was no wonder the Gol

The Aethelgard Central Arena trembled violently. Thousands of spectators sat in the tiered stands, cheering for the students of Classes S and B as they flaunted the power of their Beasts. The sound of exploding auras and flashing mana elements tore through the arena, kicking up a shimmering dust cloud. In the front row of the VIP section, Valerius von Goldenthorn sat with an air of arrogance that dominated the atmosphere, sipping his red wine while staring straight at the entrance gate on the far end.Today was Class E’s turn to demonstrate what the academy called "the progress of the incompetent."The iron gates opened with a piercing screech. Kenzo Julian walked in casually, wearing a simple gray cloak layered over a thin protector. Behind him, Hans walked with his chin held high—a sight entirely alien to them—while Mia followed at his left, her expression calm, though her fingers moved subtly, playing with invisible threads in the air."Wow, look at that. The garbage from the sewer