The falling star(drake reincarnation)

Chapter eight (echoes of power)

The sun rose over the shattered jungle ridge, its golden light falling on scorched earth, broken trees, and the lifeless remains of the Sky-Scraping Vine.

Inside the Academy’s infirmary, Drake stirred.

He opened his eyes slowly, blinking at the ceiling.

System Notification:

⟨Recovery: 85%⟩  

[Bloodline Stabilizing…]  

[Remaining XP: 4,200,000]  

[Shadow Black Market: Available]

Drake sat up, groaning slightly. Syrian leaned against the wall nearby, arms crossed.

“Took you long enough,” he said.

Riva stood by the window, bandaged but alert. “You nearly died saving us.”

Drake managed a faint smile. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Syrian stepped closer. “You said not to talk about what we saw. I’m keeping my word. But others saw the aftermath.”

Drake’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

Riva threw a device onto the bed. It flickered—a recording of the battle, showing Drake’s transformation and the destruction of the King-tier beast.

“Someone leaked it to the Uruk-hai family,” Riva said. “It’s already on the black channels.”

Syrian added, “Word is, someone’s put a bounty on your blood.”

Before Drake could respond—

⟨Ding!⟩  

[Emergency Quest Unlocked – Protect Identity at All Cost]  

[Optional: Trace the Leak – Reward: +750,000 XP]

Just then, the door opened.

An old man in black robes, eyes glowing faintly blue, entered. Behind him were two academy guards.

“I am Instructor Ravel, Master of Inner Affairs,” he said coldly. “Drake, Riva, Syrian—headmaster wishes to see you all.”

Drake stood up slowly, eyes calm but sharp.

Something big was coming.

And this time, hiding might not be an option.

Drake, Riva, and Syrian followed Instructor Ravel through the marble halls of the academy. The energy was tense—eyes watched them from behind windows, hallways, and training rooms.

Whispers spread fast.

“That’s the one who killed the king-tier beast…”  

“Some say he transformed—like a demon…”  

“He’s dangerous. Too dangerous to be a student.”

They entered the Hall of Judgement, where three high-ranking instructors and the Headmaster sat on an elevated platform.

The Headmaster, a silver-haired man with a calm but commanding presence, raised his hand.

“Drake,” he said, voice deep. “We’ve reviewed footage that has no official source, yet is now spreading across multiple channels. Tell us—what exactly happened in the Crimson Ridge?”

Drake glanced at Syrian and Riva.

He could lie. He could reveal only part of the truth.

Or…

He took a breath.

“I awakened… a portion of my bloodline,” Drake said firmly. “It was the only way to defeat the beast and protect my team.”

The room went silent.

One instructor frowned. “What kind of bloodline grants that much power at such a young age?”

Drake didn’t answer.

The Headmaster studied him, then smiled faintly. “You’re not the first student with a dark past or hidden gifts. But if what you say is true… you’re far more valuable than anyone assumed.”

He raised a hand.

“From today onward, you three are promoted to B-Rank Elite Students.”

A crystal badge floated into Drake’s hand—deep blue with a glowing emblem.

But the Headmaster leaned forward, voice quieter:

“However… if you lose control again, Drake… we won’t hesitate.”

Drake nodded.

As they left the hall, the system buzzed:

⟨Quest Complete: Maintain Identity – Temporarily Successful⟩  

[Reward: +500,000 XP]  

[New Feature Unlocked: Skill Fusion – Combine Compatible Techniques for Advanced Styles]

But while things seemed calm inside the Academy…

Far away, in a dark hall lit by purple torches, the Uruk-hai Elder Council gathered.

The scout knelt, playing the recording.

One elder leaned forward. “His blood is the key… to awakening the sealed shadow gate.”

Another hissed, “We strike during the Outer World Training Arc. We take him alive.”

And in a cage behind them, something ancient stirred—smiling in the dark.

Later that night, after the promotion ceremony, Drake sat alone on the roof of the academy’s training hall, the wind brushing against his face.

He opened the Shadow Black Market silently.

His fingers hovered over the list of items, scrolling through powerful scrolls, relics, qi enhancers… until one section caught his attention:

[Bloodline Enhancements – Category: Passive]

•⁠  ⁠Blood Suppression Seal – suppresses bloodline aura and hides transformation traces. (1,000,000 XP)  

•⁠  ⁠Demonic Core Stabilizer – increases bloodline control by 15%. (2,500,000 XP)  

•⁠  ⁠Vampiric Eyes (Sealed) – enhances perception and qi sight. (Locked – Bloodline Level 2 Required)

Drake clenched his fist.

“I’ll take the Blood Suppression Seal,” he muttered.

⟨Purchase Complete. Item Applied.⟩

A cool energy flowed over his body, calming the volatile qi deep within. For the first time, he felt… in control.

Just then, Sky’s voice echoed inside him.

“Smart move. But hiding won't last forever. That council you sensed earlier—they’ll move soon.”

Drake nodded. “Let them. I’m not the same as I was yesterday.”

Below, in the academy courtyard, students gathered. A new announcement flashed on the screens:

[3 Days Until Outer World Arc: Phase One – Wild Trials]  

[Location: Broken Void Forest]  

[Entry Required for All B-Rank Students and Above]

Syrian appeared beside Drake, arms crossed. “Guess we’re headed to hell again.”

Drake smirked. “We just got back.”

Riva walked up behind them, flame in her gaze. “Then we’d better prepare. You know the Uruk-hai are going to use that event to come for you.”

Drake’s smile faded.

“I know.”

But what none of them knew was that the academy had also received the footage.

And behind closed doors, even the Headmaster had begun to question whether Drake was a student… or a threat.

The next morning, the academy buzzed with unrest.

Whispers of promotions, mysterious footage, and the upcoming Broken Void Forest trial spread like wildfire. Every student was talking—but none louder than those whispering about Drake.

Inside the elite combat hall, Drake, Syrian, and Riva stood side by side, staring at the massive floating map projected before them.

Instructor Cole, now fully recovered, was briefing the B-Rank students.

“The Broken Void Forest is one of the most unstable dimensional zones,” he said. “Inside, you’ll face mutated beasts, spatial storms, and possibly remnant war constructs from the last realm war.”

“Casualties are expected,” he added flatly.

Whispers spread behind them.

Drake stood still, calm, until one voice called out—

“You sure this trial isn’t too easy for a king-tier slayer?”

Drake turned slowly.

A tall student stepped forward—Zereth Uruk, cousin of the Uruk-hai spy, eyes glowing faintly purple.

“I’d like to personally test your strength before we go in,” Zereth said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Syrian moved forward, but Drake stopped him.

“Alright. After class.”

Cole grinned. “Make sure one of you walks away.”

*

Later that evening, the dueling grounds were packed.

Everyone had heard: Drake vs Zereth—a fight that had nothing to do with rank, and everything to do with bloodlines and buried threats.

Drake stood shirtless, shadow qi flickering faintly under his skin. He’d equipped a Shadow Qi Cloak from the market, invisible to others but boosting his defense.

System Notification:

⟨Temporary Boost: Bloodline Stabilized (98%)⟩  

[Skill Slot Activated: Shadow Fang Mirage]

Zereth cracked his knuckles. “You’re a mistake that needs fixing.”

Drake raised a brow. “You talk like someone who’s already lost.”

Then they vanished.

Shadow against illusion. Speed against deception.

The fight was blinding, with students gasping, struggling to follow.

Zereth created three shadow clones, each striking from different angles—but Drake’s new ability let him mirror himself mid-attack, confusing the real target.

BAM—CRACK—

Zereth flew backward, spitting blood. Drake stood over him, eyes glowing faintly.

“I’m not the one you need to fear,” he whispered. “It’s what’s coming.”

*

After the match, as the crowd dispersed in stunned silence, Cole walked over.

“Nicely done. Just make sure when the real fight comes—you’re ready to kill.”

Drake didn’t respond.

But inside, Sky spoke:

“They’re testing you. Every move you make now determines your survival later. Be careful.”

And across the city, deep in the Uruk-hai stronghold, Zereth’s loss triggered an alert.

The elders gathered again.

This time, they sent out an order:

“Contact the Blood Reapers. It’s time we bring Drake in—alive or broken.”

---

Three days later.

The skies above Star City Academy turned violet as a massive rift tore open in the sky. Spatial rings rotated above the training grounds as students lined up in squads, ready to enter the Broken Void Forest.

Drake stood with Syrian and Riva, all wearing their elite communication watches, now upgraded with real-time life-signal trackers.

Instructor Ravel’s voice echoed:

"Inside the Broken Void Forest, there are no instructors, no rescue squads. You either pass the trial… or you don’t return."

A loud hum followed. The teleportation circle activated beneath them.

System Notification:

⟨Quest Accepted: Survive the Broken Void Arc⟩  

[Objectives:]  

•⁠  ⁠Survive for 7 Days  

•⁠  ⁠Acquire 10 High-Rank Blood Crystals  

•⁠  ⁠Defeat at least 1 Named Beast  

•⁠  ⁠Optional: Discover the Hidden Temple (???)  

[Rewards: XP, Skill Tokens, ???]

In a flash of light—they vanished.

*

Inside the Broken Void Forest…

The environment was completely alien.

Floating islands. Twisted trees. Purple lightning flickering in the sky. The qi here felt… unstable.

Riva drew her weapon. “The beasts here aren’t normal. They mutate faster the longer they live.”

Syrian knelt near a glowing crystal embedded in the soil. “Void signature. We’re in a rift that's barely holding together.”

Suddenly—a roar.

A three-headed obsidian panther leapt from the shadows, its body covered in glowing runes.

Drake activated Shadow Fang Mirage, splitting into two forms and flanking the beast.

The fight was fast, deadly. Riva’s flames sealed the beast’s movement, while Syrian copied its agility skill mid-fight.

Drake landed the final blow—driving his flame-coated fist into its core.

⟨Beast Defeated: Rank B+⟩  

[Reward: +150,000 XP, 1 Blood Crystal (Rare)]

As the dust settled, Riva noticed something in the distance.

A black monolith. Ancient. Pulsing with red light.

Drake’s system buzzed violently.

⟨WARNING: Sealed Temple Detected – DO NOT APPROACH⟩  

[System Authority Locked Until Chapter 10]

Drake frowned.

“Something in this forest is watching us…”

And from deep beneath the temple, a chained creature opened its eyes for the first time in centuries.

A whisper escaped its lips.

“The hybrid has entered the rift… at last.”

Night fell unnaturally fast in the Broken Void Forest. The stars above flickered as if watching.

Drake’s squad had set up camp within a collapsed ruin, shielding themselves with a temporary barrier Riva generated using her flame qi. The group sat around a low fire—silent, alert.

Syrian sharpened a blade, his voice low.  

“Those beasts aren’t random. They’re protecting something.”

Drake stared out toward the black monolith in the distance.  

“I know. And I think… it’s calling to me.”

Riva looked up sharply.  

“You’re not going near that thing, are you?”

Before he could answer, the system chimed again:

⟨System Alert: Tracked by Unknown Bloodline Signature⟩  

[Incoming presence: Classified - Estimated Threat Level: God-Tier Seed]

Just then—the sky cracked.

A massive blood-colored meteor fell far off in the distance, shaking the forest floor.

“...That wasn’t a meteor,” Syrian muttered. “That was a drop pod.”

Drake stood, his qi already pulsing.  

“They’ve sent someone in after me.”

Miles away, Zereth Uruk stood at the edge of a ravine, speaking into a glowing communication orb.

“The Reaper has landed. The hybrid won't survive the night.”

And deep underground, the chained creature beneath the temple smiled.

“The blood of demon and vampire… finally returns to the forest that birthed it.”

—

End of Chapter 8