The city of Taigasu usually possesses an ethereal beauty at night. Nestled against the mountain slopes, the neon lights of this modern metropolis glow as vibrantly as cherry blossoms in full bloom. However, tonight, the atmosphere was hauntingly different. No rain fell from the sky; instead, the heavens seemed draped in a mournful, pitch-black shroud. Every drop of moisture that touched Sima's skin felt like a freezing needle. The modern glass buildings on either side of the alley stood like silent, towering shadows. The silence was so profound that Sima could hear the frantic rhythm of her own heartbeat echoing in her ears. Suddenly, a deafening crash resonated through the alley as a manhole cover was hurled nearly ten feet into the air. From the dark depths beneath the street, the ultimate horror emerged—a Kimon.
The Kimon stood over eight feet tall. Its body was not that of a healthy human; it appeared to be a grotesque patchwork of a hundred rotting corpses, stitched together by some deranged craftsman. Three blood-red eyes glowed with a sinister crimson light from its forehead. Its mouth was a cavernous void, constantly dripping thick, pitch-black bile. Its claws were massive and as sharp as surgical blades. As it unfurled its tattered, bat-like wings, a foul stench of decaying flesh and burnt sulfur filled Sima's lungs. Sima realized that even in this golden age of advanced science, there were supernatural forces beyond human comprehension and utterly terrifying. She decided to process these wonders later; for now, her only objective was to survive.
A Brush with Death
Sima ran with every ounce of her strength. Water splashed beneath her feet, hitting the cold walls of the alley, but terror gripped her, and she was on the verge of bursting into tears. The Kimon's inhuman, screeching laughter was sharp enough to pierce her eardrums. Suddenly, Sima tripped on the slippery pavement and slammed violently into the mud and rain-soaked ground. The Kimon did not waste a moment; it lunged at her with feral intensity. Its massive, hairy claw stopped just inches above Sima's delicate throat. Sima realized that there was no earthly way out. She closed her eyes, remembered the Almighty, and began to wait for her final moment.
The Arrival of Nora and the Epic Battle
At that extreme moment, a strange high-frequency sound suddenly vibrated through the alley. It felt as if someone had channeled thousands of volts of electricity through the air. Trembling, Sima opened her eyes to see a tall young man standing like a fortress between her and the hideous Kimon. He wore the prestigious dark uniform of Genkasu Academy. In his right hand was a massive silver sword, pulsating with blue electromagnetic or 'Paochi' energy. The boy was none other than Nora. Nora's eyes were icy and focused, looking at the powerful enemy as if it were a mere, trivial object.
The Kimon let out a cataclysmic roar of rage and attempted to strike Nora's head with its left hand. However, Nora stepped back just one pace with incredible physical agility, parrying the attack. As Nora's silver sword sliced through the air, a sharp whistling sound echoed throughout the alley. In a fraction of a second, the Kimon's massive right arm was severed at the elbow and sent flying to the ground. Miraculously, the Kimon's blue blood began to evaporate into the air before even touching the ground. There was no trace of fear on Nora's handsome face; instead, he exuded an aura of innate nobility. He gripped the leather hilt of his sword tighter. The rainwater beneath his feet began to swirl counter-clockwise in a perfect circle—this was the external manifestation of his awakened Kuhutsu Power.
Infuriated and in agony, the Kimon threw its entire weight at Nora in a desperate leap. But Nora's calm demeanor suggested he had expected exactly this. Defying gravity, Nora leaped nearly seven feet into the air. Within the swirling wind, he carved a perfect triangular sigil into the darkness with his blade. Under the sheer force of that divine sword strike, the Kimon's massive, monstrous body shattered into small pieces, like fish scales, and began to fall away. As Nora landed gracefully, the last drop of blue blood slid off the tip of his blade. The Kimon let out one final, sky-shattering shriek before crumbling into dust like sand. Every move Nora made was so rhythmic and precise it felt like watching a warrior king on an ancient battlefield. With utter disdain, Nora sheathed his sword and turned to look at Sima. His calm yet piercing gaze sent a shiver down to the very marrow of Sima's bones. Sima stood frozen, never imagining that such a formidable warrior was hidden as a student within their Genkasu Academy.
Secrets of Genkasu Academy
"Stand up, Sima. Now is not the time to sit on the ground," Nora's grave voice was clearly audible even through the sound of the wind. He extended his strong hand toward Sima. Still trembling with terror, Sima took his reliable hand and struggled to her feet.
"Do you... do you always fight these monsters like this? Aren't you afraid?" Sima asked in a shaky voice. Nora let out a long sigh and looked toward the distant horizon. "Every day, Sima. But the ordinary people of Taigasu cannot know. Because the special cell called 'Naiguru' is not active in their ordinary brains. They only see the smoke on the surface of the world; they cannot feel the blazing fire within."
The two began walking slowly out of the dark alley toward the main road. In the distance, the towering mountains of Taigasu were completely swallowed by thick black clouds, as if the city were draped in a veil of mystery. As they walked, Nora began to reveal the thousand-year secret history of Genkasu Academy. This academy was not merely a place for academic education; it was a secret fortress built for the special 20% of humanity. Only those with the specific neural circuit called 'Naiguru' have the power to see the true and terrifying form of this world. Nora explained clearly that these Kimons do not come from elsewhere; they are born from the deep, dark thoughts, hatred, and fears within the human mind itself. When human imagination is directed toward a distorted path, these Kimon monsters take physical form.
"Sima, the 'Water' element form I saw within you is extremely rare in our Paochi science," Nora continued with gravity. He explained in detail how new students at Genkasu Academy undergo rigorous training to use their high intelligence (IQ) and deep childhood memories to generate 'Paochi' energy. Paochi is the fundamental energy emitted from Naiguru cells, which is subsequently transformed into 'Kuhutsu Power' according to the user's will. Nora added that both Toko and Sima are vital assets for this academy because the latent energy levels within them are many times higher than those of ordinary students. Nora's voice carried a hint of concern as he said that deep conspiracies are brewing in the upper echelons of the academy. Dark forces like Giotano are waiting to steal the Naiguru power of the 20% for their own sinister purposes. Sima listened, mesmerized. She realized that her life as a normal schoolgirl had ended forever on this rainy night. She was now a front-line soldier in an invisible war. Before leaving, Nora warned her repeatedly that a thousand evil eyes were now watching their every step. Since Sima could see the Kimon with her own eyes, a major disaster was certain to strike her peaceful life.
The Chilling Conclusion
The streets of Taigasu were now deserted and mysterious. The dim yellow streetlights flickered occasionally in the wind. Nora escorted Sima to the gate of her apartment with extreme caution. Just before saying goodbye, Nora pulled a small, bright bluish stone fragment from his uniform pocket and handed it to Sima. "Keep this with you always. If you ever feel that a Kimon or any evil presence is near you, this stone will glow on its own to warn you."
When Sima entered her apartment, water was dripping from her clothes. She collapsed onto a corner of her bed, exhausted. But she couldn't close her eyes; the blood-chilling memories of tonight crowded her mind. She went to the window and carefully peeked through the heavy curtain. On the distant mountain peak, a strange dark red light was pulsing. She felt intensely as though someone was staring directly at her window from that peak. Suddenly, while the room was dark, she noticed a small but deep bite mark on the corner of her dressing table mirror—exactly like the teeth marks of those Kimons! Her heart skipped a beat; did the Kimons already enter her private room? Were they trying to give her a specific message?
At that moment, Sima's smartphone rang with a sharp tone. A message from a completely unknown number appeared on the screen: "You will soon enter the deep secrets of Genkasu Academy, Sima. Be ready." Sima couldn't understand who the message was from. Was it a joke from Toko? Or a warning from Nora? Or a threat from some other mysterious entity? Her heart raced unnaturally again. Every word Nora spoke was now echoing in her ears, making her feel both thrilled and terrified. Meanwhile, standing on that dark mountain peak of Taigasu, Giotano let out a thunderous laugh. He whispered, "Soon, our auspicious moment and the news will arrive. Whether it will be bad news or good news—only time will tell." Giotano's voice-like-thunder dissolved into the silence of the night.