Evening — University Campus
The evening light spread across the university grounds, casting long shadows over the wide stone paths. Students moved between buildings, laughing, talking, some walking briskly, others lingering.
Jin walked alone, hands in his pockets, his mind calm.
Near the training building, something caught his attention.
Four boys surrounded a girl.
One gripped her arm tightly. She looked tense, uncomfortable.
Jin glanced once. Then kept walking.
Not his problem.
But someone passed him.
Veron Walker.
A boy from his class.
He walked straight toward the group, his pace calm, deliberate.
Jin stopped.
Veron's voice cut through the air, steady:
"Is there a problem here?"
One boy turned, annoyance etched across his face.
The one holding the girl relaxed his grip, then casually draped an arm around her shoulders.
"No problem."
The girl said nothing.
Veron's eyes locked onto hers.
"One more time.
Is there a problem?"
The boys noticed Jin standing behind him.
One stepped forward.
"Leave.
This is our class's business."
Veron's faint smile didn't waver.
"No.
That would be boring."
Two boys rushed toward him.
Jin didn't hesitate. He entered the fray.
Veron waited until the last moment.
Then the first punch came—fast, sharp, clean.
Veron tilted his head slightly, the fist passing through empty air.
Countering instantly, he drove a sharp strike to the boy's ribs. Breath exploded from the boy's lungs as he crumpled to one knee.
The second attacker swung wildly.
Veron stepped into the arc, elbow driving upward.
The impact snapped the boy's head back.
Behind them, the other two turned toward Jin.
One grabbed a metal baton from the ground.
"Stay out of this!"
Jin sighed quietly.
"Too late."
The baton swung toward his head.
He leaned back just enough to let it whistle past his nose.
His hand shot forward, grabbing the attacker's wrist, twisting sharply.
A crisp crack echoed. The boy dropped the baton with a cry.
The second boy lunged.
Jin sidestepped smoothly, shoulder crashing into the attacker's chest. The impact sent him flying backward.
Before he could recover, Veron stepped beside him.
Their movements aligned, natural and precise.
A kick. A shove. A final strike.
Within seconds, all four boys lay on the ground.
Silence settled over the small courtyard.
Veron brushed imaginary dust from his sleeve.
"That was disappointing."
Jin glanced at him.
"…You were enjoying that."
Veron's lips twitched in a faint smile.
"Maybe a little."
Night — Professor Cole's Office
Night settled slowly over Eclipse Dominion University. Lights flickered on across the campus as students returned to their dorms.
Far away, inside the faculty building, Professor Cole sat alone in his office.
The only illumination came from the computer screen.
He opened Jin's student file. Several sections were blank:
Birthplace: RestrictedPrevious Residence: RestrictedBackground: RestrictedCole leaned back slowly in his chair, muttering:
"Interesting."
He recalled the unstable energy he had felt when grabbing Jin's hand earlier.
"That boy is hiding something."
Meanwhile — Dormitory
Emily Turner stepped out of the bathroom, long white hair still wet.
A single towel wrapped loosely around her, water droplets sliding down her collarbone.
She paused in front of the mirror, thoughts drifting to Jin and Mira on the bus.
"…Whatever."
She began drying her hair.
Elsewhere on Campus
In a quiet corner near the dormitories, Jin stood alone.
He opened his phone. Contact: William Hayes.
The call connected.
"Good evening, young master," William's voice was calm, precise.
Jin spoke quietly.
"I need to enter the Abyss."
Silence followed.
"Did something change your mind?"
Jin looked toward the dark horizon.
"Ethan is chasing me again."
Another pause.
William's voice suddenly turned cold:
"Did you inform your father?"
"No.
He wouldn't care."
Jin exhaled slowly.
"I'll finish the mission."
"As you wish, young master," William replied immediately.
The call ended. Jin slipped the phone into his pocket.
He lit a cigarette. The small flame revealed his calm, focused eyes.
Smoke drifted upward into the night.
Jin's gaze scanned the sky… then the dormitories.
And then he felt it.
Someone was watching him!