The Beginning of War
The next morning, the academy was already in motion.
Reports were arriving from across the continent.
More gates.
More creatures.
Entire cities under attack.
The situation had escalated beyond control.
Kael stood in the central hall once again, staring at the updated map.
There were more red marks now.
Far more.
Leon stood beside him.
"Well… looks like things got worse."
Kael nodded.
"This isn't random anymore."
Seraphine joined them.
"It's a coordinated invasion."
Kael turned toward her.
"And the thing connected to me…"
Seraphine didn't look surprised.
"You heard it, didn't you?"
Kael nodded.
"Yes."
Leon raised an eyebrow.
"Wait—what?"
Kael ignored him.
"It's not just watching," he said.
"It's waiting."
Seraphine crossed her arms.
"For what?"
Kael's eyes darkened.
"For me to get stronger."
Silence filled the hall.
Because they all understood what that meant.
This wasn't just a war.
It was preparation.
For something far worse.
Kael stepped forward.
Then said one thing:
"Then we don't wait."
Leon smirked.
"Now you're talking."
Seraphine nodded.
"The next phase begins."
Kael looked at the map.
At the countless gates.
At the chaos spreading across the world.
And for the first time—
He made a decision not as a student.
Not as a survivor.
But as something else.
Something greater.
"If they're bringing the war to us…"
His eyes glowed faintly.
"…we'll bring it to them first."