The attack on the Kurogane Clan had ended…
but its shadow still lingered in everyone's mind.
Arata hadn't been able to sleep properly for the past three days.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw that golden wheel—and the ancient entity bound in chains.
---
### **The Beginning of the Academy**
That morning, Kaito took him to the main hall.
Several youths were already standing there—
some full of confidence,
some nervous,
and some with clear arrogance in their eyes.
Kaito clapped his hands.
"Welcome… to the Shadow Academy."
Arata whispered,
"Academy?"
Kaito smiled.
"Yes. This is the place where the protectors of this world are created."
"And where the useless ones… are eliminated."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
---
### **The Arrival of Ren Shiroyama**
Then a boy stepped forward.
Silver hair, sharp blue eyes…
and a cold aura radiating from his body.
"So this is the boy?"
He looked Arata up and down.
"The one who shook the entire Kurogane Clan?"
Kaito yawned slightly.
"Oh, you showed up early."
"Arata, this is Ren Shiroyama—the heir of the Shiroyama Clan."
Ren gave a faint smile.
"I hope you don't disappoint."
But his smile clearly carried a challenge.
---
### **The First Rule**
Suddenly, the ground began to glow.
Kaito's voice turned serious.
"First rule—no student is safe in the Shadow Academy."
"Here… only strength speaks."
The walls of the hall began to melt…
and the entire place transformed.
---
### **Field Simulation**
Everyone suddenly found themselves standing in a ruined city.
"This is a field simulation,"
Kaito said.
"Your first mission—eliminate a cursed creature."
The ground cracked open.
A distorted figure emerged—
black smoke, multiple eyes, and a piercing scream.
Some students stepped back.
---
### **Ren vs. The Cursed Creature**
Ren stepped forward.
"I'll go first."
He raised his hand—
icy energy burst forth.
"Frost Binding!"
Half of the creature's body froze.
Arata thought,
*He's strong…*
But then—
The creature laughed.
The frozen ice shattered.
In an instant, it lunged toward Ren.
"Ren!" someone shouted.
---
### **Arata's First Recognition**
Arata's body moved on its own.
That same warmth awakened within him again.
"Stop…"
He extended his hand.
The air trembled.
"Resonance—First Pulse."
A wave of golden and black energy burst forth—
BOOM!
The cursed creature was shattered mid-air.
---
### **A New Center**
Silence fell across the field.
Ren turned back to look at Arata.
There was no arrogance in his eyes now…
only curiosity.
Kaito smiled.
"Looks like… the academy has found its new center."
---
### **Eyes from the Darkness**
But far away…
A spy from the Dark Organization was watching everything.
"So this is it…"
"The vessel of the future."
In his hand, a broken talisman began to glow.
---
⚡ **To be continued…**