The ride back to Shadow Academy was unusually quiet.
The armored vehicle moved through the dark forest road while the moonlight slipped through the trees like silver blades.
Inside the vehicle, Ren sat with his arms crossed, staring out the window.
Lyra was silently reviewing the mission data on a glowing tablet.
But Arata…
Arata was somewhere else.
His mind kept replaying the last words of the Abyssal Warden.
*"Tell the ancient prisoner… the Abyss remembers."*
The voice of the Ancient Entity inside his mind had gone completely silent after that.
That silence worried him more than anything.
Finally Ren spoke.
"Well… that mission was definitely not normal."
Lyra nodded.
"A Gate Fragment appearing this early is extremely rare."
Ren looked at Arata.
"And that monster clearly knew you."
Arata looked down at his glowing palm.
"I don't know why."
Ren raised an eyebrow.
"You seriously expect us to believe that?"
Arata didn't reply.
Because the truth was—
He didn't understand it himself.
---
### Shadow Academy
When the team finally arrived back at the academy, something immediately felt wrong.
The atmosphere was tense.
Students were gathered in groups across the courtyard, whispering nervously.
Several elite instructors were patrolling the area.
Ren frowned.
"…Why does it feel like something happened?"
Before anyone could answer—
A familiar voice called out.
"Welcome back."
Kaito was standing on the academy steps, hands in his pockets.
His expression looked calm as always.
But his blindfold was slightly glowing.
Which meant one thing.
He had been using his power.
Lyra stepped forward.
"Sensei, the mission was not normal."
Kaito nodded.
"I know."
Ren blinked.
"…You know?"
Kaito turned toward the sky.
"The moment that Gate Fragment appeared…"
"…I felt it."
Arata's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You knew an Abyss creature would appear?"
Kaito's smile became faint.
"I hoped it wouldn't."
The courtyard became quiet.
Kaito looked directly at Arata.
"…But it did."
For a brief moment—
Neither of them spoke.
Then Kaito turned away.
"Follow me."
---
### The Sealed Chamber
Deep beneath Shadow Academy existed a place very few students had ever seen.
A massive underground hall built from black stone.
Ancient symbols were carved into every wall.
In the center of the chamber stood a gigantic sealed door.
It looked ancient.
Older than the academy itself.
Lyra's eyes widened slightly.
"…This place."
Ren whispered.
"I didn't even know this existed."
Kaito stopped in front of the sealed door.
"This chamber is the reason Shadow Academy was built."
Arata stared at the door.
He could feel something behind it.
Something powerful.
Something familiar.
Kaito spoke quietly.
"Thousands of years ago… humanity fought a war against the Abyss."
Ren frowned.
"…Wait."
"That's supposed to be a myth."
Kaito shook his head.
"It wasn't a myth."
His voice became heavier.
"The Abyss tried to invade this world."
"And the only reason humanity survived…"
"…was because of one being."
Arata felt his heartbeat suddenly speed up.
Kaito slowly placed his hand on the ancient door.
"That being defeated the Abyss armies."
"And sealed the gate between worlds."
Lyra whispered.
"…Who was it?"
Kaito looked directly at Arata.
"…The Ancient God."
The moment those words were spoken—
The golden mark on Arata's palm suddenly glowed brighter.
The chamber lights flickered.
Ren stepped back slightly.
"Okay that's weird."
Arata stared at his hand.
The voice inside his mind returned again.
Soft.
Ancient.
*You are finally standing where it all began.*
Arata's breathing became heavier.
Kaito watched him carefully.
"The power inside you…"
"…belongs to that same being."
Silence filled the chamber.
Ren slowly processed what he had just heard.
"Wait."
"You're saying Arata has the power of the Ancient God that saved humanity?"
Kaito nodded.
"Yes."
Lyra looked shocked.
"That means…"
"…he's the successor."
Arata's mind spun.
Successor?
Ancient God?
None of it made sense.
Kaito continued speaking.
"The Abyss has searched for that power for centuries."
"Because if they destroy its successor…"
"…nothing will stop them from invading this world again."
At that moment—
A loud explosion shook the entire academy.
**BOOM.**
Dust fell from the chamber ceiling.
Ren looked up.
"…Please tell me that was not what I think it was."
Kaito slowly smiled.
But this time—
It wasn't his usual relaxed smile.
It was cold.
"…They're early."
Another explosion echoed above them.
Students screamed somewhere in the distance.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"…The academy is under attack."
Kaito cracked his neck slightly.
"Well."
He finally removed his blindfold.
For the first time—
Arata saw Kaito's eyes clearly.
They were glowing bright blue.
And the power inside them felt terrifying.
Kaito looked toward the exit stairs.
"Looks like…"
"…the Abyss came to welcome our new successor."
Arata clenched his fist.
Outside—
The real battle was about to begin.
⚡ To be continued…