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In the ruins near the outskirts of a borderline city,
Anna stood before a massive stone tablet. Its surface was etched with glyphs and spirals of a language older than recorded history, glowing faintly beneath layers of dust and moss.
"What do you say, Ryuchi?" she asked without turning, eyes fixed on the symbols. Her tone was calm, yet it held the weight of urgency.
There were four of them: Anna, Ryuchi, Shizu, and the quiet man with ruby-red eyes. Each of them was ranked among the elites—S-Class Hunters whose names were whispered in towers and war rooms. Their presence alone felt like pressure in the air.
"Hmm... I can't give you an answer just yet. This isn't anything I've seen before," Ryuchi said, crouching closer to the tablet. His tone, unlike the others, was oddly enthusiastic.
"You do know the only reason we dragged you here, despite not being in the Golden Rankings, is your stupid skills, right?" Shizu said, arms crossed, her face a mask of irritation.
Before the tension could rise, Anna stepped in, holding Shizu by the shoulder. "Let it go. We're all here for a reason. We do this together, remember?" Her voice was calm, but her grip was firm.
"She's right," the man with red eyes said. His deep voice cut through the air like a still lake hiding great depth. "Focus on the task. This isn't just any normal relic."
Despite speaking the least, his presence kept the group grounded. He stood over 180cm, dark-haired, and built like someone who had fought death and won many times. His eyes didn't blink often—but when they did, they held clarity sharper than most could bear.
While they settled, Ryuchi wandered further in, tracing the glyphs with his fingers. He squinted, as if the carvings were whispering to him.
Then, thirty minutes later...
"I did it!" Ryuchi shouted, turning to the others with a beaming grin.
But no one replied.
They weren't looking at him.
They were all looking behind him.
A low, tremoring sound—like air being torn—echoed from the direction of the tablet.
Anna stepped forward, voice low. "What... i..s..that...?"
---
Meanwhile…
Sam finally stepped into City A, along with the others who had used the teleportation gate.
The moment he felt the ground beneath him shift and re-solidify, he opened his eyes to take it all in. The air felt richer, heavier with aether, and the sky above seemed painted rather than natural. Floating towers stretched across the horizon, energy tracks hummed with glowing transport vehicles, and elegant bridges arched between buildings like veins connecting the heart of a living city.
There he saw 7 diffrent towers having different themes and an extremely huge building - The Awakened Association HQ.
But Nova Sanctum stood at the center of it all — a half-fortress...half-cathedral. Sam had remembered of Leila's classes, where he learned that the academy was built after the first monster war as a fortress against future attacks. But now...after the borders of humanity expanded, it became a place where prospective mages and warriors were trained. With a lasting history of over 70 years, it had become a symbol of humanity's survival. And even the air around it breathed legacy.
"Whoa…" Sam whispered. Even compared to City M, this was something else.
He looked around for Zeke, hoping to spot the cold but familiar face in the crowd. Nothing. He sighed. "Guess I'll find him inside the academy."
The teleportation station began to clear, and Sam picked up his pace, clutching the strap of his backpack tighter. This was it — the next step.
Passing through the outer gate, he walked across polished stone pathways until he reached the a reception area near the inner walls, where dozens of new students were queuing. A large sign above the counter read:
ENTRANCE PROCESSING — FIRST-YEARS
Sam got in line. As the queue inched forward, he looked around at the other students. Some were visibly nervous. Others stood with confidence, clearly experienced. He saw kids carrying massive swords, a few in armor, and even one guy meditating mid-line.
Finally, his turn came.
"Name?" the girl at the counter asked without looking up. She had short brown hair and eyes that looked like they'd processed a thousand names already today.
"Sam. Sam Shneider."
Her fingers stopped briefly on the screen. She looked at him for a beat longer than she should have. "…Here," she said, sliding a red-tagged badge toward him. "Keep this visible. You'll be called soon. Don't leave campus until then."
"Thanks," Sam said, pocketing the badge. He turned just in time to hear her voice flatly call, "Next!"
Not knowing when the entrance test would begin, Sam decided to walk around. He strolled through the academy's grand courtyard, eyes darting between statues of past heroes and the archways covered in glowing runes.
Then he heard it.
"Hey! Watch where you're going, kid!"
The angry voice came from somewhere up ahead. A small crowd had already begun to gather.
Sam hurried forward, squeezing through students until he reached the front.
There stood Zeke.
Unsheathed sword in one hand. Cold gaze locked on another examinee—another examinee with a spear and a bruised ego.
"Just what has he gotten himself into now…" Sam muttered.
The other student, fuming, lunged. Zeke didn't move until the last moment — sidestepping and placing the flat of his blade gently on the attacker's shoulder.
"Hmm....," Zeke said flatly.
The crowd held its breath.
Sam didn't say a word, just watched as Zeke sheathed his sword and walked away. No smirk. No victory pose. Just calm, practiced motion.
The crowd began to whisper.
Sam stepped aside as Zeke passed by him. Their eyes met for the briefest moment.
Zeke paused, as his red eyes made eye contact with Sam. He gave Sam a quiet nod— and then walked on.
That was enough. Sam clenched his fists with a smile.
Guess I'll need to keep up with him.
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