The next morning felt colder than usual.
Not because of the weather—
But because something had changed.
Kael could feel it.
Inside him.
---
He stood at the edge of Training Sector Alpha, staring at a structure that hadn't been there before.
A massive gate.
Towering.
Covered in ancient runes.
Dark energy pulsed through its surface, mixed with faint traces of light and something deeper… something unnatural.
"…That's new," Rex said, stepping beside him.
Lyra crossed her arms.
"I don't like it."
Aurora stood silently, her eyes fixed on the gate.
"…It's not normal."
---
One by one, students gathered.
Even the Elite Squad was present.
Aiden stood near the front, serious as always.
Eryndor's spirits floated restlessly around him.
Rivena's summon growled softly.
Kaelithra, however—
Smiled.
"Well… this looks fun."
---
"Everyone's here."
Orion's voice cut through the noise.
He stood in front of the gate.
Calm.
Unshaken.
But even he felt different today.
More serious.
---
"This…"
He gestured toward the gate.
"…is a Realm Gate."
Silence.
Students exchanged confused looks.
"A gate… to where?" someone asked.
Orion's gaze sharpened.
"…To the space between realms."
The air grew heavy.
---
"It is unstable."
"It is dangerous."
"And once you enter…"
"You are on your own."
Lyra frowned.
"…What's the point of this?"
Orion answered immediately.
"Growth."
Rex smirked.
"Sounds good to me."
---
Orion continued:
"You will enter in teams."
"You will face creatures that do not belong to this world."
"And most importantly—"
His eyes moved to Kael.
"…You will face yourselves."
---
Kael felt it.
That weight.
That expectation.
That… focus.
---
"The objective is simple," Orion said.
"Survive for one hour."
"Or reach the core and return."
Rex cracked his knuckles.
"Easy."
Kaelithra laughed softly.
"I doubt that."
---
Orion raised his hand.
"The first team—"
"Aiden, Rivena, Eryndor."
The Elite Squad stepped forward without hesitation.
The gate activated.
Energy surged.
The space inside twisted.
Distorted.
---
"Enter."
They did.
Without fear.
The gate closed behind them.
---
Time passed slowly.
Too slowly.
The tension grew with every second.
Then—
The gate flickered.
And opened.
---
They returned.
But—
Not untouched.
Aiden's barrier flickered weakly.
Rivena's summon was gone.
Eryndor's spirits were dim.
"…Stronger than expected," Aiden said calmly.
Orion nodded.
"Good."
---
"Next."
His gaze shifted.
"Kael. Lyra. Rex. Aurora."
---
Kael stepped forward.
His heartbeat steady.
But inside—
Something stirred.
---
Lyra moved beside him.
"…Stay close."
Rex smirked.
"Try to keep up."
Aurora said nothing.
But her presence was sharp.
Focused.
---
They stood before the gate.
The energy inside it pulsed stronger.
As if reacting.
To Kael.
---
Orion noticed.
But said nothing.
"…Go."
---
They stepped in.
---
The world changed instantly.
The ground beneath them was gone.
Replaced by something darker.
Cracked.
Floating.
The sky—
Didn't exist.
Only a swirling void of energy.
Purple.
Black.
Gold.
All mixed together.
---
"…What is this place…?" Lyra whispered.
Aurora answered quietly.
"…A fractured realm."
---
A growl echoed.
Low.
Dangerous.
---
Shapes began to form.
Creatures.
Not fully solid.
Not fully real.
Distorted beings made of raw energy.
---
"Get ready," Rex said.
Lightning already forming around him.
---
The first creature attacked.
Fast.
Unpredictable.
Kael reacted instantly.
Dodged—
Countered—
His strike landed.
But—
The creature didn't fall.
---
"…It's not physical," Aurora said.
"Ice won't fully work either."
Lyra adjusted.
"Then we hit harder."
---
The battle began.
---
Rex unleashed lightning.
Blasting through multiple enemies.
Lyra moved like a storm.
Precise.
Deadly.
Aurora froze entire areas—
Slowing the enemies.
---
Kael fought in the center.
His movements sharper than before.
More controlled.
More focused.
But—
The creatures kept coming.
Endless.
---
Minutes passed.
Their breathing grew heavier.
The pressure increased.
---
Then—
The ground shifted.
A massive presence appeared.
Larger.
Stronger.
More stable than the others.
---
"…That's not normal," Rex muttered.
---
The creature stepped forward.
Its form stabilized.
Almost humanoid.
Its eyes—
Glowed gold.
---
Kael froze.
"…That energy…"
The same as—
Gods.
---
It spoke.
"…Found you."
---
Lyra's grip tightened.
"…Why is it talking…?"
Aurora stepped forward slightly.
"…It's not just a creature."
---
The being raised its hand.
Energy gathered.
---
"Move!" Kael shouted.
---
The attack came down.
BOOM
The entire area shook.
---
Kael stood up first.
Barely.
"…This is bad…"
---
The being looked directly at him.
"…God Slayer…"
---
Everything went silent.
---
Kael's eyes widened.
"…How do you—"
---
It moved instantly.
Faster than anything before.
---
Kael blocked—
But was thrown back.
Hard.
---
THUD
He crashed into the ground.
---
"KAEL!" Lyra shouted.
---
Rex charged forward.
Lightning exploded.
But—
The being blocked it.
Easily.
---
Aurora attacked next.
Ice surged.
Freezing everything—
Except it.
---
"…Not enough," it said calmly.
---
Kael forced himself up.
His body screamed in pain.
But he ignored it.
---
"…I'm not losing here…"
---
The glow appeared again.
Stronger.
Faster.
---
The being noticed.
"…Yes…"
"That power…"
---
Kael clenched his fist.
"Come on…"
---
For a split second—
The blade appeared again.
Clearer.
Closer.
---
Kael grabbed it.
---
And this time—
It didn't disappear immediately.
---
A dark-blue blade formed in his hand.
Incomplete.
Unstable.
But real.
---
Everyone froze.
---
"…No way…" Rex whispered.
---
Kael looked at it.
"…I did it…"
---
The being smiled.
"…Good."
---
Then—
It attacked.
---
Kael moved.
Faster than before.
---
Their clash shook the entire realm.
---
Blade against divine energy.
---
For the first time—
Kael didn't get pushed back.
---
But then—
The blade flickered.
---
"…Not yet…" the voice whispered.
---
The power faded.
---
Kael's eyes widened.
"…No—"
---
The being struck.
---
BOOOOM
Kael was thrown back again.
---
The world blurred.
---
Lyra caught him before he hit the ground.
"…Idiot…!"
---
The gate suddenly opened.
Orion's voice echoed:
"Return. Now."
---
They didn't hesitate.
---
As they stepped out—
Kael looked back.
---
The being stood there.
Watching.
---
"…Next time…"
It said.
"…You won't escape."
---
The gate closed.
---
Back in the academy—
Silence.
---
Everyone stared at Kael.
---
His hand trembled slightly.
---
"…I held it…"
---
For the first time—
The weapon had taken form.
---
Not fully.
But enough.
---
And that meant only one thing—
---