When Baek So-ah and I stepped outside, the cool air gave my head a slight chill. It seemed as though everything had finally settled down…
But, as always, it was merely an illusion.
A few minutes later, he appeared.
Tamsik.
His steps were heavy, and his gaze was full of irritation, as if he'd been holding it in all this time.
'Hey, you, Ha Jin…' his voice rang out sharply, cutting through the silence. 'Get away from So-ah. She's mine.'
I sighed.
'Oh, really? Yours?' I looked him straight in the eye. 'She's not an object to be owned.'
Beside me, So-ah frowned and took a step back.
'Tamsik, that's enough. I decide for myself who I'm with.'
But he wasn't listening to her.
'You just don't understand…' His voice dropped. 'I've been by her side all this time. I've been protecting her. And you… you just turned up.'
'Protecting her?' I smirked. 'Or trying to tie her to you?'
Silence.
'So…' he said slowly. 'Do you think you're better than me?'
'I think you're behaving like an idiot.'
…
At that moment, the tension reached breaking point.
But before things came to a head—
'Emotions…'
A quiet voice from the side.
Chon Min-jae.
He stood by the wall, watching calmly.
— If you carry on, it'll end badly.
— Why are you butting in?
— I'm not butting in. I'm watching.
…
— Enough.
A soft voice from behind.
Yoon Ha-rin.
— You're not fighting because of strength… but because of the fear of losing.
…
And at that moment—
"Hah…"
A mocking voice rang out from above.
Kang Dae-wook.
"You call this a fight? Ridiculous…"
He leapt down.
BAM.
The ground shook.
"Let me show you what real strength is."
---
— Listen… shall we fight? — Da-wook yawned, looking at Min-jae. — Bro.
— You're not ready yet, little brother, — the other replied coldly.
A flash of rage.
The sword engraved with 'Freedom' flew from its sheath.
A blow.
Empty.
Min Jae had vanished.
A split second — and blood.
Dae-wook's hand fell to the ground.
A scream.
A twisted knee.
'Go to hell…'
…
And it all fell apart.
---
Someone screamed.
Someone struck.
Someone died.
The academy turned into a battlefield.
Tamsik killed one of the students.
Panic.
A massive brawl.
Blood.
Screams.
---
'Your friend… is insanely strong!' shouted Tamsik, dragging Dae-wook away. "He's got an A+!"
"So what?! I've got an A!"
"Don't interrupt me! I'll unleash the monsters!"
…
And he did.
---
The monsters poured in.
And I…
I got a taste for it.
The blade moved of its own accord.
Blood flowed.
Bodies fell.
That wasn't me.
That was SCAR.
But I…
Didn't stop.
---
Somewhere off to the side, Da-wook had already found a new victim.
From Class A.
First-years.
Weaklings.
He attacked.
Without a word.
Speed.
Strength.
A stone torn from the wall flew at them.
They fell even before it struck.
Fear.
Despair.
---
— Damn…
Tamsik saw it.
And brought…
A second-level monster.
But—
A WHISTLE.
A head flew off.
The Headmaster.
— What the…
The teachers were standing behind him.
Mr Kaito.
Mrs Shou.
Mrs Ryo.
And…
Mrs Aki.
With a whip in her hand.
Smiling.
But dangerous.
---
And at that moment—
I snapped.
SCAR took control.
I tore everyone to shreds.
Indiscriminately.
Without a thought.
---
'Die, old man!' shouted Min Jae, lunging forward.
But Kaito stopped him.
Without even drawing his sword.
---
Tamsik was breathing heavily.
He sat down.
Disappointed.
And at that moment—
He felt pain.
A sword.
In his chest.
My sword.
— Die… — I whispered. — So A is mine…
And I laughed.
Madly.
---
…
Later
Silence.
Too quiet.
---
I lay there, staring at the ceiling.
Sleep wouldn't come.
My hand rose.
A spark.
Lightning.
A crackle.
I clenched my fingers.
— …I copied it.
Tamsik's element.
Not completely.
But enough.
…
If I can copy…
Then…
My thoughts raced.
The sixth-years.
The strongest.
What abilities do they have?
How much more power can I take?
…
And the main question—
What will happen if SCAR starts taking them himself?..
---
Meanwhile…
In another room.
So A hadn't slept.
She sat by the window, staring into the darkness.
— Dae-wook…
Her voice was quiet.
— His strength… isn't just physical.
She clenched her hand.
— It's as if… he's warping space with his pressure.
A pause.
— And Min Jae…
Her expression grew serious.
— Why do they hate each other so much?..
She recalled that moment.
Their gazes.
It wasn't just enmity.
It was… the past.
---
"And another thing…"
She frowned.
"Today… there were too many strange things."
…
Someone who vanishes.
Someone who shatters bodies.
Someone who controls chaos.
…
And this is only the beginning.
---
Somewhere deep within the academy…
In a dark corridor.
A boy stood there.
With a pale smile.
— So… it has begun.
He took a step forward.
And beside him…
A student collapsed.
Exhausted.
Completely.
"Thank you for the strength."
His eyes flashed.
He… was draining their energy.
---
And elsewhere—
A roar rang out.
Monsters…
Stood motionless.
Before a single man.
— Stand still.
And they obeyed.
Without hesitation.
— Now… you are mine.
---
The Academy was no longer what it had been.
And what began today—
Was merely the first step.