The trio finally returned to their city. The air carried the weight of exhaustion after the mission. One by one, they parted ways, each heading home to rest. Jayden felt his muscles burning from the battles, yet an inner fire pushed him forward—he wanted to tell his father everything.
Kim gave him a knowing smile and, as a farewell, kissed his cheek. Jayden froze, his face flushing red as he quickly looked away. Nearby, Satsujin wore a faint, jealous smirk.
Jayden hurried off, heart still racing—only to run straight into Kyle.
Kyle stood calm, yet his imposing aura carried an almost oppressive presence. He stepped forward, his sharp gaze fixed on Jayden.
"Why are you here?" Jayden asked, wary.
Kyle remained silent for a moment, then spoke in a cold tone.
"Spit it out. What's your real style? Your real energy?"
"I already told you… my style is blue," Jayden replied firmly.
Kyle grabbed him by the collar, lifting him slightly.
"Someone with blue energy couldn't have done what you did yesterday," he said, his voice sharp.
Jayden shoved him back.
"Everything I did… came from training. I didn't reach that level by chance."
Kyle said nothing more. He turned and walked away, leaving Jayden uneasy.
Back home, Jayden told his father everything. Isaeah smiled, pride clear in his eyes.
"Well done, son. You're improving."
They ate together, trained a little, then went to sleep.
The next morning, Jayden noticed posters everywhere—calling him a fraud. His expression tightened.
"Dad… what's going on?" he asked.
"I don't know," Isaeah replied simply.
As Jayden stepped outside to investigate, a crowd surged toward him.
"We know you're not a Blue Styler!" one man shouted. "You're some kind of hybrid!"
The crowd roared. Jayden stepped back, unsettled.
Kyle emerged from within the mass and spoke calmly.
"I did some research yesterday. There are hybrids capable of copying styles… even mimicking blue energy."
Isaeah intervened.
"His mother was a Blue Styler. Jayden has no connection to those hybrids."
While the shouting continued, a mysterious figure stood on a rooftop, face hidden beneath a hood.
"A hybrid… huh. So he inherited it from her?" he murmured.
Then he vanished.
Moments later, the police arrived, dispersing the crowd and restoring order.
At school, Jayden was frustrated by Kyle's behavior. On the way, he spotted Kim. Blushing slightly, he ran over to her, and they began talking casually.
Satsujin suddenly appeared, placing a hand on Jayden's shoulder with a mocking smile.
"Hey… I think you forgot something. She's my girlfriend."
Embarrassed, Jayden apologized and quickly walked away. In the distance, Kim scolded Satsujin for spreading false information.
In class, Jayden sat next to Kim but didn't dare speak after what happened. When she asked for a pen, he simply replied:
"I only have one."
The lesson dragged on.
Elsewhere, in a dark place, three hooded men stood in silence. A child approached them—calm, yet with a cold, empty gaze.
"Kill the boy with blue style at S.S.S Academy," one of them said. "He's Black, often smiling. Be careful."
The child picked up his saber.
"Consider it done," he replied calmly. "I'll bring back his body."
The next day, class began normally.
Then the door opened.
A suffocating aura filled the room.
The principal entered, accompanied by a boy the same age as Jayden.
The boy introduced himself, cold and composed:
"I am Kurai Ko."
A hybrid.
He had come to study among them.
The other students found him strange. Jayden, however, remained indifferent.
Kurai spoke directly:
"Where is Jayden Cross?"
"Uh… right here," Jayden answered, surprised.
Without another word, Kurai sat beside him.
Throughout the lesson, he kept staring at Jayden.
Finally, Jayden spoke.
"Are you okay? And… your style?"
Kurai answered calmly:
"I'm never okay. My style is white."
Jayden looked away slightly.
"…Okay."
After class, Jayden noticed Kurai following him.
Uneasy, he began to run.
Kurai followed.
Then—
BAM.
Jayden collided with Kim, who had been running toward him.
Getting back up, he turned to Kurai.
"What do you want?"
"I just want to talk. In private," Kurai replied calmly.
Jayden, still wary, tried to leave.
Later, on his way home, Jayden felt a presence behind him.
He turned.
A hooded boy.
The moment he realized he'd been spotted, the boy lunged forward, drawing his blade.
Jayden reacted instantly. Steel clashed.
The attacker moved around him with precision, striking and piercing him slightly.
Jayden staggered back, wounded.
Suddenly, a bright light flooded the street.
"Break it up! No fighting here!" a police officer shouted.
Startled, the hooded boy vanished into the shadows.
Jayden stood there, breathing heavily—fully aware that he had just encountered something dangerous.
Something that had come for him.