Night had fully descended upon Glory Academy.
The academy that had seemed lively and magnificent during the day now felt completely different beneath the moonlight.
The tall towers cast long shadows across the stone grounds.
Cold wind swept through the pathways.
Torches flickered along the walls.
Students slowly returned to their dormitories after evening training.
But Raj stood alone by his dormitory window.
His gaze was fixed on the far eastern side of the academy.
There—
A strange pressure lingered in the air.
His instincts screamed at him.
Then suddenly—
His Energy Vision activated on its own.
Blue light flashed through his eyes.
And in the next instant—
He saw it.
Black mist.
Cold.
Twisted.
Unnatural.
It swirled around the top of a distant tower like living smoke.
Raj narrowed his eyes.
"That definitely isn't normal."
Panna appeared beside him.
Her usual playful expression was gone.
"No."
"It's corruption."
Raj's expression changed.
"The same kind from my trial?"
Panna stared at the black mist.
Then nodded slowly.
"…Very similar."
Raj's heartbeat quickened.
Before he could respond—
A loud alarm rang throughout the academy.
DING! DING! DING!
A powerful voice echoed across the grounds—
"All students return to their dormitories immediately!"
"Repeat—all students remain indoors!"
Aman nearly fell off his bed.
"Oh no…"
Raj turned.
"What happened?"
Aman pointed toward the distant tower with a pale face.
"The Eastern Tower…"
Raj frowned.
"What about it?"
Aman swallowed nervously.
"Weird things happen there sometimes…"
"Students disappear…"
"Teachers seal it…"
"Then everything goes quiet…"
Raj stared.
"…That sounds incredibly unsafe for a school."
Aman nodded rapidly.
"Exactly!"
Then—
The system screen flashed before Raj.
---
Emergency Mission Triggered
Investigate the Corruption in Eastern Tower
Reward: Unknown
Failure: Severe Consequences
---
Raj sighed.
"Of course."
Aman grabbed his arm instantly.
"You're not thinking of going there, are you?!"
Raj gently removed his hand.
"I need to check it."
Aman looked horrified.
"You need therapy."
"Probably."
And with that—
Raj slipped out of the dorm.
---
The path toward Eastern Tower was deserted.
Most students had already fled indoors.
The deeper Raj walked—
The colder the air became.
His breath turned visible.
The black mist thickened.
His Energy Vision intensified automatically.
And what he saw made his expression darken.
The air around the tower was fractured.
Black cracks of corruption spread like broken glass through space itself.
It looked as if reality had been damaged.
Raj whispered—
"This place feels wrong…"
Panna nodded grimly.
"Be careful."
---
The giant doors of Eastern Tower stood half-open.
Ancient.
Heavy.
Covered in faded runes.
Raj slowly pushed them open.
CREEEEAK—
Cold air burst outward.
Inside—
Darkness.
Silence.
A spiral staircase stretched upward into shadow.
Raj stepped inside cautiously.
His footsteps echoed.
One step.
Two steps.
Three—
Then—
THUD!
Something dropped from above.
Raj jumped backward instantly.
A black humanoid creature landed before him.
Featureless body.
Smoke-like flesh.
Red glowing eyes.
Its aura was identical to the monsters from Raj's trial.
Raj's pupils shrank.
"That thing—"
Panna shouted—
"It's from the Trial Realm!"
The creature lunged.
Raj reacted immediately.
Energy surged into his legs.
He dodged sideways.
Gathered power in his fist—
And punched.
BOOM!
The monster flew backward—
But rose again instantly.
Raj's eyes widened.
"It tanked that?!"
Panna yelled—
"Weak point!"
Raj activated full Energy Vision.
And saw it.
A black core.
Inside its neck.
The creature attacked again.
Raj ducked beneath its claws—
Grabbed its arm—
Twisted his body—
Then drove his elbow into the glowing core.
CRACK!
The core shattered.
The creature dissolved into black smoke.
Raj exhaled.
"One down."
Then—
Footsteps echoed through the tower.
Above.
Below.
Behind.
Everywhere.
Raj slowly turned.
Pairs of red eyes lit up in the darkness.
One.
Three.
Five.
Ten.
Then more.
Raj groaned.
"…Seriously?"
Panna screamed—
"RUN!"
Raj ran.
Straight up the spiral staircase.
The creatures chased him.
Their footsteps thundered behind him.
Second floor.
Third floor.
Fourth floor.
Fifth floor.
His lungs burned.
His legs screamed.
The monsters were gaining.
Finally—
He reached the top chamber.
He kicked the door open—
Leapt inside—
Then slammed it shut behind him.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The creatures pounded on the door.
Raj backed away—
Panting heavily.
Then froze.
At the center of the room—
A massive black crystal floated above an ancient stone altar.
Corruption poured from it endlessly.
Dark energy flooded the chamber.
Panna shouted—
"That's the source!"
Raj stepped closer carefully—
Then—
A calm voice echoed behind him.
"Move away from it."
Raj spun around.
And froze.
Standing there—
Silver sword in hand—
Was Shivani.
Principal of Glory Academy.
Raj blinked.
"…Well this is awkward."
Shivani narrowed her eyes.
"How did you get here?"
Raj coughed.
"I walked?"
She stared flatly.
"…Terrible lie."
Raj sighed.
"Fair."
Her eyes sharpened.
"You sensed the corruption?"
Raj stayed silent.
That alone answered her question.
Then—
CRACK!!
The black crystal shattered.
Dark smoke exploded across the room.
The walls trembled.
A monstrous roar shook the tower.
From the smoke—
A giant creature emerged.
Three meters tall.
Covered in black armor-like flesh.
Massive horns curved from its skull.
Its glowing red eyes radiated hatred.
Its mere presence crushed the air.
Raj's face paled.
"Oh that is definitely a boss monster."
Shivani stepped forward instantly.
"Stay behind me."
The monster roared and attacked.
It moved with terrifying speed.
Shivani vanished like lightning.
Her sword flashed.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Silver arcs split the air itself.
But—
The monster blocked every strike.
Then swung its massive arm.
BOOM!
Shivani slid backward across the floor.
Raj's eyes widened.
"It can fight her evenly?!"
Panna panicked.
"That thing is WAY stronger than the others!"
Raj activated Energy Vision.
His eyes glowed intensely—
And he saw it.
A black core.
Inside the monster's chest.
Raj shouted—
"The chest! Its weak point is in the chest!"
Shivani's eyes flashed.
"Distract it!"
Raj froze.
"…Why is it always me?!"
The monster turned toward him.
Its voice rumbled—
"Insect…"
Raj grimaced.
"Yeah yeah, heard that before."
It charged.
Raj dove aside.
The floor exploded where he had stood.
Raj gathered energy in his palms—
And blasted its face.
The attack did little damage—
But gained its attention.
"HEY UGLY!"
The monster roared and chased him.
Exactly as planned.
Shivani rushed from behind—
Sword glowing brilliantly.
She struck its chest—
But the monster twisted at the last second.
Her blade only partially pierced.
The monster counterattacked—
A black tail erupted from its back.
Shivani barely dodged.
Raj scanned the room desperately.
Then he saw it—
A giant metal chandelier-like structure hanging overhead.
He shouted—
"Bring that down!"
Shivani instantly understood.
Her sword flashed.
The chain snapped.
CRAAASH!
The structure slammed onto the monster.
Pinning it briefly.
Raj charged.
Gathered every ounce of power in his body.
Blue energy wrapped around his fist.
He roared—
And slammed his attack into the exposed chest core.
BOOOOM!!
The core cracked.
The monster screamed.
But—
Its hand shot out—
And grabbed Raj by the throat.
His eyes widened.
He was lifted into the air.
He couldn't breathe.
Its grip tightened.
Panna screamed—
"RAJ!"
The monster growled—
"Die…"
Then—
SHING!
Silver light flashed.
Shivani's sword pierced straight through its chest.
Into the broken core.
The monster froze.
Its body cracked apart—
Then exploded into smoke.
Raj dropped to the floor—
Coughing violently.
Shivani lowered her sword.
Then looked down at him.
"You alive?"
Raj coughed.
"Debatable."
For the first time—
A faint smile touched her lips.
Then vanished.
She studied him carefully.
"You are not an ordinary student."
Raj remained silent.
She nodded.
"And now you're deciding how much to hide from me."
Raj coughed again.
"…Probably."
She gave a small, amused exhale.
Then her expression turned cold as she looked at the shattered crystal.
"This was planted here deliberately."
Raj frowned.
"You mean someone inside the academy did this?"
"Yes."
Her voice was icy.
"There is a traitor among us."
Raj's expression darkened.
Shivani turned toward him.
"You will speak of tonight to no one."
Raj nodded.
"Understood."
She stepped closer.
"And you…"
"Come to my office tomorrow morning."
"Alone."
Raj's heartbeat quickened.
"…Yes, Principal."
She turned to leave—
Then paused.
"And Raj…"
"Yes?"
"If you had not come tonight…"
"The damage would have been far worse."
Then she disappeared.
---
Later that night—
Raj returned to his dorm.
The academy had calmed.
Most students knew only that another "tower incident" had occurred.
As soon as Raj entered—
Aman jumped from his bed.
"YOU'RE ALIVE!"
Raj smirked weakly.
"Disappointed?"
Aman grabbed his shoulders.
"WHERE WERE YOU?!"
Raj answered calmly—
"Night walk."
Aman stared.
"You went on a NIGHT WALK during an academy lockdown?!"
"Yes."
"You are genuinely insane."
Raj nodded.
"Fair."
---
That night—
Long after Aman fell asleep—
Raj stood by the window.
Staring at the now-silent Eastern Tower.
Panna floated beside him.
"Scared?"
Raj stayed silent for a moment.
Then answered honestly—
"Yes."
"But also excited."
Panna smiled.
"Good."
Then—
The system screen flashed.
---
Mission Complete
+500 EXP
+Energy Control Improved
+Hidden Reputation Increased
New Main Quest Unlocked
Find the Hidden Enemy Within Glory Academy
---
Raj read the words.
Then smiled faintly.
"So now I'm a student…"
"And a detective."
Panna smirked.
"Welcome to your new life."
Far below the academy—
Deep underground—
A sealed chamber trembled.
Ancient black chains rattled.
And in the darkness—
Something slowly opened its eyes.
---
End of Chapter 5