The sun had barely risen when Bolt woke up the next morning. The previous night's events lingered in his mind like a dark cloud. The voice, the symbol—it all felt too real, too intentional. And that gut feeling gnawed at him, that unsettling certainty that something was coming, something big.
"Bolt, you alive?" Aether's voice echoed from the other side of the door.
"Yeah," Bolt replied, his voice rough from sleep. He rubbed his eyes and swung his legs over the side of the bed. The cold floor greeted him like a slap in the face, and he winced. But he couldn't shake the unease that clung to him. The academy had changed overnight. It wasn't just about training or proving who was the strongest. It was about surviving.
The rest of the students were probably unaware, going about their day like nothing had happened, their minds on the next trial, the next challenge. But for Bolt, that message was still burning in his mind.
He stood and walked to the door, opening it to find Aether leaning against the frame, a grin plastered on his face.
"You look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. What's up with you?" Aether's tone was light, but there was a sharpness in his eyes. He was no stranger to sensing when his friend wasn't all there.
"I'm not sure," Bolt said, stepping out of his room. "Something's off about this place. Last night… that wasn't just a glitch. Someone sent a warning. And I don't think we're the only ones who noticed."
Aether raised an eyebrow. "Felix definitely noticed. I saw him leave the ceremony early. Looked like he was on a mission."
"Felix doesn't make random decisions," Bolt muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I'll bet he's involved somehow. And whatever this is—it's bigger than us."
The two of them walked down the hallway, joining Akane and a few other students who were already gathered for the morning briefing. The academy, as always, was bustling with activity. Some students were excited for the new classes, others talking about the next trials. But the underlying tension was palpable.
"Bolt! Aether!" Akane called out, waving as she saw them approach. "You guys seem like you're still recovering from yesterday's chaos."
"You could say that," Aether replied with a forced chuckle. "That whole hacking thing? Definitely not normal. So, what's on the agenda today?"
"We're supposed to meet with the instructors for the next set of lessons," Akane said, shrugging. "I think it's about time they teach us some real combat techniques. Not just robots and simulations."
"Sounds like fun," Bolt said, though his tone lacked the enthusiasm his words implied. The last thing he wanted right now was a training session. Not after everything that happened. The academy was no longer just a place to learn; it was a ticking bomb, and Bolt didn't know how much time they had before everything blew up in their faces.
As they entered the courtyard, the instructors were already waiting. The headmaster was there as well, standing with his usual cold and calculating presence.
"We are here to prepare you for the inevitable," the headmaster's voice rang out, sending a chill down Bolt's spine. "The trials have only just begun. From this moment onward, you will face challenges that no one here has ever seen. The real purpose of this academy is not simply to teach you to fight. It's to prepare you for the war that is coming."
The last words were laced with such weight that for a moment, even the chatter of students fell silent. Bolt's stomach twisted, the implications of the headmaster's statement settling like a stone in his chest.
"A war?" Aether whispered, his eyes wide.
The headmaster nodded, his gaze flickering over the group of new recruits. "Yes. You may not understand now, but the threats that stalk this world are far darker than you can imagine. Our academy is the first line of defense, and each of you will play a critical role."
Bolt's mind raced. A war? Was this connected to what happened last night? The voice, the symbol—the threat was real, and it was growing closer.
The headmaster raised his hand, and with a single motion, the sky above them darkened.
In an instant, the courtyard was flooded with ominous black clouds, the temperature dropping rapidly. Students began to murmur in confusion, some stepping back. But Bolt stood still, his eyes narrowing.
The ground shook with an unnatural force, and from the distance, a dark shape emerged.
It was unlike anything Bolt had ever seen. A massive creature, cloaked in shadows, with red eyes that burned like embers in the night. Its body seemed to shift, constantly changing as if it wasn't fully of this world. It was an entity from the depths, the kind of creature that should never be in this world.
The students gasped in horror, retreating in panic. But the instructors stood their ground, weapons drawn, ready for combat.
"Everyone take cover!" one of the instructors barked. "Stay back!"
But Bolt's feet didn't move. His heart pounded in his chest, but his eyes were locked on the creature. It wasn't a mere test or a simulation—it was real.
Without thinking, he stepped forward, his instincts pushing him into action. His hands crackled with the energy of his powers, but even as he activated his abilities, he knew this creature wasn't something he could defeat alone.
Aether caught up to him. "Bolt, don't—this is beyond us!"
But it was too late. The creature's shadowy claws lashed out, sending a shockwave of energy that knocked students back, some slamming into the ground. The academy's walls trembled under the force of the attack.
"This isn't a fight we can win!" Akane shouted, but Bolt was already moving.
The headmaster raised his hand again, his voice calm yet commanding. "This is part of your training. Survive the trial."
With that, the battle began.
Bolt hurled himself toward the creature, summoning all of his strength, his body imbued with the power of his abilities. He wasn't sure if he could defeat it, but he wasn't going to stand by and let it tear their academy apart.
A pair of daggers appeared in his hands, the weight of them reassuring. As he slashed at the creature's shifting form, sparks of energy crackled around him.
He didn't even know where the daggers came from but he still used them.
But the creature shifted again, its body separating into multiple forms, each more terrifying than the last. It was like facing a thousand enemies at once.
Bolt gritted his teeth. There was no way they could hold off this thing alone.
"Get back!" the headmaster shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. The air around him twisted, and with a single motion, the headmaster unleashed a wave of energy that blasted the creature back.
The creature staggered, but it was far from defeated. Its eyes narrowed, and it seemed to grow angrier, the shadows around it becoming more intense.
"Stay focused!" the headmaster barked, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.
Bolt swallowed his fear and looked around. Aether, Akane, and the others were getting to their feet. They weren't
just students anymore—they were warriors.
And this was their first real battle.