Ava and his parents rode in their new car, the road carrying them toward the looming compound. Soldiers of the Dark Lord stood watch at every gate, their eyes sharp as they monitored the incoming lines. When the family's vehicle approached, one guard stepped forward, hand raised.
"This area is restricted to humans and powerless beings," the soldier barked.
Ava's father leaned out the window, his voice steady. "We're here for the Dark Lord Academy."
The guard gave a curt nod and stepped aside, letting them through.
Inside, the compound stretched vast and foreboding. Rows upon rows of students filled the grounds boys and girls, humans and aliens alike, gathered from countless planets. Massive ships towered before them, lined like titans awaiting war.
A voice boomed over the field. "It's time for departure! All students, board your assigned vessels!"
Ava's mother turned to him, her arms wrapping tightly around his shoulders. "We're going to miss you. Don't die out there. The Dark Lord Academy is dangerous… many never return."
His father rested a heavy hand on his son's back. "Make me proud, boy. Rise to the rank of general. Destroy those false gods that dare threaten our side of the Hyperverse."
Ava gave them a final nod. "I will."
He stepped aboard the vessel. Inside, students murmured amongst themselves some buzzing with excitement, others pale with fear. A few sat in stony silence, resigned to their fate. As the engines roared to life, the ship lifted skyward, breaking atmosphere in moments before vanishing altogether, teleported into a higher plane.
Ava gazed out the window. The mortal realm was gone. Before him stretched a breathtaking expanse of the Fifth Dimension mountains floating in the air, castles without end rising into a limitless horizon, lakes glittering like fragments of starlight.
The ship landed. One by one, the students disembarked. Some never made it. The moment they stepped beyond the ship's protective aura, their bodies crumbled under the pressure of higher existence erased in an instant, unable to endure the weight of higher dimensional law.
A harsh laugh rang out from among the survivors. "Too weak."
Ava stood silently, his golden eyes scanning the crowd. He wanted to know who among them would prove the strongest.
Then a woman's voice cut through the air, commanding and absolute. "Line up!"
The students obeyed, forming ranks beneath her gaze. She floated above them, robes dark against the bright skies of the higher world.
"This is the Dark Lord's Academy," she declared. "It exists within one of his higher universes a Fifth Dimensional realm where you will train. Here, you will fight, live, and die for the Dark Lord. Half of this Hyperverse belongs to him already. The other half… we will conquer."
Her hand swept out. Sheets of parchment materialized in front of each student, glowing with their assigned quarters.
"This will serve as your headquarters. Find your house. Training begins tomorrow."
Chaos erupted as students dispersed. Some took to the skies on wings of flame or shadow. Others vanished in bursts of teleportation. A few summoned beasts to carry them across the endless courtyards. Groups clustered together, whispering, already forming alliances.
Ava remained alone.
He glanced down at his parchment, then began to walk. His reflection caught faintly in a pane of glass: spiky afro, golden eyes sharp and watchful, his white suit trimmed with gold along the edges and collar. The black shirt beneath was crisp, the jacket lined in shadowy fabric. White shoes gleamed as he strode forward, tall and composed at six-foot-three.
As Ava walked across the courtyard, a boy suddenly crashed to the ground in front of him. He had long, spiky black hair and sharp red eyes, his blue-and-black outfit torn with dust.
Ava lifted his gaze. A group of students stood laughing nearby.
"You're weak, Dallas," one of them sneered. "You shouldn't even be here."
The boy pushed himself up, teeth clenched. "Why? Because I'm an elf?" His fists ignited with glowing green energy as constructs sleek, high-tech gauntlets formed around his hands. He lunged forward, throwing a punch at the closest of the bullies.
A giant stepped into his path. The boy towered at least twelve feet tall, his body like a living wall. Dallas's glowing fists hammered against him, strike after strike, yet the giant only laughed.
"That's all you've got?"
Dallas gritted his teeth. The green gauntlets shimmered brighter, their size swelling with each blow. He struck again this time the giant stumbled backward, eyes widening.
"What?"
"Because," Dallas shouted, fists blazing, "with these constructs, every hit doubles my power!" He drove his fist forward once more, and the massive boy crashed to the ground.
The bullies froze in shock. "When did he learn that?" one muttered.
But before Dallas could answer, another figure descended from above—their leader.
Tank landed lightly, his presence commanding immediate silence. His hair shimmered with streaks of deep purple under the light, and his black eyes glowed faintly with restrained power. He wore a sleek black-and-white uniform lined with silver edges, the insignia of his squad emblazoned across his chest like a warning.
Without a word, Tank extended his hand.
A beam of pure energy erupted from his palm, striking Dallas square in the chest. The force sent him hurtling backward through the air, his body crashing through dust and light. He would have slammed into the courtyard floor if Ava hadn't appeared in a flash, catching him before he hit the ground.
The leader landed, glaring. "Let him go."
Ava's eyes narrowed. "This isn't a fair fight. Why are you all ganging up on him?"
Tank's jaw tightened, his voice low and cold as he stepped closer, the crowd noise fading as everyone tuned to him. He looked down at Dallas with thin contempt and said, "Because he is weak. His entire race is weak. All of those elves."
Tank spat the words like acid, each syllable sharpened by contempt. "The Dark Lord is our ruler. My people marched across worlds on his behalf, conquering planets and dragging them into his service—forcing them to enroll in the Demon Lord Academy." He jabbed a finger at Dallas. "We found has world and enslaved it for The Dark Lord. Decades passed under our rule, until the Dark Lord's army took complete control."
A harsh, humorless laugh escaped him. "Dallas and I arrived at the Dark Lord's Academy the same year," he said, voice flat. "I watched your people brought here with their families, the ones with power collapsing under the fifth-dimensional pressure, the higher existence crushing them on the spot. They were weak and they died. He points at Dallas and laughs, "This weakling is hes planet's last chance. If he falls, the Dark Lord will call hes world useless and erase it. A race that cannot make warriors for him is nothing."
He leaned in so his words cut through the air like knives. "I won't give the Dark Lord the chance to decide who's weak. I'll kill the last elf with power myself and his planet will be erased an honor, really. This weakling doesn't deserve to serve in the army."
Dallas coughed, a wet, ragged sound, and forced the words out through shaking lungs. Tears tracked down his cheeks, leaving pale trails through the dust on his face. "My people were weak," he said, voice breaking. "You have no idea how hard it was to watch them die the moment they arrived. The fifth dimension destroyed them. I'm the only one left. I'm the only one who can fight for my planet's survival. I will not lose here."
Tank's lip curled into a cruel sneer. "You will lose, you loser," he spat. "I guarantee it. Your planet will be erased because you failed. A weak world is no use to the Dark Lord he will destroy it."
He lifted his hand, black eyes burning with finality. "Die."
He fired again. But this time, the blast collided with a barrier that shimmered into existence gold, black, and violet, like woven thunder.
Ava lowered his hand. A card glowed faintly at his feet. "The Shield of Judgment," he said, calm as a knife. "I knew you fools were dumb enough to attack, so I set a trap card. There are plenty more hidden around you. Take one wrong step and they all go off."
Tank's eyes widened. "You what kind of sorcery?"
"You want to fight?" Ava said, brushing a speck of dust from his white suit. "Then fight him one-on-one. Don't hide behind your friends. I hate one thing above all bullies."
"Shut up!" Tank shouted, turning to his allies. "Destroy the shield!"
They charged. But as they rushed forward, several of them stepped onto Ava's hidden cards. One card flared to life beneath a boy's feet so fast he didn't even see it gold light spilled outward, coiling chains erupting up to bind him, sealing him into the card before it snapped closed and returned to Ava's side. Other cards reacted with different horrors: a wall of shimmering stone rose and slammed into a combatant, a gout of black flame seared another as a massive spectral snake burst from the ground and lunged, crushing its victim.
Panic rippled through the leader's crew. "Any wrong move and we might step on one of his trap cards!" he warned, eyes wild.
"Shoot!" he barked, recovering his composure. "Fire everything. Break the shield!"
Dozens of blasts followed, a storm of energy hammering the barrier. The courtyard shook with explosions; smoke and sparks filled the air as students screamed and scattered. Still the Shield of Judgment held fast.
At last, the attackers collapsed, gasping for breath.
Ava laughed softly. "You look tired. Perhaps you'd like your energy back?" He pointed. "Return."
The shield pulsed and all the energy it had absorbed erupted outward in a devastating wave. The bullies screamed as the blast struck, knocking them unconscious. Only Tank remained, battered and smoking, staggering to stay upright.
"What kind of magic was that?" he demanded.
"I don't use magic," Ava said, golden eyes gleaming. "I use divine power."
The Tank's voice trembled. "Divine power? Who are you…?"
Ava straightened his jacket, the white fabric spotless but for a faint mark. "If you apologize to him, I might let you live. And of course, you'll apologize to me as well. If this stain doesn't come out, we'll have a problem."
"You're bluffing," the leader sneered. "You don't have the guts to kill me."
In an instant, Ava blurred forward, standing inches from him, golden eyes burning. "I won't ask again."
The leader's bravado broke. He dropped to his knees. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He turned toward Dallas, voice cracking. " I'm sorry."
And with that, he stumbled away, leaving his fallen allies behind.
Ava turned without another word, beginning the walk toward his new quarters.
"Wait!" Dallas ran after him, still clutching his bruised ribs. "Please what's your name? I want to thank you."
Ava paused, his golden eyes glinting as Dallas caught up to him. "My name," he said evenly, "is Avalokita the Shinma of Chaos."
Dallas blinked, then let out a half-smile. "That's… kind of hard to pronounce. But I like the title. Sounds like you're already thinking big. Is that what you're gonna call yourself when you become a general? Because that's my goal too graduate, rise through the ranks, and lead the Dark Lord's army."
Ava shook his head, faint irritation in his tone. "I don't understand why you people in these lower realms have such trouble with my name. Just call me Ava. And it isn't some made-up title. It's what I am."
"Fair enough," Dallas said, straightening his jacket. "My name's Dallas."
"I don't care," Ava replied coldly. "Don't mistake this for friendship. Those kids were just in my way I wasn't saving you."
Dallas stared at him, taken aback. "Oh. Well… okay. But we should probably stick together. You saw how fast everyone else grouped up. Allies are the best way to survive the Dark Lord's Academy."
"I don't need allies."
"Then how about a sidekick?" Dallas shot back, a grin tugging at his lips despite the bruises.
Ava's eyes narrowed. Then, almost amused, he nodded once. "Fine. You can be my sidekick. But you'd better not be weak."
Dallas laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Deal."
The two of them walked on in silence, their papers leading them across the sprawling academy grounds. At last, the paths converged. They both stopped in front of the same massive dormitory.
"Looks like we're stuck together anyway," Dallas said, unable to hide his grin.
Ava pushed the door open without a word, stepping inside.
The dormitory was massive, a towering structure filled with students of every kind boys, girls, and beings from worlds Ava had never seen before. The halls buzzed with voices, footsteps, and laughter as new recruits searched for their assigned rooms.
As Ava and Dallas slipped down the corridor, a girl drifted past them like a current that everyone bowed to. Her long pink hair caught the dim lights and shimmered with every step; striking green eyes scanned the hall with cool amusement. She wore a short black skirt and a fitted black-and-red top blouse-like in its cut but reinforced at the shoulders with military-style clips and epaulet details, the short sleeves leaving her forearms bare and the neckline hinting at tasteful cleavage. Black high-heeled boots finished the look, sleek and confident, while a cluster of followers fell into step behind her, voices lowering as she moved on.
Ava's golden eyes lingered on her for a moment.
Dallas noticed and smirked. "Don't even think about it. You don't stand a chance with her."
"You know her?" Ava asked, not taking his gaze off her.
"Yeah," Dallas said, his voice turning serious. "That's Star one of the most popular girls in the entire Academy, and easily one of the strongest. And the guy holding her hand? That's Tavius. He's one of the top-ranked students in the Fifth Dimension class. People say he's nearly unbeatable."
Ava followed Dallas's gaze. Tavius towered over the crowd about six foot five, his frame built like a warrior carved from stone. His hair was long and spiked, reaching down to his back, the strands catching the dim light with a metallic sheen. When he smiled, sharp, shark-like teeth flashed beneath his calm expression. He wore the academy's white-and-blue uniform, the outer jacket neatly buttoned over a crisp white shirt beneath. His black boots gleamed with polish, and his gray eyes held a cold, confident focus the kind that made weaker students look away.
Finally, Ava pulled his eyes away from the pair. "How do you know so much?"
Dallas gave a short, bitter laugh. "Because this isn't my first time here. I failed last year. Didn't make the cut, Still at a freshman power level. Trust me the first day of training is brutal. They'll evaluate us right away. Throw us straight into fights. A tournament, to see who survives and who doesn't."
Ava nodded, silent, his expression unreadable. Together, they found their rooms, doors side by side.
That night, Ava sat alone on his bed, the hum of distant voices echoing through the dorm. He leaned back, staring at the ceiling, thoughts coiling in his mind.
The faster I regain my strength, the better. These classes, this training, this ranking system it's just a ladder. A ladder to climb. I'll reach the top. I'll meet the Dark Lord himself.
His golden eyes burned in the dim light.
And when I do… his throne will be mine.