Dawn broke over the academy with a golden glow.
But the peaceful morning light could not hide the devastation inside the S-Class Dormitory Tower.
Half of the top-floor corridor looked like a battlefield. Reinforced titanium walls had been blasted open. Burn marks scorched the marble floors. One entire section of hallway had collapsed into a smoking crater where the assassin's self-destruct device had detonated.
Emergency drones buzzed through the air, scanning the wreckage.
Security forces rushed through the tower.
Students from the lower dormitories had gathered outside the building, whispering anxiously while academy guards kept them behind energy barriers.
Rumors spread like wildfire.
"An explosion happened!"
"They said S-Class was attacked!"
"Did someone try to kill the scholarship guy?"
Inside the tower, medical staff and combat instructors examined the destroyed corridor.
And standing in the center of it all…
Was Director Valis.
Tall.
Calm.
Completely unfazed by the destruction around her. Her sharp eyes studied the scorch marks along the walls.
Nearby, several armored academy guards dragged away the bodies of the fallen assassins.
One officer approached him.
"Director, we've confirmed six intruders. Elite operatives. Their armor carries the Black Dragon Syndicate insignia."
Murmurs spread through the surrounding staff.
That name was infamous.
The Black Dragon Syndicate was not a normal criminal organization.
It was the covert enforcement arm of the Dragon King's corporate empire.
Assassins.
Spies.
Professional killers used to erase inconvenient people.
The officer continued.
"They bypassed three security layers and disabled the outer drone network before entering the tower. This wasn't a random attack."
Director Valis nodded slowly.
"No," she said quietly.
"It wasn't."
At that moment the elevator doors opened.
Alexander stepped out casually, hands in his pockets. Behind him walked Isabella, looking irritated rather than shaken.
Every guard in the hallway turned toward them.
Some stared in disbelief.
Others looked relieved that they were alive.
One of the instructors that was present spoke first.
"You two were inside during the attack?"
Alexander indifferently glanced at the destroyed corridor.
"Hard to miss."
The instructor looked confused with what Alexander just said.
"You fought them?"
Isabella crossed her arms.
"They broke the hallway first."
Alexander smirked slightly.
The officer approached them cautiously.
"How many intruders did you encounter?" The instructor asked
Alexander shrugged.
"All of them."
The guards exchanged looks.
One of them whispered, "That's impossible…"
Isabella rolled her eyes.
"They weren't impressive." Casually, she said with a sneer
That statement caused several of the academy staff to choke in shock.
Those assassins were trained killers capable of eliminating military officers.
Director Valis stepped forward.
Her sharp gaze lingered on Alexander.
Then on Isabella.
"You both appear unharmed."
Alexander nodded.
"They tried their best though."
Isabella added dryly, "Poorly, that was their best."
Director Valis studied the damage around them carefully again.
The broken armor fragments.
The frozen shards of one assassin still embedded in the wall.
The crater from the self-destruct explosion.
She turned back to Alexander.
"For assassins of that level to be deployed inside academy grounds…" she said slowly.
"Only one explanation exists."
The surrounding guards leaned closer.
Director Valis's voice lowered slightly.
"You've attracted the attention of someone powerful."
Alexander met her gaze calmly.
"I suspected that."
A young instructor asked nervously,
"But why would the Dragon King's syndicate target a student?"
Director Valis didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she walked slowly toward the shattered wall overlooking the academy campus. Morning sunlight spilled through the gap.
Finally, she spoke.
"Some people," she said quietly, "are born dangerous."
Hereyes shifted back to Alexander.
"Even before they realize it themselves."
The hallway grew silent.
Director Valis continued.
"The Dragon King controls vast corporations, military contractors, and political alliances. His empire does not waste resources lightly."
She gestured toward the destroyed hallway.
"For him to send assassins… means he believes Alexander Chase will become a threat to his power."
Gasps spread among the staff.
A student becoming a threat to the Dragon King?
That sounded insane.
"Why didn't he send those assassins to kill me instead?
I should be the one to make him feel threatened not this hospital boy."
Even at this point, Isabella couldn't stop comparing herself to her rival.
Both Instructor Valis and Alexander smiled and shook their heads the same time after hearing what Isabella just said.
One guard frowned.
"But he just arrived yesterday…"
Director Valis smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
She looked directly at Alexander again.
"Which means his potential must be terrifying."
Isabella's eyes flicked toward Alexander.
For the first time, she studied him with deeper curiosity.
"…So that's it," she murmured.
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"You're not just a scholarship student."
Alexander chuckled.
"Disappointed?"
She shrugged.
"I prefer interesting rivals."
Nearby, one of the security officers spoke again.
"Director, we'll need to increase protection around the dormitory. If the syndicate sent one team, they may send another."
Director Valis nodded.
"Do so."
Then she turned back toward Alexander and Isabella.
"Classes begin in one hour so get yourselves prepared before that."
The surrounding staff blinked in confusion.
"Director… after an assassination attempt… shouldn't we postpone..."
Valis shook her head calmly.
"No."
Her voice carried quiet authority. There was no room for negotiation
"This academy trains warriors, not civilians."
She looked directly at Alexander.
"If the Dragon King's forces want to hunt you…"
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Then you'll simply have to become strong enough that they regret trying."
Alexander's golden eyes glinted with amusement.
"Sounds fair."
Isabella smirked slightly.
"Looks like living next door to you will be entertaining after all." It felt good for her to have such a promising rival.
Director Valis turned around to leave.
But just before stepping into the elevator, she paused.
Without looking back, he added one final sentence.
"Alexander."
Alexander looked up.
Valis's voice was calm.
"But understand this."
"The Dragon King does not fear ordinary talent. So know what to do next."
The elevator doors slid open.
She stepped inside.
Then finished the sentence.
"Because he only fears monsters in the making."
The doors closed.
Leaving Alexander standing in the ruined hallway.
Beside him, Isabella folded her arms and smirked.
"Well, monster."
She gestured toward the training rooms.
"Looks like we should keep training."
Alexander grinned.
"After breakfast."
She rolled her eyes.
"Unbelievable."