[Warn###.]
The impact came without warning.
A dark creature slammed into Jin from the side with brutal force.
The world spun violently.
His feet left the ground.
A few students screamed as Jin's body was thrown across the floating island like a ragdoll.
Professor Cole moved instantly.
But the distance was too great.
Jin's body flew through the air—past the students, past the cracked stones, past the broken ruins near the island's edge.
Then—
He crossed it.
The edge of the island.
There was nothing beneath him.
Only the abyss.
Endless.
Silent.
The wind roared past his ears as he began to fall.
The floating island above him shrank rapidly.
Darkness opened below like an infinite ocean.
For a brief moment, his body felt strangely light.
Weightless.
Falling deeper into the void.
Then—
Something stirred inside his chest.
A faint energy awakened.
Retsu.
It flowed through his veins like cold lightning.
His senses sharpened instantly.
The rushing wind slowed.
The distant shouts above returned like muffled echoes.
Then—
A hand shot down and grabbed his wrist.
Hard.
Jin's body jerked violently as the fall stopped.
Gasps erupted from the edge of the island.
Professor Cole leaned dangerously far over the edge, gripping Jin's arm tightly.
The muscles in his arm strained as he pulled.
For a moment, Jin's body swung in the empty air beneath the island.
Then slowly—
He was dragged back onto the rocky surface.
His body hit the ground heavily.
Dust scattered around him.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Professor Cole released his wrist.
But something lingered in his mind.
When their hands touched—
There had been a disturbance.
A faint burning sensation spread across his palm.
Not heat.
Energy.
Unstable energy.
The professor glanced briefly at Jin.
A beginner with energy…?
Or did I imagine it…
He said nothing.
Instead, he turned toward the students.
"Stay alert."
Jin exhaled slowly.
"That was really close."
Behind them—
A monstrous roar exploded across the island.
The creature that had attacked Jin charged forward again.
Up close, its body looked even more grotesque.
Long twisted limbs.
Dark, cracked skin.
Claws that scraped sparks from the stone ground.
Several students stumbled backward in panic.
"Watch out!" someone shouted.
The monster lunged.
Before it could reach them—
One of the professional Descenders moved.
The man vanished from where he stood.
A blur of motion crossed the battlefield.
The monster swung its claws wildly—
Too slow.
CRACK.
The Descender appeared beside it.
His arm moved once.
Clean.
Precise.
The monster's head tore free from its body and flew across the island.
The corpse collapsed seconds later with a heavy thud.
Silence fell instantly.
Several students stared with wide eyes.
Others swallowed nervously.
The difference in power was overwhelming.
Emily ran toward Jin.
Her expression mixed anger and fear.
She stopped in front of him and punched his chest.
"Are you trying to die on the first day?!"
The hit wasn't strong.
But the emotion behind it was real.
Jin blinked.
"…You run fast."
She punched him again.
"Don't joke!"
Her voice cracked slightly.
Jin noticed.
For a brief moment, her usual confidence disappeared.
Daniel stepped forward, scanning the island carefully.
"Everyone stay focused," he said calmly.
"We're still inside an Abyss."
His voice carried natural authority.
The students instinctively listened.
Even the nervous ones straightened slightly.
Not far away, Mira watched everything silently.
Her gaze moved between Jin…
…and the dead monster nearby.
Then she spoke.
"That monster ignored everyone else."
The group turned toward her.
"It ran straight at him."
She nodded toward Jin.
Daniel frowned.
"You're saying it targeted him?"
Mira shrugged slightly.
"I'm saying it didn't look random."
Her eyes remained on Jin a moment longer than necessary.
Not fear.
Curiosity.
Perhaps even concern.
The fighting ended soon after.
The remaining monsters were eliminated quickly by the two professional Descenders.
Their movements were efficient.
Controlled.
Almost effortless.
Energy stones scattered across the rocky ground.
Professor Cole approached the students.
He had already gathered most of the stones into a bag.
"Take one stone each," he said.
"Break them."
The students exchanged curious looks.
Daniel stepped forward first.
He picked up a stone.
Dark red energy swirled slowly inside it.
He crushed it in his hand.
The stone shattered instantly.
A stream of energy flowed into his body.
His muscles tightened.
His posture straightened.
Daniel smiled.
"I can feel it."
Excitement spread through the group.
Emily picked up her stone next.
She hesitated for a moment.
Then she broke it.
A soft white glow flowed into her chest.
Her eyes widened.
"It's warm…"
She looked genuinely surprised.
Mira stepped forward.
Her movements were calm and precise.
She crushed her stone.
The energy flowed smoothly into her body.
No visible reaction.
Her expression remained calm.
Professor Cole observed her carefully.
"Good control."
She nodded once.
Then came Jin.
He picked up a stone.
Red energy swirled slowly inside it.
Professor Cole's eyes followed him closely.
Jin crushed the stone.
It shattered.
Silence followed.
Nothing happened.
The energy didn't enter his body.
Instead—
It disappeared.
As if the air itself had swallowed it.
Jin stared at his empty hand.
A screen appeared before his eyes.
Only he could see it.
[Absorption — Failed.]
[Condition unchanged.]
[To progress: Kill.]
Jin clicked his tongue quietly.
"…Damn. Same thing."
Professor Cole stepped closer.
The Retsu hadn't entered the student's body.
It had simply vanished.
For a brief moment, the energy field around Jin had distorted.
"Is there a problem?" the professor asked.
Jin shrugged.
"I can't absorb the energy."
A few students exchanged uneasy glances.
"Wait… what?"
"That can happen?"
"I've never heard of that…"
Someone in the back laughed quietly.
Professor Cole's eyes narrowed slightly.
He remembered a conversation earlier that week.
The university director had spoken briefly.
Your class will have several interesting individuals.
Cole had assumed it meant Daniel.
Maybe Mira.
Now he wasn't so sure.
Still, he spoke calmly.
"Your body may have low compatibility with Retsu."
He turned away.
"Don't worry. You'll gain strength over time."
Jin repeated the words silently.
Gain strength over time…
He looked again at the system screen.
[Mission]
[Kill Monsters]
[541 / 1000]
Jin almost laughed.
Emily looked at him and smiled.
"Don't worry," she said.
"You'll catch up."
Jin smiled back.
"Sure."
But inside—
He knew the truth.
They would move forward.
And he would fall behind.
Just like before.
Then—
The system flashed again.
[Warning.]
[Killing intent heading toward you.]
[Distance: 10 meters]
Jin's body went still.
A cold sensation crawled up the back of his neck.
Someone here wanted him dead.
He slowly scanned the island.
Students were talking.
Daniel was testing his strength.
Emily laughed with a friend.
Nothing looked unusual.
Then another memory surfaced.
Earlier.
A light tap on his shoulder.
That hadn't been a monster.
That had been a hand.
Human.
And another memory.
The message.
[Find my man inside the Abyss.]
[If he finds you first—]
[You die.]
Professor Cole clapped once.
"Training complete."
The students turned toward him.
"Prepare to ascend."
Mira raised her hand slightly.
"Do we need parachutes like before?"
Professor Cole shook his head.
"No."
Without explaining further, the two professional Descenders walked to the edge of the island.
And jumped.
Their bodies disappeared into the darkness.
One by one, the students followed.
Daniel went first.
Then Emily.
Then Mira.
Soon only two people remained near the edge.
Jin.
And Professor Cole.