The crisp wind blew through the towering spires of Elysian Academy as a heavy fog rolled in from the distant mountains. The morning sun tried to pierce through the thick gray, but it merely cast a faint, ghostly glow upon the stone halls. Jin stood near the edge of the training field, alone, his hands tucked into the sleeves of his academy uniform. His eyes traced the movement of the mist as it curled and slipped between the blades of grass.
There was something off about today—something beneath the surface.
The academy had resumed its usual rhythm. Students bustled from one training ground to another, mana lessons were being held in towering lecture halls, and sword duels sparked across the sparring arenas. But beneath the surface, murmurs and tension had begun to brew. Jin could feel it in the way people moved, in the way instructors exchanged glances.
A new gate had appeared.
Rumors circulated quickly. A breach had opened several kilometers east of the capital—a Class-B gate. It wasn't the highest tier, but it was dangerous enough to require a government response. Several major families had sent teams to investigate. Among the names involved: Albrecht, Fenros, Daejin, and Ward. Jin's ears perked when he heard that.
"Lucas's clan is on the move again," he murmured.
---
In the Grand Assembly Hall, the top-ranking students were gathered. Jin found himself summoned alongside Theo Ward, Elira Fenros, and Kael Daejin. They were seated beneath the high dome, where magical chandeliers illuminated a glowing map of the gate's coordinates. Headmaster Vael stood at the center with several instructors and a representative of the Defense Bureau.
"We are authorizing an exploration team from Elysian," the headmaster said, his voice echoing. "This will serve as both a live-experience field test and a contribution to national defense."
Jin raised an eyebrow. Field test?
Theo leaned in slightly. "They've never done this with first-years before."
"Unless they're expecting something," Jin whispered.
---
The next morning, the team of eight—including Jin, Theo, Elira, Kael, and four elite upperclassmen—stood at the edge of the gate. It swirled like oil over water, rippling in shades of purple and black. Strange, low-frequency hums emanated from the rift. Several instructors and security personnel stood at the perimeter, ready to intervene.
"We're going in," said Captain Reiss, the upperclassman leading the team. "Stick to formation. If anything goes wrong, retreat immediately."
They stepped in.
Instantly, the world twisted.
The gate spat them out into a shadowed valley where the sun never seemed to rise. The sky was a swirling vortex of grey clouds. Trees stood dead and hollow. Crystalline structures jutted out of the ground like bones. The air was cold and thin, and Jin felt a crawling sensation across his spine.
"Keep your eyes open," he said, unconsciously taking point.
They moved in formation, exploring the warped landscape. Creatures lurked here—spike-tails, mana wasps, and earthbound shadow hounds. Their first battle came quickly.
A shriek tore through the valley as a group of shadow hounds lunged from the trees. They were fast, coordinated—and unlike typical beasts, they fought with eerie strategy.
Theo rushed in with a twin-blade technique, parrying the first two hounds while Elira conjured a barrier of flame behind him. Kael provided support from behind, launching piercing mana arrows into the flanks.
But Jin moved like a phantom.
He slid between the shadows, every motion precise and effortless. His blade hummed as he sliced through a hound mid-leap, then spun low to sever another's limbs. His footwork was graceful, deadly—almost too refined for a student.
"Who the hell is this guy...?" Kael muttered.
In less than five minutes, they cleared the swarm. Captain Reiss looked at Jin with something between awe and suspicion.
"You've seen real combat before."
Jin simply nodded. "Enough to know this is just the beginning."
---
Further into the gate, the group found remnants of a forgotten camp—old banners, shattered crystals, and clawed armor scraps. There were signs of a previous expedition. But no bodies.
Then they heard it.
A low growl. A massive shadow moved between the stone columns up ahead. The air vibrated. A pulse of killing intent struck like a wave.
"Everyone, fall back!" Captain Reiss barked.
Too late.
The boss emerged—an obsidian-furred dire beast with multiple eyes and jagged horns. Its mana pressure alone was enough to make two upperclassmen collapse. It roared, and the ground shattered beneath their feet.
Jin's eyes narrowed. "We're not retreating."
"What?" Reiss snapped. "That thing's Class-A at least!"
"We fight. Together."
And with that, Jin led the charge.
He weaved through the beast's attacks, drawing its attention while Theo slashed at its flanks and Elira bombarded it with firebolts. Kael's arrows created openings. Jin climbed its back mid-charge, using its own momentum to launch himself high—then plunged his blade through its skull with a burst of pure mana.
The beast let out one last cry before collapsing, shaking the earth.
Silence fell.
"...What the hell are you?" Reiss asked, staring at Jin.
Jin stepped down, bloodied but calm. "Just a student."
---
Back at the academy, whispers grew louder.
He wasn't on any records. He fought like a veteran. He wasn't just a student.
In the darkness of the headmaster's office, Vael stared at a file marked with one word:
"Jin."
A name long buried.
And perhaps, not of this world.