The world seemed to hold its breath as dark clouds loomed menacingly overhead, casting a shadow over every corner of the globe. Arcane Nexus Academy, nestled among the hills, was no exception. The once-clear skies were now a roiling mass of storm clouds, and the wind carried an unsettling energy that crackled with the promise of imminent danger.
Inside the academy, students huddled in their dormitories, whispering anxiously about the strange phenomena that had begun to plague the world. News reports were filled with disturbing images of natural disasters—fires blazing out of control, floods swallowing entire villages, and violent thunderstorms that seemed to strike without warning. The air was thick with apprehension.
At the heart of this chaos was Snowy, who had been training tirelessly at the academy. His focus was sharp, his determination unwavering. But when the call came from his parents, pleading for him to return home, he was torn. The shadow of a looming disaster was growing darker, and his family's safety was his primary concern.
Reluctantly, Snowy packed his belongings and made his way back to his family home. The journey was filled with unease, not only because of the impending threat but also because he knew he would have to leave behind the advanced equipment and resources of the academy. The house was modest, equipped with only basic training tools, but Snowy could not ignore the heartfelt pleas of his family.
Upon arriving home, Snowy was greeted with an outpouring of relief. His sister Miya rushed to him with tears in her eyes, embracing him tightly. His parents, equally relieved, welcomed him with open arms. The joy of their reunion was tempered by the grim reality of the world outside.
Dinner was a quiet affair, filled with worried glances and muted conversations. The news reports were increasingly dire—unnatural deaths were occurring worldwide, attributed to elemental forces of fire, water, and thunder. Snowy listened intently, his mind racing with the implications. The sky outside rumbled with thunder, echoing the gravity of the situation.
Determined to make the most of his time at home, Snowy threw himself into training. Even with limited equipment, he worked tirelessly, honing his skills and meditating to improve his heightened state. His family's concern was evident; they watched from the sidelines, their worry palpable as Snowy barely took time to eat with them.
Meanwhile, Emily, Draken, and Kael had also returned to their homes, each facing their own battles. Their families, like Snowy's, were consumed with worry, their anxiety only heightened by the chaos unfolding across the globe.
Public reaction was a mix of fear and confusion. Theories about the cause of the disturbances were rampant, with experts and streamers providing increasingly bizarre explanations. Among the noise, one figure stood out—Unknown_11111. His predictions about the nine realms and the involvement of one specific realm were eerily accurate. Despite his credibility, many dismissed him as a fraud, unable to grasp the gravity of his insights.
Snowy's training continued with fervor. During this time, he discovered a crucial new essence—Mind Essence. This new skill allowed him to fully inspect his mana nexus and identify areas needing improvement. With this enhanced understanding, Snowy refined his abilities, his heightened state becoming more precise and powerful.
Unbeknownst to Snowy, the Shadow Dragon had already entered his realm. Its quest for a suitable vessel was relentless. The dragon, possessing the ability to shift into a human form, prowled the streets in search of a host. Its efforts bore fruit when it located a young boy with dark hair walking with his sister. As the Shadow Dragon observed, a sinister smile crept across its features—an unsettling sign that it had found what it sought.
The chapter ends with a chilling image of the Shadow Dragon's smile, a subtle yet unmistakable signal of the dark intentions it harbors. The storm outside rages on, a fitting backdrop to the growing tension and impending conflict that looms over Snowy and the world.