Chapter 80: A Shift in the Stars
It had been a few weeks since Yun-ho, Nova, Ethan, and Anya defeated the Shadow Syndicate. Life at Eternity Academy returned to normal, though a strange unease lingered among the group. In the middle of class, taught by Professor Orion, the lesson on advanced Constellation techniques was disrupted by a sudden chill that swept through the room. The temperature dropped, and the students exchanged confused looks.
Without warning, a shadowy figure manifested before the group, its presence immediately recognizable. The wraith, a being thought to have been vanquished along with the Syndicate, stood tall, its voice a hollow whisper. "You believe the world is saved?" The wraith's eyes gleamed with sinister amusement. "This was only the beginning."
Everyone froze, their earlier sense of peace shattered. Professor Orion, calm and composed, readied his defenses, while Yun-ho felt the weight of the Heart of Darkness stir within him, growing heavier by the second.
"What do you mean? We defeated the Syndicate. The threat is over," Nova demanded, her staff crackling with energy as she stood by Yun-ho's side.
The wraith chuckled darkly. "Defeated? You've only scratched the surface. A greater evil lies ahead, and you've merely delayed the inevitable. Prepare yourselves for the true darkness that will engulf this world."
Ethan, always quick to react, took a step forward, his blade drawn. "What darkness? What's coming?"
The wraith vanished into thin air before anyone could get more answers. Tension hung in the air as the reality of the situation set in. The Syndicate might have been defeated, but their victory was fleeting. Something far worse was lurking just beyond their reach.