As four staff members carried Kang-Woo's limp, battered form from the arena, whispers rippled through the crowd. The fight's intensity, the flashes of golden aura, and the silence that had fallen as Jin-Su and Kang-Woo clashed left an undeniable mark on the students. Some looked on in awe, others with lingering shock at the sheer power they had just witnessed.
"Deserved!" Someone wailed from the crowd. Some clutched the last of their savings. Some had too much money to carry.
One of the staffs came to inspect Jin-Su. Noticing that he has no physical damages at all, gives him a thumbs up. Then leaves.
The Student Union Leader stepped forward, her posture poised and commanding as her gaze swept over the crowd. Her eyes met Jin-Su's briefly, and a small smile curved at her lips, something unreadable in her expression. She clapped her hands once, sharply, drawing all attention to herself.
"Well done," she said, her voice carrying through the courtyard. "Today, we witnessed what the academy values most—strength, resilience, and, above all, unity."
She let the words settle, her gaze intent as she continued. "The Student Union has always been a place for the strongest, the brightest, and the most committed. It's a place where individuals can become something greater together." Her voice was calm but carried an unmistakable edge. "However, over the years, interest in our Union has waned. Fewer students are stepping up to make their mark, to build the future of this academy."
Jin-Su raised an eyebrow, his mind racing. So, this was her move. She's stirring up excitement to get new recruits. Clever. He watched as her gaze moved across the crowd, her presence exuding authority and poise. But why now, and why so much effort to test us like this?
"To those who watched and felt inspired, to those who thought, 'I can do that' or, 'I want to do that,' the Union is waiting for you. We are looking for leaders, for talents who can carry our legacy forward." Her tone was purposeful, and some students around Jin-Su exchanged glances, interested but hesitant.
As the crowd began to disperse, Jin-Su, Min-Ho, and Mina sat back down, watching the open mic stage with mild curiosity. Just as people's attention drifted away from him, a faint, dark aura emanated from Jin-Su. The Abyssal Influence pulsed subtly, working through his body, mending minor bruises and any signs of exhaustion, restoring him completely.
Noticing him sitting back down, Mina leaned over, her hand glowing with a soft blue light as she conjured a small, elegant glass of water from thin air. She offered it to him with a shy smile. "You must be thirsty after a fight like that."
Jin-Su took it, hiding the fact that he wasn't thirsty or hungry after all that. He gave her a small nod, and a smile saying, "Ah, I forgot about my thirst while fighting. Thanks, Mina."
She blushed slightly, casting her gaze downward with a small smile.
Then, from the far side of the stage, two towering figures approached the mic with unmistakable confidence. The crowd quieted, curious about the newcomers. They were massive—muscular and well-defined, though not quite as large as Kang-Woo. Their entrance was loud, their voices booming even before they reached the mic. The first one, a serious look on his face, grabbed the mic, raising it to his mouth with exaggerated flair.
"Listen up, everyone! We're here to make a statement that will shake this academy to its core!"
His partner, shirt already discarded and tossed aside, struck a dramatic pose, showing off a set of muscles that gleamed in the sunlight. "That's right! We noticed a... tragic lack in the Student Union," he announced, flexing, "and that, friends, is the absence of a Bodybuilding Club!"
They flexed in unison, muscles taut as they struck various poses, drawing a mix of laughter and bewilderment from the crowd.
"Having a great body…" the first one proclaimed, his biceps bulging as he flexed.
"…means having a great mind!" finished his partner, grinning and slapping his bicep for emphasis. "We're here to inspire every student to reach their full potential—mind, body, and soul!"
The crowd's initial confusion quickly turned to laughter and applause, a few students even joining in with playful cheers. Min-Ho chuckled, muttering, "You've got to give them credit for their enthusiasm."
Jin-Su smirked, the earlier tension dissolving momentarily as he watched the duo's passionate presentation. For all the academy's seriousness, moments like these added a lighthearted reminder of its variety and energy.
Once the bodybuilding club was done flexing, the next group took the stage. The Spell Slingers Club members appeared in intricately embroidered, deep-blue uniforms with silver and gold trim, and they quickly cast a coordinated spell, creating a synchronized display of shimmering lights and swirling elemental magic. Fire, ice, and wind blended in beautiful formations, mesmerizing the crowd with a magical show that reflected their skill and unity.
Then came the Dancing Club, dressed in flowing, ethereal attire that changed colors with each movement, and they performed a choreographed routine with illusions of sparkling stardust trailing their steps. The Art Club displayed enchanted canvases, each painting shifting and moving as if alive, showing scenes of landscapes and mythical creatures in vivid detail.
The academy courtyard was alive with talent, each club showcasing their unique styles, and each uniform telling its own story, from the vibrant colors of the Art Club to the sleek, enchanted fabric of the Dance Club. The atmosphere felt celebratory, filled with awe and camaraderie, and the Student Union Leader's goal of creating intrigue and involvement seemed to be working.
As the presentations continued, the scene shifted to a dark, hidden room within the academy, a stark contrast to the lively coronation outside. Shadows loomed in the corners, and three figures sat around a dimly lit table, their faces obscured but each exuding a sinister aura. A fourth figure stood just behind, half shrouded in darkness, looming protectively over the larger man seated before him.
The first figure was broad, his girth stretching across the chair—he exuded a sluggish menace. Beside him sat a lean, almost unnoticeable figure, his appearance unremarkable yet his presence unsettlingly calm. Across from them lounged a cynical, sharply-dressed figure, his features gleaming faintly in the dim light as he twirled a ring on his finger, a knowing smirk on his lips.
The cynical one was the first to speak, his voice low but dripping with satisfaction. "Well, our plan's unfolding beautifully, don't you think?"
The large figure chuckled, a slow, guttural sound. "Kang-Woo was judged correctly. Strong, but easy to set off. All it'll take is a few more 'slips' on his part, and his reputation will be as good as gone. His whole family, for that matter."
The lean figure grinned, eyes glinting in the shadows. "How much longer until they're out of the picture?" he asked, voice tinged with dark anticipation.
The large man nodded thoughtfully. "Just a few more steps, and the once-brutal family name will be no more than an honor bound to some no-name servant."
The cynical one leaned back, his smirk widening. "It's almost laughably easy, really. Manipulating Kang-Woo, pushing him toward Jin-Su… and the Student Union Leader?" He chuckled darkly. "Song Yun-Hee was a mere pawn. Just a nudge, and she did exactly what we needed, stirring interest without even realizing why."
The large figure shifted, a dark gleam in his eyes. "You think we could bring that Jin-Su boy to our side? He showed his capability out there. I think he has more in him seeing as he didn't even break a sweat."
"That… is an interesting idea," mused the cynical one, fingers tapping his chin. "Getting a strong peasant to serve us could be useful. He's raw talent, easy to shape." He glanced at the others, a devious glint in his eye.
Just as they were about to discuss more, the fourth figure behind them stirred, extending a faintly glowing, blackened hand. Dark tendrils, writhing and almost alive, slithered from his palm, casting an eerie glow that pulsed through the room. They took the shape of shadowy tentacles that coiled and twisted. The shadows seemed to shudder at the touch of this power, as if recognizing an authority far older and darker than themselves.
"There are eyes watching us," he murmured, his voice both an eerie whisper and a command. The tentacles pulsed, reaching out as if to swat away an invisible presence.
"You, Stop reading."
***
Across the academy, deep within her office, Dean Moon jolted upright, her hand flying to her head as a sudden, sharp pain lanced through her temples. Her office was refined and stately, lined with dark wooden shelves that held ancient tomes and intricate artifacts. A large, polished desk sat at the center, papers neatly arranged in organized stacks, and behind it, a massive window overlooked the academy grounds, where the faint glow of the coronation lingered. Dimly lit lanterns cast a warm, almost amber glow across the room, but the shadows seemed unusually heavy tonight.
The flickering lantern light played across the room, casting soft shadows over Dean Moon's figure as she stood poised behind her desk. Waves of dark hair fell over her shoulders, contrasting against her pale skin, while her green eyes—usually calm and sharp—now held a flicker of unease. The tailored fit of her dress traced her silhouette subtly, lending an understated authority that matched the refined elegance of her surroundings.
She winced, the pain intensifying as if something were piercing her mind directly. A soft groan escaped her lips, and she clenched her fists, steadying herself against the desk.
"Damnit," she hissed, slamming her hand down on the table with enough force to make the papers tremble. "How did that thing sense me." Her gaze darkened, eyes narrowing as she steadied her breathing. She knew something—someone—was stirring within the academy- no, more then just the academy, and her mind raced to piece together the fragmented feeling.
The shadows in her office seemed to shift subtly, as if the influence of something dark and ancient had brushed past her. She took a steadying breath, her mind resolute. Whatever it was that lurked in the shadows, she would not let it disrupt the academy's fragile balance.
But a line kept echoing in her mind.
"You think we could bring that Jin-Su boy to our side?"
"You think we could bring that Jin-Su boy to our side?"
"You think we could bring that Jin-Su boy to our side?"
"So I can't JUST keep my eyes on that boy now can I"