Chapter 4: Into the Fray
Tae-Hyun stood at the gates of Klade Academy, his heart pounding as he took in the sight before him. The academy loomed like a fortress, its sleek black spires piercing the sky and shimmering with Aether-infused barriers. It wasn't just a school; it was a monument to the world's strongest Shardbreakers, a proving ground for the future elite. The air buzzed with a faint hum of power, and even without trying, Tae-Hyun could feel the latent Aether that seeped from the place.
Elite squads trained here. Legends were made here. And now, so was he.
He tugged at the collar of his new uniform, the black and crimson fabric marking him as a cadet of Klade Academy. The crest on his chest—a shard split by glowing chains—felt heavy, not because of its weight but because of what it symbolized.
A high-ranking instructor, clad in the same uniform but accented with silver trim, stepped forward to address him. The man was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried himself with an air of authority. His piercing green eyes scanned Tae-Hyun, as if sizing up a potential rival.
"Yun Tae-Hyun," the instructor began, his tone sharp. "Welcome to Klade Academy. This is where potential becomes strength. Where the weak are discarded, and the strong are forged. You've been placed here under extraordinary circumstances, but let me make one thing clear: nothing about this will be easy."
Tae-Hyun nodded stiffly, unsure of how to respond. He felt the stares of other cadets boring into him from the courtyard. Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Is that him?"
"The XS-rank? I heard his Aether readings are off the charts."
"How did someone like that even exist? He doesn't look like much."
Tae-Hyun clenched his fists, a mixture of embarrassment and anger bubbling beneath the surface. He didn't ask for this. He didn't want to be the center of attention, but the Forbidden Shard had made him into something impossible to ignore.
The instructor seemed to notice his discomfort and smirked faintly. "Don't let them get to you, kid. They're just jealous. But jealousy won't stop them from trying to tear you down."
He gestured for Tae-Hyun to follow him.
---
The academy's main hall was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Massive, vaulted ceilings were lined with floating orbs of light, each pulsing faintly with Aether energy. Holographic banners displayed the names of legendary Shardbreakers, their achievements etched into history. Training arenas sprawled out to the sides, each one a cacophony of clashing weapons, bursts of energy, and shouted commands.
Tae-Hyun could see students dueling in the arenas, their abilities lighting up the space in dazzling displays of power. One cadet launched a torrent of flames from her hands, while her opponent countered with a shimmering wall of water. Another group was practicing precision strikes with Aether weapons, their movements fluid and deadly.
"Impressive, isn't it?" the instructor said, noticing Tae-Hyun's wide-eyed stare. "This is the heart of Klade Academy. You'll spend most of your time here—training, learning, and surviving."
Tae-Hyun frowned. "Surviving?"
The instructor chuckled darkly. "Oh, you'll see soon enough. This isn't just a school; it's a battlefield. If you're not ready to fight, you're already dead."
They passed through the hall and into a smaller room filled with monitors and strange devices. A woman in a white coat glanced up from her station, her eyes narrowing slightly when she saw Tae-Hyun.
"This the new recruit?" she asked, her tone skeptical.
The instructor nodded. "He needs his baseline testing. Might want to clear your schedule; this one's... unique."
The woman sighed, motioning for Tae-Hyun to sit in a chair surrounded by a web of cables and sensors. He hesitated but complied, feeling the weight of their scrutiny as they began attaching the devices to him.
"This will measure your Aether output, as well as the stability of your abilities," the woman explained. "Stay still. This won't hurt—unless you resist."
Tae-Hyun swallowed nervously as the machine powered up, its hum resonating in his chest.
---
The first test was simple: channeling Aether. Tae-Hyun closed his eyes and focused, feeling the now-familiar pulse of energy within him. Chains of glowing golden light materialized around his arms, swirling and clinking softly. The instructors exchanged glances but said nothing.
The next test was more challenging: controlled use of his abilities. Tae-Hyun was instructed to use Shatterstep to teleport across a marked space. He focused, feeling the strange distortion of space as his surroundings blurred. In a flash, he reappeared on the other side, though the effort left him slightly dizzy.
Finally, they asked him to demonstrate Distortion, the ability Ashborn had described in his dream. Tae-Hyun hesitated. The ability felt... unstable, like a coiled spring ready to snap. But he couldn't back down now.
He raised his hand, focusing on a small metal ball placed on the table before him. He concentrated on the distance between himself and the ball, willing it to contract. The ball jerked forward, then stopped abruptly, as if space itself had hiccuped. The instructors leaned in, their expressions shifting from curiosity to astonishment.
"Incredible," one of them muttered. "He's manipulating spatial dimensions directly."
Tae-Hyun lowered his hand, breathing heavily. Using Distortion took more out of him than he'd expected.
The woman in the lab coat turned to the instructor. "This confirms it. His abilities are entirely unique. He's not just XS-rank—he's something beyond classification."
The instructor nodded grimly. "We'll need to monitor him closely. If he loses control..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but Tae-Hyun understood the implication.
---
Hours later, Tae-Hyun stood outside on the academy's training grounds, the evening sun casting long shadows over the sprawling campus. He watched as other cadets trained in groups, their laughter and shouts echoing across the field.
He felt... out of place. The weight of the Forbidden Shard, of being XS-rank, was already isolating him. The other cadets looked at him with a mixture of awe and fear, keeping their distance.
As he turned to leave, a voice called out to him.
"Hey, newbie!"
Tae-Hyun looked up to see a girl about his age jogging toward him. She had short, spiky hair and a confident grin, her uniform slightly disheveled.
"You're the XS guy, right? I'm Yoon Mirae. Welcome to Klade Academy!"
Her easygoing demeanor was a stark contrast to the cold stares he'd received all day, and Tae-Hyun couldn't help but smile faintly.
"Thanks," he said, his voice quieter than he intended.
Mirae studied him for a moment before punching him lightly on the arm. "Don't look so gloomy. You're here now, which means you've got potential. Just don't let it go to your head."
Tae-Hyun chuckled softly. "I'll try."
For the first time since arriving, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could survive this.