Jin Woo stood in the center of the arena, his chest heaving. The silence from the crowd was deafening. The sharp clang of Kang Minho's daggers hitting the ground still echoed in his ears.
He looked at his hands, flexing his fingers. His body had moved on its own, faster and stronger than it ever had before. It wasn't just instinct—it was something deeper, something primal.
"Jin Woo!"
Hana's voice cut through the quiet. She pushed her way through the onlookers, her face a mixture of concern and confusion. "What was that? How did you—"
"I don't know," Jin Woo said quickly, cutting her off. "It just… happened."
Minho scrambled to his feet, his face flushed with anger and humiliation. "You think this means anything? You're still a worthless F-class!" he spat, his voice trembling.
Before Jin Woo could respond, Hana stepped between them. "That's enough, Minho. You lost. Walk away."
Minho glared at her, then at Jin Woo, before storming off, his lackeys trailing behind him.
The crowd began to disperse, murmuring amongst themselves. Jin Woo could feel their eyes on him, filled with something he wasn't used to—curiosity, maybe even fear.
Hana waited until they were alone before speaking again. "That wasn't normal, Jin Woo. Your movements, your strength… it was like you were someone else."
He shook his head. "I don't know what's happening to me, Hana. Ever since I found that book, things have been… different."
"Different how?"
Jin Woo hesitated. He wanted to tell her everything—the book, the Oracle, the creature that called him Arkanis—but the words caught in his throat.
"It's hard to explain," he said finally. "But I need to figure it out."
Hana studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But you're not doing this alone."
---
That night, Jin Woo sat in his dorm room, the book open in front of him once again. The words on the pages seemed to shift and writhe, as if alive. He traced a finger over the symbols, their faint glow pulsing beneath his touch.
As he read, the room grew colder, the shadows stretching and twisting like living things. He could feel it again—that pull, that voice whispering in the back of his mind.
"The throne awaits."
Jin Woo clenched his fists. "What throne? What do you want from me?"
The shadows coalesced into a figure once more, but this time it was smaller, less defined. Its voice was softer, almost gentle.
"You know what you are, Arkanis. You cannot run from it."
"I'm not Arkanis!" Jin Woo snapped. "I'm not some king or gatekeeper or whatever you think I am!"
The shadow tilted its head. "Denial will not change the truth. The power within you grows. Soon, you will have no choice but to accept it."
Jin Woo felt a surge of anger. "I didn't ask for this! I didn't ask to be some… monster!"
The shadow's form flickered, its voice growing colder. "A monster? Perhaps. But even monsters bow to their king."
Before Jin Woo could respond, the shadow dissolved into the air, leaving him alone in the dark.
---
The next day, Jin Woo was summoned to the Academy's central hall. It was rare for F-class students to be called for anything important, so his stomach churned with unease as he walked into the grand chamber.
Inside, several instructors and high-ranking students stood around a large table, a holographic map hovering above it. Hana was there too, her expression unreadable.
"Jin Woo," Headmaster Baek said, his voice calm but firm. "Thank you for coming."
Jin Woo bowed awkwardly. "You wanted to see me?"
Baek nodded. "We've received reports of unusual activity near one of the older gates. Low-level monsters have been spilling through, but the energy readings suggest something far more dangerous on the other side."
"Why me?" Jin Woo asked, confused. "I'm not exactly qualified for something like this."
The headmaster's gaze was piercing. "You've been showing… unexpected potential. We believe this mission could help you understand your abilities."
Jin Woo glanced at Hana, who gave him a small nod.
"What's the mission?" he asked.
Baek gestured to the map. "You'll join a small team to investigate the gate and determine the source of the disturbance. If it's too dangerous, you'll retreat and report back immediately."
Jin Woo swallowed hard. This was more than he had ever been trusted with before. But as much as he wanted to refuse, he knew he couldn't. Not if it meant getting closer to the truth.
"I'll do it," he said.
The headmaster nodded. "Good. You leave at dawn."
---
**End of Chapter 10**