In the year 2028, a phenomenon shook the world. A region within China began showing abnormal changes that no one could understand. The sky over the area turned dark, and a strange, glitch-like energy surrounded it, distorting reality itself. Just the sight of it was enough to send fear into anyone who looked at it.
The government tried to investigate, sending drones, machines, and even animals into the zone, but everything that entered lost connection and never returned. It was as if the area had swallowed them whole. This terrifying event sent the world into a state of chaos.
Despite the danger, some brave individuals entered the anomaly, hoping to uncover its secrets. However, the moment they entered the flickering energy, they vanished.
Three months passed, and not a single person had returned.
The phenomenon became the most discussed topic in global media, drawing curious spectators from every corner of the world. Scientists, reporters, and thrill-seekers alike flocked to the edges of the zone, desperate to witness the impossible with their own eyes.
But after the repeated disappearances, no one dared to enter again. The government, unwilling to take any more risks, built a massive wall around the anomaly to prevent anyone from stepping inside.
As time passed, people began to forget. Though the anomaly was something extraordinary, it had no direct connection to people's daily lives. Eventually, the world moved on.
Just like that, seven years passed.
Then, one day, the earth trembled. The once-silent anomaly began to shake violently, and a blinding light erupted into the sky...
Then, at the place where the phenomenon stood, a vortex of darkness appeared. A massive force surged from the depths, and an abyss was born—so deep, so endless, that it seemed to devour the very light itself.
The air grew suffocating, an immense pressure crushing everything for miles. Terrible howls echoed from the depths of the abyss. And creatures unlike anything seen before came out of it.
Towering beasts with obsidian skin, and glowing eyes like dying stars with unimaginable power came in waves. Buildings melted like wax in their presence, and the unlucky few who gazed upon their abyssal forms were driven mad before they were devoured. Cities fell within hours, and the strongest weapons of mankind only flickered against the void-born monstrosities. Humanity stood at the edge of annihilation, facing nightmares that had no name.
It was the beginning of the end.
But just when all hope seemed lost, something else emerged from the abyss.
Humans.
The people who vanished seven years ago returned, but they were no longer ordinary. They soared through the air, wielding power that struck back against the horrors of the abyss.
And one of them was named… Rowon Gen…
"Is he the founder of this academy?"
Jim asked Rolex, who was reading a history book.
"No…" Rolex turned some pages, his finger tracing the words. "It is founded by the disciple of Rowon Gen— Virtal Bone."
"Oh, so that is why this academy is called Downwun Bone Academy," Jin said, his face lighting up with understanding.
"Yeah," Rolex said as he looked up at the grand sign in front of him. It was majestic and elegant at the same time.
Downwun Bone Academy
Rolex had stolen this book from a guy who bought it from a shop. It has the history he needed to know about the academy he was about to join. The first few pages, however, covered the history he already learned back in school.
"Good luck, brother!" Jin and Jim said, their voices tinged with sadness. They both wanted to join, but they were too young and had no money. It was painful to part from the only person they were close to.
Rolex smiled at them and pulled them into a hug.
"Don't worry, I'll come and see you sometimes," he said. Although they weren't related by blood, over the past three months, they had become like family. He handed them the book and added, "Read this. There's some important stuff in it you need to understand before entering the academy."
These two were not educated about the world, so it would be better to let them learn things and help them understand what kind of world they were living in. And it was the best thing Rolex could offer them.
"Hmm," they nodded and took the book.
"I'll go in now," Rolex said, turning to enter the academy gate. There were no gatekeepers, no guards—just an open path before him. So he walked in while looking around.
"This… why is this so far?" Rolex was somewhat tired after walking so much. He had walked nearly three kilometers after entering the gate, only to find another gate ahead.
A middle-aged man sat at the side of the gate with a table in front of him. He wore blue and black clothes and had a handsome face.
Both Rolex and the middle-aged man looked at each other.
"Money?" the middle-aged man asked.
Rolex, still exhausted, didn't speak but pulled out a pouch from his side and placed it on the table.
The man checked the contents, confirming the pouch had 29 Silver Shards inside. He then pulled out a token from his pocket.
"What is your name?"
"Rolex Xal'tharoth."
Zzz
The man wrote the name on the token, which looked to be made of rock, with his finger! He tossed it to Rolex and said, "Go in, and go to the left to the auditorium where new students are taking classes. Good luck on your journey."
"Thank you," Rolex said with a smile and entered the gate, turning left to walk towards the auditorium. He also couldn't wait to see what they would teach…
"IDIOTS!!"
Rolex covered his ears with his hands as he came near the auditorium. His eardrums were almost burst…
"You stupid fucks can't even remember things I taught you yesterday? Why did you even join the academy?! You should have died somewhere and become food to rats!"
Rolex's steps slowed down after hearing shouts from inside. It was not just a loud but a fierce voice, not something a normal person could have… He peeked into the auditorium where hundreds of students sat, and a man stood on stage, yelling at them with all his might.
The teacher was impeccably dressed—his shirt red, his pants blue. He had a tucked-in look, a clean shave, and a well-kept haircut. But his expression was anything but polished. His face twisted with anger, his forehead practically bursting with veins.
"You!" the teacher pointed at a student. "Tell me, when did the first Null appear?"
The student froze, sweat pouring down his face. "Ah… I-it was… 215 years ago?" He was not sure but he did remember hearing something about that in yesterday's class.
"Good! Yes, it's been 215 years since the first Null! You!" The teacher pointed at another student. "What is the Null Circle?"
The second student stood, unsure but thinking hard. "Null Circle... is… is the circle where a Null appears?"
"….."
"IDIOT!"