Chapter 55: The Grand Challenge & Kozuki's Next Target
Aether Academy was built on competition.
Every day, students fought to rise higher—or be eliminated.
But today, something different was happening.
🔊 BEEP! BEEP!
The academy's announcement screens flickered on.
Then, a familiar deep voice echoed across the entire campus.
💠 Head Instructor Magnus Valeford.
The Grand Challenge – A Prize Worth Fighting For
Magnus (calm but commanding):"Attention, students. It is time for the first Grand Challenge."
A wave of whispers erupted.
Student 1 (excited): "A Grand Challenge? Already?"Student 2 (grinning): "Last year's prize was insane… What is it this time?"
Magnus continued:"This challenge is open to all students. The rules are simple—succeed, and you will be rewarded beyond your imagination."
Then—the real shock came.
Magnus:"The winner of this challenge will receive a cash prize of 100 million yen."
💀 Silence. 💀
Then—chaos.
Student 1 (screaming): "ONE HUNDRED MILLION?!"Student 2 (panicking): "That's enough to change your entire life!"Student 3 (in shock): "The academy has never offered THIS much before!"
Rei froze.
That kind of money…
💰 It could change everything.💰 His mother and sister would never struggle again.💰 He would never have to worry about survival.
Rei (thinking, serious): I have to win this.
Magnus wasn't finished.
Magnus:"The challenge begins tomorrow. The task will be revealed at the start. Only those who believe they can survive should participate. That is all."
🔊 BEEP!
The announcement ended.
And the entire academy was now in complete chaos.
Kozuki's Interest – A New Target
Somewhere on the rooftops, Kozuki Renjou leaned back, watching the academy react.
Kozuki (grinning): "Now this… is interesting."
100 million yen?
He didn't care about money.
But a challenge like this?
He was in.
Then, his gaze drifted toward a specific student.
🔹 Rei Kurogane.
Kozuki smirked.
Kozuki (muttering): "I wonder… how far you'll get, Kurogane."
Because for the first time—
🔥 Rei was aiming for something that Kozuki was interested in. 🔥
And that meant one thing—
If Rei stood in Kozuki's way…
💀 He wouldn't hold back. 💀