CHAPTER 1

THE BOY WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WEAK

The morning sun rose over the Kingdom of Asteria.

Cars filled the streets. Magic trains moved between buildings, carrying students toward schools and academies across the kingdom.

Above the city stood a massive tower.

At the top of the tower was the emblem of the most prestigious magic academy in the kingdom.

AETHERIA GRAND MAGIC ACADEMY.

Only the most talented young sorcerers were allowed to study there.

Children from noble families.

Heirs of powerful clans.

Geniuses with extraordinary Inner Cores.

And, starting today, two siblings from the Vance Family would become students of Aetheria.

One of them was destined to become a legend.

The other was considered almost useless.

⸻

“Yuuto.”

A young girl stood in front of a large mirror.

She wore the black-and-white uniform of Aetheria Grand Magic Academy.

Her long silver hair fell neatly over her shoulders, while her violet eyes reflected excitement.

She turned around.

“Are you ready?”

A young man sitting on the edge of the bed slowly raised his head.

His black hair was slightly messy.

His uniform was only half-buttoned.

He looked at the girl for a few seconds.

Then he sighed.

“Five more minutes.”

The girl stared at him.

“Yuuto.”

“No.”

“Yuuto.”

“I said five minutes.”

“Today is our first day at the academy.”

“I know.”

“You’re going to be late.”

“I know.”

“You’re going to miss the entrance ceremony.”

“I know.”

The girl crossed her arms.

“Then get up.”

Yuuto looked at her.

“Why are you so serious this early in the morning?”

“Because I’m your sister.”

Yuuto smiled.

“Unfortunately.”

The girl’s eyes widened.

“Unfortunately?!”

She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

WHAM!

The pillow hit Yuuto directly in the face.

“Get dressed!”

She walked out of the room.

Yuuto removed the pillow from his face.

“Elena is getting scarier every year.”

He stood up.

His name was Yuuto Vance.

Seventeen years old.

Adopted son of the Vance Family.

And, according to the official records—

A boy with a nearly broken Inner Core.

⸻

THE INNER CORE

Every human being in this world possessed an Inner Core.

It was the source of mana.

The stronger and purer the Core was, the greater a person’s potential became.

Sorcerers trained their bodies and minds to strengthen their Core.

Noble clans had spent generations developing special techniques to produce powerful descendants.

Some possessed fire.

Some possessed lightning.

Some possessed healing abilities.

Some could manipulate space.

But among all those abilities, one thing remained the same.

Every sorcerer had a limit.

Except one.

Yuuto.

He stood in front of the mirror and placed his hand against his chest.

For a moment, his expression became serious.

Deep inside his body—

Something moved.

THUM.

A faint pulse echoed through his Inner Core.

Then another.

THUM.

The air around him trembled.

Yuuto immediately closed his eyes.

“Calm down.”

The pressure disappeared.

The room became completely silent.

No aura.

No mana.

Nothing.

Yuuto opened his eyes.

His expression returned to normal.

“Good.”

He adjusted his uniform.

Nobody could know.

Not the academy.

Not the other clans.

Not the kingdom.

Nobody.

Because the official report said that Yuuto Vance had a damaged Inner Core.

And Yuuto intended to keep it that way.

⸻

“YUUTO!”

Elena’s voice came from downstairs.

“I’m coming!”

Yuuto walked down the stairs.

At the dining table, Elena was already waiting.

Across from her sat their father.

Richard Vance.

The head of the Vance Family.

A powerful sorcerer respected by the other Great Clans.

Richard looked at Yuuto.

“You’re late.”

Yuuto sat down.

“Good morning to you too, Father.”

Richard sighed.

“You haven’t changed.”

“That’s a good thing.”

Elena laughed.

Richard looked at both of them.

“Today is important.”

Elena nodded.

“I know.”

Richard’s expression became serious.

“Aetheria Grand Magic Academy is filled with heirs from the Ten Great Clans.”

His eyes moved toward Yuuto.

“Some of them will look down on you.”

Yuuto calmly picked up his breakfast.

“I know.”

“Some may provoke you.”

“I know.”

“Some may even try to discover the truth about your Core.”

Yuuto stopped eating.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Richard continued.

“Do not reveal anything.”

Yuuto looked at his father.

“How much can I use?”

Richard thought for a moment.

“Nothing beyond what a normal student should be capable of.”

Yuuto nodded.

“Understood.”

Elena suddenly raised her hand.

“I have a question.”

Richard looked at her.

“What?”

“What if someone hurts my brother?”

Richard glanced at Yuuto.

Yuuto looked away.

“Elena.”

“What?”

“Don’t start a war on my first day.”

“I wasn’t going to.”

“You were thinking about it.”

“Maybe.”

Richard sighed.

“Both of you…”

For a moment, the serious atmosphere disappeared.

They were simply a family having breakfast.

But none of them knew that by sunset—

the balance between the Ten Great Clans would begin to change.

⸻

AETHERIA GRAND MAGIC ACADEMY

The academy gates were enormous.

Hundreds of students entered through them.

Some arrived in expensive magical vehicles.

Others were accompanied by bodyguards.

The aura of powerful Inner Cores filled the entrance.

Elena looked around.

“So many people.”

Yuuto placed his hands inside his pockets.

“Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried.”

“You look worried.”

“I don’t.”

“You do.”

Elena glared at him.

“You’re annoying.”

“I know.”

They continued walking.

Then—

A loud voice came from behind them.

“Move.”

A group of students walked past.

At the center was a young man with dark blue hair and sharp golden eyes.

His uniform was decorated with the emblem of a lightning dragon.

Klan Thorne.

One of the Ten Great Clans.

The young man stopped.

His eyes landed on Elena.

Then Yuuto.

“Elena Vance.”

Elena looked at him.

“Kaelen Thorne.”

Kaelen smiled.

“I heard you ranked first in the entrance examination.”

“Yes.”

“Impressive.”

His eyes moved toward Yuuto.

“And this must be your brother.”

Yuuto nodded.

“Yuuto Vance.”

Kaelen stared at him.

Something about Yuuto felt strange.

Not powerful.

Not intimidating.

In fact—

Yuuto felt like nothing.

Kaelen frowned.

He couldn’t sense any significant mana from him.

“So you’re the famous brother.”

Yuuto raised an eyebrow.

“Famous?”

Kaelen laughed.

“Your sister is one of the most talented students in the academy.”

He looked Yuuto up and down.

“And you’re…”

Kaelen paused.

“Nothing special.”

Elena’s expression immediately changed.

“Watch your words.”

Kaelen smiled.

“I wasn’t insulting him.”

“You were.”

Yuuto gently placed a hand on Elena’s shoulder.

“It’s fine.”

“But—”

“Let him think whatever he wants.”

Kaelen smiled.

“Wise.”

He turned around.

“See you inside, Course 2.”

Yuuto watched him leave.

Elena looked at her brother.

“Are you really okay?”

Yuuto shrugged.

“I don’t care.”

“You’re lying.”

“A little.”

Elena smiled.

“That’s more like you.”

⸻

THE ENTRANCE CEREMONY

Thousands of students gathered inside the academy’s main hall.

A massive crystal stood at the center of the stage.

It was called the Core Analyzer.

Every new student had to undergo an Inner Core examination.

One by one, students stepped forward.

The crystal would measure their Core Capacity, Purity and Stability.

Some students received cheers.

Some received applause.

Others received silence.

Then—

“Next.”

“Elena Vance.”

The hall became quiet.

Elena walked toward the crystal.

She placed her hand against it.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

WHOOM!

The crystal erupted with brilliant light.

Numbers appeared above it.

CORE PURITY: 99.7%

CORE STABILITY: 98.9%

CORE CAPACITY: HIGH

The examiner’s eyes widened.

“Pure Resonance Core…”

The hall exploded with whispers.

“She has a Pure Resonance Core!”

“That’s incredibly rare!”

“She’s definitely going to be Course 1!”

Elena calmly removed her hand.

The examiner smiled.

“Elena Vance.”

He announced loudly.

“Course 1.”

Applause filled the hall.

Elena walked back toward her seat.

Her eyes immediately searched for Yuuto.

She smiled when she saw him.

Then—

“Next.”

“Yuuto Vance.”

The atmosphere changed.

Yuuto slowly stood.

He walked toward the crystal.

Every eye followed him.

He placed his hand against it.

Nothing happened.

The examiner frowned.

“Try again.”

Yuuto did.

Still nothing.

Then—

BEEP.

A red light appeared.

The crystal shook.

ERROR.

The examiner’s expression changed.

“What’s happening?”

The crystal displayed several lines of information.

CORE CAPACITY: LOW

CORE PURITY: 11%

CORE STABILITY: 3%

WARNING: CORE CONDITION CRITICAL

Silence.

Then the whispers began.

“Is that real?”

“His Core is almost broken.”

“How is he even able to use magic?”

“Is he really from the Vance Family?”

Someone laughed.

“So that’s Elena’s brother?”

Yuuto stared at the result.

He almost smiled.

Perfect.

The examiner cleared his throat.

“Yuuto Vance.”

He announced.

“Course 2.”

Yuuto walked away.

As he passed Elena, she whispered:

“You’re terrible at pretending to be weak.”

Yuuto smiled.

“I got into Course 2, didn’t I?”

Elena covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

Nobody else understood.

But Elena knew the truth.

That crystal hadn’t measured Yuuto’s Core.

It had only measured what Yuuto allowed it to see.

⸻

Outside the hall, Yuuto looked toward the academy’s massive tower.

For a moment, his eyes became cold.

Something was wrong.

He could feel it.

Someone was watching him.

Not with ordinary mana perception.

With something much deeper.

Yuuto stopped walking.

His expression changed.

“Interesting.”

Elena looked at him.

“What is it?”

Yuuto looked toward the crowd.

“I don’t know yet.”

Far away, on the highest floor of the academy—

a mysterious figure stood beside a window.

The figure looked down at Yuuto.

A faint smile appeared.

“So you’ve finally arrived.”

The figure whispered:

“Abyssal Core.”

Yuuto suddenly looked up.

Their eyes met.

For a brief moment—

the entire world seemed to become silent.

Then the figure disappeared.

Yuuto narrowed his eyes.

His first day at Aetheria Grand Magic Academy had just begun.

And already—

someone knew his secret.

To be continued…

CHAPTER 2

THE WEAKEST STUDENT

The first day at Aetheria Grand Magic Academy had officially begun.

Students filled the corridors.

Some were excited.

Some were nervous.

Others were already comparing their Inner Cores with one another.

For the students of Course 1, the atmosphere was completely different.

They were treated as the future of the magical world.

But for Course 2…

Things were not so glamorous.

Yuuto stood in front of his new classroom.

He looked at the sign above the door.

COURSE 2 — CLASS A

Yuuto sighed.

“So this is where the weak people go.”

A voice came from behind him.

“Did you just call us weak?”

Yuuto turned around.

A tall boy with brown hair was staring at him.

His expression was serious.

Yuuto looked at him for a moment.

“Did I say that?”

“Yes.”

“Then I probably did.”

The boy frowned.

“You’re annoying.”

Yuuto smiled.

“I’ve been told that before.”

The boy sighed.

“My name is Leon Hartwell.”

“Yuuto Vance.”

“I know.”

Leon looked at him carefully.

“You’re Elena Vance’s brother, right?”

“Unfortunately.”

Leon laughed.

“You really like saying that.”

“It’s my favorite joke.”

Leon smiled.

For some reason, Yuuto immediately felt that this guy wasn’t bad.

They entered the classroom together.

⸻

The teacher arrived a few minutes later.

A woman in her early thirties stood at the front.

She had long black hair and wore a dark blue instructor’s uniform.

“My name is Professor Selene Ardent.”

The classroom became quiet.

“I will be your homeroom teacher for the first year.”

She looked at the students.

“You are all Course 2 students.”

Some students lowered their heads.

Others looked frustrated.

Selene continued.

“But don’t misunderstand what that means.”

Her eyes became sharp.

“Course 2 does not mean you are useless.”

She paused.

“It means you have more to prove.”

Several students looked up.

Yuuto smiled slightly.

Interesting teacher.

Selene began explaining the academy system.

“Every student will be evaluated in three major areas.”

She wrote on the board.

CORE CAPACITY

CORE PURITY

CORE CONTROL

“These three factors determine how effectively you can use your Inner Core.”

She turned toward the class.

“However, raw power is not everything.”

Her eyes briefly landed on Yuuto.

“Control is equally important.”

Yuuto raised an eyebrow.

Did she notice something?

Probably not.

⸻

After the lecture, the students were taken to the training grounds.

A massive circular arena stood behind the academy.

Magical barriers surrounded the area.

Professor Selene stood in the center.

“Today, we will conduct a basic practical examination.”

A student raised his hand.

“What kind of examination?”

“A simple one.”

Selene pointed toward a large stone pillar.

“You will destroy that.”

The students stared.

The pillar was almost three meters tall.

“Your objective is to damage it using your Inner Core.”

One student stepped forward.

He took a deep breath.

His Inner Core activated.

BOOM!

A ball of fire shot from his palm.

It struck the pillar.

CRACK!

A small piece broke off.

The students applauded.

Selene nodded.

“Acceptable.”

Another student stepped forward.

Then another.

Some performed well.

Some failed.

Finally—

“Yuuto Vance.”

Everyone looked at him.

Yuuto walked toward the arena.

Selene handed him a measuring crystal.

“Activate your Inner Core.”

Yuuto looked at the crystal.

Then at the pillar.

He sighed.

Here we go again.

He placed his hand against the crystal.

Inside his body, the Abyssal Core remained completely silent.

Yuuto allowed only the smallest amount of mana to escape.

BEEP.

The crystal displayed:

OUTPUT: 4%

Selene frowned.

“That’s very low.”

Yuuto nodded.

“I’m aware.”

“Attack the pillar.”

Yuuto raised his hand.

He pointed one finger at the stone.

“Bullet.”

A tiny sphere of compressed mana appeared.

BOOM!

The sphere struck the pillar.

A small crack appeared.

Everyone became silent.

One student laughed.

“That’s it?”

Another laughed.

“Even my little sister can do better!”

Yuuto lowered his hand.

Professor Selene looked at the pillar.

Then at Yuuto.

She didn’t say anything.

But something about the attack bothered her.

The amount of mana used was ridiculously small.

Yet the crack was unusually deep.

She walked toward the pillar.

Her expression changed.

The mana hadn’t simply hit the surface.

It had travelled through the stone before exploding inside it.

She looked back at Yuuto.

“Who taught you that technique?”

Yuuto shrugged.

“I don’t remember.”

“You don’t remember?”

“No.”

Selene narrowed her eyes.

“You’re lying.”

Yuuto smiled.

“Maybe.”

⸻

After the examination, the students were given a short break.

Yuuto sat beneath a tree.

Leon sat beside him.

“You know you’re strange, right?”

Yuuto looked at him.

“Thank you.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

“I accepted it anyway.”

Leon laughed.

“You really don’t care what people think.”

Yuuto looked toward the academy.

“Most people only see what they want to see.”

Leon became quiet.

Before he could respond—

A loud voice came from behind them.

“Vance.”

Yuuto turned around.

Kaelen Thorne stood there.

Several students from Course 1 were behind him.

Leon immediately stood up.

“Why are you here?”

Kaelen ignored him.

His eyes remained on Yuuto.

“I heard the Course 2 students were having practical training.”

Yuuto looked at him.

“And?”

Kaelen smiled.

“I wanted to see how weak you really are.”

Leon frowned.

“This is a Course 2 training area. Go back to your own class.”

Kaelen’s eyes moved toward Leon.

“Did I ask you?”

Leon stepped forward.

“I’m telling you.”

The atmosphere changed.

Yuuto sighed.

“Leon.”

“What?”

“Don’t.”

Kaelen smiled.

“Good advice.”

Then he looked at Yuuto.

“I want a duel.”

Yuuto shook his head.

“No.”

Kaelen’s smile disappeared.

“What?”

“I said no.”

“You’re afraid?”

“No.”

“Then why refuse?”

“Because I’m lazy.”

Leon covered his face.

Kaelen’s expression darkened.

“You’re insulting me.”

Yuuto stood.

“No. I’m being honest.”

Kaelen activated his Inner Core.

THOOM!

Lightning exploded around his body.

Several students stepped back.

“Thunder Core!”

“That’s the Thorne family’s signature!”

“His Core pressure is incredible!”

Kaelen stared at Yuuto.

“Fight me.”

Yuuto looked at the lightning surrounding Kaelen.

Then he sighed.

“Fine.”

Kaelen smiled.

Finally.

Yuuto stepped into the arena.

The students gathered around them.

Professor Selene watched from a distance.

She did not stop them.

Perhaps she wanted to see what Yuuto would do.

Kaelen raised his hand.

Lightning gathered around his fingers.

“I’ll give you one chance.”

Yuuto put his hands into his pockets.

“One chance for what?”

“To surrender.”

Yuuto smiled.

“That’s generous.”

Kaelen disappeared.

BOOM!

His body moved like lightning.

He appeared directly in front of Yuuto.

His fist was already heading toward Yuuto’s face.

Leon shouted.

“YUUTO!”

But—

Yuuto tilted his head.

The fist passed beside his cheek.

Kaelen’s eyes widened.

Yuuto stepped forward.

One step.

Only one.

His shoulder lightly touched Kaelen’s chest.

THUM.

Kaelen’s Inner Core suddenly shook.

His entire body froze.

His lightning disappeared.

His knees almost gave out.

“What…?”

Yuuto whispered.

“Your Core is too loud.”

Kaelen’s eyes widened.

Yuuto raised one finger.

He gently touched Kaelen’s chest.

THUM.

Kaelen’s Inner Core stopped.

For exactly 0.8 seconds.

His body became completely powerless.

Yuuto stepped back.

Kaelen fell to one knee.

Silence.

Nobody understood what had happened.

Yuuto looked at him.

“You’re strong.”

Kaelen stared at him.

“Then why…”

Yuuto turned around.

“Because being strong isn’t the same as being in control.”

He walked away.

Nobody spoke.

Leon stared at Yuuto.

Professor Selene stared at Yuuto.

And Kaelen…

For the first time in his life…

felt fear.

Not because Yuuto had overwhelming power.

But because he had felt something much worse.

For a brief moment—

Kaelen had felt his own Inner Core being completely dominated.

Without a spell.

Without an incantation.

Without even seeing Yuuto activate his Core.

Kaelen clenched his fist.

“Who… are you?”

Yuuto stopped walking.

He looked over his shoulder.

A faint smile appeared.

“Just a weak student.”

Then he walked away.

But high above the training grounds—

someone was watching.

A woman dressed in black stood on the roof of the academy.

Her eyes were fixed on Yuuto.

She whispered:

“Absolute Zero Presence.”

Her expression became serious.

“So the Vance family really did find him.”

She turned away.

“I need to inform the others.”

Behind her—

a dark symbol appeared in the air.

The symbol of an organization that had been forgotten by history.

THE ABYSS ORDER.

And their target was not Elena.

It was Yuuto.

The boy everyone believed was the weakest student in Aetheria.

The boy who was secretly—

the strongest sorcerer alive.

To be continued…

CHAPTER 3

THE FIRST MONSTER ATTACK

The next morning, Aetheria Grand Magic Academy was unusually noisy.

Students were still talking about yesterday’s duel.

Especially one name.

Yuuto Vance.

“He defeated Kaelen Thorne.”

“I heard Kaelen couldn’t even move.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Yuuto’s Core was only three percent!”

“He must have used some kind of forbidden technique.”

Rumors spread through the academy like wildfire.

Yuuto ignored all of them.

He walked through the corridor with his hands inside his pockets.

Leon followed beside him.

“You’re famous.”

Yuuto sighed.

“That’s unfortunate.”

“You know half the academy is talking about you?”

“That’s even more unfortunate.”

Leon laughed.

“You really don’t like attention.”

“No.”

“Why?”

Yuuto stopped walking.

“Because attention usually brings trouble.”

Leon thought about that.

“Fair enough.”

They continued walking.

Neither of them noticed the girl walking behind them.

A girl with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

She had been watching Yuuto since yesterday.

Her name was Lyria Ashbourne.

Unlike most students, she wasn’t interested in rumors.

She was interested in facts.

And there was one fact she couldn’t understand.

Yuuto Vance’s Inner Core reading was almost nonexistent.

Yet he had defeated Kaelen without using a visible spell.

That shouldn’t be possible.

Lyria narrowed her eyes.

Who are you?

⸻

THE CLASSROOM

Professor Selene entered the classroom.

The students immediately became quiet.

“Today, we’ll be studying Core Control.”

She wrote three words on the board.

OUTPUT.

FLOW.

PRESSURE.

“Most young sorcerers focus too much on output.”

She looked at the class.

“They believe that releasing more mana automatically makes their magic stronger.”

She shook her head.

“That’s wrong.”

Selene pointed toward the first student.

“Show us your Core.”

The student activated his Inner Core.

A blue aura appeared around his body.

“Now increase the output.”

The aura became larger.

“More.”

The aura became unstable.

“Stop.”

The student immediately stopped.

Selene looked at the class.

“What happened?”

A student answered.

“His mana became unstable.”

“Correct.”

She turned toward the board.

“True strength comes from controlling the flow.”

Then she looked toward Yuuto.

“Mr. Vance.”

Yuuto looked up.

“Yes?”

“Can you explain?”

The entire class looked at him.

Yuuto sighed.

“Why me?”

“Because you demonstrated unusual Core Control yesterday.”

Yuuto thought for a moment.

“Fine.”

He stood.

“Mana isn’t water.”

He walked toward the board.

“If you force too much through a small passage, the pressure becomes unstable.”

He drew a simple diagram.

“But if you compress the mana first…”

He drew another.

“You can increase its density without increasing the amount.”

The classroom became silent.

Selene nodded.

“Exactly.”

Yuuto returned to his seat.

Leon whispered.

“You sound like a professor.”

Yuuto whispered back.

“That’s because I’m old.”

Leon laughed.

“You’re seventeen!”

“Old enough.”

⸻

LUNCH BREAK

Yuuto sat alone at a table.

He opened his lunch.

Then someone placed a tray in front of him.

“Can I sit here?”

Yuuto looked up.

Lyria Ashbourne.

“Sure.”

She sat opposite him.

Leon arrived a few seconds later.

He looked at Lyria.

“Who are you?”

“Lyria Ashbourne.”

Leon froze.

“Ashbourne?”

Lyria smiled.

“Yes.”

The Ashbourne Family was one of the influential magical families in the kingdom.

Leon looked at Yuuto.

“Why is someone from the Ashbourne Family sitting with us?”

Yuuto shrugged.

“Maybe she’s hungry.”

Lyria laughed.

“Exactly.”

They began eating.

For a while, everything was normal.

Then Lyria spoke.

“Yuuto.”

“Hm?”

“Yesterday.”

Yuuto continued eating.

“What about it?”

“How did you stop Kaelen’s Inner Core?”

Leon stopped eating.

Yuuto looked at Lyria.

“I didn’t.”

Lyria frowned.

“I saw it.”

“You saw wrong.”

“You touched his chest.”

“Lucky punch.”

“That wasn’t a punch.”

“Lucky touch.”

Lyria stared at him.

Yuuto smiled.

She wasn’t convinced.

But before she could ask again—

BOOOOOOM!

The entire academy shook.

Students screamed.

The windows rattled.

A massive alarm sounded throughout the building.

WARNING.

WARNING.

MAGICAL BREACH DETECTED.

Everyone froze.

Professor Selene’s voice echoed through the academy.

“All students, remain inside your classrooms!”

“Do not leave the designated areas!”

“Teachers will handle the situation!”

Yuuto stood.

His expression changed.

Leon noticed immediately.

“What is it?”

Yuuto looked toward the window.

“That’s not a normal breach.”

Lyria frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Yuuto closed his eyes.

He could feel it.

A strange mana signature.

Something was moving beneath the academy.

Something enormous.

Then—

BOOOOOOM!

The ground exploded.

A massive creature burst through the courtyard.

Students screamed.

The creature was covered in black scales.

Its body was larger than a house.

Six glowing eyes stared at the academy.

A horn grew from its forehead.

Professor Selene rushed outside.

“Everyone stay back!”

She raised her hand.

A massive barrier appeared.

BOOM!

The monster slammed into it.

The barrier cracked.

Selene’s expression changed.

“A Tier-4 Magical Beast…”

The students panicked.

“Tier 4?!”

“That’s impossible!”

“Why is there a monster inside the academy?”

Selene shouted:

“EVACUATE!”

Teachers rushed to protect the students.

Yuuto stood in the corridor.

He watched the monster carefully.

His eyes narrowed.

“That isn’t natural.”

Lyria looked at him.

“What?”

Yuuto pointed toward the monster.

“Look at its chest.”

A black symbol was glowing beneath its scales.

Lyria’s eyes widened.

“That’s a magic seal.”

Yuuto nodded.

“Someone summoned it.”

Leon clenched his fists.

“Who would attack Aetheria?”

Yuuto didn’t answer.

Because he already knew.

The same symbol.

The same mana signature.

The same feeling.

He had seen it before.

Twelve years ago.

During the White Night Incident.

Yuuto’s expression became cold.

“The Abyss Order.”

⸻

THE MONSTER BREAKS THROUGH

CRACK!

The barrier shattered.

Professor Selene was thrown backward.

“PROFESSOR!”

The monster roared.

ROAAAAAAR!

A wave of mana exploded through the courtyard.

Windows shattered.

Students fell to the ground.

Yuuto immediately moved.

He grabbed Leon and Lyria.

“Stay behind me.”

Leon looked at him.

“You’re going to fight it?”

“No.”

Yuuto looked toward the monster.

“I’m going to stop it.”

He stepped forward.

Lyria grabbed his arm.

“Yuuto, your Core—”

Yuuto looked at her.

“My Core is fine.”

Then he walked into the courtyard.

The monster noticed him.

Its six eyes turned toward Yuuto.

For a moment—

the creature stopped.

It began trembling.

Yuuto frowned.

“You remember me?”

The monster roared and charged.

BOOM!

Yuuto disappeared.

He reappeared directly above its head.

He raised one finger.

“Core Pressure.”

THOOM!

The monster’s body slammed into the ground.

The entire courtyard shook.

Everyone stared.

Yuuto landed quietly.

The monster struggled to move.

Its Inner Core was being crushed by invisible pressure.

But it wasn’t enough.

The black seal on its chest began glowing.

Yuuto’s eyes narrowed.

“Someone is controlling it remotely.”

A voice suddenly echoed through the monster.

“So the rumors were true.”

Yuuto froze.

“The Abyssal Core really survived.”

Students looked around in confusion.

Yuuto’s expression became cold.

“Show yourself.”

The voice laughed.

“Not yet.”

The monster suddenly began to explode with dark mana.

Yuuto looked toward the students.

There were hundreds of them.

If the monster exploded—

everyone would die.

Yuuto closed his eyes.

For the first time since entering Aetheria—

he stopped pretending.

A tiny portion of his Inner Core opened.

THUM.

The entire academy became silent.

Every sorcerer’s Inner Core trembled.

Kaelen, who was standing among the students, suddenly fell to one knee.

“What… is this?”

Elena felt it from across the academy.

Her eyes widened.

“Yuuto…”

Yuuto opened his eyes.

A dark aura surrounded his body.

Not violent.

Not chaotic.

It was completely silent.

The monster stopped moving.

Yuuto raised his hand.

“Absolute Zero.”

The dark mana vanished.

The monster’s explosion disappeared.

The black seal shattered.

CRACK.

The creature collapsed.

Silence.

Yuuto stood in the middle of the ruined courtyard.

Hundreds of students stared at him.

For a few seconds, nobody spoke.

Then—

Elena arrived.

She looked at Yuuto.

Their eyes met.

Yuuto immediately returned to his normal expression.

Elena smiled.

“You used too much.”

Yuuto sighed.

“How much?”

“About one percent.”

Yuuto looked annoyed.

“That much?”

Elena nodded.

“Yes.”

Kaelen heard them.

His eyes widened.

One percent?

That monster had been strong enough to defeat a professor.

Yet Yuuto had stopped it with one percent of his power.

Kaelen clenched his fists.

For the first time, he understood.

Yesterday’s duel wasn’t a coincidence.

Yuuto had never been fighting him seriously.

Not even close.

High above the academy—

a black-haired woman watched the scene through a magical crystal.

She smiled.

“Interesting.”

Beside her stood a masked man.

“Should we capture him now?”

The woman shook her head.

“No.”

She looked at Yuuto.

“Let him grow.”

The masked man frowned.

“Why?”

The woman smiled.

“Because when the Abyssal Core awakens completely…”

Her eyes glowed red.

“…we will finally have the key to opening the Abyss.”

To be continued…