Volume 1. Chapter 28. Entrance

The morning began with a cold mist that seemed capable of swallowing everything within its reach. The gates of the compound rumbled as they began to open, the screech of metal tearing through the silence.The guards, who had kept watch all night without rest, sprang to their feet. Their faces showed both tension and exhaustion."Mistress! The gates are opening!" one of the guards called out, rushing toward the door in alarm.Haruko sat in a plush leather seat inside the car, a cup of coffee in her hands. She hadn't taken her eyes off the window. Her expression remained calm, but for the briefest moment, a flicker of concern flashed in her gaze."Already?!" Her voice was quiet but sharp as she set the cup down. "Tell everyone to get ready! We're going in without delay!""Understood, Mistress!" The guard quickly ran off to relay the order.Soon, everyone gathered around the vehicle—tired, yet resolute.Tadashi, standing by the car window, cleared his throat softly before speaking."I'm worried about your father, Mistress. His condition is still unstable. We need to be careful."Haruko turned to him sharply, her gaze cold but restrained."Don't worry, Tadashi. We've done everything we could. My father isn't the kind of man to fall without a fight."Meanwhile, the guards, prepared to move out, began checking their gear. Some adjusted their weapons. They all understood—what lay ahead was unknown.At that moment, the sound of footsteps echoed. Yelena Gromova appeared, her expression calm, though a subtle tension lingered in her eyes."Oh? You're ready already? I thought you'd take a bit longer." A faint smirk played on her lips as she approached Haruko."We need to move quickly. There's no time to waste," Haruko replied with a slight nod."Agreed," Yelena said."Forget it. This isn't the time for conversation." Haruko didn't bother hiding her irritation. The only thing on her mind was that her father could still be in danger.As soon as they crossed the threshold of the gates and drove into the compound, the tension in the air became almost palpable. Each vehicle carried several guards, all ready for anything. Everyone knew—this was a moment where mistakes couldn't be afforded.When the convoy finally entered the vast courtyard, the entire group froze for a few seconds, stunned by the sheer scale of what lay before them.This place was nothing like they had expected. The complex stretched for miles, meticulously designed to the point where it was hard to believe it had remained hidden in such a secluded area.Yamato Haruko couldn't hold back a quiet gasp of admiration as she took in the unusual fountains and the flawlessly maintained garden paths."I didn't expect this place to be so... utopian," she murmured, her gaze drifting over the rolling green hills surrounding them."Drone footage? Absolute garbage," Friedrich Weiss muttered, his expression filled with irritation. "This place looks like a slice of paradise, not some abandoned school."Yelena Gromova nodded, not bothering to hide her emotions."Agreed. The images didn't do it justice at all. This place... it feels alive. The greenery, the water—almost unreal."Ludovic Dupont stood beside his daughter, Catherine, observing their surroundings with a hint of caution. Yet, even he couldn't deny the seamless harmony of the environment."I agree. This place must be... incredibly valuable. Too perfect to be a coincidence."Jurgen Weiss, Friedrich's son, let out a low whistle."Never would've guessed something this hidden could be so massive. Damn impressive."Sergey Gromov, standing slightly apart with a tense expression, shook his head slightly."The longer I stay here, the more questions I have. What kind of place is this? Who built it?"As they continued surveying the courtyard, the doors to the main building finally opened.A young man appeared on the threshold, dressed in traditional Eastern attire. His movements were refined, exuding elegance with a subtle undercurrent of confidence. With a warm smile, he bowed his head in greeting."Welcome. I'm glad to see you all here," the young man said in a soft yet firm voice. Stepping forward, he gestured toward the open gates leading into the inner courtyard.Haruko, standing beside Yamato, cast a quick glance at the others. Everything was silent, tense. Everyone present could feel it—this wasn't just a simple visit. Every detail of this place was meticulously planned, and they all sensed that they were stepping into a game played at the highest level."Please, come in," he added. His gaze was serious yet welcoming. A gentle breeze stirred his robes, and the air itself felt different, as if the world beyond these walls was separate from everything they had known before.Despite the heavy atmosphere, no one could ignore the undeniable pull of this place. Silently, yet with growing curiosity, they moved toward the open passage.The inner courtyard of the school unfolded before them in a breathtaking display of grandeur—far beyond what they had imagined. Towering trees with dense, emerald leaves lined the pathways, their shade casting intricate patterns on the ground. Expertly trimmed bushes and cascading waterfalls spilling over stone steps gave the scene an almost otherworldly beauty.But what stood out the most was the absence of the usual relaxed atmosphere found in lavish estates. Instead, the air was filled with the rhythmic sounds of training. Young students moved in perfect unison, executing strikes and blocks with such precision that they seemed like parts of a finely tuned machine.But soon, everyone's attention shifted to the two figures locked in combat at the center of the courtyard.One was a dark-haired young man gripping a katana, his stance tense yet controlled. Opposing him stood a tall figure dressed entirely in black, long white hair cascading down his back. A blindfold obscured his eyes, yet his presence was anything but uncertain. If anything, he exuded confidence—something almost predatory."Not bad, Takeshi. But not enough! Harder!" His voice was calm, but there was a steel-like certainty in it, as if he already knew how this fight would end."I'm trying, sensei!" the young man responded, his breathing heavy.At first, the guests couldn't pinpoint exactly what unsettled them. They had seen training grounds before—many of them. But this… this was different.This was not a place where students were merely taught.This was a place where they were forged.And then, something happened that none of them expected.The teacher cast aside his staff, letting it clatter to the ground. He extended a hand, two fingers pointing toward his student. The movement was simple—almost casual—but there was something… ominous about it."Are you ready?" he asked, his voice as steady as ever. But the fleeting smile that crossed his lips promised nothing good.Takeshi exhaled sharply, gripping his katana tighter before shifting into a defensive stance."Yes!" His voice was firm, despite the exhaustion weighing on himKeito Shigero nodded.And then… he smiled.It was a wide, manic grin—a strange blend of madness and delight."Excellent."Something shifted in the air. The guests felt it immediately. The space around them seemed to contract, the walls pressing in for a fleeting moment.And then—A crimson glow ignited in Shigero's hand, coalescing in the blink of an eye into a pulsating sphere of raw energy."What the hell?!"Someone staggered back. Another sucked in a sharp breath. No one fully grasped what was happening, but one thing was certain—this was no trick.This was real.The energy shot from Keito's fingertips, streaking toward Takeshi with a high-pitched, piercing sound.But the young man didn't flinch.With a swift, precise motion, he swung his katana, slicing through the crimson mass as if it were nothing more than a strip of paper. The remnants of the energy scattered into the air, dissipating like dying embers.A moment of dead silence followed.Then—Keito started clapping. His smile widened."Excellent!"He strode toward Takeshi, his footsteps unnervingly calm after what had just transpired."Thank you, Sensei!" Takeshi grinned, running a finger along his blade as if checking for damage.Around them, no one seemed fazed. The other students resumed their training. Keito folded his hands behind his back, utterly at ease. Takeshi, still catching his breath, bowed to his teacher.But the guests…The guests were completely stunned.They stood frozen in place, unable to utter a single word.Friedrich Weiss slowly turned his head toward Ludovic Dupont, but the man only stared ahead in silence, his fists clenched tight.Yamato Reijiro blinked, trying to say something, but his throat had gone dry.Yelena Gromova let out a sharp, almost frantic exhale before glancing at her father, expecting some kind of explanation. But Sergey Gromov looked like he had just been hit over the head with something heavy.Jürgen Weiss muttered under his breath."Is that even possible?"But no one answered.Because no one knew.