Nightmare.

Zion found himself standing in a vast, empty void. A thick mist rolled across the ground, shifting like living shadows. The air was cold unnaturally so, sending chills down his spine. He looked around, trying to make sense of his surroundings, but all he saw was an infinite darkness stretching beyond the horizon.

Then, a voice soft yet commanding, seductive yet filled with authority echoed through the void.

"Welcome, Zion."

Zion turned sharply, his body tensing. A woman stood before him, clad in a flowing, pure-black dress that seemed to merge with the shadows around her. Her presence was overwhelming, like a void sucking all light and warmth from existence. Long, raven-black hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes piercing, deep as the abyss itself stared into his very soul.

"Who the hell are you?" Zion demanded, taking a step back.

The woman's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "Nyx."

His breath hitched. Children of Nyx...! The words from earlier echoed in his mind. His fists clenched instinctively, but Nyx only chuckled.

"Your resistance is amusing," she mused, her voice carrying a haunting melody. "But you cannot fight me here. Not in my domain."

Zion's eyes widened as he felt something shift around him. The mist thickened, swirling aggressively, and the ground beneath him suddenly cracked. From the fractures, monstrous hands black, clawed, and writhing emerged, reaching for him.

"Shit!" Zion cursed, leaping back just as one of the hands nearly grabbed his ankle.

The nightmare was warping. The darkness around him twisted, shaping itself into horrific figures shadows of people he had fought, people he had killed. Their hollow eyes bore into him, their mouths opening in silent screams.

"Do you see them, Zion?" Nyx whispered, stepping closer. "They are the remnants of your sins, the echoes of those you've cast into oblivion."

Zion gritted his teeth, trying to fight off the dread creeping into his mind. "Don't try to mess with my head."

Nyx sighed. "Oh, but I already am."

The moment she spoke, the nightmare shifted again. The shadows merged, twisting into a single figure. Zion's heart pounded as he recognized the form his younger self, kneeling, broken, bleeding. His past self looked up, his face pale, his eyes filled with despair.

"You're weak." The younger Zion's voice was hoarse. "You're not a hero. You never were."

Zion's breath became ragged. His fists trembled. This isn't real. This isn't real.

Nyx circled him, her fingers tracing the air as if pulling invisible threads. "You can deny it all you want, but deep down, you know the truth."

The nightmare changed again. This time, Zion was in a battlefield, surrounded by corpses his comrades, his friends. Blood soaked the ground, and the sky above was blackened by storm clouds. A single figure stood in the distance, shrouded in shadow.

It stepped forward.

Zion's stomach twisted. It was him.

Not the broken version from before. This was something else. A darker, more ruthless version of himself. His doppelgänger grinned, holding a bloodied blade. "You could become me, Zion."

Nyx's voice coiled around him like a serpent. "I can show you the way. I can give you power beyond imagination. All you have to do… is let go."

Zion clenched his jaw. His nightmare self advanced, his darkened form flickering with immense energy.

"Don't fight it," Nyx whispered. "Embrace it."

The nightmare self lunged. Zion barely had time to react. A blade slashed across his chest, sending pain searing through his body. He stumbled back, gasping. It felt real. Too real.

He looked up, heart pounding.

Nyx was right in front of him, her gaze unwavering. "You were never meant to fight destiny, Zion. You were meant to become it."

Zion fell to his knees, his vision blurring. The shadows closed in, his own dark self towering over him. Nyx's voice became distant, yet ever-present.

"Just accept it… and I will set you free."

Darkness swallowed him whole.

Zion woke up with a sharp inhale, his body drenched in sweat. His chest heaved as he sat up, his heart hammering against his ribs.

It was just a dream.

But… why did it feel like more than that?

"Holy shit… just a dream…" he muttered, trying to steady his breathing. His hands trembled slightly as he ran them through his damp hair. But it felt too real too vivid. The voice of that woman in the black dress still echoed in his mind, a whisper lingering in the corners of his thoughts.

A sudden glance at his clock sent a surge of panic through his veins.

"Ah, crap! I'm late!" he yelled, throwing off the covers.

He rushed through his morning routine, barely spending a minute under the shower before pulling on his academy uniform. His movements were frantic, but practiced. Within moments, he was out the door.

"Young Master, have a good day," the maid greeted with a polite bow.

Zion shot her a small smile, giving a respectful nod in return before making a beeline for the car. Alfred, the ever-composed family driver, stood by the door, already prepared.

"Where to, sir?" Alfred asked as Zion slid into the back seat.

"The academy, Alfred," he answered briskly.

With a simple nod, Alfred started the engine, smoothly pulling the car onto the road. As the city blurred past the tinted windows, Zion finally had a moment to catch his breath. But something still felt off. That dream no, that nightmare refused to leave him.

Zero, who had remained silent, finally spoke up, his voice laced with concern.

"Zion, did something happen?"

Zion blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Huh? Oh… yeah. I had a weird dream," he admitted.

Zero's expression sharpened. "Tell me."

"It was this woman in a black dress… I couldn't see her face, but she spoke about something called Nyx. Or maybe she was Nyx? I dunno. It's all kind of blurry now."

Zero stiffened. His usual laid-back demeanor vanished in an instant, replaced by something cold and calculating.

"I see… If you have another dream like that, tell me immediately." His voice carried an unusual weight, a seriousness that Zion rarely heard from him.

"Alright," Zion agreed, though he didn't fully understand why Zero looked so disturbed.

From the front seat, Alfred observed them through the rearview mirror, his brow furrowing slightly. That name… Nyx… he thought, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. But he kept his thoughts to himself.

After a smooth but tense ride, they finally arrived at the academy. Zion barely waited for the car to stop before swinging the door open.

"Shit, I'm late!" he cursed, breaking into a sprint. The academy's towering structure loomed before him, its pristine white walls reflecting the morning sun. The main courtyard was mostly empty only a few lingering students wandered about. Most had already made it to their classes.

As he ran, he checked his phone, pulling up his class schedule.

"A-Class, huh?" Zion smirked.

"I guess we're in the top class," he mused aloud.

"Good," Zero replied, his tone unreadable.

Zion's heart pounded not from exertion, but from the thrill. He darted inside, weaving through the hallways. With each passing corridor, the signs of lower-ranked classes zipped by.

Class D.

Class C.

Class B.

And then…

Class A.

He stopped in front of the door, inhaling deeply. His fingers clenched into a tight fist, anticipation bubbling inside him.

Zero's voice echoed in his head. "Be ready."

A grin stretched across Zion's face.

"Let's do this."

He pushed the door open.