Chapter 25: A Mysterious Offer at Midnight

The rooftop was silent, bathed in the dim glow of the academy lights below. A cold breeze swept through, carrying the distant sounds of students still discussing the shocking results of the ranking test.

Mri stood in the center, his hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the darkness. Whoever sent that letter was about to reveal themselves.

Then—a flicker of movement.

From the shadows, three figures stepped forward.

The one in the center, a tall young man with silver hair and a glowing red tattoo on his arm, smirked. His aura was purple—Reawakened Dark Purple.

"We finally meet, Mri," he said smoothly.

Mri narrowed his eyes. "And you are?"

The silver-haired man tilted his head. "Call me Rehan. I lead the Silent Phantoms."

Behind him, the two others remained silent. One was a girl with long violet hair and a playful smirk. The other, a hulking man with a scar over his eye.

Rehan took a step closer. "We've been watching you for a while. Your SS Rank… that was no surprise to us."

Mri's expression didn't change. "What do you want?"

Rehan chuckled. "Straight to the point. I like that." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black emblem.

A symbol Mri didn't recognize.

"We want you to join us."

The Silent Phantoms

Rehan's smile widened as he saw Mri's calculating gaze.

"I know what you're thinking," he said. "Who the hell are we?"

He tossed the emblem in the air, catching it effortlessly. "The academy is powerful, yes. But there are forces outside of this place that are far stronger. We are one of them."

The violet-haired girl leaned against a pillar, smirking. "We work in the shadows. We know things that others don't. And you, Mri, have the potential to be much more than just a student in some academy."

The scarred man finally spoke, his voice deep and rough. "Your power is wasted here."

Mri stared at them, unfazed. "And if I refuse?"

Rehan's smirk didn't waver. "You won't."

A tense silence filled the air.

Mri slowly took a step forward. "You're mistaken."

The atmosphere changed in an instant.

Mri's aura didn't flare, but his presence alone felt suffocating. The air grew heavier. Even Rehan's smirk faltered slightly.

"Let me make something clear," Mri said, his voice low but sharp. "I don't take orders from anyone."

He walked past them toward the rooftop exit, but stopped for a moment.

"But…" he glanced over his shoulder, a smirk playing on his lips. "If you're interesting enough… I might consider listening."

Then, without another word, they disappeared into the night.

Back in His Dorm

As Mri lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, he replayed the encounter in his mind.

The Silent Phantoms… Who were they really?

More importantly… Why did they want him?

For the first time in a while, Mri felt a spark of curiosity.

Things were about to get interesting.