Chapter 27

The sky darkened unnaturally, heavy clouds rolling in as if an unseen force was pulling them together. The air itself felt charged, carrying an eerie, static energy that made Elliot's skin prickle. He tightened his grip on the metal railing of the academy's rooftop, his knuckles turning white.

Something was wrong.

It had been hours since the tournament's shocking conclusion, yet the strange atmosphere in the academy hadn't settled. If anything, it had grown worse. A silent pressure weighed down on everything, an unspoken warning from the world itself.

Elliot exhaled slowly, his breath visible in the cold air despite it being late spring. He wasn't alone up here—he could sense her before she even spoke.

"You're not supposed to be up here," Lena's voice came from behind, laced with concern.

Elliot turned slightly, giving her a lopsided grin. "And you are?"

She crossed her arms. "I followed you. Figured I'd find you brooding somewhere high up."

"I don't brood," he countered, turning back to the stormy horizon.

Lena stepped beside him, her amber eyes scanning the sky. A particularly strong gust of wind blew past them, sending her long brown hair whipping around her face. She brushed it back absentmindedly.

"You feel it too, don't you?" she murmured.

Elliot hesitated before answering. "Yeah."

A sharp crack of thunder split the air, so loud that it rattled the rooftop beneath their feet. Both of them instinctively tensed as a bolt of lightning arced across the sky, illuminating the academy grounds in a ghostly white glow.

Then, as the light faded, Elliot heard it.

A voice.

"The time has come. Your choice will change everything."

The words weren't spoken aloud, yet they rang inside his skull with undeniable clarity. He stiffened, his fingers twitching.

"Did you hear that?" he asked sharply, turning to Lena.

She looked at him, puzzled. "Hear what?"

Elliot stared at her. So she hadn't heard it.

Which meant… it was meant for him alone.

His pulse pounded. Was it the system? No, the system's messages always appeared in text, emotionless and direct. This voice, however, had weight. It carried a presence.

Elliot turned back to the storm, his mind racing. He had no idea what choice the voice was talking about, but he had the distinct feeling that he wouldn't have to wait long to find out.

And that whatever it was…

It was already on its way.

The academy grounds were unusually quiet that night. Despite the turbulent sky above, there was an unnatural stillness in the air, as if the entire world was waiting for something to happen.

Elliot stood at his dorm window, watching the dark clouds swirl. He hadn't been able to shake the words from his mind since hearing them on the rooftop.

"The time has come. Your choice will change everything."

What choice? What was he supposed to decide?

A knock on his door pulled him from his thoughts. He turned, hesitating for a moment before walking over and pulling it open.

Lena stood there, arms crossed, eyes sharp. "Couldn't sleep either?"

Elliot shook his head. "Not with that storm outside."

She stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, glancing around his room before flopping onto his desk chair. "Something's coming, Elliot. I can feel it."

He leaned against the wall, rubbing the back of his neck. "I heard something earlier."

Lena looked up, her brows furrowing. "Heard what?"

Elliot hesitated, then repeated the message. Lena's expression didn't change immediately, but he could see the gears turning in her head.

"That's not normal," she finally said. "And you're sure it wasn't the system?"

"No notifications, no missions," Elliot confirmed. "Just… a voice."

Lena exhaled sharply, drumming her fingers against the wooden desk. "Then that means someone—or something—sent it to you directly."

Elliot already knew that, but hearing it aloud made the situation feel even heavier.

Then, just as he opened his mouth to respond, the room trembled.

The shaking was faint at first, like a distant earthquake. But then it grew stronger. Objects rattled, books slipped off the shelves, and the glass in the window vibrated violently.

Elliot and Lena locked eyes for a fraction of a second before both of them bolted for the door.

As soon as they stepped outside, a deep, echoing sound rolled through the night—a noise that wasn't thunder, but something far worse.

Something ancient.

Something alive.

And it was getting closer.

The eerie sound reverberated through the academy, a deep, otherworldly hum that made the air feel heavier. It wasn't just noise—it carried intent, a presence that pressed against their very souls.

Elliot's instincts screamed at him to move.

"Run."

He grabbed Lena's wrist and sprinted down the hallway. The floor trembled beneath their feet, the light fixtures above flickering wildly. Somewhere in the distance, alarm bells began to ring.

They burst onto the main courtyard, and what they saw made them freeze.

A massive rift had torn open in the sky, swirling with energy so dark it seemed to swallow the very moonlight. Tendrils of shadow twisted and writhed within, stretching toward the academy grounds like hungry claws.

Then, the first creature emerged.

It was enormous—easily three stories tall—with a body that seemed to be made of living darkness. Its glowing red eyes locked onto them, and a guttural growl rumbled through the air.

Elliot felt his chest tighten. His system remained silent. No mission, no warning. Nothing.

This wasn't part of the academy's usual trials.

This was real.

A flash of silver cut through the darkness as Lena unsheathed her sword. "We can't let it reach the dorms."

Elliot nodded, suppressing the instinct to run. They had no idea what this thing was, but they couldn't let it wreak havoc inside the academy.

The creature moved first, lunging forward with terrifying speed.

Lena was already in motion. She dodged its sweeping claws, her blade glowing with enchantments as she struck its arm. Sparks flew upon impact, but the wound was shallow—barely a scratch.

Elliot cursed under his breath. If Lena's attacks weren't working, what chance did he have?

He took a deep breath and focused. He didn't have overwhelming strength or rare abilities, but he did have one advantage—his mind.

He scanned the battlefield. The creature was fast, but its movements were heavy. Every step it took left deep imprints on the stone tiles. That meant weight. And weight meant momentum.

A plan formed in his head.

"Lena, keep it busy!" he shouted.

She didn't hesitate, charging in again with a feint to distract it. Meanwhile, Elliot dashed toward a nearby archway, reaching for the mechanisms that controlled the enchanted chains lining the academy walls.

If he timed it right—

The creature roared and lunged toward Lena, its massive claws about to strike—

Elliot pulled the lever.

Ancient chains shot out from the walls, glowing with runes as they wrapped around the creature's limbs, anchoring it in place. The beast thrashed violently, but the academy's defensive spells held strong.

For now.

Lena glanced back at Elliot, breathing heavily. "That won't hold it forever."

Elliot wiped the sweat from his brow. "I know."

They had bought themselves a few minutes at most. But in battles like this, minutes were everything.

Now, they just had to figure out how to win.