Chapter 9: Arrival of the Celestial Transfer Student
The school grounds were abuzz with excitement as the news of a new transfer student spread across the academy. Everyone had heard the rumors — whispers of her unbelievable beauty, her high-rank system, and her mysterious background. However, no one was prepared for the reality of Aria's arrival.
Luo Shen sat in the corner of the courtyard, his eyes narrowed as he watched the students from the shadows. He was used to being unnoticed, hiding in the background, but today, his senses were on edge. Something felt different. The air seemed to thrum with anticipation.
From his seat, Luo Shen could barely make out the figure approaching — a tall, graceful girl with long, flowing silver hair. Her eyes, an unnatural shade of violet, gleamed as she walked past the gathered students.
Aria.
Luo Shen felt an inexplicable pull. He couldn't explain it, but something deep inside him resonated when he looked at her.
A few students gasped as she passed, her aura both intimidating and mesmerizing. Even from this distance, Luo Shen could feel the power radiating off of her. It was dense, almost suffocating.
Her system — it was unlike anything he had ever encountered. The connection to the Chaos Systems was undeniable, though she hid it well.
Luo Shen leaned back, folding his arms. He had learned to be cautious around those with unusual systems, especially those tied to the Chaos aspect. His own system was the only one of its kind, and yet this girl, Aria, was somehow connected to the same unexplainable forces.
Something about her was... off. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he had to stay alert.
"Aria Verity," the academy headmaster announced, his voice booming across the courtyard. "The Celestial Protocol transfer student. Please welcome her."
There was a chorus of applause, some students visibly excited, others envious. The Celestial Protocol — a name that was well-known in the world of systems, a top-tier rank that only a few could claim.
Luo Shen's eyes narrowed further. The Celestial Veil Protocol was an enigma in itself. While the specifics of it were unknown to most, what was known was this: the bearer of the Celestial Veil Protocol was often tied to unearthly power, capable of shaking the very foundations of the system world.
Aria stood there, her presence like a storm cloud that threatened to engulf everything. She didn't smile, nor did she make any effort to engage with the students. She simply stood, her violet eyes scanning the crowd, as though looking for something — or someone.
Luo Shen couldn't shake the feeling that she was looking directly at him.
As the other students began to move on, eager to resume their day, Luo Shen remained seated, watching from afar. His instincts were screaming at him to stay cautious. There was something about Aria that didn't sit right. No one, not even the gods or demons, had the kind of system she possessed — at least not in this form.
"Lian Shen will be excited to meet her," Luo Shen thought, his gaze shifting briefly to his sister, who was still talking with her new friends. She had been gaining in strength, her bond with her pet beast growing more powerful each day. But even she wouldn't fully understand the danger that Aria posed.
Lian Shen's mysterious system had a hidden power of its own, one that still hadn't fully awakened. And now, with Aria's arrival, it seemed like everything was falling into place. Something bigger than just the Global Trials was on the horizon.
Aria wasn't just a student, and Luo Shen could feel it in his bones. She had a connection to the Chaos Systems that was deeper than anyone realized.
As the bell rang for the start of the next class, Luo Shen reluctantly stood up. He needed to stay focused, and with Aria in the picture now, that would be harder than ever.
He could feel the pull again — an almost invisible string connecting him to her. But it wasn't just her. It was her system. Something in the air between them, a quiet tension, hinted at an impending clash.
As the day passed, Luo Shen stayed at the edges of every class. He kept his distance but watched carefully. Aria's presence, her movements, her interactions — she was everything the rumors said, and more.
And with every passing hour, Luo Shen grew more certain: the Celestial Veil Protocol was linked to Chaos, and somehow, his system.
At the end of the day, as the students began to file out of the academy gates, Luo Shen stood near the exit, waiting. He had to know more.
Just as he was about to leave, he felt her presence — behind him. He turned slowly, and there she was. Aria.
She stood there, her eyes meeting his with an intensity that made his heart race. She knew.
"Luo Shen," she said, her voice soft yet commanding, as though it were a statement, not a question. "I've been looking for you."
Luo Shen's breath caught in his throat. Something dangerous was about to unfold, and he could feel it.
The first step of the Global System Trials had begun, but Aria? She was something far more dangerous than any trial.
And Luo Shen was right at the center of it all.