TIB – Tactical Intelligence for Blacklist Headquarters |
Domestic Strategic Zone –
9th Floor
Inside the emergency coordination room, the atmosphere was as taut as a bowstring.
A magical map displayed energy fluctuations at Bellasia Academy.
-Liar: "It's been days, and we still haven't seen any movement from them, boss!"
-Duun: "They will. They don't stay silent like this if they're not preparing something."
-Lori sat cross-legged: "But SILL is persistent. I thought only As Now and Paraver survived the great war... yet in just over ten years, they've rebuilt their system."
-Efill: "I'm not worried about As Now. But Paraver, yes. He's a pure-blood wizard, almost on par with Ogon, humanity's omnipotent mage."
-Feina sighed: "Today, there's news that Ogon suffered a magical backlash and can no longer use magic..."
-Duun immediately stood up: "Call the entire team.
Get ready to head to Bellasia Academy."
"Right away."
Just then, the door opened. A middle-aged man in a finely tailored black suit walked in. It was Wuler, the director of TIB.
-Wuler coldly: "No need for deployment.
This case has been transferred to I.D.A."
-Duun frowned: "What are you saying?
Transferred to those domestic mercenaries?
This is a matter of national security, not common crime!
-Wuler: "And I say, it's not that serious yet. A magical disturbance at an academy isn't worth TIB deploying troops."
-Duun growled: "You know Two X, don't you? The most notorious killer in contemporary history. People thought he was a lone monster... but no. He was a link in a larger network. Police. Officials. People with the power to act without being investigated."
-Wuler chuckled softly: "Are you implying I'm a member? You're just relying on the notes of a dead detective?"
-Duun's voice hardened: "Ela wasn't an ordinary detective. She was a legend. She died tracking Two X and sent me her final report. That killer could be sitting right within this system, giving us orders, laughing at justice."
-Wuler's voice was light as wind: "Who are you implying, Duun?"
-Duun hissed through gritted teeth: "I'm not implying.
I'm warning. If TIB doesn't act today, I'll submit this report to the supreme security council.
And if necessary... I'll meet the emperor personally."
The space froze. Everyone in the room held their breath.
-Wuler turned, his face expressionless: "Do it your way.
But remember, Duun... Sometimes the most dangerous thing isn't out there, but deep within those who think they still have a conscience.
He left the room. The door closed, leaving a stifling silence.
Morning – House by the Forest
Edie sprang up, his face panicked.
Light streamed through the window where he had fallen asleep.
Hastily putting on his coat, he ran to the table and found a neatly folded letter, written in Hakan's familiar hand.
"Don't go to the academy. SILL will attack today. I'll go ahead and handle it. Don't be foolish. Stay home."
Edie gripped the letter in his hand.
A second passed, then he cursed.
"Jinna is still there!"
Without another thought, Edie rushed out the door.
Ignoring the warning, ignoring the danger, only one thing was on his mind: ("I can't let anything happen to her.")
Bellasia Academy - Main Square |
At the same time
A tall figure, cloaked in dark gray, walked slowly.
On his shoulders, prominent bone spikes protruded like hooks, though he tried to conceal them.
He stopped in the middle of the schoolyard, amidst the curious stares of hundreds of students.
And no one knew that... the nightmare had just walked in.
-???: "It's been a long time since I returned to this place."
Paraver – one of SILL's two surviving pillars – tightened his grip on his rusty black staff.
He lightly swung it.
A Four-Sided Seal spell immediately enveloped the entire academy with a dimly glowing, grey cube-shaped shield, allowing no one in or out.
Then he raised his hand again, and in an instant, a dark army teleported into the middle of the schoolyard.
Standing among them was... Hakan.
Faculty Building – Shattered Glass, 4 Professors Appear
The professors simultaneously raised their hands and cast spells:
"Seven Wheel Boundary – Five Element Law!"
A colossal magic circle emerged from the ground, attempting to halt the SILL army.
-Paraver chuckled faintly: "Are old students trying to kill their teacher?"
Principal Soan emerged from inside, his mage robe fluttering, his eyes cold.
-Soan: "He has to maintain the wall, he can't use his full power.
Attack him!"
-Paraver burst into laughter: "Look at you, my son.
After all these years... you look even older than me. And I'm disappointed.
A mage using a sword?"
Outskirts of Bellasia Academy – On top of the Black Rock Hill
A TIB special forces team appeared through a teleportation gate, a swirling light appearing and then vanishing.
Leading them was Duun, followed by high-ranking agents.
Before them, Bellasia Academy was completely engulfed by a colossal purple-gray cube-shaped barrier.
-Liar held the magic-sensing matrix: "Sir Duun... We can't penetrate.
This barrier isn't just a seal; it also carries corrosive toxins that eat away at living fields."
-Duun frowned: "What about the people inside?"
-Liar: "Paraver prepared beforehand. He transformed everyone in the academy. To make them adapt to the poisonous area."
-Duun's voice deepened: "Now we can only hope our people inside can do something."
-Liar: "Ogon is coming. Only he can open a 'safe' path from the outside with adaptable magic string. No one can enter without wearing the string, otherwise, their body will disintegrate at the cellular level."
Below the hill – Edie is running
Edie just teleported, he slid down the stone steps leading to the square outside the academy.
Before him, the purple barrier pulsed like a beating heart, emitting toxic gas in the silent space.
A group of TIB magic guards blocked him.
-Guard: "You can't go in! The poison inside...
is a neural disintegrating structure!"
-Edie's eyes turned red: "Someone I need to protect is in there."
-Guard: "You'll die if you go in!"
-Edie: "Then so be it."
He lunged directly into the wall of light, to the horror of everyone.
The surface of the barrier didn't block him... it was like a liquid flowing back in time.
His body passed through.
As soon as he landed, Edie collapsed.
His whole body felt like it was burning from within. Blood vessels burst, ears ringing, chest constricting.
His skin began to crack, his breathing heavy as if weighed down by stones.
Senses shut down.
Heart pounding wildly.
Every cell... screaming.
But...
Beneath the scorched skin, a stream of dark gray gas spread out, engulfing him like a reverse flow.
Edie's body,
which was already different, began to adapt.
5 minutes passed... he opened his eyes.
The pain was still there, but his body didn't die.
Edie muttered: "I really am on a different level."
The shadow of the research building appeared in the distance.
Edie clenched his hand: "Jinna..."
He stood up, the poisonous smoke swirling around him like hissing snakes... but they couldn't bite him anymore.
Inside Bellasia Academy – Deep within the laboratory
Edie rushed down the hallway, where the smell of blood and poisonous gas mingled.
Bodies lay scattered. Some were dead. Some were writhing in resistance, groaning in madness.
Others could only beg for mercy from the one who had left.
He stopped in front of the auxiliary research room.
Inside, it was empty, except for one person huddled in a corner, trembling all over – Ito, a junior student.
-Edie coldly: "Where's Jinna?"
-Ito's voice was shaky: "I... I don't know. Those people said something about... the magic greenhouse area."
Just as Edie turned away, an old voice rang out:
-Lopi (professor): "It's very dangerous here... you two go to the greenhouse area."
He hadn't finished speaking when a blade pierced straight through his back to his chest.
Thud!
Blood splattered. The professor fell dead at Edie's feet.
-Ghosi: "They're in the greenhouse..."
He stepped out of the shadows, tall, wearing a hood that covered his face, his heavy armor clanking softly.
Without hesitation, Edie took advantage of his distraction, closed in incredibly fast, and delivered a direct punch to his face.
Ghosi was sent flying several meters, hitting the stone wall and leaving an indentation.
SILL soldiers rushed in.
Edie didn't wait for a punch to pierce through his armor, it pierced right through his chest. Blood splattered everywhere.
For the first time... Edie actually killed someone. And... his palm trembled slightly, but not out of fear.
"Why do I like this so much?"
-Ghosi laughed loudly, spitting blood: "HAHAHA... It hurts so good. This is great!
Keep hitting me, give me more of this thrill!"
-Edie suspiciously: "Are you from the Tore guild?"
-Ghosi licked his lips: "Yes, but I left the guild.
They lack ideals too much."
He ripped off his hood, revealing a face deformed like cooked meat, bulging eyes, and a twisted smile as if stitched shut.
Both lunged at each other.
Edie delivered a barrage of blows, but Ghosi absorbed the damage, becoming more frenzied with each hit.
Edie's body began to slow down. His breathing became ragged.
Ghosi was still like a wild beast, resilient and exhilarated.
-Ghosi laughed and roared: "Why are you tired already!
We're just having fun!"
A lucky horizontal slash to the neck only grazed him, creating a long gash but not a fatal wound.
Edie punched straight down at the floor, using the shockwave to propel himself back and escape through another exit.
Ghosi watched him leave, scoffing.
Then he turned back to the room and saw Ito still trembling in the corner.
-Ghosi: "Do you want to live?"
-Ito panicked: "I do!"
-Ghosi leaned close, his eyes wild: "Then lead me to the greenhouse area."
After the purple shield enveloped the academy – 20 minutes later
-Lori grimaced: "When is Ogon going to get here?"
-Duun's voice deepened: "Calm down. If he promised to come, he will surely come."
At the same time, a cold gust of wind swept through.
A white-haired, white-bearded man in a shimmering silver mage robe walked in, leaning on a staff as heavy as his own body, followed by royal warriors, each wearing glowing runic armor.
-Ogon panted: "Sorry... I'm late. The adaptive chains aren't easy to make. Time was short, so there's only enough for... five of you."
-Lori: "You look terrible. You were hit by a backlash, weren't you?"
-Ogon: "Yes. SILL trapped me with a kind of ancient magic. It still hasn't been completely removed, to be precise, Paraver trapped me."
Ogon handed each chain to Duun's group.
-Duun: "The royal soldiers aren't coming in?"
-Ogon: "No. They're just my bodyguards."
Before leaving, Ogon turned back.
-Ogon: "You... are very much like your father. Always stubborn in a corrupt world."
-Duun: "We split up. Find Hakan, stop him at all costs."
The four nodded and fanned out.
Duun quietly followed another direction.
He stayed close to Liar, who turned into a branching corridor leading to the storage basement.
Ancient Artifacts Vault where the Ancient Star is sealed
Duun stood a few steps away, hidden behind a stone pillar.
Liar glanced around, confirmed no one was following, then knocked three gentle taps on the iron door.
A voice came from inside.
-As Now: "Come in."
The door closed.
Duun followed, making no sound. As the door closed, he lightly touched the hilt of the dagger hidden in his cloak.
Inside, As Now was bent down, inspecting the seals.
His body was still in the shape of a tall, broad-shouldered human, his eyes hidden behind dark glasses.
-As Now: "Liar, report."
-Liar: "They believed it. They think Hakan is aiming for the Gana book."
-Duun: "Is that so?"
Duun's voice rang out coldly from behind them. Both jumped.
Before Liar could turn around, a black smoke shot out like a blade.
Her throat was cut, blood splattering onto the stone floor.
-As Now: "...So it's you."
He stepped back, taking off his dark glasses. His skin began to turn pale, rough like stone.
Horns gradually appeared on his head.
-Duun: "An Olin. No wonder you hate the government so much."
-As Now: "Enough. I don't like monologues."
He swung his hand, and cold snow poured out, covering the basement.
Duun immediately retaliated with black smoke, forming ethereal blades.
Both lunged at each other.
Snow cut through the smoke. Smoke wrapped tightly around limbs. Frost against suffocation.
Duun moved faster, attacking with speed and technique.
As Now struck powerfully, each blow like a sledgehammer.
A punch pierced through Duun's defense.
Both retreated, breathing heavily.
-As Now: "You think just killing me will solve it?"
-Duun: "Is there anything else surprising?"
As Now chuckled faintly, then... vanished into the smoke.
-Duun: "...An illusion?"
-As Now: "Don't forget what he's taking... it's not the Gana book.
It's the Ancient Star."
His body reverted back to the form of the school professor.
-Duun clenched his fist. "Damn it... we went the wrong way. Now I just hope Hakan can do something."
A few minutes earlier – Entrance to the Underground Artifacts Area
Rushing footsteps echoed down the ancient stone corridor. Leading was Hakan, silent, his eyes cold as steel. Behind him was a SILL troop along with Valder, one of the ten commanders, wielding twin blades with a sinister expression.
Along the way, the soldiers continuously cast spells, attacking anyone still alive.
People fell, blood soaking into the stone bricks.
-Hakan coldly: "Stop.
Kill one more innocent person, and I'll kill you first."
Valder laughed, his eyes sharp.
-Valder: "Did you pick the wrong side, legend?
Or are you too old to be a lapdog?"
Before he could finish laughing, Valder saw a shadow flash by. A soldier behind him was thrown, his body slammed directly into the wall. No magic. Just a punch.
-Hakan's voice was low: "Lapdogs don't bite their masters... but I've never been anyone's dog."
The soldiers fell silent. Valder drew his twin blades, a silver gleam flashing.
-Valder: "Then die, traitor legend."
The two lunged at each other. Valder's blades were sharp, fast, but Hakan used no weapons, only dodging, parrying, and counterattacking with punches carrying a faint black energy flow, Nifow.
A direct knee strike broke Valder's ribs. He struggled up, swinging his blades through the air, but Hakan spun, blocked with his bare hands, then punched through the armor, forcing him to his knees, gasping.
Without another word, Hakan finished Valder with a clean punch to the chest.
The remaining soldiers were killed, none survived.
Ancient Artifacts Area – Beneath the stone floor
Hakan advanced to the center of the room – a six-pointed star symbol engraved into the stone floor.
He closed his eyes, sensing the energy emanating from below.
He clenched his hands, aura pouring out like smoke.
BOOM!
One punch. Stone cracked.
The second punch. The third punch.
The floor shook, ancient symbols glowed red then faded.
Finally, the ground collapsed, revealing a small vault hidden beneath a silver altar.
In the center of the altar, a dark purple stone emitted a cold light, the Ancient Star.
Hakan descended, without hesitation, reaching out to touch it.
A sound of spatial cracking echoed from above.
Ceiling – flared brightly
A figure fell straight from the ceiling like a meteor.
As Now – with tangled white hair, sharp horns on his head, and bloodshot eyes.
His hand reached out towards the stone.
-As Now: "Thanks for unlocking it for me."
Hakan spun around, his eyes sharp.
Both touched the stone simultaneously.
BOOMMM!
A silent explosion. No shockwave. No flames. Just... everything vanished.
Another Dimension
Hakan and As Now floated in an empty black space.
Around them, fragments of memories floated like broken mirrors, including screams, laughter, and distant conversations.
-Hakan: "A trial dimension? Or a place where only one can leave?"
-As Now: "A place where souls must choose who survives. And I... won't let you leave."
They clenched their hands. Aura surged like a vortex.
Everything was ready for a confrontation not just of strength, but of ideals.
--End of Chapter—