The stone corridors of Ashford Academy’s lower levels were never ant to be walked after hours. Faint torches lit the way, their flickering light casting distorted shadows on the damp stone.
Riku Aoyama moved without hesitation. No fear. Just cold purpose.
He’d traced the origin of the threatening ssage to a hidden access terminal located in the Old Archives Basent, a relic of the academy’s ancient past—unused, sealed, and supposedly restricted to faculty and engineers.
> [System Activated: Stealth Mode – Soundless Steps, Body Temperature Concealnt, Mana Suppression: Active]
As he reached the door to the Old Archives, he saw it was already ajar. Faint crimson light spilled out from within.
He pushed the door open.
And stepped into the trap.
---
Inside the Old Archives
The room was far larger than he’d expected. A labyrinth of scroll shelves, rune-inscribed vaults, and ancient magic containnt devices filled the space.
In the center stood three figures.
All wore white porcelain masks and hooded cloaks bearing the Ashford sigil, partially defaced.
"So you ca," the tallest of them said, voice distorted. "We were beginning to think you were a coward."
"I’m just cautious," Riku replied, scanning their body language. "Which is more than I can say for you. Threatening anonymously? Very cowardly."
"Enough gas," a shorter figure hissed. "You’re not normal. And we’re here to expose what you are."
> [System Scan: Unregistered Devices Detected – Aura-Scramblers (2), Truth Field Emitter (1), Spell-Dampening Do (1)]
> [System Notice: Magic use above Tier 3 currently disabled in zone.]
Riku clicked his tongue. "Clever."
The tall one stepped forward.
"Riku Aoyama. Top scores in six classes. Beat a certified professor in alchemy. Magically fused a new spell with a partner you just t. All in two weeks. You’re either a god—or a cheater."
"I prefer... genius," Riku replied coolly.
Suddenly, they moved.
The three cloaked figures raised their staffs, casting spells with frightening coordination.
"Bind of Silence!"
"Arcane Snare!"
"Seeker Chain!"
> [System Ergency Override: Skill Lock Detected. Ergency Slot Activated.]
> [Skill Equipped: Shadow Diver (Rare Passive/Active Hybrid)]
[Effect: Temporarily phase into the shadow plane, avoiding magical detection and negating all physical restraints for 5 seconds.]
Riku vanished.
A blur in the darkness.
The spells struck empty air, and before they could react, Riku appeared behind the smallest caster.
"Snap Blade."
> [Skill: Snap Blade (Quick Skill)]
[Effect: Generate a mana blade with high armor-piercing for 2 seconds. Deals critical damage when used from stealth.]
He struck the caster’s shoulder. They scread and collapsed, mask cracked, revealing a girl’s face.
"Shiori?" Riku recognized her—a third-year known for her excellent mory enchantnts.
The remaining two backed away, casting defensive wards.
"You attacked us first!" one of them shouted. "We have you now! This is all recorded!"
> [System Spoof: Recording Jamr Active – No Surveillance Recorded Within Do]
"Wrong," Riku said, his voice deathly calm. "You lured here. You tried to blackmail . You attacked first."
He dashed forward—Silent Step enhancing his speed—and slamd the next caster into a bookshelf with Force Palm.
Only the tall figure remained.
He removed his mask.
Hiro Sazanami.
Riku’s eyes narrowed. "You?"
"I dropped out," Hiro said, "because I saw what this academy was turning into. Elites with secrets. Systems. Cheats like you, hiding behind false genius."
"So this is personal."
"No, this is balance," Hiro growled, then raised a device. "This disables every cheat, every artifact, every enchanted accessory."
He pressed it.
> [System Sync Interrupted – Manual Mode Engaged]
[Warning: Skill automation offline. Skill manual cast required.]
Riku grinned.
"Oh no," he mocked. "I have to fight like a normal genius now."
---
They clashed.
Mana flared. Bookshelves exploded. Spells scread through the air.
Riku ducked a fire spear, summoned Phase Wall, and countered with Kinetic Lash—a burst of force that cracked the stone floor beneath Hiro’s feet.
"Force Pulse!" Hiro shouted.
Riku grunted as he was blown back, hitting the archive vault door.
> [Health: 82% → 61%]
> [System: Auto-heal denied. External spell dampener in effect.]
Riku stood slowly.
"This your grand plan? Beat up and tell the school?"
"No," Hiro said, panting. "Break you—and expose your tool. I know you’re using a system. I had one too."
Riku froze.
"...What?"
Hiro’s eyes blazed. "Mine got corrupted. It turned on . The academy found out and silenced . I survived—but I lost everything. And when I saw you rise? I knew."
So that was it.
A forr user.
A broken one.
"You think you’re so avenger?" Riku said. "You’re just bitter. Weak."
He took a stance.
"And I’m done playing with you."
> [Manual Mode – Skill Queue Input: Shadow Chains → Phantom Reversal → Warp Step → Mana Compression Blade]
Riku blurred forward, kicked Hiro’s leg out from under him, chained him mid-fall with Shadow Chains, and finished with a point-blank Mana Compression Blade across his chestplate.
Boom.
Hiro’s enchantnt cracked.
The device shorted out.
> [System Sync Restored – Auto Mode Rebooting... Complete.]
> [Victory Condition t – Opponent Neutralized]
---
Minutes Later
Ayumi burst into the basent, panting, having tracked his mana signature. "Riku! What happened?! I sensed fighting—"
He was sitting on a crate, blood on his arm, breathing heavily.
"I handled it."
She rushed to him, inspecting the wound. "You’re bleeding—!"
"It’s shallow," he said.
She looked at the three collapsed attackers and Hiro’s unconscious body.
Ayumi’s voice softened. "You... you’re always alone when you’re in danger."
He didn’t answer.
But he didn’t stop her when she gently took his hand.
> [System: Ayumi’s Affection Increased – Trust Level Upgraded: Trusted Ally]
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