The next morning dawned with surreal brilliance over Wysteria Academy's gleaming skyline. A faint shimmer of cosmic light—remnants from last night's pocket dimension anomaly—still danced in the sky, barely visible to the untrained eye. It was the perfect backdrop for an event that would shape the students' fates in ways none could foresee.
Students of all ranks and lineages assembled at the academy's launch terminal, where a vast clearing encased by crystalline domes revealed the Nano-Class Omega Starcruiser—an advanced multiversal exploration vessel forged from Eternal Steel and imbued with dimension-threaded cores. Its sleek hull shimmered like starlight folded in on itself.
Each student arrived in Wysteria's distinguished attire: the boys in obsidian-black long sleeves and trousers, offset by white jackets uniquely tailored to reflect their flair—some adorned with gold embroidery, others traced with neon glyphs or clan insignias. Girls wore elegant ivory dresses, reinforced with enchanted weaves that allowed movement and protection, paired with thigh-high black stockings that flickered with spell-threaded enhancements, and white crystalline heels that shimmered as they walked.
The third class in line—Muhan's class—buzzed with excitement as the launch countdown approached.
Muhan stood calmly amidst the chatter, his silver-detailed jacket fluttering in the breeze. As he adjusted his gloves, a familiar warmth greeted him.
"Good morning, Muhan!" Mi-cha's voice rang like a melody beside him.
Before he could respond, she rose on her toes and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek, her lips brushing his skin like a breeze in spring. His cheeks warmed instinctively, though a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
A collective sigh rippled through the surrounding boys. The envy was palpable. Mi-cha wasn't just the school's top-ranked fighter; she was drop-dead gorgeous, born of the elite Lawson family—rumored rivals to the Lockharts. And here she was, utterly in love with the academy's rising prodigy.
Mi-cha slipped her hand into his, her smile bright but her eyes betraying a hint of unease. As the pair boarded the ship, Muhan gently squeezed her hand, silently reassuring her.
The interior of the Nano-Class Omega was a marvel—curved obsidian walls interlaced with soft light veins, spacious reclining seats lined in cloud-leather, and holographic consoles that shimmered with real-time star charts. A soft voice resonated through the ship's core—Flux, the sentient AI, awakened from slumber.
"Welcome aboard, students of Wysteria Academy. Destination locked: Universe #E402, System 88-X, Planet Xylophia-IV. Estimated traversal time: 4 multiversal minutes. Please enjoy the view as we breach the veil of dimensions."
The ship surged upward, anti-graviton fields humming beneath their feet. Through the panoramic windows, stars blurred into streaks as the ship plunged through a wormhole—reality folding and unfolding around them like pages of a cosmic storybook.
Mi-cha sat beside Muhan, still holding his hand. Her eyes wandered to his sharp profile—the way his scarlet-tinted iris caught the dim light, the strength in his jawline, the quiet confidence that made her heart flutter. Yet beneath her awe brewed a silent storm.
Her lips parted, then closed. She looked away, unsure how to voice the truth: that she, Mi-cha Lawson, was a direct descendant of the Pjeonjaeham Sect—sworn enemies of the Jonjae Sect, Muhan's ancient lineage. A forbidden love… one that could undo them both.
Muhan noticed her change in demeanor. "What's wrong?" he asked gently, his thumb tracing over her knuckles.
Before she could answer, the ship jolted violently.
⚠️ ALERT: GRAVITATIONAL ANOMALY DETECTED ⚠️
Flux's voice sharpened. "Warning! Massive gravitational anomaly detected. Black hole—Class Omega Prime—directly ahead. Initiating emergency trajectory shift!"
The windows darkened as a massive void tore into view—space twisted into a spiraling abyss. Students screamed as the ship was dragged toward it, inertial stabilizers flickering under the pressure.
Then, without hesitation, a blur of green shot past them—Kim, the elf. Without a suit, without tether, he dove headlong into space.
Mi-cha gasped. "He's crazy—what is he doing?!"
Kim's feet touched down on orbiting meteorites as though they were solid ground. With each step, he moved faster—his form becoming a streak of verdant lightning. Rune marks glowed across his skin, wrapping around his limbs like ancient warpaint.
Suddenly, the gravitational pull began to weaken. Kim's speed warped spacetime itself—his motion creating a reverse singularity. The black hole trembled… and collapsed.
Cheers erupted as Kim returned, unharmed. His level blinked on Muhan's system:
Level: 200. Class: Celestial Runner.
But Muhan didn't cheer. He stared at Kim's eyes. There was something… familiar. Something wrong.
Before he could dwell on it, Mi-cha tugged at his sleeve. Her eyes flicked toward the back of the ship, where Chae-won—the werewolf girl with amber eyes—leaned seductively against a railing.
"Oh, Muhan," Chae-won purred, sauntering toward him. "You looked so heroic just now. I almost forgot how… charming you are."
Mi-cha stepped between them, her tone gentle but cold. "Sorry. He's not available."
Chae-won narrowed her eyes, flashing the ghost of a fang. "This isn't over."
"Good," Mi-cha said. "Neither is my patience."
The tension broke when Flux's voice echoed again. "Approaching atmosphere. Welcome to planet Xylophia-IV."
The sky turned emerald as the ship descended.
Below them stretched a world of wonder: floating mountains wreathed in luminescent mist, forests of crystal-tipped trees that whispered in languages older than time, rivers that shimmered with glowing life forms beneath the surface.
Gigantic creatures roamed freely. A colossal winged creature—half-dragon, half-phoenix—swooped over the canopy, its screech reverberating in their bones.
And then… the plot twist.
Muhan's system glitched.
[System Alert: Energy Fluctuation Detected]
[WARNING: Aether-Broken Signature Detected—Matching Subject: Muhan Lockhart]
Flux's voice dimmed to a whisper only Muhan could hear: "Muhan… You weren't supposed to come here. This world—it remembers you."
As the students disembarked, awestruck and giddy, Muhan stood still. His scarlet eye pulsed faintly.
Mi-cha looked up at him, concerned. "Muhan…?"
But he wasn't looking at her.
He was staring at the horizon.
At something ancient.
Something awakening.
Something that knew his name.