Morning sunlight poured through Kael’s dormitory window.
He slowly opened his eyes.
The golden feather still rested on the desk.
“So…”
“It wasn’t a dream.”
The moment his fingers touched it, the feather dissolved into countless golden particles.
A familiar notification appeared.
Passive Skill Acquired
Sovereign’s Insight (Lv.
1)
Effect: Allows the user to perceive the flow of mana and detect hidden weaknesses.
Current Range: 5 meters.
Kael smiled.
“A useful ability.”
Inside the Infinite Sword Archive, Scarlet folded her arms.
“Useful?”
“It’s completely broken.”
Astra nodded.
“The previous Master relied on that skill to defeat enemies far stronger than himself.”
Solis added calmly,
“Do not depend on it too much.”
“It reveals possibilities.”
“It does not guarantee victory.”
A loud knock interrupted his thoughts.
“Kael!”
“Wake up!”
“We’re late!”
Mira’s energetic voice echoed through the hallway.
Kael sighed.
“I’m awake.”
He opened the door.
Mira stood outside carrying two paper bags filled with breakfast.
“I figured you’d forget to eat.”
Kael blinked.
“You bought breakfast?”
She smiled sheepishly.
“I…
may have bought too much.”
Astra whispered inside the Archive.
“I like her.”
Scarlet smirked.
“I think she likes our Master.”
Kael ignored them.
“Thanks.”
As they walked toward the academy together, Mira chatted excitedly.
“They’re announcing the Elite Class today!”
“I wonder who made it!”
The academy courtyard was packed.
Thousands of students gathered around a giant crystal board.
Names began appearing one after another.
The crowd erupted.
“I made it!”
“No way!”
“I missed it by one rank…”
Kael looked toward the top of the list.
Elite ClassLyra ValenLucien AshcroftKael ArdynVictor GravesMira Everhart
Mira rubbed her eyes.
“I…”
She looked at Kael with disbelief.
“I only survived because you saved me.”
Kael smiled.
“You still fought.”
“You earned it.”
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
“T-Thanks…”
Not everyone was pleased.
Several noble students glared at Kael.
One of them stepped forward.
“So…”
“You’re the famous scholarship student.”
His academy uniform carried a silver crest.
House Ravencrest.
One of the kingdom’s oldest noble families.
“My name is Cedric Ravencrest.”
“I challenge you.”
The surrounding students immediately stepped back.
“Cedric?”
“He’s ranked sixth!”
“He almost made the Elite Class.”
Cedric pointed his sword toward Kael.
“I refuse to accept that a commoner ranked above me.”
Kael sighed.
“I’ve only been here for five minutes.”
Before the duel could begin…
A powerful wave of mana swept across the courtyard.
Everyone instinctively turned.
The Headmaster had arrived.
His black robes fluttered in the wind.
He looked over the gathered students.
“Silence.”
Instantly…
The entire courtyard became quiet.
“I will now announce the first mission for the Elite Class.”
A giant map appeared above the academy.
It showed a mountain range several hundred kilometers away.
At its center…
A crimson mark pulsed ominously.
“The Gate that appeared beneath this academy…”
“…was not an isolated incident.”
Another ten Gates had appeared overnight.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
“Ten?”
“Impossible…”
The Headmaster continued.
“Our scouts discovered an ancient ruin beneath Mount Eryndor.”
“According to historical records…”
“…it predates every known civilization.”
Kael’s expression changed.
“Mount Eryndor?”
“There wasn’t any ruin there in my previous life.”
Again…
History had changed.
Lucien quietly walked over.
Without looking at Kael, he spoke softly.
“You remember that mountain?”
Kael nodded.
“It shouldn’t exist.” New chapters come out on g.com first.
Lucien smiled faintly.
“Exactly.”
“The future is no longer ours to predict.”
Suddenly—
Kael activated Sovereign’s Insight without thinking.
Golden lines spread across his vision.
The mana around every student became visible.
Blue.
Green.
Silver.
Then…
He looked toward the Headmaster.
His pupils shrank.
The old man’s mana wasn’t blue.
It wasn’t gold.
It was…
Pitch black.
Yet beneath that darkness…
Something radiant struggled to break free.
Kael immediately canceled the skill.
“What was that?”
Inside the Archive…
Fenrir growled.
“You saw it.”
Kael nodded internally.
“What is the Headmaster hiding?”
Fenrir remained silent.
Instead…
Aurelius’ voice echoed through the Archive for the first time since disappearing.
“Do not judge him too quickly.”
“He has carried that burden…”
“…for longer than kingdoms have existed.”
The Headmaster finished his announcement.
“The Elite Class will depart tomorrow morning.”
“Your objective is simple.”
“Explore the ancient ruins.”
“Recover any artifacts.”
“And…”
His expression became unusually serious.
“If you encounter a black door…”
“…under no circumstances are you to open it.”
Kael’s heartbeat skipped.
“A black door?”
The words stirred a memory.
Not from his previous life.
But from the vision Aurelius had shown him.
A massive black gate…
Covered in endless chains.
The same chains that had attacked the Infinite Sword Archive.
Something inside the mountain…
Was connected to the Sovereigns.
Far away, beneath Mount Eryndor…
An enormous stone door slowly trembled.
Dust fell from its ancient frame.
A single crimson eye opened within the darkness beyond.
A low voice echoed through the sealed chamber.
“So…”
“The new Sovereign…”
“…is finally coming to me.”