The morning sun rose over the Academy.
For the first time in nearly two years, the atmosphere around the central courtyard felt completely different.
Students had gathered from every section.
Teachers had left their classrooms.
Even several senior instructors had come to watch.
Everyone had heard the same news.
Nihil Mora had returned.
But that wasn’t the only reason the Academy was crowded.
There was one question on everyone’s mind.
What kind of Soul Weapon had the Prodigy of Augustus created?
For two years, Nihil had disappeared from the Academy.
During that time, he had completed the requirements of his Soul Grimoire, created Nihil’s Heart, created the Zhilkai, and traveled across Elysara in search of materials for his Soul Weapon.
Now he was finally back.
And everyone wanted to see the result.
Students whispered among themselves.
“Do you think he made a sword?”
“Probably some legendary weapon.”
“Maybe a divine weapon.”
“Knowing Nihil, it’ll probably be something completely ridiculous.”
“Whatever it is, I’m expecting it to be terrifying.”
Then the massive Academy gates opened.
The conversations immediately stopped.
Nihil Mora walked through the entrance.
His appearance had changed slightly after two years, but the calm expression on his face remained the same.
Behind him walked Mimi and Seraphina.
Alpha 1 and Omega followed as well.
The students immediately recognized them.
Whispers spread throughout the courtyard.
“Those are the Zhilkai…”
“The race Nihil created?”
“They really look like demi-humans.”
“Apparently they’re incredibly powerful.”
Nihil continued walking until he reached the center of the courtyard.
The headmaster stepped forward.
HEADMASTER
“Welcome back to the Academy, Nihil Mora.”
Nihil gave a polite bow.
NIHIL
“Thank you, Headmaster.”
The headmaster looked at the students.
HEADMASTER
“I’m sure everyone knows why we gathered here today.”
The students immediately became excited.
The headmaster smiled.
HEADMASTER
“After nearly two years away from the Academy, Nihil has returned after completing his Soul Weapon.”
The courtyard erupted.
Everyone wanted to see it.
The headmaster raised one hand, restoring silence.
HEADMASTER
“Nihil, would you mind showing everyone your Soul Weapon?”
Nihil nodded.
NIHIL
“Of course.”
He raised his right hand.
A faint glow appeared around his fingers.
Something materialized in his palm.
The students stared.
Silence.
Nihil was holding…
A hand fan.
Several students blinked.
One looked at another.
STUDENT
“Is that…
a fan?”
Another student whispered.
STUDENT 2
“No way.”
Nihil calmly opened it.
The beautiful weapon reflected the morning sunlight.
Intricate patterns covered its surface.
It looked elegant.
Almost harmless.
Nihil looked at the fan.
NIHIL
“My Soul Weapon’s name is…”
He paused.
NIHIL
“Deus Excidium.”
The name echoed across the courtyard.
NIHIL
“As you can see…”
He held the fan up.
NIHIL
“It’s a hand fan.”
A few students exchanged confused looks.
Someone quietly whispered:
“He spent two years making a fan?”
Nihil continued as though he hadn’t heard them.
NIHIL
“However, its appearance is somewhat misleading.”
He gently closed the fan.
The weapon immediately began changing.
The material folded inward.
Its shape elongated.
A blade emerged.
Within moments, the fan had transformed into a beautiful katana.
The entire courtyard erupted.
*”WHAT?!”
“It transformed!”
“A Soul Weapon can do that?!”
Nihil calmly held the katana.
NIHIL
“This is its first form.”
He moved his hand.
The katana separated into two smaller blades.
NIHIL
“Daggers.”
The two blades transformed again.
A bow appeared in his hands.
NIHIL
“Bow.”
The bow changed once more.
A long spear formed.
NIHIL
“Spear.”
Nihil finally returned the weapon to its original form.
The hand fan opened silently.
The courtyard had become completely quiet.
Even the teachers were staring.
NIHIL
“Deus Excidium can transform into almost any kind of weapon I require.”
He looked at it.
NIHIL
“It cannot be broken through ordinary means.”
He paused.
NIHIL
“And its power is sufficient to harm beings far beyond the limits of ordinary mortals.”
A student swallowed nervously.
NIHIL
“Even immortals are not completely beyond its reach.”
The teachers exchanged serious looks.
NIHIL
“And if someone somehow manages to damage or destroy it…”
Nihil closed the fan.
NIHIL
“It regenerates.”
Silence.
Nobody laughed anymore.
The students began whispering.
“A transforming weapon…”
“It can regenerate…”
“It can harm immortals…”
“And Nihil already possesses Nihil’s Heart…”
One student slowly spoke.
STUDENT
“Wait…”
Everyone looked toward him.
STUDENT
“Doesn’t Nihil’s Heart give him an apparently limitless supply of stored LE?”
Another student nodded.
STUDENT 2
“Yes.”
The first student looked toward Nihil.
STUDENT
“Then…”
His voice became quieter.
STUDENT
“Has Nihil already surpassed the gods?”
Another student answered nervously.
STUDENT 3
“Or maybe…”
He stared at Nihil.
STUDENT 3
The whispers grew.
Monster.
Someone said it.
Then another.
And soon, the words spread throughout the courtyard.
STUDENTS
“The Monster of Augusta…”
Nihil heard them.
His expression didn’t change.
He simply looked at Deus Excidium.
THE ZHILKAI
The teacher finally stepped forward.
He looked toward Alpha 1 and Omega.
TEACHER
“Nihil, there’s something else everyone is curious about.”
Nihil looked toward him.
TEACHER
“The two girls who accompanied you.”
He gestured toward Alpha 1 and Omega.
TEACHER
“Would you mind explaining who they are?”
Nihil nodded.
NIHIL
“Of course.”
He looked toward Alpha 1.
Then Omega.
NIHIL
“They are Zhilkai.”
The students listened carefully.
NIHIL
“They are a race I created.”
Several students became even more surprised.
NIHIL
“Their power is comparable to mine.”
The courtyard went silent.
Nihil continued.
NIHIL
“And in certain situations, they may even surpass me.”
Mimi smiled slightly.
Seraphina simply crossed her arms.
Alpha 1 remained expressionless.
Omega looked curiously at the students.
NIHIL
“They are immortals.”
He placed one hand against his chest.
NIHIL
“Their existence is connected to my LE.”
He paused.
NIHIL
“As long as I remain alive and safe, they should remain safe as well.”
A student raised his hand.
STUDENT
“So they’re your shadows?”
Nihil nodded.
NIHIL
“You could say that.”
The student hesitated.
STUDENT
“Or…
clones?”
Nihil calmly answered.
NIHIL
“That explanation is also acceptable.”
Alpha 1 looked at the student.
Omega tilted her head.
The student immediately lowered his hand.
“I suddenly don’t want to ask anything else.”
A few students laughed nervously.
THE END OF THE ACADEMY
Nihil returned to his seat.
The headmaster stepped forward.
His expression was unusually relaxed.
HEADMASTER
“Everyone, listen.”
The students became quiet.
HEADMASTER
“As many of you already know, Nihil and his companions will be leaving the Academy today.”
A few students looked surprised.
HEADMASTER
“There is nothing more that this Academy can teach them.”
The headmaster looked toward Nihil.
HEADMASTER
“They have completed everything required of them.”
He smiled.
HEADMASTER
“So, for today…”
He raised his hand.
HEADMASTER
“There will be no studying.”
The courtyard exploded with cheers.
STUDENTS
“YES!”
“FINALLY!”
“THE HEADMASTER IS THE BEST!”
The headmaster laughed.
HEADMASTER
“Enjoy yourselves.”
For the first time in years, the Academy felt like a place filled with ordinary students again.
But everyone knew that this was the end of something.
Nihil Mora had entered the Academy as a prodigy.
He was leaving as something far greater.
THE UTOPIANS
Later that day, Nihil, Mimi, Seraphina, Alpha 1, and Omega gathered inside their old club room.
The Utopians.
The room still contained many of the things they had left behind.
Old books.
Research notes.
Magical diagrams.
Tables covered in marks from their experiments.
Mimi looked around quietly.
MIMI
“So this is really goodbye.”
Seraphina nodded.
SERAPHINA
“Looks like it.”
Omega suddenly looked toward Alpha 1.
OMEGA
“Mother, are we going back?”
Mimi’s ears immediately stood upright.
MIMI
“OMEGA!”
Omega looked at her.
MIMI
“Don’t call her Mother!”
Nihil looked at Mimi.
NIHIL
“What’s wrong?”
Mimi pointed toward Alpha 1.
MIMI
“If Omega calls Alpha 1 Mother and calls you Father, people are going to get the wrong idea!”
Nihil tilted his head.
NIHIL
“It’s not like Omega is wrong.”
Mimi froze.
NIHIL
“Technically, we are her parents.”
Mimi stared at him.
Seraphina sighed.
SERAPHINA
“Mimi, just leave them alone.”
MIMI
“But, Seraphina…”
SERAPHINA
“It’s not like Nihil cares what people call him.”
Mimi lowered her head.
MIMI
“Fine…
I suppose.”
Omega smiled.
OMEGA
“Thank you, Mother.”
Mimi immediately covered her face.
MIMI
“I give up.”
Nihil smiled faintly.
THE FAMILY ARRIVES
The Academy’s departure preparations were finally completed.
A large carriage waited outside.
But before Nihil could leave, his family arrived.
Aurelius Augusta.
Liliana Augusta.
Ilyra Augusta.
Prince Kaelen.
Princess Eleanor.
And those who had remained close to Nihil throughout his life.
Elyandra Vaelith.
Alistair.
The moment Nihil entered the carriage, Ilyra Augusta rushed toward him.
Before Liliana Augusta could even reach her son—
Ilyra hugged Nihil tightly.
ILYRA
“I missed you so much, Son!”
Nihil blinked.
Ilyra looked at him proudly.
ILYRA
“I heard you graduated!”
She looked him over.
ILYRA
“Look at you!
What a grown-up boy you’ve become!”
Nihil smiled.
NIHIL
“Yes, Mother.”
He looked at her carefully.
NIHIL
“And I see you’re still the same.”
Liliana finally approached.
She looked at Ilyra hugging Nihil.
LILIYANA
“Ilyra, you’re making him uncomfortable.”
Ilyra immediately protested.
ILYRA
“He never feels uncomfortable with me!”
She looked at Nihil.
ILYRA
“Right, Nihil?”
Nihil nodded.
NIHIL
“Yes, Mother.”
Liliana sighed.
Aurelius watched the scene with an amused expression.
Kaelen laughed quietly.
Eleanor smiled.
For a moment, Nihil simply stood among his family.
After two years away…
He was finally going home.
ALPHA 1 AND OMEGA MEET THE AUGUSTAS
Nihil then turned toward Alpha 1 and Omega.
NIHIL
“I want you all to meet someone.”
His family looked toward the two Zhilkai.
NIHIL
“These are Alpha 1 and Omega.”
Alpha 1 bowed politely.
ALPHA 1
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Omega followed.
OMEGA
“It’s nice to meet you.”
Liliana looked at them with curiosity.
Ilyra smiled.
Kaelen seemed fascinated.
Eleanor immediately began asking questions.
ELEANOR
“They’re really Zhilkai?”
NIHIL
“Yes.”
ELEANOR
“And you created them?”
NIHIL
“Yes.”
Eleanor looked at Alpha 1 and Omega.
ELEANOR
“Then welcome to the family.”
Omega smiled.
Alpha 1 simply nodded.
And with that, the two Zhilkai became part of the strange but growing circle surrounding Nihil Mora.
THE RETURN TO AUGUSTUS
The carriage departed.
The Academy slowly disappeared behind them.
Nihil looked through the window.
His school days were over.
The Utopians were leaving the Academy.
Mimi sat nearby.
Seraphina rested beside him.
Alpha 1 and Omega sat together.
His family traveled with them.
Nihil looked forward.
The road ahead was long.
But he didn’t know yet how much his return had already changed Elysara.
Because while the Augustus royal family prepared a celebration for his graduation…
The rest of the world had begun talking about him.
His Soul Weapon.
His Nihil’s Heart.
His Zhilkai.
His wealth.
His influence.
And the mysterious thirteen-year-old who seemed to have no limits.
A new title was spreading across Elysara.
Not Prodigy of Augustus.
Not Creator of Nihil’s Heart.
Something darker.
Something far more memorable.
THE MONSTER OF AUGUSTA
And alongside that title came another name.
DEUS EXCIDIUM
The Soul Weapon of Nihil Mora.
THE FOUR GREAT HOUSES
The rumors reached the four great houses.
One message after another arrived.
Nihil Mora had returned.
Nihil Mora had completed his Soul Weapon.
Nihil Mora had created another race.
Nihil Mora’s influence was growing.
The balance of Elysara was beginning to shift.
The four great houses could no longer simply observe him.
They needed answers.
A meeting was proposed.
Representatives were chosen.
Preparations began.
And among all the great houses…
House Erebus moved first.
The preparations for a formal meeting with Nihil Mora had begun.
SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE WORLD
Far away from Augustus.
Far beyond the kingdoms of Elysara.
Beyond the stars.
Beyond the boundaries ordinary beings understood…
There was only the endless void.
A figure stood within it.
Zukiel Noctis.
He had been watching Nihil.
Every creation.
Every experiment.
Every decision.
The creation of Nihil’s Heart.
The birth of the Zhilkai.
The creation of Deus Excidium.
The growth of Nihil’s wealth.
His return to the Academy.
His departure.
And now…
The beginning of his next journey.
Zukiel smiled.
ZUKIEL NOCTIS
“So…”
His eyes remained fixed upon the distant world.
ZUKIEL NOCTIS
“That’s what you decided.”
He paused.
A quiet laugh escaped him.
ZUKIEL NOCTIS
“Wonderful.”
The void remained silent.
ZUKIEL NOCTIS
“Just as I expected from you.”
He slowly turned away.
ZUKIEL NOCTIS
“Soon…”
His smile widened.
ZUKIEL NOCTIS
“I will see a perfect world again.”
And somewhere beneath the endless sky of Elysara…
Nihil Mora continued toward his future.
He had finished the Academy.
He had obtained his Soul Weapon.
And now the world itself was beginning to notice him.
The Academy Arc was coming to an end.
But Nihil’s true journey…
had only just begun.