Lucas stepped through the shattered side entrance of Westbridge University.
The moment his foot crossed the threshold…
A strange silence welcomed him.
The campus no longer felt like a school.
It felt abandoned.
The breeze carried sheets of loose paper across the empty courtyard.
Broken glass glittered beneath the fading afternoon sun.
Somewhere in the distance…
A metal sign creaked.
Creeeeak…
Lucas instinctively looked around.
“…Where is everyone?”
Earlier…
Saint Hunters had surrounded the university.
Armored vehicles had blocked every entrance.
Teachers and students had filled every corridor.
Now…
Nothing.
Not a single Hunter.
Not a single teacher.
Not even the sound of footsteps.
Only silence.
“…This isn’t right.”
He tightened the strap of his backpack and continued toward the old library wing.
Every step echoed through the deserted hallway.
Tap…
Tap…
Tap…
The sound bounced endlessly off the empty walls.
The closer he drew…
The colder the air became.
Then—
Crunch.
Lucas stopped.
His shoe had crushed a piece of broken glass.
He slowly looked up.
The shattered classroom was only a few corridors away.
Smoke still drifted lazily through the broken windows.
Billy..
Please still be alive…
Lucas took another step.
Then—
“…Well…”
The voice froze him in place.
“…Look who came back.
Lucas slowly turned.
Three upperclassmen emerged from the shadows at the end of the hallway.
Each wore the same cruel grin.
Each had been standing beside Parker only minutes earlier.
One rested a wooden bat across his shoulder.
Another lazily cracked his knuckles.
The tallest one smirked.
“I told you.”
“Heroes always come back.
Lucas’s heartbeat quickened
His eyes immediately searched for an escape.
Left..
Blocked.
Right..
Behind him..
The third boy slowly stepped into the corridor.
The trap had already closed.
The tallest student took several slow steps forward.
“…Where’s the girl?”
Lucas remained silent.
“I asked you a question.”
“…I don’t know.
The boy laughed.
“You really expect us to believe that?”
Lucas didn’t answer.
His silence only made them smile wider.
Another student spat onto the floor.
“Our boss wants her.”
“And since you helped her escape…
“…you’ll tell us where she is.
Lucas slowly adjusted his glasses.
“…I can’t.”
The hallway fell silent.
The tallest upperclassman sighed.
“…Wrong answer.
Without warning.
THUD!
A fist buried itself deep into Lucas’s stomach.
His eyes widened.
Every ounce of air exploded from his lungs.
“…Ghk—!”
His knees buckled.
Before he could fall—
Another hand grabbed his shirt and yanked him upright.
CRACK!
A second punch slammed into his jaw.
His glasses flew sideways before barely hanging onto one ear.
Blood splattered across the polished floor.
Lucas staggered backward.
His vision blurred.
“…Tell…”
“Cough…”
“…tell us…”
“…where she is.
Lucas wiped the blood from his lip.
“…No.”
The tallest student laughed.
“You’ve got guts.
“I wonder…”
“…how many punches it’ll take before they disappear.”
He drove another blow straight into Lucas’s ribs.
CRACK!!
Pain exploded through his side.
Lucas crashed against the lockers.
Metal doors rattled violently.
His legs nearly gave out.
Still..
He refused to speak.
The three boys slowly surrounded him.
Like wolves closing in on wounded prey.
The tallest one rolled his shoulders.
“You know…
“I’ve always hated people like you.”
Lucas forced himself back onto his feet.
“…People like me?”
He grabbed Lucas by the front of his shirt.
“But bravery…
“…doesn’t make you strong.”
Lucas could barely remain standing.
His breathing had become ragged
His body screamed at him to run.
But there was nowhere left to run.
Then…
A freezing wind swept through the corridor.
The lights above flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The temperature suddenly plummeted.
The three bullies frowned.
“…Did you guys feel that?”
One slowly looked behind him.
“…Who’s there?”
No answer.
Only silence.
Lucas’s breathing slowed.
Because…
He felt it.
Someone…
Was standing directly behind him.
Cold.
Ancient.
Watching.
The hallway became unnaturally still.
Even the air itself seemed afraid to move.
Then…
A whisper drifted into Lucas’s ear.
Soft.
Ancient.
Impossible to mistake.
“…Defend yourself…”
Lucas froze.
No…
Not again…
The voice came a second time.
Closer.
Clearer.
“…Defend yourself…
His heartbeat thundered inside his chest.
The three bullies looked around in confusion.
“…Who said that?”
“…I didn’t hear anyone.”
Lucas slowly turned his head.
Nothing.
No one.
Only empty air.
Then…
One final word echoed through the corridor.
A word that felt older than humanity itself.
A word that shook something buried deep within his soul.
“…Nephilim.”
Lucas’s pupils contracted.
Something…
Deep inside him…
Awakened.