The courtyard settled into a quiet stillness as the five stood together.
Eryndor Nasarik stepped forward first, calm as ever.
"…Good morning, headmistress."
Beside him—
Kaelus Magna smirked lightly.
"…Morning."
And from the shadow at Eryndor's side—
Darius Sletti gave a short nod.
"…Headmistress."
Seraphina Caldris looked at them.
Then at the others.
Rein Clark.
Stellar McLaren.
A soft smile formed on her face.
"…Good morning, deities."
The word hung in the air.
Different now.
Real.
She turned.
"…Walk with me."
And without another word—
They followed.
The path to the auditorium stretched long across the academy grounds.
But this time—
It felt shorter.
Because the weight of what came next—
Was heavier than distance.
As they walked—
Other figures joined.
Dova Nexus — quiet, composed, his very presence carrying the faint scent of deterioration.
Isly Varen — eyes sharp, energy unstable even in stillness.
Alucard Brocket — steady, confident, presence grounded.
Tina Bricks — calm, observant, almost unreadable.
Each one—
A deity.
Each one—
A graduate.
Seraphina walked ahead of them, hands behind her back.
Then she spoke.
"…From this point forward…"
"…Your journey only becomes more brutal."
No one interrupted.
"…Once you cross into deity…"
"…You have a choice."
Her voice was calm.
But absolute.
"…Ascend to the Upper Realms."
"…Or remain here."
A pause.
"…And be suppressed for the rest of your existence."
The wind shifted slightly.
"…This planet will not allow you to grow freely anymore."
"…Its laws will bind you."
"…Limit you."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I'm not saying you won't die in the Upper Realms."
"…I'm saying—"
She stopped walking.
"…You have a better chance there."
Silence followed.
Then—
They reached the auditorium.
Seraphina stopped before the massive doors.
She turned to face them.
"…Make your decision."
Her gaze passed over each of them.
"…Graduate and remain."
"…Or graduate…"
"…And prepare to ascend."
A faint breeze passed.
Eryndor smiled.
"…You already know the answer."
He glanced back at his team.
"…The Black Sun Syndicate doesn't stay still."
Dova clenched his fist.
"…I didn't come this far to stop now."
Isly scoffed lightly.
"…Obviously we're going."
Alucard folded his arms.
"…There's nothing left for us here."
Tina nodded quietly.
"…We move forward."
Rein smirked.
"…We've been ready."
Kaelus grinned.
"…Say less."
Darius simply said—
"…We ascend."
Stellar's eyes were calm.
"…There's nothing here that can hold us anymore."
Seraphina looked at them all.
And smiled.
"…Good."
"…I expected nothing less."
She turned.
And pushed the doors open.
The doors shut behind them.
Sealing the space.
Inside—
The auditorium was massive.
Endless rows of seating carved from white stone.
At the front—
A platform.
And at its center—
A crystal.
Large.
Radiant.
Alive.
The air itself grew heavy.
Seraphina stepped forward.
"…Only deities may witness this."
She turned slightly.
"…God candidates…"
"…And mortals with sparks…"
"…Would collapse under your presence alone."
She stood before the crystal.
"…This—"
She gestured toward it.
"…Is a God's Crystal."
The crystal pulsed softly.
"…It measures your potential."
"…And reveals the color of your soul."
A faint glow spread across its surface.
"…Your soul color matters."
She looked at them.
"…Because when you reach High God…"
"…You begin to use something beyond magic."
A pause.
"…Soul Power."
Tina's eyes sharpened slightly.
Seraphina continued.
"…It is not the same as soul magic."
"…It is not learned."
"…It is not copied."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"…It is you."
The room grew quieter.
"…From sparks… to candidates… to deities…"
"…Power becomes more refined."
"…More complete."
She placed a hand lightly on the crystal.
"…But soul power…"
"…Is absolute individuality."
She removed her hand.
"…And this crystal will show it."
A faint smirk touched her lips.
"…Sometimes…"
"…It can't."
A few brows lifted.
"…If your potential… or soul… exceeds what it can measure…"
"…It will fail."
A pause.
"…That is not a problem."
A faint gleam in her eyes.
"…That is a blessing."
She stepped back.
"…We will begin."
Her gaze swept across them.
"…From True Low Deities…"
"…To Mid Deities."
A breath.
"…Let's get started."
Her eyes landed on one figure.
"…Alucard Brocket."
Alucard Brocket stepped forward.
"…Yes, headmistress."
He walked calmly to the platform.
Stopped before the crystal.
Seraphina nodded.
"…Place your hand on it."
Alucard lifted his right hand—
And pressed his palm against the crystal.
For a moment—
Nothing.
Then—
Glow.
A deep—
Red.
The crystal pulsed.
And words formed within it.
Beast Emperor Potential
Soul Power — Shinari
A ripple passed through the room.
Seraphina smiled.
"…Shinari."
She tilted her head slightly.
"…The ability to bend… warp… and adapt."
Her eyes gleamed.
"…Flexibility of existence itself."
She nodded.
"…Good."
She turned.
"…Dova Nexus."