2:13 am.
The entire academy suddenly seems to have lost power.
The previously stable, white noise-like pulsation of the barrier
froze completely in that instant.
Then, as if a cheat code had been activated, a surge of spiritual pressure erupted.
The Night Club's communication spheres lit up simultaneously.
'All personnel, deploy immediately — the barrier has failed.'
When Kazama Rei was jolted awake, the entire night sky outside her window appeared blackened by spiritual pressure.
The lights of the distant school buildings flickered incessantly, like an uncontrollable heartbeat.
Pale-faced and clutching a talisman pouch, Ashiya Kaito rushed over: 'Damn it! A night with this kind of off-the-charts spiritual pressure isn't just causing trouble; it's going to kill people!'
Rei had just put on her coat when she stopped.
Because the voice came again.
It wasn't a hallucination.
It wasn't a dream.
It wasn't a cry for help from a spirit either.
Instead, a whisper emanated from the crack in the barrier.
And that whisper called his name.
"... Rei..."
He felt as though a pair of cold fingers were tracing a line down his spine, causing goosebumps to erupt all over his body.
The ancient, indistinct voice resonated like a hollow echo from a thousand years ago.
'Rei... come...'
He gritted his teeth, forcing himself back to reality. 'Could you please not call me as if it's a jump scare every time?'
Kaito froze upon hearing this. 'Wait, wait, wait. You said it called you? Called you by your name directly?'
Rei had intended to give a casual reply,
But the next instant, the school-wide alarm blared, heavy and piercing.
[Warning: A crack has appeared in the main barrier.' Contact rate between the Spirit World and the Real World: 27%, 40%, 52%...]
Before the alarm had even finished sounding, Jinguji Hai appeared at the Night Club's assembly point. His spiritual pressure was so intense that it was as if he were operating at full capacity under moonlight.
'Patrol teams one and two, head to the West Building.'
'Sealing Department, head to the underground seal layer.' Gray paused for a second as he glanced at Rei. 'You're coming with me.'
Kaito muttered under his breath, 'Oh no, that tone from Senior isn't leading a team; it's like he's bringing a funeral portrait...'
Rei: 'Shut up.'
The two quickly traversed the campus.
The closer Rei got to the crack, the clearer the whispers in his ear became.
"... Awakener ..."
"...the key..."
'Come back...'
"... Rei ..."
It was as if a thousand voices were overlapping simultaneously.
Rei's steps began to falter.
He could feel something pulling at his spiritual pressure, as if he were being held back by an invisible force.
Suddenly, Gray reached out and pressed down on Rei's shoulder, his spiritual power bearing down on him.
'Steady. It's putting pressure on you.'
Rei frowned. "What is it?"
Gray didn't answer immediately.
Even his breathing was extremely calm that night. Finally, he spoke.
'The being within the rift belongs to neither the mortal realm nor the spirit realm.'
It awakens only when the—"It only awakens when the "Key" is born.'
Rei's heart pounded. 'You mean me?'
His grey gaze didn't waver — at that moment, it was as if he were truly passing judgement.
'Before you, there were only three candidates for the Key.
'And all three died before the rift fully opened.'
Rei: 'Damn it.'
Gray added coldly, 'If you die too, you'll be the fourth.'
The next second, the entire eastern sky of the campus was ripped open by a flash of light.
A massive black rift opened in the air.
It was as if an eye had been forcibly 'pulled open'.
From the depths of the rift came a clear, direct and undisguised call:
"Rei."
It was as if that being had seen him, recognised him and was expecting him.
Gray immediately blocked his path, his spiritual pressure surging.
'Kazama Rei.'
His voice was cold and clear.
'You must not approach the rift tonight.'
Rei stared at the rift, his heart pounding.
But that voice...
That call...
It was as if something that had slept for a thousand years was awakening and
reaching out for him.
He didn't know why, but he felt as if...
He should have responded.
In the darkness, the whispers from the crack echoed once more.
like a countdown to a ritual:
'The time has come for those who open their eyes...'