The Summit of Shadows
—
Tenka Academy – Headmaster's Office
The academy was in chaos.
The S-Rank dungeon break, the massacre, the resurrection of monsters, and the incineration of corpses — all of it had been witnessed, recorded, and whispered about in every hallway, dorm, and classroom.
But one name echoed louder than the rest.
Raijo Kimi.
The headmaster's office was a towering chamber of enchanted glass and floating scrolls. At its center sat Headmaster Seraphine Lux, the S-Rank Light Mage who had once been chosen by Yumi herself.
She stared at the glowing reports hovering before her — mana readings, student casualty lists, surveillance footage.
Then she waved her hand.
"Bring him in."
—
Raijo entered the office, calm as ever. His uniform was crisp, his white hair catching the light, his crimson eyes unreadable.
Seraphine didn't speak immediately.
She simply stared.
Raijo met her gaze, unflinching.
"You broke protocol," she said finally. "You entered a dungeon above your rank. You resurrected monsters on school grounds. You incinerated corpses without clearance. You terrified half the senior class."
Raijo shrugged. "I also saved the academy."
Seraphine's lips twitched.
"You did."
She stood, walking slowly around him, her heels clicking against the marble.
"Tell me, Raijo… what are you?"
He turned his head slightly. "A student."
"No," she said. "You're something else. Something dangerous."
Raijo smirked. "Only to enemies."
She stopped in front of him. "You're not officially S-Rank. Not yet. But your power… it's beyond classification."
Raijo said nothing.
Seraphine sighed. "The council wants you monitored. Evaluated. Possibly restrained."
Raijo raised an eyebrow. "You gonna try?"
She chuckled. "No. I'm going to give you a private license. You'll operate independently. You'll be allowed to enter any dungeon tier. But you'll report directly to me."
Raijo nodded. "Fair."
She leaned in. "One more thing. If you ever turn that army on this school…"
Raijo's eyes glowed faintly.
"I won't," he said. "Unless you give me a reason."
Seraphine smiled. "Good. Dismissed."
—
Outside the Office
As Raijo stepped out, students parted like waves. Some bowed. Others stared. A few whispered.
> "He met the headmaster…"
> "Did she punish him?"
> "No. She promoted him."
Raijo walked past Kaori, who still hadn't recovered from the previous day.
He patted her shoulder again.
"You're improving."
She nodded, cheeks flushed.
And somewhere in the shadows, a new figure watched him — cloaked, silent, and smiling.
The king rises. But the world is watching.
—
The King's First Hunt & The Watcher in the Dark
—
📍 Tenka Academy – Mission Hall, Next Morning
The academy was still buzzing from the events of the dungeon break. But Raijo? He stood calmly at the mission board, scanning the list of available solo hunts.
Most students were still recovering.
He was just getting started.
A new section had been added — "Solo Clearance Eligible – S-Rank License Required."
Raijo tapped the top listing:
> Mission: Clear the "Ashen Maw" Dungeon
> Rank: S
> Location: Mt. Kurobane Rift
> Threats: Lava Wyrms, Flame Djinn, Unknown Boss
> Reward: 1,000,000 credits + Artifact Core
> Status: Unclaimed
He signed his name.
The receptionist blinked. "You're going alone?"
Raijo nodded. "I've got company."
He turned and walked out, his shadow rippling unnaturally behind him.
—
🕵️♀️ Meanwhile – Observation Tower, Tenka Academy
High above the campus, in a sealed chamber lined with runes and scrying mirrors, a cloaked figure stood before a glowing orb. Within it, Raijo's image shimmered — walking calmly toward the academy gates.
The figure's voice was low, feminine, and laced with curiosity.
"So this is the one who commands the dead…"
Another voice echoed from the shadows — deeper, older.
"He's more than that. He's a convergence point. A fracture in the balance."
The woman turned. "Should we intervene?"
"Not yet," the voice replied. "Let him grow. Let him believe he's free."
She smirked. "And when he reaches the threshold?"
"Then we test him."
—
🔥 Mt. Kurobane Rift – Ashen Maw Dungeon
The air shimmered with heat. The ground cracked beneath Raijo's boots as he stepped into the molten cavern. Lava flowed like rivers, and the stench of sulfur filled the air.
He raised a hand.
"Arise."
His army surged forth — shadows spilling across the stone, forming ranks behind him. Jin Woo, the Calamity Scarab, Zar'khal the Demon, and the newly risen S-Rank monsters stood at attention.
Raijo cracked his neck.
"Let's make this quick."
The dungeon roared in response.
—
🏛️ Tenka Academy – Headmaster's Office, Later That Day
Seraphine Lux sat at her desk, reviewing the live feed from the Ashen Maw dungeon. Her expression was unreadable.
A knock.
"Enter."
Raijo stepped in, his uniform slightly scorched, a glowing artifact core in one hand.
"Mission complete," he said, placing it on her desk.
She stared at it. "You were supposed to be gone for three days."
Raijo shrugged. "I got bored."
She leaned back, folding her arms. "You're drawing attention. Not just from the council. From outside. Other nations. Other powers."
Raijo met her gaze. "Let them come."
Seraphine studied him for a long moment. "You're not afraid of anything, are you?"
Raijo smiled. "Only of being average."
She chuckled. "Dismissed, Shadow King."
—
Meet the Parents
—
Ichoshima Estate – Saturday Afternoon
The Ichoshima family estate was less a house and more a fortress carved into the side of a mountain. Towering gates of obsidian and gold opened to reveal a sprawling compound surrounded by enchanted sakura trees that bloomed year-round, their petals glowing faintly with mana.
Raijo stepped through the gates, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the grandeur with a casual air. He wore a black high-collared jacket, his white hair tied loosely behind him, and his signature calm smirk in place.
Waiting at the entrance was Yumi, arms crossed, lips curled into a smirk of her own.
"Took you long enough."
Raijo stepped in close, one hand sliding around her waist, the other brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Missed me?"
She rolled her eyes. "You're shameless."
He leaned in, brushing his lips against her neck. "Only for you."
From the balcony above, a deep voice thundered.
"Ahem."
They both turned.
Hiroshima Ichoshima stood there, arms crossed, golden eyes narrowed. He descended the steps like a god descending from the heavens, his presence bending the air around him.
"Hands off my daughter."
Raijo didn't move. "She's not complaining."
Yumi's eyes widened. "Raijo—"
But he was already stepping forward, squaring up with the man known as the Calamity-Class Hunter.
Hiroshima's aura flared, the ground cracking beneath his feet. "You think you're ready to challenge me, boy?"
Raijo's own aura surged in response — not just his, but the echo of hundreds of shadows within him. The sky dimmed. The wind stilled.
"I'm not here to challenge you," Raijo said, voice calm. "But if you want to throw hands, I won't hold back."
Yumi stepped between them, hands raised. "Enough! Both of you!"
She turned to Raijo, eyes wide. "You're not stronger than him—"
Then she paused.
Her eyes narrowed.
She looked again.
And realized something terrifying.
He's close.
In just three months, Raijo had climbed to a level that brushed against her father's. He wasn't there yet — but the gap was shrinking. Fast.
Hiroshima stared at the boy, then chuckled.
"Fine. You've got guts. I'll give you that."
He turned and walked back inside. "Dinner's in an hour. Don't be late."
Yumi exhaled, then turned to Raijo. "You're insane."
He grinned. "You like that about me."
She didn't deny it.
—
Dinner, Rivals, and a Violation
—
Ichoshima Estate – Dining Hall, Evening
The long obsidian table shimmered under floating lanterns, casting warm light across the room. Raijo sat beside Yumi, casually feeding her slices of grilled mana-beast meat while she rolled her eyes and tried not to smile.
Across from them sat Hiroshima, arms crossed, watching like a hawk. His wife, elegant and composed, sipped wine with a knowing smile.
The tension was thick.
Raijo leaned in, whispering something into Yumi's ear that made her blush. Hiroshima's eye twitched.
"Boy," he said, voice low. "Hands off my daughter at the table."
Raijo didn't even look up. "She's not complaining."
Yumi snorted, nearly choking on her drink.
Hiroshima leaned forward. "You think you're ready to challenge me?"
Raijo finally met his gaze. "Not yet. But you're not the only monster in this house anymore."
The room went silent.
Yumi's mother chuckled softly. "Boys and their pride…"
—
Then the door opened.
A tall figure stepped in, dressed in a pristine white suit, hair slicked back, eyes gleaming with arrogance.
Name: Kaito Renjou
Age: 22
Rank: S
Element: Wind
Build: Lean, athletic, with a model's face and a politician's smile
Aura: Sharp, fast, and cocky — like a blade that thinks it's already won
Hiroshima stood. "Raijo, meet Kaito. The man I selected for Yumi."
Raijo didn't move.
Yumi blinked. "You what?"
Kaito stepped forward, ignoring her. "No offense, kid," he said, eyes on Raijo. "But you're not built to handle someone like Yumi. She needs a man. Not a boy with a shadow fetish."
Raijo stood slowly, pushing his chair back.
"Say that again."
Kaito smirked. "You heard me. You want to prove something? Let's go. 1v1. No shadows. Just you."
Yumi stood. "Kaito, don't—"
Raijo raised a hand. "It's fine."
He walked to the center of the training courtyard, cracking his neck.
Kaito followed, confident.
—
Ichoshima Courtyard – Duel Grounds
The family gathered around. Even the maids paused their duties. The air buzzed with anticipation.
Kaito launched first — a flurry of wind blades, fast and precise.
Raijo dodged effortlessly, his body moving like smoke.
Then he struck.
One punch.
Kaito flew across the courtyard, crashing into a pillar, cracking it in half.
He staggered up, coughing blood. "Lucky shot—"
Raijo blurred forward, grabbed his collar, and slammed him into the ground.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The earth cracked. The wind howled. Kaito screamed.
Raijo stood over him, eyes glowing white.
"You're right," he said. "I'm not built to handle Yumi."
He leaned in.
"I'm built to own her."
Kaito passed out.
—
Aftermath
Raijo walked back to the table, dusting off his jacket. Hiroshima stared at him, unreadable.
Yumi sat down, arms crossed. "You're insane."
Raijo kissed her cheek. "You like that about me."
Her mother giggled. "I love this boy."
Hiroshima sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. You win this round."
Raijo smirked. "I win every round."
—
End of chapter 13.