Aiden drifted in and out of consciousness as the world around him blurred into streaks of dim light and cold air. Someone carried him—fast, steady, without hesitation.
When he finally forced his eyes open, he wasn't in the shattered Trial corridor anymore.
He lay on a stone table inside a dim underground chamber. Walls lined with ancient runes pulsed faintly. A single lantern flickered above him.
Kael stood near the entrance, arms crossed, watching like a hawk.
But the one who stole Aiden's breath—
—stood right beside him.
A tall man, late twenties maybe, with raven-black hair tied loosely behind his shoulders. His clothes weren't academy-issued. His coat was torn, burnt, stitched together with wire. His eyes were unsettling: one silver, one faintly glowing blue.
Aiden knew him from rumors.
From forbidden academy whispers.
From the stories students weren't supposed to repeat.
"Y—you're supposed to be dead," Aiden muttered.
The instructor smiled faintly.
"Then it's a good thing I stopped listening to rumors."
Aiden tried to sit up, but his body screamed with pain.
[SOUL DAMAGE: CRITICAL]
[RECOVERY LOCKED UNTIL STABILIZATION]
The instructor placed a hand on Aiden's chest and pushed him gently back. "Don't try that. You barely survived using that unstable system."
Aiden gasped. "You… know about it?"
Kael stepped forward. "Of course he does, Aiden. He recognized that mark before either of us."
The instructor gave Kael a cold side glance. "Quiet, Ardent. You almost got him killed."
Kael shrugged. "He lived. Barely."
Aiden's eyes narrowed. "Why… why save me? Who are you?"
The instructor didn't hesitate.
"My name is Instructor Lorian Caelis. Former S-Rank examiner. Former academy elite."
His tone hardened.
"And the last known survivor of the old system generation."
Aiden froze. "Old… system generation?"
Kael scoffed. "He means the era when students used systems before they were banned."
Lorian's gaze darkened. "They weren't banned because they were dangerous. They were banned because they were uncontrollable. And because the academy couldn't control the people who awakened them."
Aiden swallowed. "Like me."
Lorian shook his head. "No, Vale. You're worse."
Aiden's heart skipped. "Worse?"
Lorian leaned close enough that Aiden could see the cracks of mana scars across his neck.
"Your system isn't one of the old ones."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"It's one of the forbidden types. The kind that isn't supposed to exist anymore."
Aiden felt the air leave his lungs.
Kael's jaw tightened slightly. "Forbidden type…? Are you sure?"
Lorian nodded slowly. "I'm very sure. I've seen one before."
Aiden's voice shook. "What… what happened to the person who had it?"
Lorian's eyes flickered with something—pain, or fear.
"They died," he said simply.
"Not from the system…"
"…but from what the academy did to them after discovering it."
Aiden felt cold down his spine.
Kael exhaled sharply, stepping back. "Meaning Aiden's existence is illegal."
Lorian nodded once.
"And if the academy identifies that tattoo on your arm… they won't just expel you."
"They'll erase you."
Aiden's chest tightened. "So what do I do?"
Lorian leaned against the wall.
"You hide. You get stronger. And you don't let anyone—anyone—see you use that system until you can control the instability."
Aiden looked at his arm. The tattoo still pulsed faintly, threatening to flare at any moment.
"…How am I supposed to control something that can kill me?"
"For now?" Lorian stood straight. "You don't."
Aiden's stomach sank.
Lorian continued: "Your only hope is to pass the Survival Ranking Exam. If you rise fast enough, high enough, they won't suspect you're Level Zero."
Kael gave a sly smirk. "And that's where I come in."
Aiden glared. "I don't need your help."
Kael replied calmly, "It's not help. It's competition. If you fall behind me in the rankings, they'll look into you. Hard."
Aiden felt the realization hit him.
To stay alive, he had to outrank the academy's golden prodigy.
Lorian's voice cut in sharply:
"Aiden. Listen closely."
Aiden met his eyes.
Lorian pointed at Aiden's glowing tattoo.
"That mark means one more thing."
Aiden held his breath.
Lorian's next words shattered everything:
"Someone inside the academy gave you that system."
Aiden's blood went cold.
"What…? Gave? Someone… chose me?"
Lorian nodded slowly. "And whoever they are… they knew exactly what it would do to you."
Aiden froze completely.
His mind raced.
His chest pounded.
Kael's eyes narrowed. "So the traitor is still here."
Aiden's voice broke. "But why me? I'm nobody. I'm just—"
Lorian cut him off, tone sharp and deadly:
"No, Aiden. Someone wants you to become something. Something dangerous. Something the academy fears."
Aiden's fingers trembled.
Lorian stepped closer.
"And the worst part? The academy already suspects someone… and they've sent someone to investigate."
Aiden's breath hitched. "Who?"
Lorian looked toward the tunnel entrance.
Footsteps echoed outside.
Heavy, authoritative, purposeful.
Lorian whispered:
"The examiner arriving tomorrow."
Aiden's heart stopped.
"They're coming… for you, Aiden."