Chapter 17: Where's The Heir?
Ethan and Seojin stood in front of a large bulletin board, scanning the announcements until they spotted one that caught their eye: "New students, Arena 2, 3 P.M." They exchanged curious glances and continued walking, eventually finding their dormitory. As they entered the room, they noticed three beds, and Ethan immediately cracked a joke.
"Who do you think our roommate will be?" he asked with a grin, throwing his bag onto one of the empty beds.
Seojin glanced at the unoccupied bed and shook his head. "Actually, we don't have one yet. My dad said, for now, it's just you and me." Then he turned his gaze to the two kittens lounging on one of the beds and smiled, "Well, and them too."
The room felt cozy, with the late afternoon sun casting a soft glow through the window. Shadow and Oliver, were comfortably sprawled out, purring softly. Ethan and Seojin began to unpack their things, talking casually and laughing at inside jokes, completely unaware of what was about to unfold.
Far away, in a sprawling, luxurious mansion, a man sat in a grand office, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the edge of his desk. His cold eyes gleamed with malicious intent as he asked, "Is today the day of the attack?"
"Yes, sir," the servant standing before him confirmed. "Today's the day when the new students enter the academy."
The man, Kihyun, smiled, a dark, unsettling grin spreading across his face. "Good. The more deaths, the better. I want to see what the academy will do when the precious heir, Dong Hae, dies in this attack too."
With a casual swipe, he wiped blood from his hands using a pristine white cloth and waved dismissively. "Tell them to proceed. Let the chaos begin."
Back at the academy, Ethan and Seojin were waiting in Arena 2 at the designated time. They glanced around, watching as other new students began to file in, none of them suspecting the danger that was creeping toward them. After a few minutes, a tall, composed man walked to the center of the arena. It was Professor Jaemin, one of the academy's top instructors. He clapped his hands to gain their attention.
"Welcome, students. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in your lives," he announced, his voice echoing through the arena. "Be ready for the challenges ahead."
Shadow and Oliver, who had been napping on Ethan and Seojin's shoulders, suddenly stirred. Their ears perked up, and both kittens opened their eyes simultaneously, sensing something amiss. They exchanged a silent telepathic message, "Ethan, something's wrong. Be careful. Danger is coming."
Just as Ethan was about to react, a loud explosion shook the arena. Debris flew through the air, and the peaceful atmosphere shattered as a group of men dressed in black stormed in, surrounding the students.
Professor Jaemin's calm demeanor shifted in an instant as he manifested his power. Water swirled around him, forming a protective barrier. His eyes locked onto the leader of the attackers, and his voice turned deadly serious. "Who are you?" he demanded, his body poised to strike.
The man in black, unfazed, sneered and said, "That's not important. What matters is this—if you don't hand over the heir, every single person here will die."
Jaemin smirked in return, his confidence unshaken. "You really don't know who you're dealing with, do you?" Without wasting any more words, he launched a torrent of water toward the attackers, sending them scrambling.
"Everyone, evacuate now!" Jaemin shouted, his voice commanding as he fought off the intruders. Chaos erupted as students scrambled to flee the arena.
Ethan and Seojin tried to leave with the rest of the students, but the exit was blocked. Men in black closed in on them from every angle, trapping them. As panic rose in the crowd, one of the attackers targeted a young girl standing near Seojin. Without hesitation, Seojin stepped forward, his instincts kicking in.
In a flash, Seojin manifested his power and fire crackled around his hands as he launched a bolt at the man, knocking him away from the girl. The attacker stumbled back, clutching his chest where the fire had struck him, but instead of retreating, he laughed darkly.
"You must be Jinwoo's son, right?" the man said, eyeing Seojin with a twisted smile. "You're on our list too. Are you ready to die, just like your father?"
Seojin's heart pounded in his chest, but he stood his ground, his fire still crackling around him. Ethan stepped up beside him, his own power thrumming under his skin, ready for the fight ahead.
"This isn't over," the attacker hissed, signaling for more of his men to close in on the two boys.
But Ethan and Seojin weren't backing down. They exchanged a quick glance, a silent promise passing between them. They had each other's backs, no matter what.
As the battle began, Ethan felt the weight of what was happening settle in his chest, but he knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning of something much larger than either of them had ever imagined.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone