Kai exhaled slowly, his breath steady as he retracted his energy. The newfound strength was exhilarating, but it also brought new dangers.
The words of the mysterious man echoed in his mind.
"Come find me."
Who was he? And how did he know about the Monster Core?
Kai knew that if he wanted answers, he needed to find him.
As he left the training grounds, a faint sound caught his attention—footsteps, deliberately quiet.
Someone was following him.
Kai didn't react immediately. If they thought he hadn't noticed, he could turn the situation in his favor.
Taking a detour, he entered a dimly lit alleyway behind the academy's dining hall. The moment he stepped into the shadows, he turned sharply—his hand reaching out.
Caught!
A figure gasped as Kai's grip tightened around their wrist.
"Why are you following me?" he demanded.
The hooded figure hesitated before pulling back their hood, revealing a familiar face.
It was Lian, a fellow student known for her intelligence and sharp intuition.
"You absorbed the core, didn't you?" she asked, her eyes searching his for confirmation.
Kai frowned. This again? How did she know?
Lian sighed. "You're not the only one looking for answers. That Monster Core wasn't supposed to be here. Someone placed it in the academy intentionally."
Kai's eyes narrowed. Someone planted the core?
Before he could respond, a sharp noise echoed from above.
They both looked up—a shadow moved along the rooftop.
They weren't alone.
Lian whispered urgently, "We need to move. Now."
Without hesitation, Kai followed her as they disappeared into the night, heading toward an unknown truth waiting to be uncovered.