Night fell like a warning.
In the depths of Liberty High's east wing—where abandoned classrooms whispered old secrets—Class V trained under moonlight. Not because they had to.
Because sleep was more dangerous than failure.
Carlos was practicing power slams on a boulder enchanted with rebound spells. His body smoked from impact, but he grinned with each crack.
Zeke muttered to his reflection in a cracked mirror. It whispered back.
Ember was burning words into steel plates—curse runes, according to her. Possibly song lyrics. Possibly both.
Lira hadn't moved in hours.
She sat on the rooftop, eyes wide open, staring into the clouds.
And Lin Fang?
He stood in the shadows.
Watching.
Calculating.
Waiting.
[System Alert]
Loyalty Ratings:
Carlos: 61% (Stubborn Loyalty)
Ember: 55% (Chaotic Loyalty)
Zeke: 43% (Shaky Trust)
Lira: ???
Warning: One student has received an external communication.
Mission Triggered: "Find the Traitor Before the Blood Moon"
Time Limit: 12 hours.
Lin Fang's eyes narrowed.
"Of course," he muttered. "It was never going to be easy."
He vanished.
2:14 AM – Interior, Class V Dorms
Zeke crept through the hall quietly, hoodie over his face, hands glowing faint blue. He moved toward the exit, clutching a wrapped scroll.
He didn't notice the shadow behind him.
"Going somewhere?" Lin Fang's voice was quiet. Too quiet.
Zeke froze.
"I—I was just—"
"Saving your own skin?" Lin Fang stepped forward. "Or delivering our weaknesses to the enemy?"
Zeke trembled. "They offered me protection. They said Apex would kill you—kill us all."
"They will," Lin Fang said. "Unless we make them bleed first."
Zeke hesitated. "You... knew?"
Lin Fang held up the scroll. It flickered, then burned into ashes.
"I know everything that happens in this class," he said. "Even betrayal."
Zeke dropped to his knees. "I didn't mean to—"
"I believe you," Lin Fang said. "That's why I'm giving you one chance."
Zeke looked up, eyes wide.
"To prove your loyalty," Lin Fang said. "Or die before the sun rises."
Zeke stayed on his knees, sweat dripping down his forehead.
"I'll prove it," he whispered.
"Good," Lin Fang said. "Because you're going to lead tomorrow's first strike."
Zeke looked up, confused. "Against Apex South?"
Lin Fang's eyes gleamed. "No. Against Lira."
A silence fell heavier than any weapon.
"What? Why her?"
Lin Fang turned away, his voice cold. "Because she's the one I can't predict."
[System Alert: "Betrayal Within" Updated]
Target Shift:
Student of Interest: Lira Moonfall
Alignment: Unknown
Notes: She has not chosen an evolution path.
Observation Level: Red
Suggested Action: Isolation or Elimination
The next day, Class V gathered in the training yard, eyes tired but sharp.
Zeke stood awkwardly to the side, avoiding eye contact.
Ember noticed. "You look like you cheated on a midterm and also your girlfriend."
Carlos leaned in. "You good, man?"
Zeke didn't answer.
Lira arrived last. Her presence, as always, was too quiet to notice until she was already there.
Lin Fang stepped forward.
"We're changing the sparring pairs," he said. "Zeke, Lira. You're up first."
Zeke's face went pale.
Lira blinked. "I didn't volunteer."
Lin Fang stared her down. "You don't need to. This isn't democracy. It's survival prep."
Lira didn't flinch.
"Fine."
In the center of the ring, the two stood opposite each other. One trembling. One unreadable.
"Begin," Lin Fang said.
Zeke attacked first—half-hearted, sloppy, pulling every blow.
Lira dodged effortlessly.
"You're holding back," she said softly.
Zeke winced. "I don't want to hurt you."
"You can't."
Her hand flicked upward.
Zeke's body froze mid-air, limbs locked by invisible force.
Lin Fang's system pinged.
[Student Power Detected: "Moonbind – Rank S"]
Emotional Status: Serene
Danger Level: Catastrophic
Recommend: Do not antagonize further.
But it was too late.
Zeke dropped like a puppet with cut strings.
Unconscious.
The yard went dead silent.
Lira turned to Lin Fang. "Was this your test?"
"It was a warning," Lin Fang replied. "For both of you."
He walked away.
Behind him, the system whispered:
[Warning: Class V cohesion dropping – current trust threshold: 41%]
If it falls below 40%, "Splinter Protocol" will activate.
Result: Permanent internal factional split.
Outcome: Mutiny possible.
After training, the students dispersed without speaking.
Carlos dragged Zeke's unconscious body back to the dorm.
Ember didn't make a joke.
Lira stood by the rusted training dummy for a long time, her eyes fixed on the spot where Zeke had fallen.
She hadn't broken a sweat.
Inside his office, Lin Fang watched everything through the system interface.
"Class V cohesion: 41%," he muttered. "One percent from rupture."
The system blinked.
[Splinter Protocol Countdown: 23 Hours 58 Minutes]
If morale does not recover, factional split will occur.
New Mission Available:
"Stabilize the Core – Secure loyalty of at least 3 students."
Reward: Trait – "Commander's Aura"
Failure: System will auto-designate you as 'Enemy Faction Leader' and initiate PvP event.
Lin Fang leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled.
"They really coded mutiny into the classroom system…"
Later that night, a message appeared on all five students' personal interfaces:
[Notice from Instructor Lin Fang]
"Tomorrow's training will be non-lethal. Probably.
Bring your worst impulse. We'll sharpen it into a weapon.
Optional: If anyone still wants to run, now's the time.
If you stay—be ready to break something.
Especially yourself."
End Message.
Zeke, still bandaged, stared at the message in silence.
Carlos cracked his knuckles in the dark.
Ember smiled like she'd just found her reason to live.
Lira? She never opened the message.
Because she already knew what tomorrow would bring.
Just before midnight, Lin Fang received one last system ping.
[External Entity Detected – Proximity: 3.2km]
Classification: Unknown
Aura Signature: Mismatched
Status: Approaching at high velocity
Estimated Time of Arrival: 6 hours
He stood by the window, eyes locked on the dark forest beyond the academy wall.
"They're early," he muttered.
Behind him, the candles flickered.
Something unseen moved just beyond the range of light.
Tomorrow, he'd face mutiny from within.
Tonight, something far worse was already on its way.