The sky over Kaizen Academy was wrong.
It twisted.
Students began collapsing during morning drills. Spirit affinity marks flared wildly. Familiar spirits trembled and vanished mid-summon.
Jin looked up.
Black feathers fell like ash. Clouds split in a perfect circle above the courtyard—and something massive hovered in the center of it.
A gate.
Spiraling open like a burning eye, leaking cold, pale light.
Kael's voice thundered across the grounds. "All ranked students to combat stations! First-years, retreat to the sanctum!"
But Jin didn't move. Neither did Arin.
Because from that gate, they felt it.
The Hollow Legion had arrived.
Five figures descended from the swirling gate. Each cloaked in shadowed armor, each riding a monstrous, deformed spirit mount.
They landed wordlessly. Then scattered—moving with purpose.
Arin narrowed her eyes. "They're splitting up."
Jin clenched his fist. "They're hunting something."
Kael appeared beside them. "No. Someone. The gate was opened with Abyssal resonance. They're here for you, Jin."
Jin stared at the spreading Legion. "Then I'm not hiding."
Kael hesitated. "You're not ready. Two chains is not enough."
Jin turned. "It'll have to be."
Meanwhile, near the academy's Spirit Garden, one of the Legion struck first.
A female commander with glassy wings landed in the center field, facing a group of terrified second-years. Her face was masked, her presence overwhelming.
"I am Veyla, Mirrorwing. One of Five. Bring me the Vessel, or your souls will suffice."
She raised a hand.
Students screamed.
Then—
BOOM.
A streak of black mist crashed into her like a comet, sending her sliding backward.
Jin stood between her and the students, his spirit mark glowing bright.
"You want me?" he said.
"I'm right here."
Veyla rose slowly, tilting her head. "Two chains. Interesting. The Abyss favors you."
Jin's voice echoed with Noctis's tone. "And I favor breaking you."
She moved.
Fast.
Faster than he could see.
But Noctis reacted—unleashing a pulse of black aura that slowed time just long enough for Jin to twist aside, land a hit, and send chains lashing into her midair.
Their battle shook the air, cracking the field and drawing every spirit-sensitive eye to the sky.
Kael watched from the distance. "He's adapting faster than expected…"
But Arin wasn't watching him. She was watching the gate.
Because from its depths…
A sixth figure began to emerge.
High above the battle, in the eye of the storming gate, the air darkened further. This figure was different—massive, regal, unmoving.
Its aura blanketed the land in silence.
Not a member of the Hollow Legion.
Something older.
Arin whispered, "That's not a soldier."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "It's a herald."
And heralds… only came before gods.