The air crackled with tension as the shadowy creature loomed over the academy's courtyard. Its piercing red eyes glowed like molten embers, scanning the terrified students. The headmaster stood tall, his expression unreadable, while the instructors had already formed a defensive line.
But for Bolt, this wasn't just another trial. This was real.
"Stay back!" one of the instructors barked. "This thing is beyond you!"
Bolt barely heard them. His instincts screamed at him to move, to fight, to survive.
The creature let out a distorted, guttural growl before lunging forward.
A blur of shadows and claws slashed through the air, heading straight for a group of students.
"Move!" Akane shouted, pulling one of them away just in time. The ground cracked where the claw struck, sending a shockwave through the courtyard.
Bolt gritted his teeth. Enough standing around.
He dashed forward.
Lightning surged through his veins as he activated his powers, his speed increasing in an instant. He sidestepped the creature's attack and spun, summoning all of his strength to strike back.
His fist collided with the creature's shifting form. Sparks erupted, but instead of flinching, the monster absorbed the impact like it was nothing.
Bolt's eyes widened.
"What the hell…?"
The creature morphed, its limbs stretching unnaturally, forming dozens of clawed tendrils. It lashed out again, this time targeting everyone.
"Scatter!" Aether yelled, grabbing Bolt's arm and yanking him back just before a shadowy limb could impale him.
The students scrambled in all directions, barely avoiding the chaotic barrage of attacks. Panic set in. Some tried to fight back, but their attacks passed through the creature as if it were made of pure darkness.
One student wasn't fast enough.
A shadowy claw wrapped around his leg and lifted him into the air.
He screamed.
"Let him go!" Akane yelled, launching a fireball at the creature's arm.
The fire made contact, the flames searing through the shadows—but the creature barely reacted. With a flick of its tendrils, it hurled the student across the courtyard.
Bolt's heart pounded.
This wasn't a fight they could win.
But they couldn't just run, either.
"Bolt!" Aether called out. "We need a plan!"
Bolt clenched his fists. His mind raced, analyzing every detail of the battle. The creature absorbed physical attacks, meaning brute force wouldn't be enough. Magic? It barely reacted to Akane's flames.
There had to be a weakness.
Then it hit him.
The headmaster wasn't interfering.
Why?
The old man could've ended this in seconds, yet he stood at a distance, watching. That meant—
"This is a test," Bolt muttered, realization dawning on him.
Aether, panting beside him, shot him a look. "What?"
"This isn't just some attack. The headmaster wants to see how we handle it," Bolt said, eyes narrowing. "He's waiting for us to figure something out."
Aether frowned. "Great. And what exactly are we supposed to figure out? Because right now, this thing is kicking our asses."
Bolt took a deep breath. He remembered how the creature moved, how it absorbed attacks. It wasn't a physical being—it was a manifestation of something.
If physical attacks didn't work, then maybe…
"Aim for the core!" Bolt suddenly shouted.
The others turned toward him.
"What core?" Akane asked.
Bolt pointed at the creature's chest.
"Look closely! Every time it moves, there's a flicker of energy in its center! That's the only thing that looks solid—it's the weak spot!"
Aether's eyes widened. "You sure about that?"
"Only one way to find out."
Without waiting, Bolt charged.
The creature roared, sensing his movement, and lashed out. Bolt dodged, barely avoiding a swipe that could've torn him in half.
His power surged. Lightning crackled around his body.
He leaped into the air, twisting midair to avoid another strike.
His target: The flickering core.
With a sharp breath, he extended his arm—
And unleashed a surge of lightning straight into the monster's chest.
BOOM!
The attack connected.
The creature howled in pain, its form flickering wildly.
It worked.
Aether and Akane didn't hesitate.
"Hit it now!"
Aether summoned a blade of wind and slashed directly at the core. Akane followed with a massive burst of fire, her flames piercing through the darkness.
The creature screamed.
Its body convulsed, distorting violently.
Then—
It exploded.
A shockwave rippled through the courtyard, sending dust and debris flying. The force knocked Bolt off his feet, and he hit the ground hard.
For a moment, everything was silent.
Then, slowly, the dust settled.
The creature was gone.
Bolt groaned, pushing himself up on his elbows. His entire body ached, but he managed a small, exhausted grin.
"We… did it."
Aether coughed beside him. "Barely."
Akane collapsed onto her back, breathing heavily. "That… was insane."
The other students, still stunned, began to murmur amongst themselves. Some cheered. Others simply sat there, overwhelmed by what had just happened.
Then, the headmaster finally stepped forward.
He clapped.
"Well done."
The students turned toward him, stunned.
"That was your final test for today," the headmaster said. "And you passed."
Bolt's stomach dropped. "Wait… that thing was part of the test?"
The headmaster's piercing gaze met his. "Did you think the real world would wait for you to be ready?"
No one answered.
"This is the reality of your training." The headmaster's voice was calm, but the weight behind his words was suffocating. "There are creatures in this world far more dangerous than what you faced today. If you hesitate, if you fail to adapt, you will die."
A chilling
silence fell over the courtyard.
Bolt swallowed.
This wasn't a game.
The academy wasn't just a school.
It was a battlefield.
And they had only just begun.