Chapter 5 - THE FOREST OF EXILE

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The forest outside Renox's cabin was quiet—too quiet. Reflexo sat on the fallen tree trunk, staring at the rising sun as if it could wash away the crimes everyone believed he committed. The sky glowed orange, but his chest felt hollow.

Kaiser paced around angrily, cracking his knuckles, flames flickering across his fists without him realizing. Zento sat farther away, hugging his knees, electricity twitching under his skin like nerves misfiring. None of them spoke.

None of them could.

They were wanted criminals on Earth now.

Reflexo finally broke the silence. "We can't stay here long. After what happened in the city… they're going to track us."

"They already did."

The voice came from behind them—calm, cold, and annoyingly casual.

Renox Leg walked out of his cabin holding a tea cup overflowing with red… something. Kaiser stared at it.

"Is that… blood?"

Renox sipped it like juice. "Don't be dramatic. It's my blood."

"HOW IS THAT BETTER?!" Kaiser yelled.

Renox ignored him. "Anyway, the military and the Null Agents have surrounded the forest."

As if on cue, the ground trembled. Distant thuds echoed like giants marching.

Zento's eyes widened. "They found us…"

Reflexo stood up. His aura flickered with light. "We fight. We protect each other. We—"

Renox smacked him on the back of the head with a bloody hand.

"Are the three of you stupid? You're children. You can't take on Earth's entire magical military."

Kaiser groaned. "Then WHAT do we do?!"

Renox snapped his fingers.

The ground cracked open beneath his cabin, revealing a glowing circle of ancient runes. Purple, gold, and crimson symbols rotated in a spiral.

"A portal?" Reflexo whispered.

"The only way to save your sorry butts," Renox said. "This leads to the Omniverse. Specifically, a place where magic is normal and you won't instantly get shot at."

Zento finally stood, electricity trembling across his body. "Where exactly?"

Renox grinned. "The EXTREME MAGIC ACADEMY."

All three boys froze.

"That place is REAL?!" Kaiser shouted.

Renox shrugged. "Realer than your IQ."

A distant explosion shook the trees. Helicopters roared overhead. Searchlights cut through the forest.

Reflexo turned to the others. "It's now or never. Let's go."

Before they could jump, the cabin exploded behind them as Null Agents burst through the walls.

"TARGETS FOUND. LETHAL PROTOCOL ACTIVATED."

They charged.

Reflexo blasted blinding light. Kaiser unleashed fire like a living dragon. Zento electrocuted three agents at once.

But there were too many.

Hundreds.

A missile locked onto Reflexo—

Zento deflected it with a burst of electricity—

Kaiser kicked an agent into a tree—

Reflexo shielded them with a wall of light—

But they were being overwhelmed.

Renox sighed dramatically.

"You kids are hopeless."

He raised his hand.

A crimson magic circle formed beneath the entire forest.

A tidal wave of blood erupted from the ground—pure, glowing, controlled by Renox's will. It swallowed the attackers, trapping them in layers of hardened crimson armor.

Reflexo stared in awe. "Renox… just how strong ARE you?"

Renox smirked. "Let's leave that mystery for later."

He pushed the three boys toward the glowing portal.

"Go! Before they break out!"

Reflexo took a deep breath and grabbed Zento's arm with one hand, Kaiser's with the other.

"We jump together."

They leaped—

Light swallowed them—

The world dissolved—

And Earth vanished behind them

The world around them twisted, stretched, and swirled like liquid starlight. Reflexo felt weightless. Zento's electricity danced uncontrollably. Kaiser screamed the entire way:

"WE'RE GONNA DIIIIEEE—"

They crashed onto solid ground.

Kaiser bounced like a rubber ball. Reflexo landed gracefully. Zento fell on Kaiser.

"GERROFFF ME, ELECTRIC CHAIR!"

They argued for two minutes straight.

Then they saw it.

The Omniverse.

Floating islands. Endless galaxies. Bridges of pure magic stretching between planets. Dragons diving through nebula clouds. Cities built on waterfalls of starlight.

Reflexo whispered, "This… this is unreal."

Zento shook his head. "This is impossible…"

Renox stepped through the portal behind them, brushing dust off his cloak.

"Welcome to the REAL world, boys. Earth is just one tiny island in a massive ocean."

They walked along a glowing path leading to a colossal building in the distance—taller than mountains, wrapped in magical rings rotating around it.

"Is that—" Kaiser began.

Renox smirked. "The Extreme Magic Academy. The strongest school in the Omniverse. Don't touch anything. Don't look at anything weird. Don't sniff anything either."

Kaiser sniffed a floating crystal.

The crystal barked at him.

---

At the academy gates, thousands of students walked around—humans, demons, elves, gods, vampires, dragons in human form, beings made of pure light, creatures made of shadow.

Kaiser's jaw dropped. "Bro… humaaans?!"

Renox nodded. "Humans exist all across the Omniverse. Not like Earth's humans though. These ones use magic like breathing."

Reflexo exhaled.

"So Earth humans… we're the only ones scared of magic?"

"Exactly," Renox said. "Your Earth is the weakest version of humanity."

Zento muttered, "Figures…"

A giant hologram flickered above the entrance:

ENTRANCE EXAM — FIGHT CLASS — BEGIN SOON

Kaiser grinned. "A fighting exam? Finally something fun."

But then Reflexo noticed something… strange.

The students kept staring at them.

Whispering.

Pointing.

A girl with angel wings whispered, "That's the light user who destroyed a city…"

A demon boy muttered, "That's the electric demon with unstable power…"

Someone hissed, "That fire boy leveled half a block…"

Zento's hands trembled. "They… they already know about us."

Renox sighed. "Your little Earth disaster went viral in the Omniverse. Congrats."

Kaiser looked horrified. "We're famous for the WRONG REASONS?!"

Reflexo clenched his fists. "We'll prove them wrong. We'll prove we aren't monsters."

Renox smiled softly. "Good. You'll get your chance. Tomorrow is the Entrance Combat Exam."

Reflexo, Kaiser, and Zento exchanged determined looks.

Whatever the academy threw at them—

They were ready.

The boys spent the next day exploring the academy. The academy was a city-sized fortress filled with magic.

Reflexo tried to meditate in the Light Garden—accidentally blinded fifteen monks.

Zento tried to train in the Thunder Dome—blew up half the roof.

Kaiser tried the Fire Arena—set off forty alarms.

Renox watched proudly. "Look at my disasters."

Despite everything, rumors began to spread across the academy.

Rumors… of a masked student.

A boy who never spoke.

A boy who moved like a shadow.

A boy who defeated an entire class in training without leaving a scratch.

Kaiser shivered. "Whoever that guy is, he sounds terrifying."

Zento muttered, "Or maybe he's just weak and hiding—"

A gust of cold wind passed behind them.

Reflexo turned.

No one was there.

But the air smelled like shadows.

A presence lingered.

Watching.

Silent.

Renox frowned. "Boys… don't provoke the masked one. If the rumors are true, he's on a different level."

They didn't know it yet—

But this "masked student"

would soon become their strongest teammate

The arena roared with excitement. Thousands of students filled the seats.

"WELCOME TO THE EXTREME MAGIC ACADEMY ENTRANCE COMBAT EXAM!"

Combat rings lit up. Students lined up to fight.

Reflexo stepped forward first. He shattered his opponent's barrier with pure light.

Kaiser followed, unleashing fire like a demon king.

Zento electrocuted three opponents at once.

The crowd gasped.

But then… the arena lights flickered.

A cold wind swept through the stadium.

Every voice fell silent.

A door opened.

Footsteps echoed.

A figure stepped out—

Silent.

Masked.

Black cloak with purple strips.

Presence colder than death.

Aura bending shadows around him.

Shadow Xenon.

Reflexo felt chills.

Kaiser's fire dimmed.

Zento stepped back without realizing.

The crowd whispered in fear:

"That's him…"

"The masked one…"

"His aura—my knees are shaking…"

"Is he human?!"

Shadow Xenon entered the arena without looking at anyone.

Ten ranked opponents surrounded him.

One instructor laughed nervously. "U-Um… you may begin?"

Shadow Xenon didn't move.

The ten opponents charged.

Shadow Xenon drew his blade—

Not fully.

Just an inch.

SLASH.

A wave of purple-black energy filled the arena.

The opponents froze.

Their armor cracked.

Their weapons shattered.

They all collapsed simultaneously.

The entire arena shook.

Silence.

Then screaming.

"He finished the exam with ONE SLASH?!"

"Did he even TRY?!"

"HE'S A MONSTER!"

"NO—HE'S A GOD!"

Shadow Xenon sheathed his blade and whispered one word:

"Next."

But there was no "next."

He broke the exam.

The staff stood speechless.

Reflexo's heart pounded.

Zento's jealousy flared.

Kaiser felt his soul leave his body.

Shadow Xenon walked past them—

Silent.

Deadly.

Perfect.

Reflexo whispered, "Who… is he?"

Renox smiled.

"You'll

Later that night, Reflexo walked alone through the academy courtyard. Moonlight fell across the marble floor.

A shadow shifted behind him.

Reflexo turned slowly.

Shadow Xenon stood there, mask reflecting the moon like polished onyx.

Reflexo swallowed. "You… followed me?"

Shadow Xenon didn't answer.

He lifted his hand.

And a Null Agent helmet fell at Reflexo's feet—cracked cleanly in half.

Reflexo's eyes widened. "You… saved us? From Earth's agents?"

Shadow Xenon nodded once.

"Why?" Reflexo whispered.

Shadow Xenon finally spoke—his voice deep, cold, quiet:

"You are not safe alone."

Reflexo stepped back. "Are you… joining us?"

Shadow Xenon looked at the moon.

"Staying together increases survival."

Reflexo's jaw dropped.

That was the quietest "I'm joining your squad" he had ever heard.

Kaiser ran over. "REFLEXO—WAIT—OH MY GOD IS THAT HIM?!"

Zento too. "The masked freak?!"

Kaiser leaned toward him. "Can… can I touch your mask?"

Shadow Xenon stepped forward—

Kaiser fainted.

Zento clicked his tongue. "Show-off."

Shadow Xenon ignored both of them.

He looked at Reflexo.

"I walk with you now."

And just like that—

The strongest student in the academy

joined their team

Renox arrived at the academy gates with two giant suitcases and a cup of blood.

Students stared.

"Is that the Blood Freak?!"

"He's still alive?!"

"Didn't he get banned?!"

Reflexo ran up. "Renox?! What are you doing here?!"

Renox tossed a suitcase at Kaiser. "I'm moving in."

Zento blinked. "WHY?!"

Renox shrugged. "Where my kids go, I go."

Kaiser groaned. "We're not your kids!"

Renox ruffled his hair. "Yes you are."

Shadow Xenon stood behind them, silent as always.

Renox glanced at him.

"So… you must be the mask boy."

Shadow Xenon didn't respond.

Renox poked his mask