The Eclipse Beast never stood a chance.
Not anymore.
By the time the fourth years arrived, the battlefield had already shifted—from chaos to execution.
From the shattered skyline of the University of Flow Arts, figures descended like falling stars. Some landed softly. Others cracked the ground beneath their feet. Their auras alone pressed the air down, forcing weaker Flow users to stagger.
"Fourth Year Vanguard has visual," one of them said calmly. "Target confirmed."
The Eclipse Beast screeched—an ugly, distorted sound—as it felt it.
Fear.
A senior stepped forward, coat fluttering, Flow condensed so tightly around his body that the air bent. He didn't shout. Didn't pose.
He raised his hand.
The ground imploded beneath the beast.
Another senior followed—blade glowing gold—cleaving clean through one of the creature's limbs like it was mist. A third slammed chains of condensed Flow around its torso, pinning it mid-roar.
Above them, professors hovered.
No panic.
No hesitation.
Just control.
"This is why," Professor Hale muttered under his breath, eyes sharp, "we don't send children to do gods' work."
The Eclipse Beast struggled, black energy spilling from its wounds—leaking back toward the newly birthed portal ripping open on the north side of the island.
"Portal confirmed unstable," a professor announced. "Leak level rising."
"Good," a fourth year replied, cracking his neck. "Then we end it here."
They moved as one.
Every Eclipse Beast that crawled out of the portal was erased before it could take three steps. Fire. Ice. Gravity. Pure Flow constructs crashing down like judgment.
Within minutes—
Nothing.
No movement.
No shrieks.
Just a portal, still pulsing. Still dangerous.
That's when the sky split again.
A massive aircraft descended, engraved with symbols known across the world.
International Flow Corps Organization.
"IFCO has arrived," someone whispered.
Specialists in long coats disembarked, faces unreadable, hands glowing with sealing Flow. They didn't waste time.
A gate began to rise.
Not metal.
Not stone.
But layered Flow—interlocking runes, barriers folding into each other like reality itself was being welded shut.
"This will hold," an IFCO agent said calmly. "Same as the others. Eclipse won't breach it."
The portal screamed one last time—
Then went silent.
The north side of the island was secured.
---
Inside the University…
The victory felt hollow.
Debris littered the once-pristine halls. Walls were torn open. Ceilings cracked. Blood stained the floor.
And five bodies lay covered.
Five students.
Gone.
No heroic music.
No dramatic monologue.
Just silence.
---
Kaiden was on the floor.
Right knee down.
Left foot planted.
Hands resting uselessly against the cold tiles.
No wind.
No aura.
Just… him.
Jehyun was the first to reach him.
"Kaiden!" He crouched immediately. "Hey—hey, look at me."
Gray followed, breathing hard, frost still clinging to his arm brace.
"…He's back," Gray said quietly.
Kaiden blinked.
His vision swam.
"Oh," he muttered. "Cool. Gravity still works."
Jehyun let out a shaky laugh. "You idiot."
Gray stared at him.
Not the monster-stalling, Flow-cutting, wind-dancing thing from earlier.
Just Kaiden.
Regular. Tired. Bloody.
"…You moved," Gray said slowly, "…like a completely different person."
Jehyun nodded. "For a second, I thought you were about to solo that thing."
Kaiden snorted weakly. "Yeah. Me too."
That scared him more than he let on.
As they talked, Jehyun's eyes drifted.
Toward her.
A first-year student standing a little apart from the others.
Water Flow user.
Top of the batch.
Calm expression. Arms crossed. Completely untouched.
"Tsk," she clicked her tongue. "This academy's security is disappointing."
Jehyun blinked. "…She's still complaining?"
Then—
crack.
A small piece of stone fell from the ceiling.
Then another.
Dust trickled down.
Jehyun's eyes widened.
"…Guys?"
The ceiling gave way.
A massive chunk of stone plummeted straight toward the girl.
Students screamed.
Professors turned—
Too late.
Jehyun moved without thinking.
He leapt.
Shield snapped into place mid-air.
BOOM.
Stone shattered against reinforced Flow.
Dust exploded outward.
When it cleared—
Jehyun was crouched, shield planted, arm shaking.
"…You okay?" he asked, breathless.
The girl stared at him.
Blink.
Blink.
"…You got dust on my uniform," she said flatly.
Jehyun deadpanned. "You're welcome?"
She stood up, brushed herself off, then paused.
"…But," she added, quieter, "thanks."
Then she turned away dramatically.
A random student whispered, "Bro… was that a K-drama scene?"
Another replied, "Nah. Low budget parody."
Even Kaiden laughed.
For a second—
The tension broke.
It didn't last.
Some students were shaking.
Others stared blankly at the bloodstains.
One girl sat against a wall, hugging her knees.
"…I saw him," she whispered. "He was just standing there… then he was gone."
Paper-thin silence followed.
A professor stepped forward, voice steady.
"You did well," he said. "All of you."
No cheers.
Just nods.
"We're relocating," he continued. "First-year building is condemned. You'll be housed temporarily in the Second Year Wing."
Murmurs rippled through the group.
Second years.
That name alone carried weight.
---
The walk was quiet.
Until they saw them.
Second-year students lined the halls.
Not hostile.
Not welcoming.
Just… watching.
Their auras were different.
Sharper. Denser.
Like weapons sheathed just beneath the skin.
Kaiden swallowed.
"…They feel scary," Jehyun whispered.
Gray nodded. "Yeah. That's experience."
Some second years stepped forward, immediately working.
"Sit."
"Hold still."
"You're bleeding."
First aid. Clean movements. No panic.
One of them glanced at Kaiden, eyes narrowing slightly.
"…So that's the vessel."
Kaiden stiffened.
Then the senior walked away like it was nothing.
---
Night fell.
Temporary room.
Three beds.
Jehyun collapsed face-first. "I'm never skipping leg day again."
Gray sat down slowly, arm throbbing.
Kaiden stood by the window.
Silent.
"…Guys," he said eventually, voice low.
They looked at him.
"I don't think… that was fully me."
Silence.
"When I was fighting," Kaiden continued, "it felt like… I was watching myself."
Gray frowned. "Like dissociation?"
"No," Kaiden shook his head. "Like enjoyment."
Jehyun stiffened.
"I wasn't scared," Kaiden whispered. "I was excited."
He clenched his hands.
"And that scares me."
Gray spoke softly. "You didn't lose control."
"But what if I want to?" Kaiden asked.
Jehyun sat up. "Then we punch you."
Kaiden laughed weakly.
Gray placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're still you."
"…Promise?"
"Promise," they said together.
Outside—
The wind stirred.
Watching.
Waiting.
And somewhere far beyond the academy—
Something smiled.