The air in the clearing didn't just grow heavy; it became solid, pressing against the lungs of every student present.
The three strongest currently standing—Aurelia, Austin, and Rose—stopped their bickering instantly. Instinct, honed by their high-tier bloodlines, screamed at them to freeze. They turned their heads to the west.
Hitachi was walking towards them. His gait was terrifyingly casual, his arms deep in his pockets, his expression a blank slate that promised nothing but void.
They swallowed, throats dry, and turned their heads to the East.
Mirabella was walking towards them from the opposite side. Her arms were also in her pockets, mirroring Hitachi's stance. Her expression was unreadable, a mask of absolute indifference.
The auras emanating from them both were filled with pressure and bloodlust, which froze everyone in place. It wasn't just fear; it was a primal biological response to the presence of apex predators.
"Senior sister," Carl called out lightly.
