The school grounds slowly returned to silence.
Police sirens faded into the distance as officers finished securing the hundreds of attackers scattered across the field. Students whispered nervously while teachers tried restoring order.
But near the stage, Jay sat calmly while Kanning finished bandaging her injured arm.
Kuya Angelo crossed his arms, still irritated.
"You defeated thirteen hundred attackers today… and you're acting like nothing happened."
Jay leaned back slightly.
"It wasn't that bad."
Keifer stared at her.
"You got shot."
Jay shrugged.
"Minor detail."
Thyme laughed loudly.
"That's our Jay."
MJ shook his head.
"You really turned a school festival into a battlefield."
Nearby, Aries and Percy watched the scene silently.
Percy finally spoke.
"Those attackers… they weren't ordinary."
Rylan from Apex nodded slowly.
"They moved like trained soldiers."
Silas from Shadow Council added quietly,
"And they weren't trying to kill the students."
Everyone turned toward him.
Zephyr frowned.
"You're saying they were targeting only Jay."
Silas' eyes narrowed.
"Exactly."
Jay looked thoughtful for a moment.
"…A test."
Meanwhile far away from the school—
Inside a dark room illuminated only by glowing monitors, several figures sat around a long table.
Every screen showed footage of the battle at the school.
Jay fighting.
Jay defeating wave after wave of attackers.
Jay standing after the sniper shot.
One man leaned forward slowly.
"…Impressive."
Another figure folded his arms.
"She handled thirteen hundred fighters alone."
A third voice spoke calmly.
"And protected everyone around her."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then the leader of the group finally spoke.
"So the rumors are true."
On the screen, the image paused on Jay standing in the center of the battlefield.
"The girl who rules the shadows."
One of the members asked,
"What are your orders?"
The leader leaned back slightly.
"That attack was only the first test."
Another screen appeared, showing thousands of trained fighters across different countries.
"Our organization controls the strongest assassins, fighters, and mercenaries in the world."
He smiled faintly.
"If she truly deserves the title people whisper about…"
"…then she must prove it."
Another member asked,
"What will be the next test?"
The leader's voice became colder.
"Send two thousand five hundred fighters."
Several members looked surprised.
"That's enough to destroy an army."
The leader simply replied,
"If she survives…"
"…then we will finally meet her."
He stared at Jay's image on the screen.
"And if she wins the final battle…"
"…we will accept her as our Queen."
Jay suddenly looked toward the sky as if sensing something.
Keifer noticed.
"What is it?"
Jay smiled slightly.
"…Nothing."
But deep down she could feel it.
Today's attack hadn't been random.
It had only been the beginning.
And somewhere in the world—
A far greater battle was already being prepared.