Morning came quickly.
The campus was already busy.
Students moved between buildings in every direction.
Jin walked calmly across the university grounds.
His black shirt clung tightly to his athletic frame.
The carved silver ring on his middle finger caught the morning sunlight.
In his hand, his phone displayed the campus map.
A blinking arrow guided him toward the meeting point: Bus Station.
He followed the route across the campus until he saw a group of students gathered beside several large buses—his class.
Daniel Brooks stood near the front, talking confidently with a few students.
Emily noticed Jin and waved.
"Over here!"
Jin walked toward them.
At that moment, Professor Adrian Cole arrived, flanked by two men.
They looked different from ordinary people. Older. Calmer. Their presence carried quiet weight.
Students slowly fell silent.
Professor Cole spoke briefly:
"Everyone on the bus."
Soon the bus began moving.
Just before departure, someone stepped inside—Seo Mira.
Short dark hair. Calm eyes.
She walked down the aisle slowly.
Every seat was already taken… except one.
Next to Jin.
She stopped beside it, then sat down quietly.
Jin glanced at her. She didn't look back.
The bus continued moving.
Students began whispering around them.
"What kind of training is this?"
"Are we actually going into the Abyss?"
"Already?"
Mira suddenly spoke.
"I think we are."
Jin looked at her.
"Why?"
She nodded slightly toward the front.
"The two men with the professor."
Jin looked forward.
"They look like Descenders."
Mira nodded.
"If the university sends two Descenders with a group of first-year students…"
She paused. "…then we are almost certainly going to an Abyss."
Jin leaned back in his seat.
"You analyze too much."
Mira shrugged slightly.
"Maybe."
The bus ride was short.
Halfway through, Professor Cole stood up.
"Listen carefully."
The bus grew quiet.
"There is something important you must understand before this training."
He paused.
"Retsu."
Some students frowned.
"Retsu is a special energy found inside Abyss monsters.
When Descenders kill a monster, a small energy stone drops from its body."
He raised his hand slightly.
"If you break the stone, you can absorb the Retsu inside it."
Murmurs spread across the bus.
"It strengthens the body," he continued. "Speed. Strength. Endurance."
He paused again.
"But there is a limit.
After a certain stage, your body can no longer absorb external Retsu.
At that point, your body begins generating its own Retsu naturally.
When that happens… you are officially called a Descender."
Then he sat down.
The explanation ended.
From the seat behind Jin and Mira, Emily leaned forward.
"You two are very quiet."
Jin glanced at her.
"You're loud enough for all of us."
She ignored that.
"I didn't sleep well last night."
Jin nodded.
"Same."
"Probably because of the coffee," she said.
Mira looked at them.
"Did you two go on a date?"
Emily laughed.
"No."
She pointed at Jin.
"He bumped into me yesterday and offered coffee as an apology."
Mira nodded slowly.
"That sounds like a carefully planned pervert move."
Jin turned toward her immediately.
"What?"
Emily burst out laughing.
"Pervert!"
Jin groaned.
"This is ridiculous."
Both girls continued laughing.
The bus slowed. Then stopped.
The doors opened.
Students stepped outside.
Everyone froze.
In front of them hung a massive tear in reality.
A true Abyss.
Dark. Endless. Circular.
Like a hole in the world with no bottom.
Emily looked at Mira with wide eyes.
"…You were right."
Mira crossed her arms calmly.
"It was obvious."
Professor Cole stepped forward.
"This is today's training."
He pointed toward the Abyss.
"You will descend using parachutes."
Then he gestured toward the two men beside him.
"These two are professional Descenders.
They will eliminate the monsters.
And your goal…"
"…is simply to experience descending into the Abyss for the first time."
The professor pointed to the driver.
The bus's luggage door opened to reveal parachutes.
When everyone was ready, one of the Descenders stepped forward.
Without hesitation, he jumped—no parachute.
The second man followed.
Both disappeared into the Abyss instantly.
The students stared in shock.
Professor Cole raised his voice:
"Jump!"