Silence filled the room after the door closed.
"…A hybrid…?"
Kael muttered under his breath. He looked down at his hands. Normal, no energy. No signs of anything unusual. "…This is crazy…"
But…something about the man's words lingered.
"…you won't find the kind of help we can offer…" Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Tch."
He swung his legs off the bed. Stood up, steadier this time.
"…Guess I don't have much of a choice."
He walked toward the door. Paused for a second. Then opened it. Click, the moment he stepped outside. The principal was already there, waiting.
For just a brief second, he smirked. Not wide, not obvious. But enough. Like he had expected this.
Like there was no other outcome, then it was gone. Back to his calm, unreadable expression.
"…You made your decision." Kael narrowed his eyes slightly. "…Yeah."
"…I'm staying." The principal nodded once.
"…Good." He turned and began walking. "…Follow me."
Kael hesitated for a split second. Then followed. As they walked through the halls. Kael's eyes moved constantly. Observing everything.
Students passed by. Some laughing. Some training. Some… Radiating energy. One student's hand flickered with flames. Another walked past, the air around them distorting slightly. Kael frowned. "…So it's all real…"
"…Of course it is," the principal replied calmly. They turned a corner. The halls grew wider. More crowded.
"…This academy exists to train Hybrids," the principal continued. "…Those born with awakened bloodlines." Kael crossed his arms slightly. "…And you're saying I'm one of them."
"…Not just 'one of them'." A slight pause. "…But that will be determined soon." Kael glanced at him.
"…Determined how?" They stopped.
In front of a massive set of reinforced doors. Students gathered around. Whispers were spreading as Kael approached.
"…Through a ranking test." The principal placed a hand on the door.
"…Your bloodline.…Your potential.…Your worth." A faint pause. "…All revealed inside." Kael's eyes sharpened slightly. "…And if I fail?"
The principal didn't look at him. "…Then you prove them wrong." The doors began to open. A bright light spilled out from within. Students turned. Watching, waiting.
The principal stepped forward slightly "…Go on." Kael took a step. Then another. And walked inside.
Kael stepped into the room. Light flooded his vision. Almost blinding. At the center. A massive crystal sphere floated slightly above a platform. Pulsing faintly, alive.
Students surrounded it. Watching, waiting, the air was tense. Heavy with anticipation. Kael's eyes narrowed slightly. "…So that's the test…" A voice cut through the murmurs. "Next."
A boy stepped forward. Around Kael's age. Calm, composed. Whispers spread instantly.
"That's him…I heard he just came back from a solo mission…No way… already?"
Kael glanced at him. Something about him felt, sharp. The examiner adjusted his glasses. "…Ren Kutogami." A slight pause.
Even the room seemed to quiet down.
"…You may begin."
Up above. The principal stood, watching, interested. Ren stepped forward. No hesitation.
He placed his hand on the crystal. For a moment. Nothing happened. Then, BOOM.
Light exploded from the sphere, blinding.
Violently, the crystal shook. Energy surged wildly inside it. Cracks of light are forming across its surface. Students staggered back.
Shields flicker instinctively. "…What the...?!" The examiner's eyes widened.
"UNBELIEVABLE!" The light intensified. Almost breaking the crystal itself. Then, it stabilized. A symbol formed. Burning into the air above the sphere S.
"Third S-rank…?"
"Monster…"
The examiner turned, still in shock.
"…Ren Kutogami, confirmed S-Rank." Ren removed his hand. Calm, unbothered. Like it meant nothing.
But as he stepped away. His eyes shifted. And landed on Kael. Just for a moment. Sharp, curious. Then, he walked past him. Without a word.
Kael didn't move.
"…S-Rank…" He muttered. His gaze shifted back to the crystal. "…So that's the standard…" Above, the principal watched, silently.
"…Now then…" His eyes moved slightly.
"…Let's see what you are."
"…Interesting…" he muttered quietly. Across the room. Ren had stopped walking. His eyes narrowed slightly. "…That wasn't normal…" Back at the crystal.
A faint crack of green energy flickered. Then vanished. Kael slowly removed his hand. His gaze lingered on the sphere. "…That thing, glitched…"
But deep inside. Something stirred. Faint, distant. "…Kael…" His eyes widened slightly. Then silence, gone. "…What was that…?"
The examiner sighed.
"…Move along."
But the room had already changed. The laughter continued. Yet beneath it. Something else had begun.
"…Next."
The examiner's voice echoed. All eyes shifted.
"…Kael." Whispers started instantly.
"Who's that…?"
"Never seen him before…"
"New student?"
Kael stepped forward. Calm. But inside. Something felt off. The crystal pulsed faintly. Almost…reacting.
Kael stopped in front of it, staring. "…Just place your hand on the sphere," the examiner said. Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Alright…"
He raised his hand. And placed it on the crystal, silence.
For a second. Nothing happened.
Then.…flicker. The light inside the crystal trembled. "...?" The examiner frowned. The glow dimmed. Then surged. Then dimmed again.
"…That's strange…"
The crystal began to glitch. Light flickered rapidly. Like it couldn't stabilize. Flick. Flick. Flick. A low hum filled the room. Growing louder. Students stepped back.
"…Is it broken?"
Suddenly, BOOM.
A burst of light shot out. Then instantly collapsed. The crystal went still. Dead silent. A symbol slowly appeared above it F.
"…Huh?"
"…F-rank?"
Laughter broke out.
"No way…"
"That's the lowest…"
"Did it glitch just to give him that?" Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…F…?"
He didn't react much. But something felt…wrong.
The examiner looked confused. But shook it off. "…Kael…" A pause. "…Rank: F."
More whispers. More mocking.
"Waste of space…"
"Why is he even here?"
Up above, the principal didn't laugh. He was watching closely. Very closely.
Because for a split second. The crystal had shown something else. Not an F. Something far brighter. Far more unstable. Something it couldn't display.
The whispers followed him.
"F-rank…"
"Pathetic…"
"Why is he even here?"
Kael ignored them. His steps were steady, calm.
But his eyes…slightly sharper than before. "…That thing definitely glitched…"
He muttered under his breath. The doors opened. And he stepped out into the hallway. The noise faded behind him, silence.
"Yo!"
Kael stopped.
A boy waved at him from down the hall. Same age. Messy hair. Casual stance. He walked over with a grin.
"…You the new guy?"
Kael glanced at him.
"…Yeah."
"Nice, nice," the boy said, scratching the back of his head. "I've been looking for you."
He stopped in front of Kael. "…Name's Jae."
He extended a hand.
"…Your roommate." Kael looked at it for a second. Then, he shook it.
"…Kael."
"Cool name," Jae nodded. Then leaned in slightly. Lowering his voice like he was about to say something important.
"…So…"
A grin spread across his face. "I heard some guy just got ranked F." A short pause.
"…That's crazy."
Kael stared at him.
"…Yeah," he said flatly. Jae laughed. "Like bro, how do you even manage that?" He shook his head.
"Lowest rank in the whole system…"
Another pause.
"…Couldn't be me."
Kael turned slightly.
"…It was me." Jae froze.
"…Huh?"
"…I got F." A beat.
Jae blinked. Once, twice.
"…Oh."
Another pause.
"…OH."
He straightened instantly.
are "…I mean...uh rankings don't really define everything, you know?"
He laughed awkwardly.
"…Likof e, uh… maybe the machine was broken?"
Kael started walking.
"…It was glitching."
Jae quickly followed.
"SEE?! That's what I'm saying!" He pointed forward as if he had proved something.
"Those things mess up all the time… probably…"
Kael glanced at him briefly.
"…Probably."
Jae rubbed the back of his neck.
"…Anyway…"
He smiled again.
"I'm supposed to show you around." They walked down the hall together.
The halls stretched endlessly.
High ceilings. Polished floors. Massive windows letting in sunlight. Kael walked beside Jae.
Observing everything.
Students passed by in groups. Some laughing.
Others training even in the corridors. A boy walked past looking pale with fangs sticking out.
Another his shadow moved… a second too late. Kael's eyes narrowed slightly. "…So everyone here is a Hybrid?"
Jae nodded. "Yeah. Every single person." He pointed ahead as they turned a corner. "…This place isn't just a school."
They entered a large open area. Training grounds. Students sparred across multiple sections. Blades clashed. Energy burst. Barriers flickered. "…It's more like a training ground for monsters."
Jae said casually. Kael watched as one student slammed another into a barrier. The impact shook the entire area. "…Ranks matter here," Jae continued. "F to S." He raised his fingers as he counted. "F, E, D, C, B, A…"
A small pause.
"…S."
Kael crossed his arms slightly. "…And S-rank is the highest."
"Yeah," Jae nodded.
"…Barely anyone reaches it." He leaned in slightly.
"…That guy earlier Ren?" Kael's eyes shifted slightly.
"…He's different." Jae's tone changed. More serious. "People like him...they're basically untouchable."
Kael looked ahead.
"…Hmph." They kept walking.
They reached another section. A large board stood in the center. Names, ranks. All displayed. Students gathered around it. Watching. Comparing.
Jae pointed. "…That's the ranking board." Kael stepped closer. Scanning it. Near the top. Only a few names. At the very top. Ren Kutogami : S Rank
Kael's gaze lingered for a moment. He looked down. Far below. At the very bottom. Kael : F Rank
"…Damn…" Jae muttered. "…They didn't waste time."
Kael didn't react much.
"…Tch." He turned away.
"…What about abilities?"
Jae blinked. "Oh yeah right." He pointed toward the training grounds again.
"Everyone's power comes from their bloodline. A pause. "…But your bloodline determines your limit." Kael's steps slowed slightly. "…Limit…?"
"Yeah." Jae nodded. "If your bloodline is weak…"
"…you stay weak."
"…And if it's strong…"
Jae glanced toward the top of the board. "…you become something else." Kael's eyes narrowed slightly. "…So everything is decided from the start…"
"Pretty much." A short pause. "…That's why people look down on lower ranks."
Kael looked ahead.
"…Then I'll just change it." Jae blinked.
"…Huh?" Kael kept walking.
"…If the system is wrong…"
"…I'll have to show everyone that I'm not an F rank." Jae stared at him for a second. Then laughed.
"…Yo…"
"…You're kinda interesting for an F-rank." Kael didn't respond.
But his eyes. Held something different now.
The noise of the training grounds faded as Kael walked. Jae was still talking. "…and over there is the combat hall, but trust me you don't wanna go in there on your first." He stopped.
"…Oh."
Kael noticed it too. The atmosphere shifted.
Students ahead began to move aside. Without being told. A path opened, Ren Kutogami. He walked forward. Hands in his pockets. Expression unreadable. The same calm presence. But up close. It felt heavier.
Jae leaned in slightly. Whispering. "…Speak of the devil…"
Kael didn't respond. His eyes stayed on Ren. Ren stopped. Right in front of him. For a moment. No one spoke. The air itself felt tense. Ren's gaze dropped slightly. Meeting Kael's eyes.
"…You."
His voice was calm. "…You were the one at the crystal." Not a question, a statement. Kael didn't look away. "…Yeah."
Ren's eyes narrowed just slightly.
"…That wasn't an F."
Jae froze. "…Huh?"
Kael's expression didn't change. "…That's what it showed." Ren stepped closer. Just enough to feel the pressure.
"…No."
A faint pause.
"…It glitched." Jae looked between them, confused.
"…Wait...you're saying..."
Ren ignored him. His eyes stayed locked on Kael. "What are you?"
The question lingered.
Kael's gaze sharpened slightly. "…Don't know."
For a split second. Something flickered in Ren's eyes, interest. He stepped back.
"…Figure it out.… Before someone else does."
The words felt like a warning. Or a threat. Ren turned. Walking past him. "…This place doesn't tolerate anomalies."
His voice echoed faintly as he moved away.
"…Especially weak ones." Silence returned. Jae finally exhaled.
"…Yo…"
"…What was THAT?"
Kael didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained forward. "…He noticed…" Jae blinked. "…Noticed what?" Kael turned slightly. "…The glitch."
"…He's not normal either." Jae scratched his head.
"…Yeah no kidding he's S-rank." Kael looked ahead again "…No…"
A faint pause."…Something else."
In the distance. Ren stopped for just a second. Without turning.
"…Interesting…"
Then he kept walking.
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Thanks for reading:)