Abyssal Monarch: Rebirth of the Forsaken

Morning light filtered softly through the curtains, stirring Jin-Su from a restless sleep. His nightmares had been persistent, fragments of both his past life and his future flashing before him. Though accustomed to these disruptions, they always left him in a state of weary alertness. The healing calmed his frayed nerves but did little to dispel the lingering unease. He sat up, rubbing his temples as his phone buzzed continuously beside him. The notifications drew him back into the present, reminding him that his new life was very much real.

Scrolling through, Jin-Su found messages pouring in from countless sources. First and foremost were the notifications from his parents. His father's message was straightforward yet filled with pride. "We saw the video of your fight. Good to see you standing up for yourself and staying unharmed. Remember, stay focused on your studies—no need to find trouble."

Jin-Su's lips tugged into a slight smile. The pride and pragmatism were typical of his father. Next, he opened his mother's message. Her words were warm but tinged with worry. "Jin-Su, we're so glad you're safe. Please don't get involved in unnecessary fights. Are you eating well? Sleeping? Take care, okay? We're always here."

Something about her message struck a deep chord within him. He hadn't considered food or sleep as he once did. Ever since his return, hunger and thirst seemed like distant concepts, faded remnants of a simpler life. His reply was brief, assuring his parents. "Thanks, Mom. I'm doing fine. I'll be careful. Do not worry about me. Stay safe. And take care of Ji-Eun."

Continuing down the notifications, Jin-Su skimmed through a flurry of other invites. Various university clubs, guilds in the city, and even private organizations reached out, each message more ambitious than the last. The Arcane Insights Society offered mentorship and access to ancient arcane texts exclusive to students of high standing with a full scholarship. The City Guard Initiative promised combat experience for recruits who could withstand its challenges. One private guild, Fang Collective, enticed him with promises of "missions, rare weaponry, and secrets." He mentally filed these for later consideration, dismissing the rest.

As he was about to set his phone aside, the school schedule notification blinked onto his screen: Classes start today. In 15 minutes.

The realization jarred him fully awake, and he began to gather himself. A knock on the door broke his focus as Min-Ho peeked in with a friendly smile. "Hey! Jin-Su! Wanna grab breakfast?"

Food. Jin-Su hadn't thought about it at all since his return, hunger and thirst reduced to mere memories rather than needs. But Min-Ho's presence was comforting, grounding him amid the swirl of changes. Jin-Su gave a quick nod as he activated the Student ID Bracelet on his wrist, focusing as it transformed his outfit to his uniform in an instant. The sleek fabric shimmered around him, dark with silver and gold accents, the purple trim and multicolored insignia catching the light.

"I knew you would say something like that" .Min-Ho tossed him a small bottle with a grin. "Here—mana fruit juice. Fills you up and keeps you alert. Pretty useful."

Jin-Su accepted the bottle, nodding with appreciation. "Thanks, Min-Ho. I better get going so I'm not late." Jin-Su appreciated the bottle, but he knows inside that it will just rot away.

With a wave, Min-Ho moved on, leaving Jin-Su to navigate to his class. He glanced down at his phone, the map function providing a clear path to his first class: Mana Mastery 1. He stepped out of the dorm and into the academy's grounds, immediately feeling the weight of others' gazes on him.

The academy was a mesmerizing blend of the ancient and the cutting-edge. Towering marble archways lined the paths, each inscribed with intricate runes that pulsed faintly. Alongside them, holographic guides floated in the air, directing students to their destinations. Enchanted trees dotted the grounds, casting soft glows of colored light. Screens floated above the pathways, displaying highlights from yesterday's coronation and snippets of notable events. Drones buzzed overhead, recording the morning activity and casting subtle spotlights on students with purple or gold trims.

As Jin-Su walked, whispers followed him, his purple-trimmed uniform and multicolored insignia drawing murmurs of curiosity and admiration.

"Isn't that him—the one who fought Kang-Woo?"

"Yeah, and he didn't even break a sweat, apparently."

"Purple trim already? Wonder what kind of training he did to get that."

Jin-Su maintained a calm exterior, ignoring the commentary. In his past life, he'd walked these same halls as a nobody, blending in with the crowd. Now, his presence alone was enough to draw attention. People now looked at him, some in awe, some in fear.

Some students had small drones trailing beside them, recording his every move, while others used enchanted glass tablets that captured his image with a single tap, the screens shimmering with magical filters. A few leaned into sleek, rune-etched mirrors embedded in bracelets, angling them to snap a "selfie" with him in the background as runes flickered with every captured frame. Others activated floating quills linked to holographic screens, dictating notes and observations, the screens casting faint glows that added to the surreal mix of tech and magic surrounding him. As Jin-Su moved, the buzz of attention crackled around him, an electric mix of wonder and scrutiny that he couldn't ignore.

"Why is he completely blurred out?" one student whispered, staring at her screen in frustration. Her enchanted tablet, normally crystal-clear, showed Jin-Su as a vague, indistinct shape walking down the path. Around her, others muttered similar complaints, their devices—both high-tech drones and spellbound mirrors—struggling to capture his image. "It's like some kind of cloaking spell…" another murmured, adjusting the settings on a rune-etched lens. A third student tapped his bracelet, trying to reset the recording charms.

Suddenly, a senior's voice boomed from behind them, exasperated. "Are you guys serious? That's the general privacy protection enchantment on campus! You can't just take someone's picture like that." His words made a few students exchange sheepish looks, but it didn't stop them from snapping blurry shots anyway, their distorted images only adding to the mystery.

Just then, a group of fangirls spotted him and let out a collective gasp. "There he is! Jin-Su!" one of them squealed, waving her enchanted notepad, which hummed in excitement. Before he could react, they swarmed around him, chattering all at once with questions and compliments.

"Jin-Su! How does it feel to be a purple trim?" "You were amazing in the fight yesterday!" "Are you single?"

Jin-Su plastered on a polite smile and wove through them like a seasoned escape artist, sidestepping each enthusiastic fan with barely a pause. One girl lunged in with a notepad for his autograph, but he spun smoothly to avoid it, causing her to spin in place, momentarily dizzy. Another fangirl tried to block his path with an enchanted selfie mirror, but he ducked under it just as she snapped, capturing only the top of his hair.

As he finally broke free of the group, the girls stared after him in awe and frustration, one muttering, "He's even evasive in real life. Incredible."

Reaching the Mana Mastery building, he took in its impressive design. Crystal pillars glowed with rhythmic pulses of mana, while mosaics of legendary mages adorned the walls, their depictions subtly shifting as if alive. The air was charged with a hum of energy, amplifying the ambiance within.

Inside, students were already seated, a mix of gold and silver trims, each insignia signaling their rank. Jin-Su moved toward an empty seat near the center, feeling the quiet stares of his classmates as he settled in.

Professor Han entered, a young but seasoned mage with sharp blue eyes, with glorious silver hair that blew in the air all the time...even without air.. and a confident stance. His ID on the table displayed:

Name: Professor Han Jae-Min

Class: Mana Specialist

"Welcome to Mana Mastery 1," he began, his voice calm yet commanding. "Understanding and controlling mana is fundamental, regardless of your chosen major—Martial, Magic, or Spirit."

With a flick of his wrist, a few small mana constructs materialized mid-air, each resembling the tools and objects they represented—a chalk duster, a miniature orb, even a hovering chair—all of which floated with delicate precision around him, demonstrating each technique with clarity. Around the room, enchanted windows adjusted slightly, filtering in the morning sunlight. Every flicker of his constructs cast faint glows around the room, adding to the ethereal atmosphere.

He scanned the room, his gaze briefly lingering on Jin-Su with a flicker of interest. "Today, we'll only do the basic to feel mana within oneself is the foundation of all mastery. This is a very basic exercise, whether you are Martial, Magic or spirit. So most of you should be able to accomplish it without difficulty. Now, close your eyes, and concentrate."

As Professor Han asked for raised hands from those who could connect with their mana, nearly everyone complied. "Good," he said with a nod. "Now, let's move to something a bit more advanced: expelling mana outward. 40% of you should be capable of doing it. Others, don't be discouraged if you find it difficult. After assessing all of your current capabilities, I will help you all out myself."

At his signal, students began concentrating, expressions tense as they tried to expel their mana. A few managed faint wisps of energy, while others produced imperfect, flickering spheres that hovered unsteadily in their palms.

Around him, students concentrated, faces tense with effort as they struggled to form do it. And just like as he said about 40% of the students present were capable of producing small amount of mana in their hands. Some fizzled, others released it after fully focusing into it. Jin-Su, however, released his mana effortlessly, forming a smooth, controlled orb above his hand. It was stable and brighter than those of the students around him. Murmurs broke out, and a few heads turned, stealing glances at him with surprise.

Professor Han's gaze locked onto Jin-Su's orb, the flicker of interest in his expression now unmistakable. "Impressive," he remarked, though his tone remained composed as he addressed the class as a whole. "Those who managed to produce a sphere, try shaping it further—perhaps into a cube or ring. And for the advanced, try manipulating altitude and form."

His own mana construct shifted into various forms—a cube, a sphere, a delicate spiral—each example demonstrating the stability required. He describes the theories behind the process.

Jin-Su completely copies what the teacher did.

Murmurs broke out in the class, and some students cast curious, even irritated glances his way. One student whispered, "Did he even try? How is he so fast?" Another, visibly frustrated, gave a quiet huff, clearly annoyed by how effortlessly he outshone the group. Another just accepted reality, threw his hands up, and stopped trying.

Professor Han's eyes narrowed slightly, impressed despite himself. "Those who managed a stable sphere, try forming a cube or ring, perhaps even controlling the altitude." Jin-Su molded his sphere into a perfect cube, then a rotating ring, seamlessly shifting between forms while maintaining control. The display drew more whispers, and his classmates' murmurs shifted from awe to disbelief. 

Professor Han stepped closer, his expression shifting from interest to genuine admiration. With a wave of his hand, his own mana constructs danced across the room, forming and re-forming into complex shapes as he gestured toward Jin-Su. "Jin-Su, your proficiency is remarkable. That level of control is... unexpected for a first-year." He paused, glancing between Jin-Su's purple trim and his calm expression, clearly caught between admiration and bewilderment. "Your understanding is clearly advanced. You've clearly surpassed what this class can offer."

Reaching into his coat, Professor Han pulled out a small, gold plate engraved with a room number and handed it to Jin-Su. "I'm recommending you to the senior Mana Mastery course. Room 3-A. They'll challenge you in ways this class cannot." He hesitated, then offered his contact card with a warm, apologetic smile. "Honestly, I was looking forward to having a purple trim in my class so I could brag about it, But I'd rather see you reach your full potential. If you ever need advice or guidance, feel free to reach out."

Jin-Su accepted the plate with a polite nod. "Thank you, Professor."

As Jin-Su left, whispers filled the classroom. Some students murmured in awe, others with envy.

"Senior Mana Mastery on his first day…?"

"That's insane. How did he get so strong already? He is the same age as me?!"

The buzz of conversation continued as he walked down the crystalline corridors, their ambient light from enchanted crystals casting gentle glows around him. The academy's design felt almost alive, a blend of magical essence and ancient charm, and with each step, Jin-Su felt the weight of his journey settling within him. In this life, he wouldn't remain invisible.

***

Arriving at Room 3-A, he noticed the same familiar presence from before. He stepped inside, greeted by an empty room with only Professor Han sitting at the front, organizing his materials. The moment Jin-Su entered, Han looked up, his eyes widening before he chuckled, a glimmer of sarcasm and admiration flashing in his gaze.

"Ah, I know that face. Didn't expect to see me again so soon, did you?" he said, a wry smile on his face. With a subtle wave of his hand, Han summoned a new set of mana constructs—chairs, tables, and shelves, each moving perfectly into alignment around the room. The windows opened of their own accord, welcoming in fresh light and a soft breeze, as he took his seat, leaning forward with a keen interest in Jin-Su.

"You must be something else to rise this quickly, Jin-Su," he added, his voice genuine despite the hint of amusement.