Abyssal Monarch: Rebirth of the Forsaken

Kang-Woo stormed out of the room, his heavy footsteps echoing down the corridor, shoulders hunched and fists clenched as if fighting some invisible battle. Jin-Su watched him go, a hard knot forming in his stomach. Kang-Woo's breakdown had left him unsettled, but he held himself back from following. He needed to understand what was going on first.

"Is he really just going to leave?" Min-Ho's concerned voice broke the silence, his eyes fixed on the door Kang-Woo had disappeared through.

Jin-Su didn't immediately respond, his mind already running through the series of strange events that had led him here. Why was any of this happening? Just yesterday, Song Yun-Hee, the Student Council leader, had orchestrated that whole ridiculous setup, goading him into fighting Kang-Woo. The so-called "introduction" to the student body turned into an all-out brawl, with Yun-Hee pulling the strings in the background.

And now today? Dean Moon had him locked into an exhausting test, forcing him to go toe-to-toe with her in an advanced trial. Sure, it was masked as a "lesson," but it felt more like another way for the academy to get him to reveal his abilities. Test after test, fight after fight—all of it done with the eyes of the faculty glued to him, as if waiting for him to slip up.

If that wasn't enough, now he'd been thrust into this "teacher" role, responsible for guiding students he barely knew and definitely didn't trust. The thought irritated him. Why did I accept this? How did it get to this point? One moment I was focusing on my mission, the next I'm stuck leading a class. All under the ever-watchful gaze of Professor Han, who somehow always seemed to have information on him—probably thanks to those damn clones or whatever else he had up his sleeve.

His irritation simmered as he looked over at the remaining students. And then there's this group. They're all unpolished, unfocused, and they barely know their own strengths. He glanced over at Min-Ho, who had always been the optimistic one, perhaps a little too naive for his own good. But maybe, with the right push, Min-Ho could grow into something more. Jin-Su decided to focus on that first.

"Min-Ho," Jin-Su said in a softer tone, catching his attention. "What do you think you are good at?"

Min-Ho looked taken aback, his usual cheer dampened by uncertainty. "I honestly, do not know.. I think I am decent at mana control. But like I don't think I am great at anything though you know? I need to figure it out somehow." Min-Ho said clearly lost in thought.

"I understand that. Today is just the second day so we have a long time to figure it out. But, I believe that you have an affinity for Spirit. You should give it a try!"

"Spirit? Me? I mean… I guess I could?"

Jin-Su gave a slight nod, keeping his expression neutral. "It might suit you, that's all. You don't have to master it right away, just get a feel for it. I can help you later if you want."

Min-Ho scratched his head, a faint grin finally surfacing. "Alright… I mean, I don't know much about it, but I'll give it a shot. Thanks, Jin-Su."

Jin-Su nodded, satisfied for now, and turned to Mina. Just by looking at her, he could tell something was wrong. Her stats wasn't adding up, there are those with inconsistencies in their stats and do great. But, the numbers being this low doesn't look right. And he didn't want to draw too much attention by questioning it directly. He'd have to tread carefully. Another variable to keep tabs on. Wonderful.

"Mina," he said gently, catching her attention. "How have you been training?"

Mina hesitated, fidgeting under his gaze. "Um… mostly studying from books," she mumbled. "But… it's not easy. Sometimes, the lessons don't make sense, and I don't know if I'm doing it right…"

Jin-Su narrowed his eyes slightly. More gaps. "I think we need to focus on how you're approaching it," he replied. "If what you're doing isn't working, we'll adjust it. But first, you'll need to show me exactly how you're training."

Mina looked down, clearly nervous. "Okay. I… I'll try to ask my st..mom."

He gave her a curt nod, then turned to the siblings, his irritation rising. And then there's this pair. Talented, sure, but they're too unfocused to even recognize it. They were another piece of the puzzle he'd have to fit together somehow.

"Tomorrow," he said, his voice steady but firm, "I want you both to show off what you are good at okay? I need to know where you guys are to give any form of teaching."

Ji-Sung gave him a slight nod. "Understood."

Sae-Rin, however, seemed less sure, her face lighting up with interest at the mention of "showing off." "So, like… demonstrate what I'm good at?" she asked, her voice bright. "Because, I have to tell you, I'm amazing at arranging things. Like, you should see my tea collection! I have this little setup by type—green, black, oolong—and then I arrange it by scent too because, well, some teas smell stronger than others, so I feel like—"

Ji-Sung cleared his throat, giving her a sidelong look, but she didn't seem to notice.

"—and I have this shelf where I keep my blends! There's this one that's chamomile, lavender, and a hint of mint, and it's the best for relaxation. And then, of course, I have some spiced teas, and oh! I just got this new blend with ginger and turmeric! Really good for the immune system, you know? And I know this sounds unrelated, but I'm also amazing at decorating cakes. Have you ever tried doing intricate icing designs? I learned it from a shop I visited, and they actually use these tiny nozzles to—"

"Sae-Rin," Ji-Sung interrupted, placing a hand on her shoulder to ground her back to the present. She blinked, looking around as if realizing where she was for the first time.

"Oh, right. Sorry," she mumbled, blushing. "What was the question again?"

Ji-Sung sighed but didn't say anything, giving Jin-Su a nod instead, as if to apologize for his sister's tangent.

Jin-Su sighed inwardly. Am I really expected to guide them? How long before someone else decides to pull another "test" or "surprise" on me? The academy's games were testing his patience.

The room settled into a quiet tension, with each student lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Jin-Su dismissed them, his gaze hard as he watched the siblings rush out the door, almost as if they were afraid to stay longer.

Jin-Su, Min-Ho, and Mina walked out together, the silence stretching between them. Jin-Su's mind, however, was far from quiet. It churned with questions, none of which had satisfying answers. How did I end up here? What am I doing leading this group? Shouldn't I be out there, preparing for Nyas? Or are these just more strings being pulled by someone else?

His thoughts shifted to Professor Han. Those clones… or whatever they were. They weren't just ordinary projections or illusions. How much does he know? How much does the academy know about me? And how long before they push me further than they already have?

They reached the main corridor, and Mina gave a small, shy wave before heading off to her dorm. Jin-Su nodded back, though his mind barely registered it.

As he continued walking with Min-Ho beside him, the last light of the day slowly disappeared over the horizon. The shadows of the academy stretched around them, shrouding the halls in darkness, while his mind continued to spiral. What if I missed something important? What if today was a trap, and I walked right into it without realizing?

A slight paranoia crept over him. Did Yun-Hee's trick with Kang-Woo have a deeper purpose? Did Dean Moon know something I didn't? And if they all know more than they're letting on, how much more will I have to endure before they're satisfied?

The unanswered questions left an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, and as he looked up, the last traces of sunlight faded away, leaving only a pale, dim glow.

What is Nyas doing right now? he wondered, his jaw clenching. Is he somehow influencing all of this, or am I just caught in the academy's endless games? His fists tightened at his sides as he walked, though his face remained impassive. He couldn't afford to let his suspicions show—not now, when everyone was watching him.

As they finally reached their rooms, he cast one last glance at the academy grounds, shrouded in night. This place is a web of unseen traps, and if I'm not careful, I'll end up entangled in it myself. But if Nyas is involved, I'll find him.

For now, however, there was only one thing left to do: prepare