The sky over Sunlight Rage Academy had never looked darker, even though the sun hung clear in the sky. A thin mist wrapped around the training grounds, casting silver over the weapons racks and marble pillars. Today was not a normal battle.
It was war.
Crowds from all four elite academies had arrived—armored, confident, and dangerously quiet. They stood like statues, watching, calculating, each team led by a top-ranking student. The energy between them pulsed like thunder beneath calm waters.
A horn echoed across the valley.
"Competitors," the announcer's voice boomed, "the Grand Battle will begin in one hour. And remember… this year, no alliances are permitted."
The field exploded into murmurs.
Inside the academy's inner court, Jin stood at the mirror, tightening the bandage on his wrist. Not from injury—but to cover the sigil that had started to glow again.
The red moon had awakened something.
He stared at his reflection, his eyes burning golden for a brief second.
Behind him, Yooha entered the room, her armor half-strapped, hair tied into a clean battle braid.
"You're not sleeping?" she asked gently.
Jin didn't turn. "I dreamed of blood. Again."
She moved beside him, adjusting the armor on his shoulder. "It wasn't a dream, was it?"
Jin finally looked at her. "No. It was a warning."
Their hands brushed. For a moment, all the chaos fell away.
"I meant what I said last night," Jin whispered. "I don't want to hide. Not from them. Not from myself. And not from you."
Yooha's eyes softened. "Then don't. Whatever happens out there… I'm with you."
Suddenly—BOOM!
A scroll of fire exploded at their feet. Jin instantly shielded Yooha with his body.
From the smoke stepped a cloaked figure. A Black Serpent spy.
"I was told the Red Moon kissed a girl. Tsk… Jin Hoshin, you've gotten soft."
Yooha stepped forward. "Say that again and I'll show you exactly how 'soft' I am."
The spy laughed, dropping a scroll into Jin's hand. It was sealed with dark red wax.
"Open that before you enter the battlefield," the spy said. "Let's see if you still have the stomach to fight once you read what your father left behind."
Then—vanished.
Jin stared at the scroll. Yooha's voice was low. "What is it?"
He shook his head. "A piece of my past I never wanted to touch again."
On the battlefield, time ran like sand.
Bo was leading Team in warm-up drills. Meiqi was tuning her double daggers. Han, He Wang, and Xie Luang stood at the far end, already analyzing possible attack zones.
Yooha tightened her gloves. "We have one hour. We sharpen our blades, we seal our hearts."
Jin looked around the training circle. So many warriors… so many secrets.
But his eyes found hers.
"I'm not running anymore," he said.
Yooha smiled, finally — not just with her lips, but with her entire being.
"Then let them come."
And as the final horn echoed across the sky, Jin ripped open the scroll.
His hands trembled.
Inside, the message read:
> "The moon will turn red twice. Once for love. Once for blood. Choose your destiny, Jin Hoshin."
His heart pounded.
The Grand Battle had begun.
To be continued…