Rumble...
Rumble...
The dungeon shook violently.
Cracks spread across the walls.
Chunks of stone crashed to the ground.
Mr. Lee frowned.
"Where is he...?"
His eyes swept across the collapsing chamber.
"...And why is the White Gate disappearing?"
A thought surfaced.
Impossible.
...
Could he have... cleared it?
He immediately shook his head.
"No."
"That's impossible."
He moved deeper into the collapsing dungeon.
Then—
He stopped.
Tia lay motionless against the stone floor.
His clothes were torn.
Covered in dried blood.
Yet...
There wasn't a single visible wound.
Mr. Lee's expression changed.
He hurried over immediately.
Kneeling beside him.
"...Tia."
But no response came.
Immediately.
He raised his communicator.
"Guide Thirteen."
"Mission complete."
"Target secured."
Static answered.
"Guide Thirteen."
"Confirm."
"The White Gate has disappeared?"
Mr. Lee looked toward the place where the gate had once stood.
Empty.
"...Confirmed."
Silence.
"Return immediately."
"...Understood."
He lowered the communicator.
His eyes swept over Tia once more.
Bloodstains, torn clothing—all clear evidence
Mr. Lee's eyes drifted downward.
A black stick rested beside Tia's hand.
Old.
Blackened.
Worn smooth by time.
Mr. Lee frowned.
"...Just a piece of junk."
"...Hmph."
He nudged it aside with his boot.
Then lifted Tia onto his back.
"...Just what happened in there?"
.......
At home.
Morning sunlight slipped through the curtains.
Tia stirred.
"...Mm..."
His eyes opened slowly.
The ceiling.
His room.
Home.
He blinked.
"...A dream?"
He let out a tired sigh and walked into the bathroom.
Water splashed across his face.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
He looked up.
And froze.
His reflection stared back.
Alive.
His gaze slowly lowered.
Torn clothes.
Dried blood.
"...What?"
His fingers brushed over the fabric.
Then his hands moved to his face.
His ribs.
His shoulders.
Nothing.
No wounds.
No scars.
His breathing slowed.
Then—
Images crashed into him.
The monster.
The claws.
The White Gate.
Death.
His pupils contracted.
"...How?"
He checked again.
No wounds.
No scars.
His eyes widened.
"...It was real."
"Ming Ming!"
His mother's voice came from outside.
Tia froze.
"...Ma?"
"You're finally awake."
"It's almost noon."
He glanced at the torn clothes.
"...I'll be out in a minute!"
"Hurry up!"
He waited until her footsteps disappeared.
Then slowly looked back at the torn clothes.
His breathing became uneven.
"...I'm not imagining this."
The White Gate...
The monster...
They were real.
.......
In the living room.
Ming Ming! Come quickly!" his mom called.
"The International Bureau is live! You know what that means—they're announcing the Evolution Exam results and academy admissions!"
Tia froze mid-step.
Evolution Exam scores…
He sank into the sofa beside her.
Well the results will still be the same as before'
The broadcast began with a sudden flourish of graphics, the Bureau's emblem glowing on the screen.
A voice rang out, crisp and official:
"Greetings, students and viewers around the world. The Bureau is now live.Today, we celebrate the most outstanding awakeners of this year."
The announcer smiled.
"We will now reveal the written examination rankings."
Names appeared.
Fifth.
Fourth.
Third.
Second.
Then...
Number One.
...
Tia Xu.
Silence.
"...What?"
" now for the overall rankings."
Joshua Bassett.
First.
...
Fifth.
Tia Xu.
he froze.
"Xu… Tia…?"
" this has to be a mistake…
The camera zoomed in on the Bureau announcer.
Congratulations to the overall top scorer, Joshua Bassett for the evolution exam and achieving the highest overall score .You have earned a direct admission to Sky High academy
*********
And
"Congratulations to Tia Xu, achieving the highest score in the written exams, and securing a place among the top five overall in the Evolution Exam. You have earned a direct admission to Sky High Academy.
Tia's mind went blank.
"A direct entry...
Sky High Academy… number one worldwide…?
Is this… real?
The announcer continued,
"Successful students will receive an official email from their respective academy. Please check your accounts. And now, we return to today's headlines."
"Tia
He turned to face her.
Tears gathered in her eyes.
"...I'm proud of you."
Before Tia could react—
She pulled him into a hug.
"...I knew you could do it."
He relaxed into his mother's warm embrace.
Tia remained where he was long after she walked away.
The living room grew quiet again.
Only the ticking of the wall clock broke the silence.
He leaned back against the sofa.
His fingers tightened around his phone.
Sky High Academy.
He had dreamed of those words...
For thirty years.
And now.
It's right before him.
His gaze remained fixed on the dark television screen.
"...I really got in?"
It still didn't feel real.
A moment later—
Bzzzzt.
His phone vibrated on the table.
Tia glanced at it.
Then his eyes stopped.
One new message.
Sky High Academy.