Gale and Rose approached Rai with broad smiles, their eyes shining with pride and relief. The whispers about the mysterious Level G and House Indra swirled through the hall like wildfire, fueling a mix of curiosity and unease among the students.

As for Rai, he scratched his head with a comically exaggerated expression of deep thought. “Hmmm, G... What could it mean? Genius? Gorgeous? Gallant? Great? Hmm...” His brow furrowed as if solving the mysteries of the universe, prompting a few nearby students to stifle laughs.

Gale sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes. “I think it means you’ve finally lost it.” His dry humor and resigned tone were laced with a teasing smirk.

Rai’s puzzled face immediately morphed into a wide grin. “Hahaha! Yeah, maybe I have—especially since I decided to make you my friend!” He jabbed at Gale with a playful elbow, eliciting a lighthearted chuckle.

Rose, standing slightly to the side, watched their banter with a soft smile. Though she didn’t join in, her amusement was evident as her gaze lingered on Rai. For the first time, she saw him not as the bold, clueless boy who’d declared her his future wife, but as someone capable of uniting others with his carefree and magnetic spirit.

As the minutes ticked by, the whispers and rumors surrounding Level G and the enigmatic House Indra swelled, growing louder and more fervent. The air in the room buzzed with curiosity and speculation, creating a symphony of murmurs that seemed impossible to quell.

Suddenly, Pragaya’s commanding voice cut through the chatter like a blade. “Alright, students,” he declared, his tone exuding authority and leaving no room for defiance. Instantly, the hall fell silent, all attention snapping to him as though he had cast a spell over the room.

“The ceremony is now over, and your classes are about to begin. Please follow Kromus to your classrooms,” he instructed, his words firm yet calm.

At the doorway, Kromus stood like a sentinel, gesturing for the students to proceed in an orderly fashion. His expression carried its usual mix of icy authority and restrained annoyance, ensuring no one dared to break formation as they filed out. The room began to empty, but the hushed whispers persisted, trailing behind like an echo.

Pragaya continued, his voice steady and warm: “As for Rai, since we cannot place a single student in a class by themselves, you will join Level 5. Additionally, you are free to choose whichever House you wish.” He ended with a gentle smile, one that carried both authority and a hint of pride.

The room reacted instantly. The majority of students gritted their teeth in frustration, their jealousy simmering like an unspoken chorus. Meanwhile, the small but growing group of admirers exchanged genuine smiles, their faith in Rai solidified by Pragaya’s words.

With the announcement complete, Rai, Gale, and Rose began heading toward their classrooms. Rai and Gale resumed their usual antics, exchanging jabs and chuckling as they walked. Gale teased: “So, genius Rai, have you decided which House gets the honor of your greatness?”

Rai struck a comically regal pose, his nose tilted upward: “Well, I better join your House so you’ll at least have one friend. You know, for the inevitable group activities and stuff.”

Gale groaned, rolling his eyes with a smirk: “Screw you, Rai. Just watch—I’m gonna make more friends than you ever could.”

Rai leaned in, his teasing grin widening: “Oh yeah? Is your dad rich or something? Because buying that many friends is gonna cost a fortune.”

Gale clutched his chest dramatically, as if Rai’s words had physically struck him. “C’mon, man! I’m sure someone would want to be my friend!” he replied in a voice filled with mock despair, his shoulders slumping in an exaggerated show of defeat.

Behind them, Rose trailed at a calm pace, her arms crossed elegantly over her chest. Her crimson hair swayed lightly with each step, her posture graceful and composed. She barely acknowledged their playful banter, though a subtle twitch of her lips suggested she wasn’t entirely indifferent.

As the trio moved through the academy halls, the energy around them felt electric, a blend of excitement, tension, and curiosity. Rai’s journey was just beginning, but the ripples of his presence were already spreading far and wide.

Before anyone could fully embrace the excitement of their new school life, a thunderous BOOM echoed from above, shaking the very foundation of the academy. Gasps filled the room as all eyes darted upward, searching for the source of the disruption.

A chilling sight met their gaze—a monstrous black creature crashed through the ceiling, shards of enchanted stone scattering like deadly raindrops. The beast landed with an earth-shaking thud in the center of the hall. It was no taller than Rai, but its presence was suffocating. Its body exuded an aura of malevolence, and its pointed teeth gleamed ominously in the dim light. But it was its eyes—overflowing with an unimaginable reservoir of raw magic—that froze the room in collective terror. The overwhelming thirst for blood radiating from the creature’s gaze rooted most of the students to their spots, unable to even think of moving.

A heavy silence blanketed the hall, broken only by the sound of shallow, panicked breaths. Everyone, save for two.

Pragaya and Kromus, the most skilled individuals in the room, acted in tandem without hesitation.

"Everyone, behind me! Now!" Kromus bellowed, his icy tone laced with authority, as he swiftly corralled the students into a defensive formation behind him. His towering frame stood like an unyielding glacier against the storm.

Pragaya, however, stepped forward, positioning himself between Kromus and the beast. His usually warm demeanor was gone, replaced by a cold, intense stare that could pierce steel. His every movement was deliberate, his posture exuding confidence and readiness to strike.

The creature snarled, its low growl reverberating through the hall like an ominous drumbeat, but Pragaya didn’t flinch. He tilted his head slightly, his piercing eyes locking onto the beast’s.

Rai, Gale, Rose, Baruss, and the rest of the students watched the scene unfold, hearts pounding. Gale instinctively clutched Rai’s sleeve, his face pale.

"Rai…what is that thing?" Gale whispered shakily.

"I don’t know," Rai replied, his usual lighthearted tone replaced by an uncharacteristic seriousness. His eyes were locked on Pragaya, who seemed almost unnaturally calm.

Rose took a step forward, her fiery eyes narrowing. "Whatever it is, it’s strong. Too strong."

For a moment, no one dared to breathe. The atmosphere was charged, the tension so thick it felt like the room itself might snap under the strain. Then, Pragaya's voice rang out again, louder this time, cutting through the silence like a blade.

"Stay back, all of you. This…is not your fight."

His words carried a chilling finality, a promise that things were about to escalate—and fast.

The creature’s piercing gaze scanned the room, its malevolent eyes burning like dark coals until they locked onto Rai. “There you are,” it growled, its voice a bone-chilling rasp that sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.

Before anyone could react, the creature moved. In less than a fraction of a second, it closed the distance between itself and Rai, leaving even the most skilled students unable to track its movement. But as its clawed hand was mere inches from Rai’s throat, a force stopped it.

Pragaya, the only person in the room able to catch the creature’s speed, intercepted it just in time. His arm was a blur, his open palm catching the creature's strike with an audible crack that echoed through the hall. Pragaya’s calm yet fierce gaze never wavered.

The creature snarled, its voice dripping with venom. “Just hand over the boy, you senile bastard,” it hissed, attempting to intimidate.

Without a word, Pragaya retaliated. In one swift motion, his palm struck the creature’s gut with immense force. A deafening shockwave rippled through the room as the beast was sent flying back, crashing into the far wall with a thunderous boom.

The crowd stood frozen, the air thick with tension. Rai, blinking in disbelief, muttered under his breath, “Did… did that thing just call me out?”

Rose and Gale instinctively positioned themselves closer to Rai, their expressions a mix of fear and resolve. Pragaya remained unwavering, his focus entirely on the creature as it slowly rose from the rubble, its malevolent grin never fading.

"Have you gone deaf in your old age, you geezer?" the creature growled mockingly, its voice dripping with venom. "Can you not hear the cries around you, outside these walls?"

Pragaya's eyes widened in realization, and his face drained of color. His voice came out in a hoarse whisper, tinged with desperation, "No..."

The creature's laughter echoed through the room, loud and mocking, as if savoring Pragaya’s horror. "That’s right, Pragaya. It’s a culling."

As the realization set in, the scene outside the academy came into focus. The carnage unfolding was beyond comprehension. These monstrous creatures, led by this malevolent being, weren’t just targeting Rai’s group—they were attacking the entire academy.

We see the deans, Harchell, Luthor, and Shelly, locked in fierce battles against the creatures. The 5th years, including Mammoth, Sylvia Star, and Lorenzo Privateer, were also fighting back valiantly, their strength pushing against the onslaught. Yet, through it all, it became painfully clear: the leader of these creatures had come for one target, and one target only—Rai.