Kai was deep in thought, his mind replaying the strange encounter from earlier. The voice had been so clear, so urgent. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

“Ray,” Kai finally said, projecting his display to Ray. “I’ve been wondering… can we just freely go back to our house and come back to the academy, or are there restrictions?”

Ray glanced at him; concern etched on his face. “Well, once you enter the academy, you can only leave during vacations or under certain conditions with the principal’s permission. Why do you ask?”

Kai shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “I was just wondering about it.”

Ray nodded slowly, still looking a bit puzzled. “Alright, but if there’s something on your mind, you can tell me.”

Kai forced a smile. “Thanks, Ray. I’ll let you know if there’s anything.”

As they continued walking, Kai’s mind raced with questions, unable to focus on rest of the classes.

It was soon night time, and the academy was quiet. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow in the room. Kai lay on his bed, wearing his blue night shirt, staring at the ceiling, his mind still racing with thoughts about the mysterious voice and the warning it had given him.

He turned on his side, trying to find a comfortable position, but sleep eluded him. The words echoed in his mind: “In ten days, some assassins will attack the Archduke’s mansion… protect your little sister, Elysia.”

Kai sighed, running a hand through his hair. He couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. Who was the woman who had spoken to him? How did she know about the attack? And why had she chosen to warn him?

He glanced at the small clock on his bedside table. It was past midnight, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep until he had some answers. He sat up, stretching his hand.

Just then, Ray spoke up from the other side of the room. “Can’t sleep?”

Kai looked over at Ray, who was wearing the same sleepwear, adorned with a comical design of dancing pineapples. Looking at him, Kai smiled. His projection playing with his words, “You too?”

Ray sat up, rubbing his eyes. “Yeah. I was worried about you. You seemed really out of it today.”

Kai sighed, appreciating Ray’s concern, as the words in the projection changed. “It’s just… I’m having a hard time settling into this new environment.”

Ray nodded, understanding. “It’s a big change for all of us. But we’ll get through it together.”

They shared a light conversation, talking about their classes and the academy life. But as Ray was talking, he suddenly heard a sound as if someone had fallen. He looked to his side and saw Kai lying down, his head on the corner of the bed, his posture unusual.

“Kai?” Ray called out, but there was no response. Panic surged through him as he quickly got up and went to Kai’s bed, shaking him. “Kai! Kai, wake up!”

He called out to Kai multiple times, but there was no response. Ray’s worry intensified. He needed help, and fast. Without wasting another second, he ran out of the room, his heart pounding. Running down the stairs, he had only one thought in his mind: “I need help. FAST!”

Back to Kai, he slowly regained consciousness, his head throbbing with pain. As he opened his eyes, he found himself in the dimly lit dungeon again. The cold, damp air, and the sound of dripping water echoing through the stone walls were all too familiar.

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He stood up, looking around. “Again . . . This is bad,” he muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. “I wonder what happened to me out there…”

Kai’s mind raced as he wondered why he suddenly got summoned to the dungeon. Just then, the system screen popped up.

{It’s been a while Adventurer! How have yo-}

But before the system could ask, Kai interfered. His voice cold, demanding answers. “WHY.YOU.LITTLE.”

The system went a bit back, as Kai continued to ask. “Did you just forced summon me?”

But to this question, the system remained quiet. Kai sighed in frustration. “Can you send me back then?”

The system screen flickered for a moment before displaying a new message.

{I’m afraid I can’t do that, Adventurer. There’s an emergency quest for you.}

Kai’s eyes narrowed. “An emergency quest? What kind of quest?”

The system screen flickered again before displaying the new message.

{Your quest is to find a special item known as the “Avatar”.}

Kai raised an eyebrow. “Avatar? What’s so special about it?”

{The Avatar is a unique artifact that grants its bearer extraordinary abilities. It is hidden deep within this dungeon, and only the worthy can claim it.}

Kai’s curiosity was piqued, but he remained cautious. “What kind of abilities are we talking about?”

{The Avatar will bestow upon you powers that are beyond ordinary comprehension. These abilities will be crucial for your survival and success in future challenges.}

Kai took a deep breath, trying to process the information. “And what happens if I don’t find it?”

{Rejecting the quest is not an option. You must complete this quest and then return back.}

Kai clenched his fists, urgency filling his eyes. “Alright, system. I’ll find this Avatar. But you better not be hiding anything else from me.”

{. . . There is one more thing you should know, Adventurer. The Avatar appears very rarely. Even the previous owner of your body never had the chance to obtain it.}

Kai’s eyes widened in surprise. “So, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?”

{Indeed. Seize this chance, for it may never come again.}

Kai sighs, feeling a sense of pressure. “Guess I got no choice left. Alright, system. I’m ready. Let’s do this.”

{Good luck, Adventurer. Your journey begins now.}

Outside in the real world, Ray hurried through the corridors of the Magic Academy, his mind racing with worry. He reached the principal’s cabin and took a deep breath before pushing the door open.

Inside, Justin was seated at his desk, engrossed in a stack of documents. The room was filled with the soft rustling of papers and the faint scent of old books. As the door creaked open, Justin looked up, a funny smile spreading across his face.

“Ray! What brings you here?” Justin greeted, his tone light and cheerful.

Ray, however, was in no mood for pleasantries. “It’s not time for all this, Uncle. Something’s wrong with Kai.”

Justin’s smile faded, replaced by a look of confusion. He set the documents aside and leaned forward. “What happened to Kai?”

Ray stepped closer; his voice urgent. “I don’t know, but he suddenly fell on his bed. I tried to wake him, but he didn't respond no matter how many times I called out to him.”

Justin’s expression hardened, as if piecing together a puzzle. “Let’s go to him, quick,” he said, standing up and moving swiftly towards the door.

Back to Kai, he moved cautiously through the dimly lit dungeon, his senses on high alert. The air was thick with tension, and every sound seemed amplified in the eerie silence. He was determined to find the Avatar, but the labyrinthine passages made it difficult to navigate.

As he turned a corner, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head. He winced, clutching his temples as a wave of memories flooded his mind. Blinking through the pain, he saw a door ahead, its size reminiscent of a normal house door. The sight of it triggered a vivid memory from the previous owner of his body.

In the memory, the previous owner had approached the same door, curiosity driving him forward. As he opened it, he was met with a horrifying sight—a swarm of giant killer ants. The creatures were massive, their mandibles clicking menacingly as they advanced. The previous owner had fought desperately, barely managing to escape the room with his life.

Kai’s heart pounded as the memory played out. He could feel the fear and desperation of the previous owner, the adrenaline coursing through his veins. But there was something else—a sense that the ants were not just mindless predators. They seemed to be guarding something, something important.

The memory faded, and Kai found himself back in the present, standing before the door. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. “If the ants are protecting something, it must be valuable,” he muttered to himself. He kept looking straight, narrowing his eyes until a smirk formed in his face.

-To be Continued