The Boy Who Walks Beyond The End-Chapter 103: The Arrival of Vaelstrom’s Seven

Morning came with an eerie silence.

Zen stood beside his dorm window, staring at the courtyard below. He hadn't slept much. That river conversation with Daiki haunted him. His eyes wandered, searching the academy grounds, hoping—maybe foolishly—that Daiki would be standing there, giving one of his awkward smiles.

But there was no sign of him.

> [System Nex]: [Analyzing... Daiki's presence not found within the academy grounds. His mana signature has completely vanished. Poof. Like socks in a laundry vortex.]

Zen clenched his fist. He didn't say goodbye. Not even a trace. Just gone.

Before he could linger on the feeling, the courtyard suddenly roared to life.

A line of seven figures emerged from a large black-and-silver carriage that bore the swirling emblem of Vaelstrom Academy—a tempest locked in a circle.

They stepped out one by one, their posture sharp, their expressions sharper.

> [System Nex]: [Oh. Great. Vaelstrom's "secret weapons" have arrived. Shall I prepare tea or a tactical strike?]

From a shaded balcony above, the Eboncrest students watched in silence.

• The Arrival – Vaelstrom's Seven

1. Arthin – The leader, golden-haired and steady-eyed, carried himself with the calm confidence of a chosen Hero of Vaelstrom. The glow around him was almost literal—like the sun's heat rising from his skin.

2. Alethia – Cool and graceful, her stance was that of someone who had seen through illusions and survived their truths.

3. Jardin – A calm, quiet force. His expression is unreadable.

4. Kaisen – Lean and sharp, with thin-rimmed glasses and a book always in hand.

5. Leora – Pale red hair, twin swords strapped to her back. Confident smirk like she already won.

6. Gaithor – A hulking presence with armor that creaked as he moved—if he moved, you'd feel it in your ribs.

7. Nayella – The smallest but perhaps the most unsettling. Her calm demeanor was too calm.

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• Eboncrest's Reactions

Lyra leaned toward Sylvia. "So they really were in secret training..."

Sylvia raised an icy brow. "Training in what? Looking smug?"

Elvren, overhearing them, added, "I heard it was some kind of combat conditioning deep in the Sable Caverns. Dangerous place. Most people don't come back."

Arisha narrowed her eyes. "That Arthin... he's their hero."

Zen perked up at the word.

Lyra turned, frowning. "Hero? You mean the kind who fights the Demon King if he appears in our lands?"

Elsan nodded. "Every nation has one. Heroes are chosen, trained since childhood. And they don't fight alone. These seven? They're Arthin's team. His elite squad."

Arisha scoffed. "Then our Archmage should just summon Grandovale's Hero. Let him deal with this."

Aelric shook his head. "He's not available. Underground training. Deep-level. Probably not even in the city anymore."

Zen stayed quiet. That word—Hero—left a strange taste in his mouth.

Arisha added softly, "Our nation's hero started sword training before he could walk. This is serious."

> [System Nex]: [Fun fact: average hero sleeps only 4.2 hours a night and trains the other 19.8. Give or take trauma.]

• Formal Introduction – Tension Rising

On one side stood Vaelstrom Professor, robed in Vaelstrom's dark crimson, his tone calm but charged with power.

On the other, Eboncrest's Professor , stern as a blade's edge, representing Eboncrest, his voice firm with pride and authority.

"Let this be the official introduction between Vaelstrom Academy's Elite Seven and Eboncrest Academy's Representatives. You'll be fighting as rivals soon." said Vaelstrom's professor

The names were announced by Eboncrest's professor:

Eboncrest Side — Zen, Aelric, Elsan, Sylvie, Elvren, Arisha, Kleez.

Then, Vaelstrom's professor followed:

Vaelstrom Side — Arthin, Alethia, Jardin, Kaisen, Leora, Gaithor, Nayella.

They stepped forward, face to face.

Cold stares.

Challenging smiles.

Leora met Elvren gaze, sparks already crackling between their glares.

Arthin didn't even blink at Zen, but Zen felt it - like standing too close to the sun. There was no fire, no light... yet something about Arthin's presence pushed back the shadows around him. As if he carried more than just a sword - like he was built to erase darkness itself, and simply chose not to show it yet.

Kleez, naturally, broke the tension by trying to summon a tiny chicken on Vaelstrom soil. It exploded quietly. No one laughed.

> [System Nex]: [Kleez's "chicken diplomacy" continues. Still not covered by any Geneva Convention.]

Jardin and Elsan stood across from each other, silent and unreadable. Their posture was flawless—too flawless.

Even Nayella whispered something to Sylvie in passing.

"Don't blink. Your ice melts faster than you think."

Sylvie didn't respond, but her hand gripped her blade.

The match was only a day away. One day before the Twelve Day Event would begin.

> [System Nex]: [One day left, partner. The stage is set, the players are here... and fate's got popcorn. You ready?]

"yes"

---Meanwhile – In a place no light touched...

A chamber lit only by red glyphs pulsing on obsidian walls.

A man in shadow sat cross-legged, eyes closed. The silence was a roar. Then—

"You're late, Daiki."

The voice slithered like smoke through the void.

Daiki appeared, kneeling immediately. "My bad, Master. I was training... time slipped."

The figure stood. His face unseen. His aura monstrous.

"Training?" he chuckled.

"No more delays. The game begins soon. Be ready, Daiki. You'll make the first move..."

"...and paint their dawn in blood."

The glyphs blazed brighter...