The silver-robed figure didn’t move.
It just hovered there—five feet above the central courtyard, cloaked in morning sunlight that refused to touch its skin. It was as if the world bent around it, refusing to acknowledge its presence and yet unable to look away.
Jay leaned against the railing, one hand still holding the half-finished can of coffee, now lukewarm. His candy stick hung loosely from his lips, forgotten.
Because it was a waste of time.
> "Unscheduled Event Detected."
"System Stabilization in progress..."
"Warning: Local Anomaly Sync Failing."
Jay heard Rei’s system voice again—faint, like it was leaking through cracks in a wall.
He didn’t look at Rei, who stood frozen a few steps behind him, pupils slightly unfocused.
He’s syncing with it again. Idiot.
Then finally, the figure moved.
Just... sideways, like a cursor on a glitched screen.
The wind responded half a second late.
Every bird in the sky scattered.
Below, in the courtyard, teachers emerged—at least five senior staff, robes flaring with magical runes. Principal Tavios walked at the front, hands behind his back. Calm. Controlled.
But even from this distance, Jay could see it: Tavios wasn’t breathing properly.
The man was sweating.
"Great," Jay muttered. "If baldy’s panicking, we’re all doomed."
> "Target located," said the Purifier, its voice a mechanical whisper that echoed from every direction at once.
It wasn’t talking to them.
It wasn’t talking to anyone.
Yet Jay knew exactly what it meant.
The figure turned—without turning. The cloak didn’t shift. The mask didn’t tilt.
But its attention snapped to Rei like a loaded spring.
Jay moved before he thought.
A subtle half-step. Positioning himself between Rei and the courtyard.
But something deep inside him buzzed. Not in fear. In recognition.
> [You are within range of a RESET PROTOCOL]
[Engagement may void system privileges]
"Option C: slap the sender."
Behind him, Rei clutched his head for a moment. His breathing was shallow. Static danced at the edge of his irises, flashing symbols no one else could see.
"...You okay back there, static-boy?" Jay asked casually.
Rei didn’t answer. But a single line escaped his lips like a broken whisper—
The wind surged. Magical barriers bloomed in the air—dozens of layers, golden rings spinning like gears.
Tavios stepped forward, staff raised.
"INTRUDER. STATE YOUR ORIGIN."
The Purifier replied instantly:
> "ERROR: NO ORIGIN. ONLY PURPOSE."
"PURGE REQUEST ACCEPTED."
"EXECUTING: GENESIS CLEANSE."
"Right. So this guy’s the type who skips to the boss music."
The sky turned black.
No transition. No warning. Just cut to void.
The only light left... was the glowing blue screen hovering in front of Jay’s lazy, half-lidded eyes.
> [ACTIVATING HIDDEN PASSIVE: LAZY GENIUS – SYSTEM SHIELDING ENABLED]
[999x Multiplier Engaged]
[Mental Acceleration Active]
The boy blinked up, caught somewhere between memory and madness.
Jay gave him a sharp look—not cruel, not kind. Just focused.
"Time to prove you’re more than a corrupted folder."