The Academy was in chaos.
Students whispered in hushed voices, clustered in groups throughout the halls. The scent of incense and sterilized mana still clung to the infirmary where the bodies had been moved. Though both Jack and Elara were covered respectfully, their deaths had left a hole that words couldn't fill.
Jack Frost, heir to the Frost family—one of the original heroes who fought in the Mana Calamity—was dead.
The announcement came at dawn, echoing through the school intercom like a death knell. By noon, the Frost family had arrived.
Three black, crystal-armored mana carriers landed outside the Academy gates, their engines powered by purified mana cores. From the lead vehicle stepped a tall man with ice-white hair and piercing silver eyes. His aura chilled the air around him.
Commander Julius Frost.
A Tier 9 warrior, former general, and the eldest of the Frost siblings.
He walked with purpose, flanked by soldiers in silver and blue. The headmaster of the Academy bowed as Julius approached, sweat beading on his brow.
"Where is the scene?" Julius asked coldly.
"Cliffside—Sector D," the headmaster said. "There were claw marks. Signs of a mana beast attack—though… it's unusual."
Julius's eyes narrowed. "Unusual how?"
"No mana beast has breached the barriers in months. And yet… somehow, one struck, killed two top-tier students, and vanished without trace."
Julius didn't reply. He turned, motioning his soldiers to follow. "Take me there."
Max watched from his dorm window, clutching the windowsill tight. The pressure in his chest grew. He recognized Julius from televised battles, from stories. Ruthless, brilliant, terrifying.
And now he was here.
Because of me.
Max turned away from the window, beads of sweat on his back. He had wiped the scene clean. The monster blood, the marks, the forged evidence—it had to be enough.
His screen flickered again.
[System Notice: EXP Bonus for Critical Elimination Achieved]
[Hidden Achievement: Elemental Reaper I – Progress: 2/10]
The words meant nothing to him now. All he could feel was the chill in his spine as the Frost family entered the school.
At the cliff, Julius crouched beside the blood-stained rocks.
He dipped his fingers into a red smear and sniffed it. Then he frowned.
"This blood is wrong," he murmured.
A female soldier beside him, Lena, adjusted her glasses. "What do you mean, sir?"
"It's been harvested. Not spilled." Julius stood slowly. "And these claw marks—clean. Too symmetrical. No beast attacks this way."
He turned back toward the Academy.
"Whoever did this wanted us to think it was a monster."
Lena hesitated. "Then the question is… why? Who would risk framing a beast?"
Julius looked toward the dorms, his voice cold and final.
"Find out who was close to Jack and Elara. I want surveillance logs. I want mana residue scans. If there's even a flicker of a lie—burn it down until we find the truth."
Max, sitting on his bed, felt the first ripple of dread crawl through his veins.
The real game had begun.
And the Frost family wasn't the type to let things go.