MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

**THE ACADEMY DOMAIN**

It had been over an hour, yet not a single trace of the missing students was uncovered.

It was as if they had simply vanished from the surface of the planet, leaving not even a whisper of evidence behind.

A tense silence hung in the air, broken only by the occasional flicker of energy crackling off the walls—a physical manifestation of the professors' fury.

Everyone scrambled, searching every corner, combing through even the smallest of clues, only to find themselves facing dead end after dead end.

This was the third time students had been attacked under their watch—a blow to their pride and a stain on the Academy's legacy.

It was infuriating. Insulting. But they kept their emotions in check, suppressing the outrage simmering beneath the surface. They had more pressing matters to attend to.

Auras flickered and flared throughout the Academy domain as the professors seethed, their powers sparking with their restrained fury.

Every movement, every step was charged with the quiet but undeniable tension of lives at stake.

This was the golden generation—the most gifted set of students they had ever seen, an era of potential beyond their wildest imaginations.

Yet now, those prized students were missing.

The Dean and Vice President sat calmly, unmovable, watching as the others raced about, combing through evidence and questioning everyone they could find.

Their stillness seemed almost unnatural in the chaos around them, a reflection of their authority and the weight they carried.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the Dean spoke, his voice carrying the weight of command.

"Bring me those responsible for opening the portal during the exam"

The words echoed through the room, and suddenly, a realization hit them all at once—a silent revelation dawning on every face.

Only the ten individuals in charge of the portal would know something.

They were the last link, the final clue. No wonder they hadn't uncovered anything yet.

But those ten had vanished the moment their assignment was completed.

The Academy's information network had been evaded—a feat almost unthinkable.

After an exhaustive search, they were found… but only remnants of them remained. Bodies shattered, traces of a ruthless end scattered like fallen leaves.

Another dead end.

Each second slipping by felt heavier than the last, and they knew that time was their enemy.

The longer they searched, the higher the death toll climbed.

An hour slipped into two, with still no word, no breakthrough.

Even the Dean seemed burdened by the weight of helplessness.

Aden, the Dean's most trusted tracker, could find no evidence, as though reality itself had erased all traces of the students' fate, his usually sharp instincts had come up empty.

"I suppose we'll need to consult the Seer,"

The Blood Empress murmured, her voice cool and measured, though beneath the calm, there was a flicker of impatience.

"Let's hope he has the answers we need"

The Dean replied, rising from his seat with a solemn determination, his face hard with resolve.

With a casual wave of her hand, the Blood Empress wove her power into the air, bending space itself until a portal unfurled before them.

The sound of crackling energy filled the air, a reminder of the raw force at her command.

Together, they stepped through, moving with the unhurried grace of those who wield absolute power.

Despite the urgency, they exuded a calm assurance, a silent faith in their students' resilience.

...

**THE SEER'S ROOM**

The Seer lay sprawled on his couch, looking every bit the picture of indifference as he snacked on fruits and sweets with lazy delight.

His eyes half-lidded, his mind seemingly elsewhere, as though the world outside held no importance to him.

A portal opened before him, yet he didn't even flinch, merely continued chewing, 'eyes' fixed lazily on the fruit in his hand.

The Dean and Vice President stepped through, their gazes sharp as they took in the sight of the Seer in his usual, disheveled state.

It was a contrast—a reflection of how little the Seer seemed to care about the gravity of the situation.

"Why are you here? It's barely been a few months since your last visit"

The Seer said with a frown, clearly annoyed by the intrusion.

"Why do you like asking questions you already know the answer to?"

The Blood Empress retorted, her voice laced with disdain.

"We both know why we're here, so why pretend otherwise?"

The Seer sighed, looking at them with weary amusement, before finally muttering.

"This is a first…or rather, a second. I don't have the answers you're looking for."

For the first time, a flicker of emotion crossed both the Dean's and Vice President's faces.

The Seer had been their last hope, the one thread they'd counted on to find the students.

"What do you mean, you don't have answers?"

The Dean demanded, his voice tight with frustration, his tone clipped.

"You haven't even tried"

"Can you stop being lazy for once?"

The Vice President added, her anger breaking through, her voice like ice.

"The lives of the golden generation hang in the balance."

Unmoved, the Seer shook his head, taking another bite of fruit.

"The moment they stepped into that portal, I sensed something was wrong. I knew you'd come to me eventually, so I attempted to look ahead, to find answers before you arrived. But nothing. I couldn't see a thing. I couldn't even comprehend where I was looking."

"This is the second time you've been blocked, Seer"

The Vice President said, a note of curiosity in her voice, the hint of an old mystery lingering.

"Is it related to those humans again?"

"No, it's not them"

The Seer replied, his tone uncharacteristically solemn, as he peeled the skin off another fruit with deliberate care.

"This time, it was fate and destiny together."

"How can you be certain?"

The Dean asked, his brows furrowing deeper.

"What if it's something else, like the 'entity' that blocked you before? What if it's a similar force on the demons' side this time?"

"Those of us who can peer into such realms know when fate and destiny are at work. There's a signature to it—a sensation that can't be mistaken"

The Seer replied, more serious than they'd ever seen him.

"Fate and destiny have laid down their plan, and it's clear they don't want anyone interfering"

The atmosphere in the room thickened, a heavy silence pressing down on them as his words sank in.

"What do you mean by that?"

The Dean asked, his voice barely a whisper, his eyes narrowing.

The Seer's 'eyes' gleamed with a strange intensity as he continued.

"This generation… this golden generation is unlike any before it. Even the previous golden generation couldn't compare. They were extraordinary, yes, but these students? Their talent is unparalleled, almost unnatural."

He paused, taking in the weight of his own words.

"Think about it. Even during the Academy invasion, when millions of demons attacked, not a single student perished. Fate and destiny ensured their survival then, orchestrating events like a divine script. But this time… I'm not sure they'll step in."

There was a silence as his words hung heavy in the air.

"Everything has a price, Slaughterer, Blood Empress"

He intoned, his voice a low, almost reverent murmur, cutting through the tension.

"Nothing in this world is free. NOTHING."

"The students are paying the price for their extraordinary gifts. Fate and destiny bestowed them with talent, with power beyond measure. But now, they must survive the test—a test with their very lives as the wager."

Destiny and fate could bless you in one moment and demand payment in the next.

But if nothing is free no matter how small it is, what price is Anthony paying or rather what price is he going to pay.

Even if he isn't controlled or guided by fate and destiny, ??? is the one behind him.

Is ??? helping him for free or is ??? planning something sinister if NOTHING is truly FREE.