Black World/Negura

Chapter 4: New Things

Morning in the Academy didn’t feel like school.

It felt like preparation for war.

Alex barely slept.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw it again—

His mother.

The blood.

The knife.

And Darius… reaching out as the portal swallowed everything.

“…I’ll fix it,” Alex whispered to himself as he got up.

But even he didn’t fully believe it yet.

First Lesson

The classroom was quiet.

Too quiet.

No one joked. No one showed off.

Even Kai was serious.

“That’s not normal,” Alex muttered.

“It is for this class,” Mira said without looking at him.

“Why?”

She didn’t answer.

The door opened.

And the air changed.

A man walked in slowly.

Tall. Straight posture. Dark coat.

His presence alone made the room feel smaller.

“Good morning,” he said calmly.

His voice was smooth.

Controlled.

But something about it—

Felt wrong.

“I am Professor Virel.”

Alex’s heart skipped.

Something deep inside him reacted.

Not fear.

Not exactly.

Recognition.

“…No way,” he whispered.

“What?” Kai asked quietly.

Alex shook his head.

“I don’t know…”

Virel’s eyes scanned the room.

Sharp.

Precise.

Reading everyone.

Then—

They stopped on Alex.

For just a second.

But it was enough.

Alex felt it.

Like something had just… touched his mind.

Then Virel looked away.

“As you all know,” the professor continued, “this class is not about strength.”

A pause.

“It is about control.”

The Exercise

“Pair up,” Virel said.

“Today, you will test your limits.”

Kai stepped next to Alex immediately.

“Don’t die,” he said casually.

“Very comforting,” Alex replied.

They moved to the training floor.

A circular arena.

Energy barriers flickered to life around it.

“Begin,” Virel said.

Kai didn’t hesitate.

Gravity dropped.

Alex slammed to the ground.

“Move,” Kai said.

“Again with this?!” Alex struggled.

“You won’t survive otherwise.”

Alex gritted his teeth.

The shadows responded faster this time.

They spread—

Pushed—

Resisted the force.

Alex forced himself up.

Sweat already forming.

“I’m getting used to this,” he said.

“Not fast enough,” Kai replied—and increased the pressure.

The ground cracked.

Alex’s knees buckled.

“Come on!” Kai shouted. “Use it!”

“I AM!”

“No—you’re reacting! I need you to control it!”

Alex’s vision blurred.

The shadows pulsed violently.

Unstable.

Wild.

Then—

“Enough.”

The pressure vanished instantly.

Alex collapsed, breathing heavily.

Virel stood at the edge of the arena.

Watching.

“…Interesting,” the professor said.

His eyes were locked on Alex.

Not impressed.

Not surprised.

Just… interested.

And that was worse.

After Class

“Something’s off,” Alex said quietly as they left.

“No kidding,” Eron replied. “That guy gives me chills.”

Mira crossed her arms.

“He’s always been like that.”

“No,” Nyx said softly.

Everyone looked at her.

“He hasn’t.”

Silence.

“What do you mean?” Kai asked.

Nyx frowned slightly.

“…He feels different now.”

Alex’s chest tightened.

“Yeah,” he said.

“I felt that too.”

The White-Haired Girl

Later that day—

Alex found her.

The girl from before.

Standing alone again.

Like she didn’t belong to anything.

Or anyone.

“You’ve been staring at me,” Alex said.

She didn’t turn.

“You’re loud,” she replied calmly.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You don’t need to.”

Alex frowned.

“…Okay. That’s weird.”

She finally looked at him.

Her eyes—

Were unnatural.

Not glowing.

But deep.

Like they had seen too much.

“You came from the past,” she said.

Alex froze.

“…Who told you that?”

“No one.”

A pause.

“I saw it.”

“How?”

She tilted her head slightly.

“I don’t see the present,” she said.

“I see… possibilities.”

Alex stared.

“…You’re serious.”

“Yes.”

A longer pause.

Then she stepped closer.

And lowered her voice.

“You shouldn’t trust the professor.”

Alex’s heart skipped.

“…Why?”

She looked directly into his eyes.

“Because I’ve already seen how this ends.”

Cold silence.

“…What happens?” Alex asked.

Her expression didn’t change.

“You die.”

The First Mission

That night—

The alarm sounded.

“Emergency assignment,” a voice echoed through the Academy.

“All advanced units report immediately.”

Kai looked at the group.

“Guess we’re up.”

Alex stood.

“…Already?”

Mira smirked slightly.

“Welcome to 2030.”

The Battlefield

The city outskirts.

Ruined structures.

Dark energy in the air.

“What is this place?” Alex asked.

“Aftermath of the Collapse,” Leo said.

“Try not to breathe too deep.”

“Why?”

“You’ll find out.”

A low growl echoed nearby.

Something moved in the shadows.

Not like Alex’s.

Something… twisted.

“Enemies incoming,” Nyx said.

Figures emerged.

Humanoid—

But wrong.

Corrupted.

Distorted.

“What are those?” Alex whispered.

“Failed evolutions,” Kai said.

“Or experiments.”

Alex’s stomach dropped.

“Experiments…?”

“Focus!” Mira snapped.

“They’re coming!”

First Real Fight

The creatures attacked.

Fast.

Violent.

Leo charged forward, smashing one into the ground.

Mira’s flames burned through another.

Eron blurred across the field, striking multiple targets in seconds.

Nyx’s shadows sliced silently.

Alex stood frozen for half a second.

Then—

One rushed him.

Instinct took over.

The shadows exploded outward—

Catching the creature mid-air.

Crushing it.

Alex stared.

“…I did that.”

“Don’t admire it!” Kai shouted.

“More incoming!”

Alex moved this time.

Faster.

Sharper.

The shadows obeyed more clearly now.

Still unstable.

But stronger.

Dangerous.

The Watching Eyes

Far above—

On a distant structure—

Professor Virel stood.

Watching.

“…Yes,” he murmured.

“It’s awakening.”

Behind him—

Another figure stood in the darkness.

Identical.

Same face.

Same presence.

“Not yet,” the second one said.

“He’s not ready.”

Virel smiled slightly.

“He will be.”