Chapter 33 – The Academy Beyond the Heavens
The convoy traveled for three days.
Unlike ordinary vehicles, the Headmaster’s carriage wasn’t pulled by horses or powered by engines.
It floated.
Runes carved into its silver frame shimmered as clouds drifted beneath it.
The world below slowly became smaller until entire mountain ranges looked no larger than grains of sand.
Marcus leaned out of the window.
"...We’re seriously this high?"
Ryan immediately grabbed the back of his shirt.
"If you fall, don’t expect me to catch you."
"I’ve got a hammer."
"That’s exactly why I won’t catch you."
Everyone inside laughed.
The tension from the Vault of Legacies gradually disappeared.
For the first time in weeks...
They could simply enjoy the journey.
The Headmaster sat opposite the twins.
His white hair rested neatly over his shoulders.
Although his aura was completely restrained, everyone instinctively knew he was unimaginably powerful.
Azrael finally asked the question that had been on his mind since leaving the dungeon.
"You knew we’d be there."
The old man smiled.
"I knew the Vault would awaken."
"I did not know who would answer its call."
Seraphina tilted her head.
"You weren’t surprised by our evolutions."
"I was."
The Headmaster chuckled.
"I simply reached the age where surprise no longer appears on my face."
Marcus laughed.
"I hope I become like that."
The old man looked at him.
"You won’t."
Marcus blinked.
"...Why?"
"You’re too loud."
The carriage erupted into laughter.
Even Sophia smiled.
After the laughter settled...
The Headmaster waved his hand.
A three-dimensional map appeared in the center of the carriage.
It wasn’t merely a map.
It was an entire star system.
Worlds revolved around one another.
Golden rivers of mana connected them.
The twins stared in fascination.
"What is this?"
"The First Heaven."
The old man’s voice became serious.
"What you’ve seen so far..."
"...is less than one percent of the realm."
The map expanded.
Thousands of worlds appeared.
Then tens of thousands.
Cities floated between stars.
Gigantic World Trees connected continents.
Floating oceans drifted through space.
Entire kingdoms rested upon the backs of colossal beasts larger than moons.
Ryan’s mouth hung open.
"...How many worlds are there?"
"No one knows."
The Headmaster answered honestly.
"The First Heaven alone contains over three hundred thousand known worlds."
"And that’s only the ones we’ve explored."
Marcus nearly choked.
"Three hundred thousand?"
"And there are more realms beyond this?"
The old man nodded.
"Twelve Heavens."
"Nine Abyss Layers."
"Ancient Titan Domains."
"Spirit Seas."
"Dragon Realms."
"Machine Empires."
"The Endless Void."
"The Forgotten Expanse."
"And realms so ancient that even Heaven has lost contact with them."
Azrael remembered the words they had spoken before.
"Our mother..."
"...she’s from a higher realm."
The Headmaster became unusually quiet.
"I wondered how long it would take before you asked."
The carriage also fell silent.
Seraphina leaned forward.
"You know her?"
The old man slowly closed his eyes.
"I know of her."
"But I cannot answer."
Azrael frowned.
"Why?"
A faint golden symbol briefly appeared around the Headmaster’s throat.
It resembled an ancient chain.
"I am bound."
"If I attempt to reveal certain truths..."
"...my soul will be erased."
The twins exchanged a glance.
Their mother’s identity truly was beyond imagination.
The Headmaster smiled apologetically.
"I can tell you one thing."
Both twins immediately looked at him.
"She loves you."
"Far more than either of you realizes."
Seraphina lowered her eyes.
A warm smile appeared on her face.
"Then..."
"...we’ll become strong enough to meet her ourselves."
The Headmaster nodded.
"I expected no other answer."
Hours later...
The floating carriage slowed.
Everyone looked through the enormous crystal windows.
Then...
Silence consumed the entire cabin.
Before them floated an island.
No.
Calling it an island was an insult.
It was an entire continent suspended among the clouds.
Waterfalls poured endlessly from its edges into the skies below before vanishing into portals of light.
At its center stood a colossal academy.
Countless towers reached toward the heavens.
Golden bridges connected floating mountains.
Dragons circled above crystal lakes.
Winged students flew between buildings.
Some possessed wings of fire.
Others had insect wings.
Some rode phoenixes.
Others floated upon swords.
Thousands of different races moved through the academy together.
Marcus slowly stood.
"...This..."
"...is a school?"
Ryan rubbed his eyes.
"I suddenly feel poor."
Even Elena stared speechlessly.
The Headmaster smiled proudly.
"Welcome..."
"...to the Celestial Academy."
As the carriage descended...
Azrael activated Origin Perception.
Instantly...
He sensed thousands of powerful auras.
Some belonged to students.
Others belonged to professors.
Several were so overwhelming that even looking in their direction caused his instincts to warn him.
"Danger."
He immediately deactivated the skill.
The Headmaster noticed.
"Wise."
"You sensed them?"
Azrael nodded.
"They’re monsters."
The old man laughed.
"Some of our professors are older than kingdoms."
The carriage landed inside a massive courtyard.
The moment the doors opened...
Hundreds of students stopped walking.
Their eyes immediately fell upon the twins.
Whispers spread through the academy.
"Those wings..."
"They’re not angel wings."
"Who’s that girl?"
"Is she royalty?"
"I’ve never seen halos like those."
Several professors also turned.
One elderly dwarf adjusted his glasses.
"...Interesting."
A dragonkin teacher narrowed her golden eyes.
"Unique evolutions."
"So the rumors were true."
Within minutes...
Thousands of students had gathered around the courtyard.
Marcus whispered.
"I liked it better when monsters were staring at us."
Sophia crossed her arms.
"They’re worse."
Suddenly...
A young man stepped through the crowd.
He looked around twenty years old.
Tall.
Handsome.
Four brilliant golden wings rested behind his back.
A single golden halo floated above his head.
His academy uniform carried the emblem of the Student Council.
The crowd immediately parted.
"The Student Council President."
"He came personally?"
The young man ignored everyone else.
He stopped before Azrael.
His eyes examined the Eclipse Wings.
Then Seraphina’s Genesis Wings.
He smiled politely.
"I am Lucian."
"Fourth-Year Student."
"Rank One of the Celestial Academy."
He extended his hand.
"Welcome."
Azrael shook it.
"I’m Azrael."
"Seraphina."
She introduced herself as well.
Lucian’s smile widened.
"I’ve heard about what happened in the Vault."
"You’ve caused quite a stir."
Marcus leaned toward Ryan.
"He seems nice."
Ryan nodded.
"Which means he’ll probably become our rival."
Before Marcus could answer...
A burst of laughter echoed across the courtyard.
Another group of students approached.
Leading them was a young woman with crimson hair.
Two elegant black wings rested behind her back.
A broken crimson halo floated above her head.
Unlike Lucian...
Her smile carried unmistakable arrogance.
"So..."
"These are the famous twins."
She slowly looked Azrael up and down.
Then laughed.
"They don’t look very impressive."
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Lucian sighed.
"...She’s here."
The young woman crossed her arms.
"My name is Valeria."
"Rank Two."
She looked directly into Azrael’s silver eyes.
"I don’t care what miracles happened in that dungeon."
"Here..."
"...strength is proven."
Not inherited.
The surrounding students immediately stepped backward.
They recognized that expression.
Valeria was looking for a fight.
Azrael simply smiled.
"I agree."
Her grin widened.
"Good."
"We’ll see each other during the entrance examination."
She turned and walked away.
As she disappeared into the crowd, the Headmaster quietly spoke.
"The Academy has one rule above all others."
He looked at the twins.
"No matter your background."
"No matter your bloodline."
"No matter your destiny."
"If you wish to stand at the summit..."
"You must earn your place."
The System chimed.
Main Quest Updated
Celestial Academy Arc
First Objective:
Pass the Entrance Examination.
Difficulty:
A+
Failure:
Expulsion.
Success Rewards:
Academy Access.
Cultivation Resources.
Evolution Points.
New Skills.
Hidden Rewards: ???
Azrael looked toward the colossal academy rising into the clouds.
He could already feel countless powerful geniuses waiting within.
Some would become allies.
Some would become rivals.
Some...
Would become enemies.
With a smile, he adjusted the grip on Astraeus.
His next journey had officially begun.