CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 49: ECHOES OF MOMENTUM

The academy grounds shimmered under the midmorning sun. Students bustled between classes, their chatter filled with rumors, some about upcoming assessments, others about the underground duel club, but most surrounded a name that refused to fade from lips: Riku Aoyama.

He had become a legend in the making. Some said he was a prodigy returned from self-imposed exile, others whispered about powers he couldn’t possibly have. Regardless, he stirred change wherever he went.

Riku stood before the marble-clad lecture hall, half-listening to Ayumi as she recounted the latest drama between two noble houses. Her gestures were animated, her voice laced with concern, but his mind was elsewhere, analyzing system prompts.

[System Reminder: ’Territorial Advancement’ mission deadline approaching. 4 days remaining.] [Skill Upgrade Opportunity: Enhance ’Danger Sense’ to Level 2 – Cost: 150 Points.]

He tapped the mental interface.

[Current Points: 1,120] [Inventory: Skill Merge Token x1, Lesser Insight Elixir, Instant Teleport Scroll, 1x Golden Coupon, System Upgrade Fragment x2]

"Riku," Ayumi said, poking his shoulder. "You’re spacing out again."

"Sorry," he replied. "Just thinking. About what to do next."

Ayumi frowned. "You’ve been like this since we returned. Like you’re planning something bigger."

He smiled softly. "I am. But it’s not something I can rush. The system is opening doors faster than I expected."

She glanced around, lowering her voice. "I still don’t know what you’re hiding... but it makes people nervous, you know?"

He tilted his head. "People? Or you?"

She blushed. "Maybe both."

Before the moment could turn awkward, the class bell chimed. Students flooded toward the main auditorium. As Ayumi walked ahead, Riku noticed a new figure standing by the door, Professor Lin, a highly respected scholar known for his harsh grading and sharp eye.

"Aoyama," the professor said, locking eyes with him. "A word."

Riku stopped. "Yes, Professor?"

"I’ve reviewed your re-entry performance logs. Exceptional. Unprecedented, even. But that brings questions. Where were you trained?"

"Life, sir," Riku replied evenly. "I taught myself."

Lin stared for a second longer. "Let’s see if your answers hold up during the evaluation next week."

Riku nodded, sensing the challenge was more than academic.

---

Later that Afternoon

Riku found himself in the old library’s restricted wing. The place smelled of aging parchment and faint incense. Kira leaned over a scroll, squinting.

"This thing mentions an ancient kingdom that once existed near Verdant Hollow. It was said to be cursed by a minor god."

Riku raised an eyebrow. "A god’s curse?"

"Or a system gone wrong," she murmured. "The descriptions are too... systematic to be divine."

He crossed his arms. "Maybe my kingdom isn’t the first to emerge from the Hollow."

Kira glanced at him. "We might be building over ancient ruins, possibly over what’s left of a previous ’wallet’ user."

The idea made his skin crawl.

[New Quest Detected: Investigate the Myth of the Hollowed King] [Rewards: Insight Fragment, Historical System Blueprint, ???]

"Another side quest," he muttered. "But one I won’t ignore."

---

That Evening: Training Ground

The academy’s training grounds roared with energy. Students sparred, honed spells, and tested gear. Riku stepped onto a reserved platform.

Standing across from him was a transfer student named Keiran, a tall, silver-haired fighter with piercing yellow eyes and a history of battlefield accomplishments.

"You’re the genius everyone’s talking about," Keiran said, drawing dual short swords. "I want to see it for myself."

Riku grinned. "Then let’s test it."

[Skill Activated: Flow State – Reaction Speed Increased] [Skill Activated: Phantom Step Lv. 1 – Footwork Enhanced]

He dodged Keiran’s first flurry, reappearing behind him in a blink.

[Skill: Shadow Lance – Thrust]

A spear of energy shot from his palm, forcing Keiran to pivot mid-air.

[Skill: Twin Bloom – Cross Counter Technique]

The impact sent shockwaves through the crowd. Students gasped as the arena lit up.

Keiran grinned. "You’re holding back. I can feel it."

Riku exhaled. "You wouldn’t survive if I didn’t."

[Skill Sync Bonus Activated – Prediction Enhancer Boosted Temporarily]

He moved again, this time slipping through Keiran’s guard and placing a dagger inches from his neck.

"Yield," Riku said.

Keiran raised both hands. "Impressive. No wonder even the instructors talk about you."

---

Late Night: Dormitory Rooftop

Riku leaned on the railing, the stars stretching endlessly above him. He heard footsteps.

It was Ayumi.

"Can’t sleep either?" she asked.

"Too many thoughts. And the system doesn’t come with an off switch."

She sat beside him. "I’ve noticed how people look at you now. Like you’re more than human."

"That’s not how I feel," Riku replied. "I still struggle. I still wonder if I’ll mess up."

Ayumi hesitated. "Can I tell you something weird? I feel drawn to you. Like I want to understand you."

He turned to her slowly. "You’re not the only one."

The moment passed quietly, full of unspoken possibilities.

---

Meanwhile: Unknown Location

In a hidden room beneath the academy, cloaked figures circled a table. At the center was a glowing shard.

"His system activity is spiking again," said one. "He’s drawing too much attention."

Another voice, raspy and cruel, replied, "Then let’s test his limits. Send the Hollowborn."

The shard pulsed.

---

[New Threat Incoming: Hollowborn Elite Scout Approaching Verdant Hollow]

The stage was far from still. Each action set off another ripple, and Riku’s rise was only beginning.

---

The sunlight filtered through the stained-glass windows of Crestfall Academy’s main hall, painting the polished marble floor with fragments of rainbow. Students murmured and bustled about, but all eyes occasionally flicked toward the tall figure walking through the corridor, Riku Aoyama.

He wasn’t just another student anymore.

With whispers of his accomplishments spreading through the academy like wildfire from the miraculous top grades to unexplainable sparring victories, Riku had become something of a myth. Teachers started observing him differently, some out of curiosity, others with suspicion. Students either admired him, feared him, or secretly plotted against him.

Today, however, was supposed to be peaceful.

Riku walked toward the Strategic Applications Room, a private lab used for advanced research. Ayumi followed him, her eyes glinting with quiet curiosity. Over the past few days, her admiration for Riku had slowly shifted into something more tender. It wasn’t just his genius that intrigued her, but his restraint. His mystery.

"You sure this is a good idea?" she asked, glancing at the discreet bag he carried, filled with items purchased from the system.

"We’ll only simulate minor applications," he replied with a smirk, "Besides, the room is soundproof and unmonitored. Perfect for... experiments."

Ayumi rolled her eyes, half amused, half annoyed.

---

Inside the lab, Riku activated the system interface discreetly.

[System Interface Opened] [New Item Used: Arcane Displacement Lens] [Effect: 10-minute local distortion of mana and surveillance. Status: Active.]

With the room secured, he drew out a small crystalline device, a relic infused with spatial-magic properties.

"What’s that?" Ayumi asked, unable to hide her fascination.

"Something called a Pocket Domain Core. I’m planning to build an isolated training chamber. If it works, we won’t have to rely on academy resources for long."

He placed the core on the platform, channeled energy through his hand, and triggered activation.

[Activation Success] [Mini-Realm Forming: Estimated Time - 15 Minutes]

While the core pulsed and constructed its dimension, Riku sat back and reflected. His points were dwindling, only 850 left. With multiple upcoming threats, including the upcoming Inter-Academy Combat Trials, he needed an edge.

---

Meanwhile, in another wing of the academy, a cloaked figure slipped into a restricted office. Professor Kael Serin, known for his sharp wit and sharper tongue, leafed through a report with a deep frown.

"Riku Aoyama... unusual mana frequency, adaptive techniques, non-standard skill formations..."

He closed the report and whispered, "You might be more dangerous than you let on."

Kael glanced at the crystal orb on his desk. A web of connections showed data from across the continent, students, nobles, military prospects. But Riku’s line was flickering with unreadable energy.

---

Back in the Strategic Room, the mini-domain finally stabilized.

[Mini-Realm Status: Stable] [Access Granted: Owner - Riku Aoyama]

Riku and Ayumi stepped inside. The pocket space appeared as a wide dojo surrounded by flowing white energy.

"This... is beautiful," Ayumi breathed.

Riku nodded. "We can train here without limits. No more hiding."

She glanced at him. "You’re building something, aren’t you? Beyond power."

He paused, then admitted, "A legacy."

Suddenly, the realm flickered.

[Intrusion Detected] [Threat Level: Unknown. Signature: Suppressed.]

A humanoid shadow emerged from the far end of the dojo. Its body was cloaked in dark aura, eyes glowing red.

Ayumi stepped behind Riku. "What the hell is that?"

Riku drew the Shadowsteel Dagger and activated a new skill.

[Skill Used: Phantom Echo - Creates Afterimages with 30% physical effect]

He darted forward, engaging the figure with slashes and illusions.

The shadow dodged, countering with inhuman speed.

[Skill Detected: Void Fang Strike]

The entity’s claw tore through a barrier Riku hastily erected.

Ayumi whispered, "Behind you!"

Riku rolled, countered, and threw a burst scroll.

[Item Used: Shockwave Rune Scroll - Area Disruption]

The pulse staggered the figure. Riku leaped in, striking with everything he had.

The shadow exploded into dark mist.

[Intruder Eliminated. Identity: Unknown Proxy.]

"They sent something... through the pocket realm?" Ayumi gasped.

Riku frowned. "Someone’s watching more closely than we thought."

---

Later that evening, Riku met Kira in the rooftop garden.

She looked out toward the horizon. "Heard about the shadow attack."

"Ayumi didn’t tell you, did she?"

"No. The system did. We’re... more connected now, remember?"

He nodded slowly.

Kira turned to him. "We need to start preparing more seriously. Your kingdom, your name, your power—it’s drawing eyes. Some are allies, others... aren’t."

Riku’s eyes narrowed. "Let them come. I’ll be ready."

The garden fell quiet, but tension hung in the air.

Change was coming, and the next arc of Riku Aoyama’s journey had just begun.