The academy bells continued to ring.
DONG!
DONG!
Every corridor filled with students rushing toward the center of Valhalla Imperial Academy.
No one spoke.
The atmosphere was suffocating.
The Hall of Heroes towered above the academy like a sacred temple.
Gigantic marble pillars supported a vaulted ceiling painted with scenes of ancient battles.
Along both walls stood dozens of statues.
Kings.
Queens.
Generals.
Heroes.
Every one of them had once graduated from Valhalla.
At the very end...
Seven empty pedestals stood beneath a broken mural.
No names.
No statues.
Just silence.
Noah frowned.
"Those weren’t there before..."
Seraphina noticed his gaze.
"They’re not empty."
"What?"
"They’re waiting."
Before Noah could ask what she meant...
The Headmaster stepped onto the central platform.
An elderly man dressed in white robes.
His silver eyes carried the weight of countless years.
The hall immediately became silent.
"Students."
His voice echoed effortlessly.
"Yesterday..."
"...Valhalla Academy suffered an attack."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
"The attackers belonged to an organization known as the Black Eclipse."
More whispers.
Most first-years had never heard the name.
Older students looked pale.
"They have remained hidden for over fifty years."
"And yesterday..."
"They declared war."
Silence.
Noah felt dozens of eyes drift toward him.
The Headmaster continued.
"Several students lost their lives."
"We will honor them."
He raised one hand.
The entire hall bowed their heads.
For one full minute...
Not a single sound was heard.
After the moment of silence...
The Headmaster spoke again.
"Because of yesterday’s attack..."
"...all first-year students will undergo a new examination."
The hall erupted.
"A new exam?"
"Already?"
"Didn’t we just survive one?"
The Headmaster raised his hand.
The hall became quiet once more.
"This examination begins..."
"...tomorrow."
A massive magic circle lit up behind him.
The air distorted.
A projection of an enormous stone tower appeared.
It pierced the clouds.
Its upper floors couldn’t even be seen.
Students gasped.
"The Tower of Echoes."
The Headmaster’s voice became solemn.
"For centuries..."
"It has remained sealed."
"Tomorrow..."
"It will open."
Professor Elena stepped forward.
"The Tower does not test talent."
"It tests potential."
"It reveals who you truly are when no one can save you."
Noah’s heartbeat quickened.
Predator’s Instinct stirred.
Not from danger.
From anticipation.
"The rules are simple."
The Headmaster continued.
"You may climb alone..."
"...or with a team."
"Each floor becomes more difficult."
"The higher you climb..."
"...the greater the rewards."
Ancient weapons.
Rare techniques.
Lost spells.
Hidden relics.
The rewards appeared as glowing images around the hall.
Students stared in amazement.
Then...
The Headmaster’s expression darkened.
"But understand this."
"The Tower is alive."
"It judges every soul that enters."
"If it rejects you..."
He paused.
"...it will not forgive you."
The room fell deathly silent.
Noah looked once more at the seven empty pedestals.
For the briefest instant...
He thought he saw faint crimson silhouettes standing upon them.
Watching him.
Blink.
They were gone.
"Was that... my imagination?"
As the assembly ended, students began discussing the tower excitedly.
Eric grinned.
"A tower climb?"
"Now that’s more like it!"
Sophia cracked her knuckles.
"I call dibs on the best rewards."
Damien sighed.
"You two are impossible."
Luna quietly looked at Noah.
"You noticed it too..."
she whispered.
Noah met her eyes.
"The pedestals?"
She nodded.
"They weren’t empty."
Before either of them could say another word...
A voice echoed through Noah’s mind.
Calm.
Ancient.
The same voice from the sea of thrones.
"Come."
"The first floor has waited a thousand years..."
"...for the Seventh Successor."
Noah’s eyes widened.
The Tower of Echoes wasn’t simply opening for the academy.
It...
Had been waiting for him.