---
He **barely** escaped, collapsing in a hidden crevice. As he bandaged his wounds, he **finally** let himself think—*really* think—about what he was becoming.
*"I'm not a Zero anymore… but am I even human?"*
The System had no answer.
The **God's Mark** pulsed like a dying ember on Kael's skin—its final day. The System's cold analysis flickered in his vision as he stalked through the ruins, hunting.
> **[BEAST DETECTED: IRONHIDE BOAR (BASIC-TIER)]**
> **• STR: 12** | **AGI: 8** | **END: 15**
> **• WEAKNESS: EYES, UNDERBELLY**
Kael smirked. *"Easy prey."*
He lunged, dagger flashing. The boar squealed, thrashing, but his **STR 19** drove the blade deep. It collapsed, twitching.
> **XP GAINED: +10 (BASIC-TIER BEAST). TOTAL XP: 180/300.**
> **WP GAINED: +5. TOTAL WP: 77.**
*"Too slow,"* he muttered. He needed **stronger** prey.
Then—**voices.**
Three figures stood at the edge of the ruins, their clothes too clean for scavengers. Two boys, one girl. **Academy students.**
Kael froze. The System scanned them—but unlike beasts, their stats weren't uniform.
> **[HUMANS DETECTED.]**
> **• TALL MALE (BLOND):** [PHYSICAL-FOCUS]
> **- STR: 22** | **AGI: 14** | **END: 18**
> **• SHORT MALE (DARK HAIR):** [STEALTH-FOCUS]
> **- STR: 10** | **AGI: 25** | **END: 12**
> **• FEMALE (RED BRAIDS):** [DURABILITY-FOCUS]
> **- STR: 16** | **AGI: 13** | **END: 24**
The girl's head snapped toward Kael. **"Someone's watching."**
Kael cursed silently. *"How? My PER is 5—I wasn't sloppy."*
The blond boy grinned. **"Come out, gutter rat. We won't hurt you."**
Kael stepped forward, dagger still in hand. The trio's eyes flicked to his weapon, then to the **beast-blood staining his clothes.**
The dark-haired boy whistled. **"Damn. You've been busy."**
The girl's nose wrinkled. **"You're marked."**
Silence.
Kael didn't answer. The System pinged:
> **"WARNING: COMBAT DISADVANTAGE."**
> **• USER (KAEL):** [UNREGISTERED]
> **• OPPONENTS:** [ACADEMY-TRAINED]
> **• RECOMMENDATION: AVOID ENGAGEMENT."**
The blond boy tossed him a small pouch. **"Food. You look half-dead."**
Kael caught it but didn't open it. *"Why help me?"*
The girl shrugged. **"Because we're not monsters. Even Zeros deserve to eat."**
The word **"Zero"** hung in the air like a slap.
Kael's grip tightened on the pouch. *"I'm not a Zero anymore."*
The dark-haired boy laughed. **"Sure, kid. Whatever helps you sleep at night."**
Then they turned and left, already forgetting him.
Kael stood there, the food pouch crumpling in his fist.
> **SYSTEM:** *"SANITY DRAIN: -5. CURRENT SANITY: 70/100."**
*"I'll make them remember."*
---
The Mark's final hours brought a **pack of Intermediate-Tier beasts—Nightrend Wolves.**
> **[NIGHTREND WOLF ALPHA]**
> **• STR: 25** | **AGI: 30** | **END: 20**
> **[NIGHTREND WOLF x4]**
> **• STR: 15-20** | **AGI: 20-25** | **END: 15-20**
Kael activated **Wrath-Surge: AGI (AGI 15 → 25)** and **fought like a demon.**
One wolf fell. Then another.
> **XP GAINED: +60 (INTERMEDIATE-TIER BEASTS x2). TOTAL XP: 240/300.**
> **WP GAINED: +30. TOTAL WP: 107.**
But the Alpha's fangs found his arm. **Bones cracked.**
> **SANITY: 70 → 55 (PAIN-INDUCED DRAIN).**
Kael **stabbed its eye**, forcing the pack to retreat.
Gasping, he collapsed—but he'd **survived.**
> **LEVEL UP!**
> **LEVEL 5 → 6**
> **+1 TO ALL STATS (STR 19→20, AGI 15→16, END 11→12, PER 5→6)**
> **+3 FREE STAT POINTS (TO ALLOCATE).**
He dumped all three into **STR (20 → 23).**
*"Stronger. I need to be **stronger.**"*
Almost immediately he heard the cry of the wolves they had called for reinforcement
He sighed
This was not going to be easy
Soon after the alpha he failed to kill soon appeared in his field of vision he watched them back waiting for the system's guidance but all he heard was system malfunctioning reboot needed time of reboot 8 hours
What he cried internally how will he deal with the vengeful wolves
He steeled his resolve as he prepared to engage the beast and he then came to realize he was trusting the system to make decisions for him instead of it being the other way round and swore in his heart he would never again be at the mercy of the system again
Almost immediately the battle began with two lunging at him from behind instead of lunging forward he rolled under the beast being able to slash and kill the underbelly of both killing one as it was gutted and seriously hampering the movement of the other
He looked up to see 8 wolves staring at him menacingly the battle became a blur as from then on all he new was that the efforts he made were wasted as he killed the last wolves he collapsed knowing he didn't hear the whisper of a level up that would have been announced if the system was online
He woke up and saw all his wounds were healed he noticed that he was in a hut and the scent of a meal made his stomach begin to protest
He tried to find out who helped him only to discover it was the same lady that helped him in the city
He walked out of the hut greeted her and asked her the question why are you helping me
She looked at him and smiles and said do I need a reason to help someone
Sit and rest take this bowl of stew I prepared for us
As they are she said she was in her way to the capital and advised he also go too as it was a place to grow stronger so as not to run like a rat or be looked down upon again
Few hours later she was ready to leave and gave him the information and an acceptance letter to the academy and all the information about the academy and how to get to the academy,wishes him luck and left.
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