What is pain?
It's life's favorite prankster—an uninvited guest that crashes your most peaceful moment, kicks you in the soul, then leans in with a smirk and asks, Did you learn anything?.
It dances along your nerves like an overexcited child, throws stones forged from fire, and whispers sweet nothings such as...
"This builds character."
It's the universe's sarcastic way of checking in: "Still alive?"—delivered with sandpaper hands and a steel-toed boot.
Well, that's what most people think pain is.
But for Victor? That definition was a polite understatement. A weak metaphor that barely scratched the surface of what he felt in this moment.
The ringing in his ears was ceaseless, like a siren screaming within the hollow of his skull. He tried to push himself up, only to stumble and collapse again—this time onto his knees. His arms trembled as he crouched low to the ground, body refusing to cooperate.
He felt like a fragile, blind puppy cornered by a hungry white tiger—helpless, vulnerable, and entirely outmatched.
[Your eardrums have successfully healed]
[-5H]
A wave of warmth surged in his chest as the notification appeared in his vision. Relief washed over him like a gentle breeze, slowly dissolving the maddening ring that had him doubled over like a wounded dog.
"In this new generation," the green-haired delinquent sneered, voice raised for everyone in the cafeteria to hear, "we have weak, pathetic nobodies who somehow stumble their way into the academy... thinking they can live a life of comfort and luxury."
He pointed at Victor, voice laced with disdain and amusement.
"While we 'the serious ones' train until our bones break, they come to sit pretty and dream soft dreams." His lip curled into a grin. "I'll beat the living hell out of you, newbie. You'll learn your place in this academy real quick."
"You'll never act proud here again. People like you? You're not meant for this life. You're trash that needs to be reminded."
Whispers spread among the students seated at their tables. Heads shook in quiet disapproval—but no one moved. No one intervened.
Because in this academy, those kinds of lessons were commonplace.
Crystal Palace Academy was one of the top institutions in the world, and everyone knew the unspoken rule: Stay hidden.
Don't make noise. Don't stand out—especially if you're new and untested.
The strong ruled here.
Those with overwhelming strength enforced their dominance, their superiority extending like a shadow over every freshman and newcomer who dared to think they were equal.
It was an unfair system. A crude, brutal hierarchy where power was law and pride was punishment.
But no one dared to challenge it.
After all, the academy didn't stop these power games. In fact, they quietly endorsed them. Because it worked. It pushed students to grow stronger, to rise above the weak, and to transform ambition into strength.
Like they always say, poke the lion… and get devoured.
Ding!
[How dare a feeble human underestimate the Darkgod's special slave!]
[Quest ]
[Objective: Kill or incapacitate the enemy—permanently, if needed. Show him why you're not to be trifled with.]
[Reward: Shadow Wolf Skill – Phantom Howl]
A chill of excitement ran down Victor's spine.
'I see... even the system is angry. That makes two of us.'
A second voice echoed in his mind.
'Victor, let me take control.'
[Luna Dash activated]
Victor's lips curled into a crooked grin as power surged through him. The rage inside him matched the insult he'd just endured—and now, Borack had permission to act.
"This little human dares lay a hand on me?" he muttered beneath his breath. A low growl rumbled in his chest.
His head rose slowly. And unlike the time in the Dark Forest where he'd taken on a more wolf-like appearance, this transformation was different.
This time, his human features remained dominant—yet terrifying in their own right. His eyes turned an eerie pale white, as if covered in a layer of translucent mist.
Veins surged along his neck and arms, thick and throbbing with surging energy. His teeth elongated, becoming sharp and jagged like fangs.
He looked more human now—but also far more dangerous.
"Who are you calling little, huh?" Malik said. It was clear he had heard Borack's words.
But he didn't really think much about being called a human—an indication that this person, at the moment, was not human. However, what made him stare with a fierce gaze was something else.
'Why does this guy look scary all of a sudden?' Malik, the greenie, thought at the back of his head.
'Are you sure I haven't fucked up?'
He asked himself as he looked to his side, where his two companions were nowhere to be found.
'Those bastards left me?!'
Why wouldn't they? The presence that exuded dense pressure with a high dose of killing intent was far from welcoming. They were just mere Emberkind—a rank given to basic-level ones with a small amount of lumina energy, since they were in the first stage of championhood.
The small amount of lumina energy only allowed them to have twice the strength, speed, and stamina of a normal man, and minor control over the ability that had awakened.
So they were great lackeys to boost his strength, since he was at the stage of Forgesoul—a level two ability user who gains control of their lumina and can channel it to enhance combat capabilities.
Their core is strengthened, as are their physical abilities such as durability and other attributes.
"Did you see that?.."
"Yeah, Malik's lackeys left him behind..."
"That's quite embarrassing. A newbie who I'm sure hasn't reached the Elementalis level, and yet they were sent running... hahaha..."
"Did you see that transformation though?..."
"Yeah... what kind of ability could that be?..."
"I have no idea myself..."
Malik could feel all eyes on him, waiting for him to act since his companions had just fled because of some scary transformation—which was disgraceful. At least fight and be beaten, rather than shamefully run away like some wet dog.
Their whispers were clear to his ears, which made him angry.
His reputation was being ruined, and the best way to restore it was to cripple the newbie.
'I will kill this guy.'
***