Another day had passed. Zev and Zendrake spoke about the demonic creature that existed in their world. According to Zendrake, it was an entity from the underworld, wielding such immense power that some had compared it to a god.
He went on to explain that these beings were the reason portals and monsters appeared across the realm. Though he couldn't say how many there were, he remembered one thing with absolute certainty—the name of their leader: Callista.
It was a name etched into his memory, ever since she destroyed the world he once called home. That catastrophe had taken place a thousand years ago. The land had been overrun by monsters, leaving death and ruin in their wake.
Even now, however, Zendrake could offer only fragments of the truth. For reasons unknown, much of his memory remained lost.
"What are you planning to do now? In your current state, it's obvious you can't take them down," Zev said calmly.
Zendrake was fully aware of his condition. He didn't believe for a moment that he could defeat even a single monster and he certainly wasn't foolish enough to face one without proper preparation.
"You don't need to point that out. Besides, you're not strong enough to kill a demon yet, either. You need to get stronger," Zendrake replied.
Zev's eyes widened at the remark. It sounded as if Zendrake was asking him to confront the creature in his place.
"What are you trying to say?"
To be honest, what Zev truly wanted was to understand why his former comrades had betrayed him and who had ordered his assassination.
"Hahaha! For someone so young, your mind is already far more developed than most," Zendrake said with a grin. He added, "As you can see, I have become a sword. I need someone to wield me. Our spiritual energies are already connected, which means you have no choice but to accept me."
Zev let out a quiet sigh, but a faint smile appeared on his face. He wondered what would come after he uncovered the truth. Still, he could feel it—he would become stronger with Zendrake by his side.
"I will help you achieve your goal, Zendrake. But I have a goal of my own, and I hope you can respect that."
Zendrake gave a low hum. He did not quite understand what the boy was trying to say.
"You can do whatever you want, kid. My only purpose is to kill the demonic creature."
Zev took Zendrake and fastened the sword to his waist. "But before we deal with the demonic creature you mentioned, let's attend my class first."
The two of them left the room and made their way to Zev's first class of the day. Inside a small classroom, around thirty students had already gathered. Zev quickly noticed that many of them carried traces of monstrous genes, evident in the changes to their physical appearance.
Most of the students wore coats from the Mutant Academy. Some were chatting in small groups, while others sat in silence, waiting for the professor to arrive.
As Zev scanned the room, his expression darkened. Among the students, he saw a face he recognized—Nord Han. This boy had inherited the strength of an orc. His body was massive for someone his age, and at a glance, he could easily be mistaken for someone in his mid-twenties.
Zev's expression changed the moment his eyes landed on one particular student. It was Nord Han—the boy who used to torment him relentlessly. Back in those days, Nord had hurt him in every way he could, both physically and emotionally. Zev had suffered through bruises, broken bones, and days when the pain kept him from even attending class.
He took a deep breath, but the weight in his chest only grew heavier. Despite his efforts, he couldn't suppress the emotions rising within him. They might have been younger back then, but the memories had not faded. The pain, the fear, the helplessness, all of it returned with startling clarity.
"What's going on, kid?" Zendrake asked, sensing the shift in his energy.
Zev gave a slight shake of his head. "Nothing. Don't mind me."
"If you say so."
Soon, a bald man in his mid-thirties entered the room. He had a strong, muscular build and carried a spear in his hand. His presence radiated a heavy aura, and the serious expression on his face was enough to silence the room. Not a single student dared to speak.
Zev recognized him immediately. This man was one of the academy's professors, known for leading the combat training classes. His name was Professor Willie Andro.
Willie scanned the room with a raised brow, observing the students quietly. He began to introduce himself, though it quickly became clear that there was no need. Everyone already knew who he was. Without wasting time, he moved on to the reason for his visit.
"As mutants, living with danger is part of our reality. You must learn how to protect yourselves and make quick decisions in critical situations," Willie said, his gaze sweeping across the room.
"Each of you passed the entrance assessment, which means you likely have some techniques already. But that test wasn't enough to show me your true potential. I need to observe you more closely to understand where you need to improve."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully before continuing. "So, I've come up with a plan. We're going to have a mock battle."
The room fell silent. The students stared at him in shock. It was only the second day at the Academy, and their first time meeting Professor Willie, yet he was already throwing them into combat.
Still, not everyone was unsettled. Some, like Nord, were visibly eager. He was excited for the chance to show off his strength.
Zev, on the other hand, had a wide smile on his face. He had already anticipated this. Nothing has changed with Professor Willie. He's still the same—eager to see what others are capable of, especially the monster genes they possess.
Back in the day, Willie had always enjoyed watching fights and taking part in them himself. Most people called him the Battle Maniac. But what set him apart was his ability to give valuable feedback after each fight, helping students expand their combat knowledge and learn how to properly harness their monster genes.
"Let's move to the arena. We'll begin in ten minutes," Willie announced.
With that, the students rose from their seats and followed him without a single word. The air was filled with tension and anticipation.
-
Ten minutes passed, and the students arrived at the arena. The vast space could easily hold ten thousand people or more.
Fortunately, only Willie's class was present, so they had free rein to use the entire arena.
"Ten minutes are up. I know you're all eager and ready for the mock battle," Willie announced. He then added, "But before we begin, remember this is just a mock battle. Show your skills and what you've learned."
A student raised a trembling hand. "What if we get injured, Professor Willie?" asked a boy with green hair, his voice shaky.
"Don't worry," Willie replied, gesturing toward a healer in a brown robe standing nearby. "A healer is on standby if anyone needs help. You can go all out in this battle. But keep in mind, the fight will stop immediately when anyone surrenders. Understood?"
The students nodded in unison.
"Alright, then. Let's begin. Who wants to go first? Just step forward," Willie said.
It didn't take long before a boy with a bulky physique stepped up. "Can I go first, Professor Willie?" he asked with a confident smile.
Willie smiled back, clearly impressed by the boy's build and eager to see what he was capable of. "Of course. But what's your name?"
"I'm Nord Han, Professor."
"Oh, the one with the Orc's gene, right?"
Nord nodded.
Willie scanned the group, searching for someone who could match Nord's strength. After a moment, he stopped. "Since this is the first match, I'll let you choose your opponent."
Nord pointed toward a boy sitting at the back. "I want to fight him. Zev Quellen."
Zev didn't flinch at the challenge. "If you say so."