The school looked different.
It wasn't the buildings or the trees it was something in the air. A pressure that settled over everything like a humid storm before the rain. Students moved quietly in clusters, eyes flicking up toward the now-familiar purple sky, conversations filled with half-jokes and anxious speculation.
"They say the Awakening Ceremony might actually let us fight."
"Fight? With what? They're just gonna drop mutated bunnies in the gym?"
"Hey, even a mutated bunny can kill you if you freeze up."
"I'm not freezing. I'll go full Mortal Kombat if I have to."
Laughter followed that, but it was nervous.
Ren said nothing as he stepped through the school gates beside his father. He wore his standard uniform—crisp, gray slacks, white shirt, black blazer. But he felt like a stranger among classmates he'd known for years.
Inside, the halls buzzed with whispers. A few heads turned as he passed—he was already infamous for the fight that led to his suspension. The fractured collarbone, the bleeding nose, the sudden explosion of violence .
Ren kept his eyes ahead.
Takeshi Kurozawa walked beside him with calm authority. Teachers and staff parted to let them through, more out of respect for Takeshi than fear of Ren. His father had made a few calls some to the principal, others to unnamed contacts who handled things "off the books."
At the office, the principal stood waiting: a balding man in his sixties with a drooping mustache and tired eyes. He gave a polite nod.
"Kurozawa-san. Thank you for coming."
Takeshi returned the nod. "We're here to do what's necessary."
Ren stepped forward and bowed. "I'm sorry for what happened. It won't happen again."
The principal studied him for a long second before sighing. "You've always been a top student, Ren. I don't want to see you throw everything away. Especially now. Not when the world is changing so fast."
He motioned to the door behind him. "Go back to class. You'll join the rest during the pre-ceremony briefings this afternoon."
Ren bowed again and turned to leave.
As he stepped back into the hallway, he could feel it—eyes watching him. Most of the students were too wrapped up in their own fears to care for long, but Ren wasn't interested in this.
He just needed time. Time to grow.
Classroom 3-A hadn't changed. Same scratched desks, faded posters, the faint scent of old wood and dry marker ink. Ren slid into his seat at the back, ignoring the surprised glances from classmates.
A girl near the window leaned toward her friend and whispered, "Didn't he break someone's bones?"
Her friend shushed her, but the message was clear.
Ren rested his chin in his palm and stared out the window. His reflection blinked back at him against the purple sky. His fingers twitched, remembering the sensation of sinking his knife into the rat, the warm splash of blood, the unnatural energy that surged into him.
[Devourer - Active]
He hadn't used it since.
But it was still there. Like a second heartbeat.
Lunchtime came quickly.
Ren skipped the cafeteria and made his way to the roof. Few students came up here anymore—not since rumors spread that one of the teachers had seen a mutated bird land on the fence. Silly gossip, maybe. But enough to keep the timid away.
He leaned against the railing and pulled out his phone. No new messages. Just a few government warnings about curfews and restricted areas. He scrolled past them and opened his notes app.
One file: Personal Growth Log.
He thumbed it open.
[Ren Kurozawa – Personal Growth Log]
Date: June 17
First Kill: Black-Gold-Furred Rat
Talent Gained: Devourer
Secondary Talent: Swift Speed
Current Level: 1
Devour Points: 0
Attributes:
Strength: 10
Agility: 15 (+5)
Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 12
Perception: 9
Observations:
The agility boost is noticeable. I can sprint faster, jump higher. Reflexes improved. I dodged a falling book without thinking. Reaction time is maybe 2x better than before.
Talent is instinctive.
Goals:
Level up
Gain more Devour Points
Test the upper limits of Swift Speed
Identify new evolved creatures
Remain undetected
Ren closed the file and pocketed the phone.
He wasn't worried about being expelled anymore.
He was worried about what came next.
That afternoon, the announcement echoed through the school.
"All final-year students report to the gymnasium. Orientation for the Awakening Ceremony will begin in ten minutes."
Ren joined the stream of students heading toward the gym. Murmurs passed between them like smoke: "I heard one girl awakened a lightning talent last year…", "You think they'll make us fight in front of everyone?", "What if we can't kill it?"
Inside the gymnasium, a military-grade platform had been installed at the center. Rows of bleachers lined the walls. Government officials stood in uniform near the edges—stoic, silent. At least ten cages lined the far wall, covered with dark tarps.
The gym fell quiet as an officer stepped up to the microphone.
"Students of Sector 5-K, thank you for coming. I am Lieutenant Haruka, here on behalf of the Global Stabilization Force."
Her voice was sharp and crisp. Late thirties, short-cropped hair, dressed in a gray combat uniform. A pistol holstered at her side.
"The world has changed. As you've all witnessed, the sky is no longer blue. The creatures we once knew are no longer tame. Mutations are rising. And humanity must adapt—or perish."
She clicked a small device. The tarps on the cages pulled away, revealing mutated creatures inside.
Gasps filled the room.
One cage held a rabbit with red eyes and jagged teeth.
Another had a lizard with hardened scales and twitching tails.
A squirrel hissed from behind bars, its claws like miniature knives.
"These are low-level evolved beasts. Level 5 or below. Contained. Monitored. Harmless—unless you hesitate."
She paused, letting the words sink in.
"The Awakening Ceremony will be held in this very gym, one week from now. You will each be allowed to face one of these creatures, alone. If you kill it, there is a chance you will awaken a talent. The more you kill, the higher the probability."
A holographic chart appeared behind her:
1 kill – 20% chance
2 kills – 40% chance
3 kills – 60% chance
4 kills – 80% chance
5 kills – 100% awakening
Murmurs erupted again.
Lieutenant Haruka raised her voice. "You may opt out. But remember: the outside world is not going to wait for you to feel ready. This is your best chance. Controlled, safe, and legal. The next time you meet an evolved beast, it might not be in a cage."
With that, the presentation ended.
Ren stood still long after the others began filing out.
He already had one kill.
Already awakened.
But he couldn't reveal it. Not yet.
That evening, Ren returned home to a quiet dinner. His mother served sweet soy pork and steamed vegetables. She smiled and asked how school went. He lied with ease.
His father, however, watched him closely. Sipped his miso soup in silence. Only after Yuna left the table did Takeshi speak.
"You saw the ceremony plans?"
Ren nodded.
"Are you going to participate?"
"Yes."
Takeshi narrowed his eyes. "You already seem… different."
Ren met his gaze but said nothing.
The silence stretched before Takeshi finally sighed. "Just be careful. If you awaken something powerful, it's not always a blessing. It could make you a target."
Ren's fingers clenched beneath the table.
Too late for that.
That night, sleep didn't come easily.
He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling again. The purple hue outside had deepened, and now strange streaks of light moved faintly within the clouds—subtle, but real.
The world was mutating.
And so was he.
He sat up and opened the window. A cool wind swept through. Somewhere in the distance, he heard a scream—quick, cut off. A dog barked. A siren followed.
He opened his panel again.
[Status Panel – Ren Kurozawa]
[Level: 1 Exp: 20/100]
[Main Talent: Devourer ]
[Secondary Talent: Swift Speed]
[Attributes]
Strength: 11
Agility: 15 (+5)
Endurance: 10
Intelligence: 12
Perception: 9
Devour Points: 1
Ren exhaled.
He needed more kills.
The ceremony was in a week. But if he waited until then, he'd be left behind. The others would awaken normal talents—fire, water, strength—and begin climbing the ladder of survival.
He already had a head start.
But to stay ahead, he had to hunt.
He glanced down at the alley below.
The same alley where the mutated rat had appeared.
What else was out there, lurking in the shadows?
His hands curled into fists.
He will find out soon.
He had seven days.
And he wasn't going to waste a single one.