Elric staring at the glowing data screen floating before him. His reflection was split between two expressions—exhaustion from what he'd endured, and ambition for what was to come.
The next phase of evolution had begun.
With a single slice, Elric imagined it—cutting through entire buildings like a blade through glass, separating enemies into harmless pieces, reshaping reality itself within his domain. The power of the Surgical Field was intoxicating.
But then he tried to stand, and reality reasserted itself.
He looked down at his trembling hand, the one that had just channeled that beautiful blue energy, and let out a dry laugh. "Damn... the power's there—but my stamina's still garbage."
The exhaustion that came after using his ability was crushing, undeniable. Every time he summoned his "Room," he could feel his energy being drained like a dying battery.
It didn't matter how sharp his technique was, how precise his cuts, how clever his tactics—if his body couldn't keep up, if he collapsed after a few uses, then all that power was worthless.
He clenched his fists, muttering under his breath with frustration, "I need something to boost my physical strength… and fast."
He'd already thought about the problem long before—the System had hinted at one possible path, buried in the dense technical information it occasionally provided.
[Beast-Type devil fruit: Pending Host Compatibility.]
That cryptic message had appeared yesterday, lingering at the edge of his vision until he'd dismissed it.
That was his next goal. A beast-type fruit—a catalyst that could strengthen the human body beyond natural limits, enhance stamina and recovery, transform him from a fragile vessel into something that could actually support his growing powers.
If he could somehow get his hands on one, he wouldn't have to worry about passing out every time he used his abilities. He could fight properly, could use his Room without fear of collapse.
And the System had already made one thing clear how to get it.
In other words, Elric needed to expand his group—to take in more survivors who fit the adoption criteria.
He sighed, the sound heavy with irony. "So that's what it's come to... the world's falling apart, and I'm out here thinking about recruitment drives."
Outside, the night fog pressed against the apartment windows, heavy with the stench of decay and ozone. Somewhere in the distance, a car alarm went off and then died in static, cut short as if something had silenced it deliberately.
Elric finally stood up, straightening his jacket with slow, measured movements. His vision blurred for a moment—a reminder that even with the upgrade, he was still fundamentally human—but he shook it off through force of will.
"Alright. Time to deal with the living."
He walked toward the side room door with deliberate steps and unlocked it with a quiet click that.
As soon as he opened it, the faint scent of perfume and dust drifted out—Natasha's expensive fragrance mixed with the mustiness of a room that hadn't been aired out in days.
Natasha and Jenna were both sitting on the narrow bed—back to back, bodies rigid, glaring at each other like two cats sharing a cage. The tension between them was palpable, electric, dangerous.
Jenna had just woken up from her fainting, still looking a bit disoriented, her blonde hair disheveled and her eyes slightly unfocused. But the moment she saw Elric standing in the doorway, those eyes hardened with suspicion and barely contained anger.
Natasha, on the other hand, stood up immediately when she saw him. She brushed her skirt with automatic, practiced movements and adjusted her high heels before stepping toward him, her body language shifting from defensive to... something else. Something calculated.
"Elric," she said softly, her tone far too sweet.
"Oh?" Elric raised a brow, genuine surprise coloring his expression.
He remembered how cold and distant she'd been that morning. She'd barely acknowledged his existence except when necessary, maintaining that professional distance teachers kept from students.
Now, she looked almost... obedient. Compliant in a way that seemed both genuine and performative.
The change was fast—disturbingly fast—but he wasn't about to complain about it.
He smirked slightly. "What's this, Professor? Missed me already?"
Natasha's face flushed pink, visible even in the dim light. She shot him a quick glance before looking away, her voice carrying forced casualness. "Don't flatter yourself."
Before Elric could respond, before he could push the teasing further, Jenna's voice cut through the tension like a knife, sharp and dripping with disgust.
"You're pathetic," she spat, her words aimed directly at Natasha. "Selling yourself out to him for a few bottles of water? You call yourself a teacher?"
Elric turned his head slowly, deliberately, to look at Jenna. Her tone reminded him uncomfortably of the way people used to talk before everything burned—the self-righteousness of someone who hadn't yet realized the rules had changed, who still thought morality and pride were worth more than survival.
Natasha's expression darkened instantly, her earlier softness vanishing like smoke. "Watch your mouth, kid. You think you'd still be breathing if he hadn't dragged you out of that mess?"
Jenna scoffed, folding her arms across her chest in a gesture of defiant pride. "Please. He didn't save me—he kidnapped me. You think I'm too stupid to see what's going on?"
Elric sighed quietly and raised a hand, the gesture small but commanding. "Enough."
Both women froze as his tone shifted—still calm, still controlled, but firm enough to cut through their argument.
The change in atmosphere was instant.
He stepped closer to Jenna. His eyes reflected the faint blue glow of his System's interface as he activated a scan, the ability triggering with barely a thought.
The faint grid pattern shimmered across her body, invisible to anyone but him, displaying rows of data that scrolled past his vision.
[Analyzing Survivor: Jenna]
Compatibility Level: 78%
Mutation Potential: High
Behavioral Stability: Low
Qualification: Met (Pending Bond Confirmation)
A slow smile crept across his face as he processed the information.
So, the System wasn't wrong—Jenna fit the "criteria" perfectly. High compatibility, significant potential, exactly what he needed to progress.
And that meant she was valuable. Too valuable to let go, regardless of her attitude.
Elric deactivated the scan, the glow fading from his eyes as the interface disappeared. He looked at her—this arrogant, frightened girl who still thought the old world's morals mattered—and said quietly:
"You're not in the university anymore, Jenna. This isn't a classroom… it's survival."
Jenna frowned, but the faint tremor in her voice betrayed her defiance. "You think that justifies everything you're doing?"
Elric didn't answer right away. He just walked past her, his shoulder almost brushing hers, heading toward the window. His silhouette became framed against the pale city lights—the few that still functioned, casting their weak glow across the dead streets.
"Justifying?" he murmured, his voice thoughtful. "No. I don't need to justify anything. I just need to live long enough to see tomorrow."
Natasha watched him silently, her lips pressed tight, understanding passing behind her eyes.
Jenna said nothing either—but her eyes lingered on Elric's back, a complex mix of anger and something else she didn't want to admit. Fear, perhaps. Or recognition.
Elric, meanwhile, opened his System interface again with a thought. The blue holographic display flickered in front of him, casting its ghostly light across his face.
[Objective Updated:]
Secure stable shelter.
Acquire beast-type fruit.
Integrate new compatible survivor.
Elric smiled faintly, satisfaction warming his chest.
"Step one complete," he whispered to himself, so quietly that neither woman could hear.
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