[Congratulations. You have leveled up.]
[New ability detected: Lightning Sword Slash]
[Stats Updated]
[Name: Luke Harold]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 2]
[HP: 45/45]
[Abilities: Lightning Sword Slash]
[Strength: 13]
[Stamina: 13]
[Intelligence: ??????]
[Total Power Level: 26]
The System's words hovered before his eyes.
Around him, the field was silent.
Then—Chaos.
Students erupted into noise—shouts, gasps, disbelief spilling out all at once.
"Did you see that?!"
"That wasn't a spell—that was a strike!"
"He almost killed him!"
"What kind of monster awakens like that?!"
Some stared at Luke with awe. Others backed away in fear. A few couldn't even look at him. Luke felt nothing. He had seen it too many times. Lived it too many lives.The excitement had died centuries ago.
"What the hell were you thinking?!" the old man roared, storming toward him. "You could have killed him!"
Luke turned slowly. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice calm—too calm.
The truth was, he hadn't meant to go that far. But after five thousand years of battle, restraint wasn't something that came naturally anymore. His body moved on instinct alone.
The old man clenched his staff. "You—take him to the infirmary," he said, pointing toward the crowd.
His finger stopped on a girl standing frozen in place, eyes wide with shock.
"You," he said sharply.
She flinched. "M-Me?"
"Yes. And you," the old man added, turning back to Luke. "You're coming too. You caused this mess."
Luke nodded as he lifted Jason's unconscious body and followed the girl as the crowd parted instinctively to make room for him. Whispers followed every step he took. Inside the infirmary, Jason was handed off to the nurse. Luke remained nearby, leaning against the wall, waiting.
The girl stayed. That… was unexpected. They sat in silence for a moment, studying each other. Luke hadn't looked at her before with detail. He couldn't deny it—she was striking. Grey eyes, sharp with intelligence, pale skin, brunette hair tucked.
Then—A flash.
A woman laughing under a burning sky. Grey eyes filled with warmth. Blood on his hands. Luke's breath caught.
The girl tilted her head slightly. "Are you… okay?"
The vision vanished.
"I'm fine," Luke replied, shaking it off. He straightened and met her gaze. "What's your name?"
"Annabeth," she said.
The moment the name left her lips, another memory surged forward—A voice whispering his name. A promise made beneath dying stars. Forever. Luke stared at her with a deep gaze, subconsciously. What was this feeling? Why did he feel this attraction? It's as if her eyes were pulling him in towards her.
She frowned. "Is something wrong?"
"No," he said, quickly snapping out of his thoughts. "You just… remind me of someone."
Annabeth blinked. "Oh."
"What's your last name?" Luke asked. She opened her mouth to answer. A groan cut through the room. Jason had woken up.
Luke turned to look at Jason however, suddenly, he felt a breeze from where Annabeth had been sitting, and as he looked back, Annabeth was gone.
The chair across from him was empty. Luke stared at it for a long moment.
"I'll be keeping an eye on you, Annabeth," he thought to himself, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Jason, who had just woken up, saw Luke smiling creepily and almost passed out again.
What the hell have I gotten myself in Jason thought to himself as he went pale and collapsed on his bed again from fear.