Outside, chaos reigned in a cacophony of panic as police cars and fire trucks stood by, ready to intervene at any moment. Journalists, armed with their cameras, were also covering the event live. Amid the crowd, families could be seen, gripped by anxiety, waiting impatiently to see if their child would emerge from this dreadful ordeal.
"I am here, where earlier this afternoon, a terrible event occurred. Indeed, a senior class unfortunately found themselves trapped in a gray dungeon. According to experts on the scene, the rift has reached rank 8. The chances of survival for the group of students are slim, despite the presence of professional Awakened with them. However, the rescue teams are standing by, ready to act." a journalist declared, microphone in hand.
Of course, Kévin's family had also learned the news with horror and had immediately rushed to the site of the incident.
(POV Arthur)
I managed to exit the rift, helping an injured classmate, and the first thing I saw were rows of emergency vehicles. It was clear they had been informed of the situation, as the medics immediately came to assist me. I then saw my family my father and my dreadful stepmother waiting for me.
On my father's face, I could see that he was emotional and relieved, even shaken, to see me come out. Without hesitation, he walked straight towards me, opening his arms wide to envelop me in a comforting embrace.
"Are you okay, Arthur?" he asked, concerned.
"Yes, I’m fine, don't worry." (Arthur)
As I spoke, my eyes fell on Kévin's mother, sister, and little brother, and I immediately saw the distress in their eyes. Without needing words, their worry was evident in a silent, mournful communion. Until she broke the silence:
"Arthur, where is Kévin?" she asked me.
"He’s..." (Arthur)
It was then that I realized with growing confusion that Kévin should have come out by now. He was supposed to be right behind me, yet I didn’t see him exit, while others behind him were emerging one by one, increasing my anxiety.
Finally, I saw Adam's group emerge, composed of Onil and Karminia.
"Where is Kévin!" I asked, perplexed.
"He was attacked, unfortunately." Adam replied in a sorrowful tone.
"No!" Kévin's mother sobbed, collapsing to the ground in tears.
A wave of intense rage surged through me, because Adam's words made no sense. Kévin should have come out right after me, yet he wasn’t there. Moreover, it was highly unlikely that the monsters could have caught up to him. This reality left only one plausible explanation, and the small, sinister smile on Adam’s face confirmed my suspicions.
"Don't feed me lies! If he had been attacked, then you all would have been attacked too, so don't give me that nonsense!" (Arthur)
Anger and frustration took over, and a murderous aura began to emanate from me, manifesting as a violent flow of mana radiating from my body.
"You sacrificed him to escape yourselves!" (Arthur)
"That’s a serious accusation!" Professor Henry finally appeared.
"Are you going to cover up their act?" (Arthur)
"What act? What proof do you have?" (Professor Henry)
With a harsh screech, the metal of my sword clashed against the professor’s dagger, sparks flying at the impact.
"What are you doing!" he said, surprised by the sudden attack.
"I’ll slit your throat myself to avenge my friend!" (Arthur)
"Be careful with what you do it would be a shame to ruin your future!" (Henry)
"I don’t care!" I shouted, as my murderous intent intensified.
However, before I could act, my advance was halted by the intervention of several individuals, including Charles, who firmly restrained me. Their hands closed around my arms and shoulders, holding me in a strong grip.
"What are you doing? Let me go!" I screamed, completely consumed by rage.
"Calm down! Even if you accuse them, you have no proof. I know how you feel, but given the situation, there’s nothing we can do." (Charles)
As my eyes overflowed with fury, I noticed that Charles’ gaze reflected a similar anger. As a born hunter, he was driven by a strong sense of honor and loyalty, and he couldn’t bear to see a comrade betrayed, let alone by such treacherous acts.
"Abandoning one of your students to save yourselves you disgust me!" he spat.
"How could you do this!" Marie cried, holding her devastated mother in her arms.
They didn’t respond, preferring to leave, but their treachery and selfishness had been exposed for all to see.
I retracted my murderous intent, letting those vile individuals pass behind me. Naturally, I decided to stay and wait in front of the rift with my family and Kévin's. While everyone else had already been taken to the hospital or had gone home, this prolonged wait, tinged with anxiety, allowed us to strengthen our family bonds and share together the hopes and fears that plagued us.
Only the rescue teams and a few Awakened individuals, including Professor Henry, remained on-site. A rule dictated that one should stay in front of the portal until it closed completely. This directive aimed to ensure that, in case any lost members somehow emerged, they would be there to greet them. An hour passed, then two, and finally, as the third hour approached—equivalent to three days inside the portal the portal began to gradually close, signaling the end of our wait and crushing all our hopes of seeing Kévin emerge. As Kévin’s mother broke down in tears, screaming in a way that gripped my heart, I held Marie in my arms to comfort her as well.
"My friend, I’m sorry." I said, watching the portal close with sadness.
As the portal closed before our eyes, a heartbreaking sense of sorrow enveloped us all. A heavy atmosphere of despair settled in, as if hope itself had been swallowed with the portal’s movement. Exhausted, grief-stricken eyes met, bearing witness to the shared distress within the group. Emotions swirled in a maelstrom of pain, disappointment, and resignation. In that moment, our collective fell into deep sorrow, as if the world itself had darkened in response to our grief.
Suddenly, a violent explosion echoed, making each of us jump and immediately capturing our attention. The explosion had raised a wall of smoke that quickly began to dissipate. As the smoke cleared, we saw the severed head of a creature. It was the head of one of the grotesque black wolves we had struggled to fight earlier. Their grotesque and menacing appearance had been reduced to a lifeless, mutilated state. But the most shocking and terrifying sight was the expression of fear frozen on the severed head of the creature. It was a striking contrast to see such a monstrous being, which had sown terror among us, display an expression of terror itself. This raised a multitude of unsettling questions:
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What could it have encountered that was so frightening to leave it in such a state?
The answer to our question was revealed swiftly, but it only served to provoke an indescribable horror. A relentless wave of bloodlust and mana crashed down upon us, sweeping everything in its path. The resulting pressure was so overwhelming that I struggled to breathe, my lungs feeling as though they were being compressed under the weight of this devastating force. All around me, people collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, unable to withstand the power bearing down on them. Their bodies seemed to weigh tons, crushed by this unimaginable force. Terror gripped each of us as we were submerged by this titanic presence, defying all logic and understanding. Our minds wavered under the impact of this terrifying manifestation, and it became clear that we were facing a threat far more formidable and destructive than anything we could have imagined.
The air was unbreathable, our gazes fixated on the source of this unsettling phenomenon. From the red portal, a menacing shadow slowly emerged before us. Gradually, it took the form of a humanoid figure, and in the end, it revealed a man dressed in blood-stained garments. In his hand, he held a black saber, as deep as the night itself.
The eyes of this being were filled with a terrifying glow, freezing the blood in our veins.
image [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/85177563/c641fdda312841e68616ef107fd047c1/eyJ3Ijo4MjB9/1.png?token-time=1729036800&token-hash=QG0rw1rfX30ZF-BwEHujnXDlqpdrs25pmj-EZ9aEqHw%3D]
With his other hand, he mercilessly tossed the head of another monster, which exploded into pieces. Then, he turned his menacing gaze toward one specific person: Professor Henry.
At that moment, every hair on my body stood on end, sending a wave of cold sweat down my spine. The overwhelming bloodlust emanating from him had multiplied, far surpassing any notion of humanity. I was certain then—this creature could not possibly be human.
The man disappeared from my field of vision in an instant, only to reappear right where the professor stood. With an unyielding grip, he seized him by the throat, lifting him off the ground with shocking ease. A sudden, harsh sound filled the air as his other hand twisted the professor’s arm into an impossible angle, breaking it with brutal force.
"Argh!" Henry screamed in agony, his eyes rolling back, froth spilling from his mouth.
The professor’s piercing scream echoed, reminiscent of the wrenching sound of a pig being slaughtered. Despite their fear, the other Awakened finally moved, encircling him. Seeing them, the man let out a heavy sigh, as if tired or disillusioned.
"Pff, I don’t have the strength to fight anymore. Thanks for waiting for me, Arthur."
I shuddered, for the voice was unmistakably Kévin’s, but he was almost unrecognizable, covered in blood and surrounded by that dark aura. I hadn’t realized it was him at first. Then, he collapsed to the ground, and his mother, Marie, and I rushed to his side.
How had he survived? I had no idea, and it didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that he had returned, just as he always had.
"Of course I waited for you, buddy!" (Arthur)
(POV Kévin)
All I remember is that I experienced death once again. Then suddenly, that dark, terrifying, and overpowering voice reached out, offering me a deal: power.
Engulfed, trapped by my own burning, visceral hatred, a hatred beyond my control, I accepted the offer.
And then, an energy as dark as the night, oppressive and sinister, erupted from deep within me. This devastating force triggered a cataclysmic explosion within the cavity where I had hidden. The rocks that formed my refuge were pulverized and scattered, creating a deadly rain of debris around me.
As I stood up, I watched in fascination as a dark aura oozed and spread across my body. This dark hue had temporarily replaced my missing arm and leg. When the aura dissipated, my lost limbs were inexplicably restored, reattached to my body. An incredible sense of well-being overtook me, like a permanent, intoxicating state. Indeed, an immense power now coursed through my veins, lighting up every part of my being. The limitations of my human condition seemed to fade, replaced by an unimaginable, almost divine strength.
But that was only the beginning. This dark energy flowed to the ground, spreading like a mist. A tense, electric atmosphere filled the air, heralding the inevitable unleashing of this power.
Suddenly, in a cataclysmic blast, the dark energy reached its peak, causing a tremor of apocalyptic magnitude. This spectral cataclysm was a testament to the immense power I now possessed. In that moment of pure devastation, I was both the witness and the instigator of this macabre dance, orchestrated by forces beyond comprehension.
I was thirsty! Thirsty for destruction and revenge! I finally noticed the monsters that had attacked me earlier. Their hideous forms wavered in terror, trembling violently, their limbs shaking with uncontrollable spasms. The power that fueled me had reduced them to mere fragile, vulnerable creatures, incapable of competing with the intensity of my unleashed wrath.
I turned toward them, and they instinctively recoiled, overwhelmed by visceral fear. I wanted to massacre them, tear apart every vile part of their miserable beings. As if in response to my will, a black sword materialized in a haze in my right hand. The sword exuded a sinister aura, reinforcing my sense of power and control. I felt its weight in my hand, ready to be used as an extension of my will. It was both intimidating and fascinating to see this tangible manifestation of power, a weapon seemingly forged in the very darkness itself.
"Looks like the prey has become the hunter!" I said, radiating an insatiable thirst for blood.
I launched myself at them like a rabid beast, driven by murderous fury. Like a starving predator, I shredded and sliced these monsters, reducing them to mere bloody shreds of flesh. Their blood splattered over my clothes and body, staining me in bright red. In this murderous frenzy, I plunged into a dark ecstasy, a perverse satisfaction emanating from every blow dealt, every life mercilessly taken.
The monsters, cut down without a chance, began to flee, terrified by fear. Unfortunately for them, I had no intention of letting them live. I spread their blood everywhere like a true storm, taking malicious pleasure in it. If anyone had seen me, only one word would have come to their mind: Demon.
"More! More! More!" (Kévin)
I had entered a murderous frenzy, my sword swinging with ease and madness. When I finished slaughtering all the monsters, I emerged from the rift, still in a daze.
I saw my family and Arthur, stunned, but my mind focused first on one of the people who had abandoned me to my fate. Professor Henry. Without thinking, driven by rage, I rushed toward him with extraordinary speed and grabbed him by the throat. Then, with a wicked smile, I snapped his arm, tearing screams from him filled with unbearable pain.
I took great pleasure in hearing those screams, but soon, men surrounded me, likely intending to subdue me. I was ready to tear them apart, limb by limb. However, to my dismay, I felt a sharp pain course through my body. In the next moment, I felt that extraordinary dark energy gradually leave me.
I quickly realized that this state of grace was only temporary and that I had reached my limits. Before my vision blurred and my legs wobbled, I uttered one last word, meant for Arthur. My knees gave way, and finally, I collapsed to the ground, overcome by exhaustion.
**
I slowly reopened my eyes, a soft light piercing my consciousness, to discover a bright white ceiling above me. I was also lying on a bed, its sheets the same color, creating a serene and calming atmosphere. Nearby, a television silently played in the background.
"Ah... A hospital? Ah, that's right, I collapsed. My arm and leg... they really did grow back?" I said as I pulled back the covers.
I moved them to be sure they were really there again. It was an extraordinary sensation, knowing they had been ripped from me. Then I saw my mother, sitting peacefully in a chair beside me, her eyes closed.
I approached her, my heart heavy with guilt, knowing I had put her through another harrowing ordeal. Gently, I caressed her tender face, seeking to offer some comfort to the woman who had given me the strength to fight my own demons. She had kept me from succumbing to the temptation of death, from giving up the life she had given me as a mother.
She slowly woke up and, upon seeing me, burst into tears before immediately pulling me into a tight embrace.
Seeing my mother cry made my heart clench with pain. Watching your own mother weep is always a deeply impactful experience. Each tear that rolled down her face echoed with a mountain of emotions and worries she had endured. I wanted to comfort her as best I could, holding her tightly against me, gently wiping away the shimmering tears streaming down her face.
"Everything’s okay now, I’m fine, Mom. You don’t have to worry anymore." (Kévin)
"I’m still your mother, so yes, I do have to worry!" she replied firmly.
She stayed by my side for several more hours, during which we talked. Once she was sure I was okay, she went home, as she had to work the next day.
Alone in my air-conditioned room, I looked at the clock on the wall, which read midnight. I recalled in detail all the events and the indescribable sensation of power. I could feel it deep within my flesh and being—this indescribable change. A change that would offer me brand-new possibilities.
After three days in the hospital, since I had no injuries, I was allowed to leave. Arthur quickly informed me that we had been granted a one-month break due to the incident. Some students had tragically lost their lives during the event. The affair had been intensely covered by the press, drawing significant public interest. The details of the event had been meticulously scrutinized, analyzed, and dissected in the media, with everyone trying to understand the circumstances that had led to this tragic situation. However, despite all the attention the case received, no one was blamed, as the incident was attributed to mere bad luck.
Nevertheless, no one mentioned the fact that I had been abandoned like a worthless dog. Hatred surged within me again, my teeth clenching tightly. I wanted to find a way to make them pay. In my mind, there was only one way to achieve this—I had to become stronger than I was now. I returned home with only one thought in mind: to train, test my new powers, and see what I was truly capable of.