Zain had already plundered two more classrooms. The first was almost anticlimactic, containing only a base level mantis without an evolution, which he easily dispatched. Dispatching it was child's play. Perhaps it had wandered into the wrong room or was checking something.

The Devour skill on the mantis was simple, similar to his use of skill on the first mantis. The experience helped him establish that only creatures with strong souls would suck his consciousness into what he had started to call the soul realm.

The Essence crystal from the mantis had provided him with a single arcane point, just enough to tide him over. It was full enough that he felt confident he would gain two points from the next crystal.

The second classroom was more unsettling. In the hallway outside, he had spotted another mantis roaming aimlessly, its segmented legs clicking softly against the granite floor. Killing it didn't take a long time. A swift flash of speed, and he was already in front of the mantis. A downward slash separated one of its blade forelimbs, and it shrieked in response. Another swing to its neck stopped the creature dead away.

Before he could enjoy the crystal, a shiek from the second classroom.

Entering the classroom, Zain was greeted by a chilling sight. Bloodstains marked the walls and floor, but there was a suspicious lack of corpses. Only a single body lay in the center of the room, with a mantis barrelling toward him at an incredible speed.

After a quick swing to separate the head from the torso in a single strike. The mantis head flew and Zain was almost happy with his progress. Killing the only threat in the classroom, Zain observed the classroom. The sight made him shudder, a cold dread settling in his stomach. It was clear that either the students had been captured or transported elsewhere.

His mind raced with possibilities. Only one remained. The mantis eggs required a significant amount of nutrients to hatch. The fastest way to provide this would be through the bodies of newly awakened individuals.

Shaking off his revulsion, Zain focused on the task at hand.

Devour.

Instantly, a strange tingling sensation shot through his fingertips but thankfully there was no change from the norm.

Inside him, a tumultuous pattern of mana began to swirl and twist, forming pathways he was still as alien as the last time.

Zain's concentration deepened, his brow furrowing as he observe the sheer intensity of the complexity coursing through him. He was sure that it would take a long time before he could understand how this skill worked.

The ethereal figure above the corpse began to stabilize under his influence, its shimmering light dimming as the process continued.

With a final, silent shudder of release, the sphere dissolved into a stream of light that penetrated his chest, seeping into his very core.

[ Soul Increased by 0.076 ]

Zain withdrew his hand, his face momentarily lighting up with triumph. The mana pattern inside him dissipated, and he checked his interface.

Identity: Zain Valerius ( Level 1 )

Race: Human ( F Grade )

Trait: Soul Devour

Character Stats:

* Arcane: 10

* Soul: 0.947

Skills (1/10)

* Devour (Level 1)

Only 0.053 more to get a single Soul stat.

He checked his watch. Eight Fifty. Only fifty minutes had passed after the integration. Now that his arcana has reached ten, it was level capped. He would have to level up to support more arcana in his body, but it was still not time. A few more minutes should be enough.

There was no use for Essence Crystal for now, and he was saving them for his next upgrade. After quickly extracting the one from the monster's head, Zain packed it up in his backpack.

Flexing his fingers, he gripped the plastic water bottle tighter, its crinkles echoing softly in the empty space. Unscrewing the cap, he paused, his eyes scanning the room one last time before he allowed himself a moment of respite. The water felt cool against his parched lips, a brief relief from the constant tension that knotted his stomach. With a deep sigh, he capped the bottle and tossed it aside, the sound sharper in the surrounding stillness.

Standing up, he surveyed the room one last time. The bloodstains and the single corpse weren't comforting at all. He couldn't dwell on the horrors for too long, though.

Just as Zain was pondering where to hunt for his next batch of monsters, the announcement he had been waiting for echoed through his ears, resonating with the authoritative tone of the High Council’s spokesperson.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

Congratulations to awakened Tristan Evergale Alias Thunder Lord for becoming the first player in the world to level up.

Rewarded with Grade E Level Upgrade Treasure Box!

The special protocol of the Integration.

When an awakened completed a pioneering achievement, the option for a global announcement would appear. A double-edged sword: it brought recognition and rewards, but it also came with significant risks.

If anyone chose to forgo the announcement, they wouldn't receive the valuable rewards that could aid their survival and growth. However, making the announcement meant exposing their real name alongside their chosen alias, making it nearly impossible to hide in the shadows.

Leaving any reward behind in the apocalypse was unthinkable. Every advantage counted, and each resource could mean the difference between life and death. This Essence crystal, small as it might seem, was a step towards survival and strength in a world that had descended into chaos.

More than that, he understood the significance of these rewards. This would be the first net that the High Council spread to catch any individuals showing talent worth acquiring or killing. They were always watching, always evaluating potential threats or assets.

Zain's eyes turned cold as he read the name that haunted his every thought: the Evergale Family, a Grade A family. They were the ones who had mercilessly killed his parents. In his last lifetime, it had taken him countless years to exact his revenge, and now they were alive again. This time, he would inflict upon them the same horror that his parents must have felt.

Tristan’s defiance of his family’s orders would be his last mistake. For a moment, his desire to hunt down Tristan surged, but he suppressed it. Tristan was a small shrimp in the grand scheme of things; his time for revenge would come after he had dealt with the main lord creature here.

As for Tristan’s innocence, it didn’t matter. The man was a psychopath, and Zain had no qualms about eliminating a few bastards along the way.

Returning his focus to the announcement, Zain considered the implications of the reward. There should soon be surge of different people trying all kinds of things to level up. Even though most don't know, anyone can know that high level is better than low level.

The end of the world was approaching, and the monsters outnumbered the people. Killing monsters alone wouldn't level anyone up; that required the absorption of Essence Crystals.

Most awakened had a natural fear of monsters. Even if someone was brave enough to kill one or two by chance, they needed to know where to find the crystals. In the end, all they would get from such low-level monsters were the smallest of crystals.

Then there was the refinement method. The system had only gifted basic refinement methods to those who had taken the Tutorial. The rest of humanity would have to experiment on their own, which was cumbersome and often ineffective, with many mistakes along the way.

As for the armies, governments, and ancient families, while they could obtain enough Essence Crystals to upgrade, the unified deployment meant no one would be promoted to a higher level soon. And the people who have knowledge would increase their stats rather than levels.

There are also other considerations. The high-level awakened often found themselves in the deadliest meat grinder. If you don't want to die, it's best not to touch these crystals.

Zain understood the risks and rewards of the current situation. He had to be strategic. He would continue to gather power and knowledge, all while staying under the radar. The time for bold moves and open defiance would come, but for now, he needed to grow stronger quietly. The apocalypse was a harsh teacher, and he had learned its lessons well. Patience, caution, and relentless. It doesn't matter if you are the first, you just have to be the last one standing.

After contemplating his next move, Zain descended the school stairs with measured steps, his weapons edge gleaming under the dim light. He hefted a serrated mantis blade in one hand and an improvised spear in the other.

A black backpack hung from his shoulders, filled with a bottle of water and a small batch of medical supplies he had easily requisitioned from the last classrooms.

It was time to make a run for the mantis nest. Zain's mission was clear: kill as many mantises as possible, and do it quickly. His heart drummed a steady rhythm of anticipation. Each kill meant free soul points, a precious resource that would give him an edge—at least until the situation stabilized.

His recovery had been quite good so far, and he was mostly sure it was due to his soul stats. The body was adapting faster to the mana he was channeling within. Each movement, each breath, seemed to synchronize more seamlessly with the energy flowing through him. He felt more attuned to the arcane, his physical form gradually adapting to the new status quo.

[ HP: 83% ]

[ MP: 76% ]

There was occasional distant shouts and battle cries from other students echoed through the hallways, but Zain paid them no mind. He had no intention of joining forces with others; sharing the loot would only weaken his advantage. Besides, upgrading his own abilities was far more beneficial than collaborating and splitting the spoils.

As he reached the lower levels, the sounds of the mantises grew louder. It started with a small whispering was now almost present in the back of his mind. Clicking mandibles and the rustling of their chitinous bodies created an eerie symphony echoing.

Finally, he heard a familiar menacing chitter near him. Zain tensed, afraid he had been spotted, and immediately hunkered down behind the stairs. He waited, listening intently. No charging mantis came his way, fortunately, so he crept forward again, careful to stay in the shadows.

Hiding behind a ledge, he finally saw the beast thirty steps below, just beyond two turns in the stairwell. At the landing of the next floor, the mantis emerged, its antennae twitching. It was the same sort of insectoid as he had fought before, a six-legged monstrosity of exoskeleton and blades with size reaching at least his chest height. An evolved mantis.

This one seemed a bit leaner than the first he had fought, but he couldn’t be sure. Its chitinous exoskeleton gleamed with a green sheen, indicating a clean evolution.

Guarding the stairs. A corpse lay next to it, broken beyond recognisation but he could see the academy uniform with fresh blood pooling, indicating it had recently fed and was now resting. Zain's eyes narrowed.

Checkpoints. The high level monster lord was establishing control over the area.