Darkness enveloped Theon as he drifted in and out of consciousness. The faint whispers of distant voices and medicinal aroma lingered in the air. Despite the haze clouding his mind, one question gnawed at him relentlessly: Why?

For about a week now, he had been stuck to the confines of his own body, trapped in a coma yet painfully aware of his surroundings. Memories flickered in his mind like fragments of a shattered mirror, piecing together the events leading up to his current state. It all started with the cleanup mission given to their group of eight cadets. This mission was just a little real-world training involving clearing out a few goblins left over from a previous dungeon raid. To cover more ground, they each decided to split into groups of two, and while he and Peter were searching for the remaining goblins, Peter wanted to take a nature's call break.

A few minutes later Theon found a few goblins hiding in a cave nearby and when he went back to get Peter, he instead found him in a bewildering situation. The scene in front of him froze his core. In front of him was Peter licking his lips and grinning while standing over a normal hunter, sword plunged deep into his guts. As he pulled out the sword and started licking the tip (Lol), it just dawned upon him that Peter was probably part of that cult-like organization. 

To prove his deduction, he saw Peter take out a black orb that started absorbing the soul and essence of the man he just killed. How could he do that while smiling?? was he crazy?

But what chilled him to the bone was the dark magic swirling around Peter. With a wave of his hand, Peter summoned tendrils of shadowy mana that ravaged the hunter's body as it began to shrivel up while the tendrils consumed his life essence.

It all happened so fast...

Knowing that Peter's current actions left him vulnerable, Theon decided that he had to die. With a surge of fury burning in his chest and a sense of adrenaline, Theon knew he couldn't stand by and allow Peter to carry out his sinister deeds so he launched himself forward, confronting Peter with all the power he could muster. Their eyes met in a moment of chilling recognition, and Theon saw the flicker of surprise and defiance in Peter's gaze before he reacted.

With a swift and decisive motion, he tackled Peter to the ground, their bodies colliding with a resounding thud. As Peter's face contorted with rage and desperation as he struggled to get out of Theon's grasp, he realized that he miscalculated his control over his hunger for a soul, which had now made him considerably weak and vulnerable while he was feeding. 

With a snarl, he reached for a hidden dagger concealed by his hips fingers closing around the hilt with a deadly intent

Theon's noticing this wrenched the dagger from his grasp before he could bring it to bear. 

With a primal roar, Peter lunged forward, his fists flailing wildly as he fought to break free from Theon's grasp. But he held firm, his grip unyielding as he pinned Peter to the ground with all the strength he could muster.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

In a blind fury, Peter spat curses and insults, his voice filled with venom and hatred. But Theon paid them no heed, his focus laser-sharp as he raised the dagger high above his head, the blade glinting ominously in the dim light of the cave.

With a swift and decisive motion, he brought the dagger down, the blade sinking deep into Peter's chest with a sickening thud again and again

Thud,

Thud

Thud

He struck, each blow fueled by a mixture of rage, and certainty.

Blood welled from Peter's wounds, staining the forest floor crimson as his struggles grew weaker and weaker. With his remaining strength, Peter started laughing hysterically.

“ Hahahaha”

" You know you're done for right, Theon?”

Puzzled by Peters question, he asks  “what do you mean you piece of shi—

“HELP HELP EMMETT BLACKTHORN IS GOING TO KILL ME”

“HELP”

Seeing Theon's bewildered face, Peter continued to laugh until he took his final breath and just as he died, they burst into the clearing. Their eyes widened in horror at the scene before them— kneeling over Peter's lifeless body, blood staining his hands and clothes. Shock and outrage swept through their ranks like wildfire, fueling their cries of anger and disbelief.

"Murderer!" one of them shouted, his voice thick with fury as he lunged forward, fists clenched in righteous indignation. He was Alex, the Top seat for the second years and their team leader.

"Wait let me explai—"

Before Theon could react, he was overwhelmed by a barrage of blows, each one fueled by a desire for vengeance and justice. Pain exploded across his body as he fought to defend himself, his mind reeling with confusion and despair.

In the midst of the chaos, Theon felt himself teetering on the brink of consciousness, his vision blurring and his strength failing. The blows rained down upon him like a torrential storm, each one driving him further and further into the depths of darkness.

Despite his valiant efforts to withstand the onslaught, Theon was suddenly struck with a vicious blow to the back of his head. Through the haze of pain and exhaustion, he caught a glimpse of two figures joining the fray—a pair of instructors, their faces contorted with rage as they delivered blow after punishing blow.

Just as he thought he couldn't hold on any longer, another figure stepped into the fray—a more seasoned and superior instructor, his presence commanding respect and authority.

"Enough!" he thundered, his voice cutting through the clamor like a knife. "This is not the way of the Academy."

As the rest of the team members hesitated, their fists still raised in anger, the senior instructor turned to his colleague, his gaze piercing and unforgiving.

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, his tone brooking no argument.

The other instructor faltered, his eyes flickering with uncertainty as he struggled to find the words to justify his actions.

"He... he killed one of his team member," he stammered, his voice trailing off weakly.

The senior instructor's expression softened slightly, but his eyes remained stern as he turned back to Theon, his gaze unwavering.

"You will come with me," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "There will be an investigation into these allegations, and if you are found guilty, you will face the consequences. But until then, you are to be expelled from the Academy.

Refusing to accept the lackluster punishment for the death of their classmate, Alex concentrated some mana on his leg and delivered a kick to the back of Theon's head.

That was the last thing he remembered....