"You forced me to use ten soul points. Points I didn''t n on burning so soon," Ss''s voice was eerily calm, but beneath the surface, his intent was lethal. His eyes glinted in the dim light as he took slow, deliberate steps forward. "Now, you''re going to help me replenish them. And I''ll gain some attributes while I''m at it."


    The man blinked, confusion shing across his features. "Soul points? What the hell are you—"


    Before he could finish, Ss advanced. There was no point in exining. He kept walking, each stepnding with purpose, his presence growing more menacing with every second.


    "Dammit! I''m not sticking around for this!" the crafter shouted, spinning on his heel in panic. He bolted for the exit, his feet pounding against the ground in desperation. But his breath caught in his throat, and his heart sank as he turned to see Ss already standing behind him, blocking his path. The speed was unimaginable.


    "Die!" the crafter screamed, unsheathing a de with thest ounce of strength he could muster. His desperation fueled a wild swing, and the de cut through the air at terrifying speed. The sharp edge gleamed as it hurtled toward Ss, inches from shing through him.


    But just as the de was about to connect, Ss sidestepped smoothly, as if the attack had never even been a threat. His movements were fluid, effortless, as though he had anticipated every strike before it was made. The man''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    In the blink of an eye, Ss retaliated. His fistshed out, striking the crafter with brutal precision. The man stumbled backward, blood spraying from his nose and mouth. His face was now a crimson mask, drenched in the result of Ss''s unrelenting force.


    "Please!" the man gasped, dropping to his knees. His voice wavered, drenched in terror and pain. "Just let me go! I''ll forget about everything—I won''t steal your mutant body parts! I''ll even craft the de for free… Please, spare me!"


    Ss tilted his head slightly, an eerie calm settling over his features as he stood over the man like a shadow.


    "So, that''s what this was about, huh?" His voice was a low growl. "You doubled the price of the de just to scare us off and ambush uster. Clever. Very clever."


    The man, trembling, stared up at him, eyes wide with fear. His breath came in ragged gasps, the hope of escape growing dimmer by the second.


    "But not clever enough," Ss continued, his voice dropping lower. The cold menace in his words cut through the air like a knife. He stepped closer, looming over the cowering figure.


    "You were willing to kill us for some mutant body parts. So, tell me," his voice dripped with lethal intent, "why shouldn''t I kill you right now?"


    The man''s body shook with terror. "Please," he whispered, bowing his head, his voice barely audible. "Please… I''ll make it up to you."


    [Ding!]


    [Compulsory Quest: Kill the enemy and consume their soul to earn rewards.]


    [Rewards: (Hidden)]


    [Failure: Death]


    [Enemy killed: 0/1]


    A cold, red notification shed before Ss, floating ominously in front of him. His lips curled into a slow, dark smile. The system had sealed the man''s fate. His choice was no longer his own.


    "The system just gave me another reason to end you," Ss muttered, his words sending chills down the man''s spine.


    "System?" the crafter stammered, confusion creeping into his terrified expression.


    But there would be no answers. Ss''s hands moved faster than the man could react, gripping the crafter''s head with an iron hold. The sharp ws that extended from Ss''s fingertips glinted wickedly before sinking deep into the man''s skull.


    A strangled cry escaped the man''s throat, but his body was already frozen in ce, paralyzed by the invasive power now coursing through him. His eyes rolled back, and a soft, glowing blue aura began to leak from his body, swirling up into the air like a wisp of smoke. The man''s life force—his very soul—was being siphoned away.


    [Soul Points: 190/200]


    [Soul Points: 200/200]


    [Host has gained 1 attribute point.]


    [Host has consumed his first soul after his first evolution]


    [Host has gained 5 new attribute points.]


    Notifications filled Ss''s vision, but he was barely aware of them. The sensation of absorbing the man''s soul was intoxicating.


    Even as the system confirmed his soul points had been restored, Ss didn''t let go. The rush of power was too addictive to stop. He was feeding on the man''s essence, draining himpletely.


    The man''s body began to stiffen, his skin losing its color and hardening like stone. Piece by piece, he transformed into a petrified husk, hollow and lifeless. The once-breathing figure was now nothing more than a shell.


    Only when the body was fully drained did Ss release his grip, and the lifeless husk crumbled to the ground with a heavy thud.


    [Host has made his first human kill post-evolution.]


    [Host has gained 5 additional attribute points.]


    [Congrattions! You havepleted thepulsory quest.]


    [Host has gained 5 additional attribute points.]


    Ss nced at the string of notifications, his mind already analyzing the possibilities. His eyes flicked to the petrified husk on the ground. The sight of it stirred no guilt, no remorse—only a cold indifference.


    "I gained attributes for consuming his soul... and even more for killing him," Ss mused, speaking softly to himself as he stared at the body. "If I keep consuming souls, I''ll grow even stronger—mutants especially. I could get far more powerful without relying on the system''s quests."


    A grin spread across his face, the allure of unchecked power gleaming in his eyes. But his gaze darkened as it fell back on the husk.


    "I need to dispose of this," Ss muttered. His voice was low, almost detached as he crouched beside the solidified corpse. "If anyone finds this, especially Angelica... it''ll raise too many questions."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He crouched down and gingerly touched the stone-like body. "So this is what happens when a soul ispletely drained?" He scowled, disgust etched into his features. "Disgusting."


    Ss grabbed the petrified legs of the corpse and began dragging it down the street, his steps silent in the darkness. He knew the academy grounds well. He would take the body to a ce few ventured—a small, forgotten corner behind the training grounds where students rarely set foot.


    After a few minutes of dragging the body through the shadows, Ss found the spot. With a quick nce around, he dumped the husk into the crevice between two abandoned buildings. Satisfied that the body was out of sight, he took onest look before leaving the scene behind.


    ---


    Ss''s feet pounded against the pavement as he sprinted back toward the academy. The streets were quiet, the night air cool and still. Within minutes, he arrived at the gates, slipping inside unnoticed. His mind still buzzed from the fresh rush of power.


    "Hey, Ss!"


    The sudden voice caused him to halt mid-step. Ss turned to see a familiar figure approaching from behind. Vic, a tall, broad-shouldered boy with a silver ponytail, strode toward him with his hands casually tucked in his pockets.


    "What''s up, Vic?" Ss greeted, trying to mask the lingering tension in his body.


    "You alright?" Vic asked, his face shadowed with concern. "Angelica came rushing in earlier, saying you were in trouble. Something about a crafter attacking you guys?"


    Ss forced a chuckle, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, that''s true. The crafter came after us, but I took care of it. Nothing to worry about."


    Vic''s expression darkened with anger. "That bastard," he muttered, his fists clenched. "I was about to head over there to teach him a lesson myself. No one messes with my friends."


    "Appreciate the thought, man," Ss replied, giving Vic a grateful nod. "It''s good to know someone''s got my back."


    Vic smirked, offering Ss a fist bump. Ss returned the gesture. "No problem. Oh, by the way, we''ve got no sses tomorrow. They''re giving us a break to prepare for the uing test. Me and the group are heading to the ranking arena. Chapter Read:


    You in?"


    Ss thought for a moment before nodding. "Sure. Count me in."


    ---


    Meanwhile, in her dorm room, Angelica sat on the edge of her bed, her mind racing. Her elbows rested on her knees, and her face was a mask of disbelief.


    ''How did he do it? His speed... his strength... even his healing—it''s unnatural,'' she thought, her mind piecing together everything she had witnessed earlier. ''And he doesn''t even have a skill slot. There''s no way he should be able to do all that.''


    She leaned back, staring at the ceiling as the puzzle pieces fell into ce. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion.


    ''I was right all along... Ss Griswold is hiding something.''