"What am I supposed to do with these two things?" Zephyr pondered aloud, seated cross-legged on the bed as he stared at the items before him. On one side lay the ability book, a gift received after the test, while on the other rested the green crystal, pilfered from a zombie when nobody was watching. He knew he could absorb the crystal's energy to increase his power, but the slow process frustrated him. With his human body, even absorbing the energy of a single grain of sand would take two days, and months to fully absorb just one crystal.
"I need to find another way to boost my strength," Zephyr grumbled inwardly, his frustration evident. "Absorbing these crystals will take too long now that I'm human."
He sighed, feeling the weight of his humanity. Despite knowing that being transmigrated into a vampire body would have expedited the process, he didn't have the luxury of time. His desire for revenge and his quest to uncover the true intentions of the supernaturals drove him forward, regardless of the obstacles in his path.
"It's baffling why they'd want Earth," Zephyr mused, his thoughts swirling with skepticism. "The dark realm offers everything they could desire, so why target Earth? And that excuse about resources is just crappy bullshit."
He shook his head, unconvinced by the explanations offered. "Supernaturals have thrived in the dark realm for eons, with abundant resources at their disposal. So why attack Earth, especially when they view humans as weak?"
Zephyr sighed, knowing that to uncover the truth, he'd have to seek answers from a supernatural source. "I'll have to attend the academy for a week before embarking on missions to hunt supernaturals. That's where I'll find out what's really going on."
Picking up the ability book, Zephyr attempted to open it, only to be met with a flashing red system prompt.
[Error!!]
[Host is unable to learn the ability of this book because the host already has an ability]
"Figures," Zephyr muttered, disappointed by the revelation that he couldn't learn the ability from the book. "I already have my shadow ability that came with me to this world. But what should I do with it? It'd be a waste to just discard it."
He briefly entertained the idea of throwing it away, but quickly dismissed it. If anyone knew of his inclination to discard something that had helped people become champions and fight against the war with supernaturals, they would think he was incredibly foolish.
As if on cue, a system prompt appeared, offering an alternative solution:
[Host might not be able to learn an ability from the book, but the host could exchange it for exp]
"Oh, really," Zephyr thought, recognizing the significance of experience points, a concept familiar from the games Zaph used to play as a child before the war began. Though he himself had never experienced such leisure activities, he understood their mechanics thanks to Zaph's memories. Experience points were essential for leveling up, a concept that resonated deeply with him, especially considering the striking resemblance between the system and the games he'd heard about.
"Yes! Exchange it for exp," Zephyr exclaimed eagerly. Instantly, as if in response to his command, the book transformed into white light and gradually faded away until it vanished completely, leaving no trace behind.
[Rank 1 water ability book absorbed]
[+50exp]
[50/100exp]
"Hm, just thirty more to level up," Zephyr exclaimed, his excitement palpable. The prospect of leveling up and becoming stronger, just like in the games from Zeph's memories, fueled his determination.
Lost in his thoughts and absorbed by the system, Zephyr failed to notice the morning sunlight streaming through the window, signaling the start of a new day. As the others began to stir awake, he swiftly stowed the green Zombie crystal in his inventory, anticipating its usefulness.
Suddenly, five slots materialized before him in a cuboid shape, and the crystal in his hand vanished, reappearing in one of the slots.
[One item added to your inventory]
[Zombie crystal]
"Zephyr, you're up already?" Browny exclaimed, rising from his bed. "I slept like a princess in that bed, haven't had a good night's sleep like that in ages," he added, stretching his back.
Zephyr breathed a silent sigh of relief. Browny hadn't noticed anything unusual, which suited Zephyr just fine. He wasn't ready to reveal anything about his abilities or the system to anyone yet. Trust was a luxury he couldn't afford, especially when he didn't know who was friend or foe. No one should know he was alive until he was strong enough to challenge the supernatural kings, particularly the supernaturals.
"Yeah, the bed's surprisingly comfortable," Jack chimed in, joining the conversation as he got up.
Suddenly, the screeching sound of the school microphone speakers shattered the dormitory's tranquility, grabbing everyone's attention, whether they were asleep or awake.
"Attention, everyone! Today marks your first day at Orchid Academy for Champions. Please head to the cafeteria for breakfast and then make your way to the school building for morning classes," the announcement echoed through the room.
"Oh, man, it's 8 AM for heaven's sake!" Jack cursed, frustration evident in his voice. "We've got classes to attend, guys!"
With haste, they all made their way to the bathroom, a spacious area that doubled as a toilet and shower, occupying nearly half of the room. After completing their morning routines, they turned their attention to the closet, where alongside their clothes, they found uniforms with "Orchid Academy" emblazoned on the back.
"Looks like these are the academy uniforms," Jack remarked as he slipped into one.
"Yeah," Browny agreed, following suit.
Zephyr remained silent as he donned his uniform, his mind focused on leveling up and increasing his experience points.
Once everyone was ready, Jack grabbed Browny and Zephyr by the shoulders, pulling them close before shouting.
"Now that we're all set, let's go eat!"
....
With Jack practically dragging him along, Zephyr reluctantly followed, feeling uneasy about Jack's overly friendly demeanor. Trust didn't come easily to Zephyr, whether it was humans or supernaturals—they were all the same in his eyes.
The cafeteria, located in the same building as the dormitory, spanned a significant portion of the structure. As they navigated the hallway, they approached the imposing double doors of the cafeteria. Flanking the entrance were two men whose stern expressions could instill fear in even the bravest souls.
The academy stood as a bastion against supernatural invaders, where champions were forged to protect the world.
Pushing through the double doors, they entered the bustling cafeteria, filled with students from the academy. Groups of people sat together, chatting and enjoying their meals as if the world outside didn't exist.
Observing the lively atmosphere, Zephyr couldn't help but notice the excitement in the air.
"Hey, we're finally on our way to becoming champions! Just one week here and then we'll be off on our first mission. I can't wait!" exclaimed a young man, his enthusiasm palpable.
"Yeah, and once we have those powers, we'll be able to take down those supernaturals and become famous! It's going to be amazing," added a woman seated beside him.
Zephyr listened to their conversation, his sensitive hearing picking up on every word. He couldn't help but reflect on the human desire for power and recognition, a sentiment he was all too familiar with.
"Humans will always be humans," he mused silently. "Seeking power for their selfish ambitions, striving to reach the top and rule over others. I won't deny it—I was once like them." He paused, his gaze lingering on the animated faces around him. "But look at where I ended up."
******