The dormitory halls were eerily quiet, with only the soft hum of the city beyond the windows breaking the silence. Elric sat on the edge of his bed, his gaze fixed on the blinking lights of Sub-City 4 in the distance. The day had been long, his body still aching from the strain of the Awakening Ceremony, but his mind was sharper than ever. The Creator System lingered at the forefront of his thoughts, its presence both a comfort and a challenge.
He was no longer like the other students. He had something no one else did. But that meant little without the power to back it up.
Soul points. He needed them. Without them, the system would remain dormant, a tool with unlimited potential that he couldn't yet fully grasp. The academy entrance exams were fast approaching, and with his F-rank Flame Spark and Healing Blood, he was still seen as weak. That label wouldn't change unless he did something drastic. Something no one else had the courage to do.
But Elric was no fool. Even with the fire burning inside him, pushing him toward action, he couldn't rush into the wilderness blindly. The beasts outside the walls were far more dangerous than anyone within the city realized. They were living nightmares, creatures mutated by the chaotic energies of the universe, driven by hunger and madness.
He stood up, pacing the small room as his thoughts raced. The dormitory was sparsely decorated, just a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe. The academy provided the essentials, but luxury was reserved for those already at the top of the food chain. Elric had nothing but his clothes, a few books, and his thoughts. No weapons, no combat training, nothing that would give him an edge in the exams.
But he had a plan.
Sneaking outside the city to hunt for soul points wasn't just a risk—it was practically suicidal for someone of his current strength. The wilderness beyond Sub-City 4 was a dangerous place, filled with creatures that could tear apart even well-trained fighters. But that was exactly why it was his best option. If he could survive and defeat one of those creatures, the payoff would be worth it.
Still, he wasn't foolish enough to rush into the wilderness unprepared.
He reached under his bed and pulled out a small, worn bag, the fabric fraying at the edges. Inside, carefully wrapped in cloth, was the only thing of value he had left—his parents' old knife. It was a simple blade, forged from steel with no special properties, but it had been his father's. The man had used it for everything, from hunting to defending their home in the outer sub-city slums. Elric had taken it after their deaths, a memento of the life he'd lost.
Holding the knife now, Elric felt a wave of determination flood through him. It was nothing special on the outside, but it carried the weight of his past, the memory of his family. He wouldn't waste their legacy.
Still, it wasn't enough, not by itself. But it would have to do for now.
Next came the question of supplies. Going outside the city without basic necessities was a death sentence. He needed rations, water, something to help him blend into the wilderness. The academy provided certain things for students, but nothing that would be useful for what Elric had in mind. No, he would need to procure those on his own.
He paced the room again, trying to think through every possibility. The academy's storerooms were too heavily guarded. Besides, stealing from the academy would draw too much attention. If he wanted to slip away unnoticed, he couldn't afford any unnecessary risks.
That left only one option. The black market.
Elric had only ventured into that world once before, back when desperation had forced him to sell the last of his family's belongings for enough credits to survive. The black market was a dangerous place, filled with people willing to do anything for a profit. But it was also a place where you could get anything—for the right price.
He pulled on his jacket, securing the knife to his waist before slipping quietly out of the dormitory. The night air was cooler now, the streets of the academy grounds mostly empty. He kept his head down, moving swiftly through the side alleys that led away from the well-lit main avenues. He knew the layout of the city well enough, having spent his entire life here, but the black market was a place most avoided unless they had no other choice.
He was used to it.
The further he walked from the academy, the more the city shifted. The pristine streets and carefully maintained buildings gave way to the darker, grittier underbelly of Sub-City 4. Here, the lights flickered erratically, casting long shadows across the cracked pavement. Shops were closed, their windows barred with metal grates, but there was life in the alleyways.
The black market wasn't a place you could simply walk into. It was hidden in plain sight, nestled within the network of abandoned buildings and forgotten districts that most citizens didn't bother with. But Elric knew the signs. He'd been here before, years ago, when desperation had driven him to sell the last of his family's belongings for food.
Tonight, he wasn't selling. He was buying.
He made his way to a particular side street, pausing at a dimly lit corner where a rusted, broken sign hung overhead. The building looked abandoned, the windows smashed in and the door barely hanging on its hinges. But Elric knew better. He knocked twice on the door, then waited. A few moments passed before the door creaked open, revealing a narrow staircase descending into the darkness.
He stepped inside without hesitation, the door closing softly behind him.
The air was musty, thick with the scent of damp and decay. The staircase led to a basement room lit by flickering, old-fashioned lanterns. Several figures moved in the shadows, but Elric didn't pay them any mind. His focus was on the man behind the counter at the far end of the room.
"Back again, kid?" the man rasped, his voice rough from years of smoking. He was a large, imposing figure, with a face lined by scars and a permanent sneer. The name he went by was Voss, though Elric doubted that was his real name.
"I need supplies," Elric said simply, stepping forward. He didn't bother with small talk. In places like this, efficiency was valued over pleasantries.
Voss raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming with interest. "You planning a little trip outside the walls? Not exactly the best idea for someone like you."
Elric's gaze was cold. "Just give me what I need."
Voss chuckled, reaching under the counter to pull out a small crate filled with various items. "Sure, sure. I've got what you're looking for. Rations, water filters, a few smoke bombs if you need a quick escape. But it's gonna cost you."
Elric already knew what the price would be. He had saved up the academy credits they were given for basic necessities, scraping together just enough to get by. It wasn't much, but it would have to be enough.
He slid a small pouch of credits across the counter, watching as Voss counted them with a practiced hand. "Barely enough, but I like you, kid. You've got that look in your eye. The kind that says you're willing to do whatever it takes." Voss grinned, revealing a row of yellowed teeth. "I can respect that."
Elric said nothing as Voss handed over the supplies, stuffing them into his bag. The weight of the rations and water filters felt heavy, but comforting. He was ready now.
As he turned to leave, Voss spoke again. "You're going out there alone, aren't you?"
Elric paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "Why?"
Voss leaned against the counter, his expression unreadable. "You're smart, but don't let that make you cocky. The wilderness doesn't care how clever you are. If you're not prepared, it'll tear you apart. Seen it happen more times than I can count."
Elric met the man's gaze, his voice steady. "I'll survive."
Voss shrugged, his grin widening. "Maybe you will. Just remember, it's not always the strongest that come back alive. Sometimes, it's the ones who know when to run."
Elric left without another word, his mind already focused on the task ahead. Voss's words echoed in his head, but they didn't shake his resolve. He had come too far to turn back now.
By the time he reached the city's outer limits, the night had deepened, the distant hum of the city's machinery blending with the howling winds outside the walls. The towering barrier that protected Sub-City 4 loomed ahead, shimmering faintly with the energy that kept the wilderness at bay. Beyond it, the wilds stretched out like a yawning abyss—dangerous, untamed, and filled with creatures that would devour anyone who strayed too far.
Elric stood at the edge of the city, his hand resting on the knife at his waist. He had the supplies, the plan, and the drive. All that was left now was to take the step that would change everything.
He glanced up at the night sky, the faint stars barely visible through the smog. The academy exams were coming, and with them, the opportunity to prove his worth. But none of that would matter if he couldn't first claim the power that lay beyond the walls.
With one last look at the city behind him, Elric stepped forward into the wilderness, the cold wind biting at his skin.
The hunt had begun.
End of Chapter 4