Charvet woke up early, his body accustomed to the routine of survival. The sun had barely risen, casting a soft glow over the city ruins. Moving quietly, he made his way to the kitchen, preparing breakfast. The scent of warm food filled the air as he ate, savoring the quiet moment with a fresh cup of coffee in hand.
He glanced toward the room where Joanne was still sleeping. He knew she was exhausted from the constant fighting, and he didn't want to wake her. Let her rest a little longer.
As he took another sip of coffee, the door to the room creaked open. Joanne stepped out, now fully equipped in her armor. Her long hair was slightly damp, her sharp eyes filled with determination.
"I should get going," she said, adjusting the strap of her sword. "I need to finish my quest."
Charvet set his cup down and leaned back. "At least eat first," he said casually.
Joanne hesitated before nodding. The smell of food was too tempting to refuse. She sat down and quickly began eating.
Meanwhile, Charvet put on his armor, strapping his sword to his waist. The black dragon-designed armor fit perfectly, giving him an imposing yet effortless presence.
Joanne looked up, pausing for a moment. "You're… coming with me?"
Charvet smirked. "What, you thought I'd let you go alone?"
A smile formed on Joanne's lips. She hadn't expected him to join, but she felt relieved. Having him around made her feel safer.
"Let's go after you finish eating," Charvet said, tightening his gauntlets.
Joanne nodded, her spirits lifted. Today's hunt wouldn't be as lonely.
As the morning sun climbed higher, Joanne moved through the ruined streets, hunting zombies with precision and efficiency. She had grown stronger over the past few days, her flame-based attacks scorching through the undead with deadly accuracy.
Charvet trailed behind her, watching her every move. He didn't lift a finger, not because he didn't want to help, but because she needed this experience. Still, his eyes never left her, ready to step in the moment things got dangerous.
Joanne launched a Flame Shot, the blazing projectile piercing through a zombie's skull, causing it to collapse in a heap of burning flesh. Another one lunged at her from the side, but she reacted instantly, sidestepping and slashing through its neck with her sword.
She was efficient—no wasted movement, no unnecessary strikes. Charvet had to admit, she was impressive.
Hours passed, and by noon, she let out a deep breath, wiping sweat from her brow. The last zombie in her path crumbled to ash.
[Class Quest Completed!]
[Congratulations! You have officially acquired the Battle Mage Class (S-Rank). Your abilities will now grow according to your class specialization.]
Joanne smiled, exhaustion clear on her face, but satisfaction gleamed in her eyes. She turned to Charvet.
"That's it. I'm done."
Charvet nodded. "Good"
The two made their way toward Central University, the so-called safe haven of students and teachers who had turned it into a fortress. On the way, Charvet remained silent, observing Joanne's expression. She seemed excited, but also thoughtful—probably thinking about the upcoming boss hunt.
When the towering gates of the university came into view, Joanne let out a breath of relief. "We made it."
Charvet glanced at the fortified walls and the guards stationed at the entrance. The university was well-organized, but he knew that in this world, nowhere was truly safe.
As Joanne and Charvet entered the university grounds, the usual buzz of students quieted for a moment. Conversations halted, and countless pairs of eyes turned toward them. But while the men were whispering in curiosity or suspicion, the female students had a completely different reaction.
The moment they laid eyes on Charvet, many of them felt their hearts skip a beat. His strikingly handsome face, sharp yet refined features, and long dark hair that swayed slightly with the wind made him look like he had stepped straight out of a fantasy novel. The black armor that clung perfectly to his tall, well-built frame only added to his overwhelming presence.
A group of female students standing near the entrance blushed furiously, their hands instinctively going to their chests as if to calm their racing hearts.
"Who is he…?" one of them murmured, her cheeks turning pink.
"He's… gorgeous." Another girl clutched her friend's arm, completely entranced.
Some students, unable to contain themselves, stole glances at him with dreamy eyes, while others outright stared, love-struck.
Joanne noticed this and sighed, shaking her head slightly. "I should've expected this…" she muttered under her breath.
Charvet, on the other hand, remained unfazed, his expression calm and unreadable. He had long grown used to being stared at, though the overwhelming amount of admiration in their gazes was still… amusing.
As they continued walking, more and more female students found themselves captivated, some whispering excitedly to their friends.
"He's so tall… and that sword on his back—he must be strong."
"I swear, this is love at first sight."
"Is he single?"
Joanne cast a quick glance at Charvet, who seemed completely unaffected by the attention. She rolled her eyes. "Looks like you've already caused a commotion."
Charvet smirked but didn't say anything, simply continuing forward. Whether he was oblivious or just didn't care, one thing was clear—his presence had already made a lasting impression on the university's female population.
As Charvet and Joanne continued walking through the university grounds, the whispers and admiring gazes were suddenly interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps. A young male student, panting heavily, ran toward them, his face pale with panic.
"Leader!"
A young man ran toward them, his breathing ragged, eyes wide with urgency. His uniform was slightly disheveled, as if he had been running around frantically.
Joanne immediately turned serious. "What happened?"
The student gulped, trying to catch his breath. "Another two female students went missing this morning. No one's seen them since dawn."
Joanne's grip tightened around the hilt of her sword. "Again?" Her voice was sharp, filled with both concern and frustration.
Charvet raised an eyebrow. "This has happened before?"
Joanne nodded grimly. "Three students have already disappeared this past week. Now, it's two more."
Charvet's expression darkened. "Any leads?"
The student hesitated before answering, shifting uncomfortably. "We… we suspect it's the Necro Faction."
Charvet narrowed his eyes. "Necro?"
Joanne sighed. "The faction that controls the east side of the campus. They're different from the others. Their leader, Ned, barely shows up to meetings, and the faction itself is shrouded in mystery. But what's more concerning is that… every student who's gone missing was last seen near their territory."
Charvet crossed his arms, a flicker of interest sparking in his gaze. "Sounds like trouble."
Joanne nodded. "Yeah. And I think it's time we find out what's really going on."
Joanne clenched her fists, her mind racing with possibilities. The disappearance of students wasn't something she could ignore, especially not now that it was escalating. She turned to Charvet, who stood calmly beside her, his expression unreadable.
"I need to investigate," she said firmly. "If this really has something to do with the Necro Faction, we can't just sit around and do nothing."
Charvet studied her for a moment before nodding. "Then let's go."
Joanne blinked. "You're coming?"
"You think I'd let you go alone?" He smirked slightly. "Besides, I'm curious about this faction."
Joanne exhaled, relieved to have him on board.
Turning back to the student who had delivered the bad news, she asked, "Where were they last seen?"
The student hesitated before answering, glancing around nervously as if afraid someone was listening. "Near the old library… right at the edge of Necro's territory."
Charvet raised an eyebrow. "Then that's where we start."
Joanne nodded. "Let's move."
The east side of the university had a completely different atmosphere compared to the rest of the campus. Unlike the busy, organized central area where factions worked together for survival, the eastern sector was eerily quiet.
As Joanne and Charvet walked through the abandoned pathways, the buildings around them stood in ruin, their windows shattered, walls covered in vines. The deeper they went, the more unsettling it became.
"This place feels… off," Joanne muttered, gripping the hilt of her sword.
Charvet didn't respond immediately, but he had noticed it too
"Stay sharp," Charvet warned. "Something's not right."
They continued forward until they reached the old library, a massive, decrepit building that looked like it hadn't been touched in years. The large wooden doors creaked as Joanne pushed them open, revealing a dark, dust-filled interior.
The scent of decay lingered in the air. The desks and chairs were covered in cobwebs, and scattered books lay untouched on the floor. The silence was oppressive.
Then—
Thud.
A sound came from the upper floor.
Both Joanne and Charvet instantly tensed, their hands moving to their weapons.
Charvet glanced at her. "You hear that?"
She nodded, her grip tightening around her sword. "Let's check it out."
They ascended the staircase cautiously, the wooden steps creaking under their weight. At the top, they found themselves in a long, dimly lit corridor. The sound had come from one of the rooms ahead.
Joanne raised a hand, signaling for Charvet to stop.
A moment later, she slowly pushed open the nearest door.
Inside, the sight that greeted them made her stomach drop.
Tables lined the dimly lit room, each one occupied by figures that barely resembled humans anymore. Their bodies were mutilated—stitched together, dissected, or warped in unnatural ways. Some twitched, their weak groans barely audible. Others… weren't moving at all.
The stench of blood and rotting flesh was suffocating.
But what truly made Joanne's blood boil were the two female students restrained on separate tables. Their clothes had been stripped away, leaving them exposed and vulnerable. Their faces were streaked with tears, their wrists and ankles bound tightly by leather straps.
They were struggling, sobbing, trying desperately to break free.
The room… it was a butcher house.
Joanne's hands trembled in rage as she stepped forward, her sword gleaming under the dim light. "You sick bastard…!"
From the shadows, a slow, mocking clap echoed through the room.
Ned.
He stood beside a bloodstained workbench, his expression unreadable. His dark cloak barely concealed the faint crimson stains splattered across his hands. His gaze flickered between Charvet and Joanne, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"You always assume the worst," Ned said with a smirk. "But I assure you, this is all for the sake of progress."
Charvet's expression was unreadable, but a cold, dangerous aura radiated from him. His gaze drifted toward the restrained girls, then back to Ned.
"Let them go," Charvet said, his voice calm but sharp as a blade.
Ned chuckled, shaking his head. "You misunderstand. These two are chosen." He gestured at them as if they were nothing more than test subjects. "They will be the first of a new evolution."
Joanne took a step closer, rage bubbling inside her. "You're experimenting on people!"
"And?" Ned tilted his head. "Haven't you wondered why we are leveling up in the first place? Why this system was given to us? This world is no longer about morals. It's about power. And power requires sacrifice."
Charvet exhaled slowly, his gaze sharp as a blade. "You talk too much."
Ned's smirk widened, eyes glinting with amusement. "And you act too recklessly."
Suddenly—
A bone-chilling screech filled the air.
One of the restrained girls arched her back violently, her body convulsing as black veins spread across her skin. Her eyes turned pitch black, and her screams warped into something inhuman.
Then—
She broke the restraints.
Joanne's eyes widened in horror. "What the—?!"
The girl—no, the thing that used to be a girl—jerked upright, her movements unnatural and twitchy. Her mouth opened wider than humanly possible, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Then—
She lunged.
Straight at Charvet.
SLASH!
Charvet reacted on instinct, swinging his sword in a perfect arc.
The mutated girl's body was split in half.
But the horror didn't stop there.
The second girl started convulsing. Black veins spread across her body, her mouth twisting into a silent scream.
Ned watched, utterly fascinated. "Ah… The transformation is accelerating."
Joanne turned to him, fury blazing in her eyes. "You did this!"
Ned smiled. "Of course."
Charvet had seen enough. His voice was cold, "You're next.
"Ned's smirk didn't waver. If anything, his eyes gleamed with twisted anticipation.
"Come, then," he murmured, spreading his arms wide. "Let's see if you're the hunter… or just another carcass waiting to rot."