Beep! Beep! Beep! The black digital clock on top of the wooden cabinet beside his bed resonates throughout the room.
Awoken by the alarm, Koa sat up, touching his head. "Argh, that dream again." He rose from the bed and made his way out of the room.
While strolling straight to the bathroom, his eyes still look drowsy.
Once there, he took his toothbrush and applied a blue paste all the way to the end of the brush. He brushes his teeth in a manner that looks like he is deprived of energy while looking at the mirror above the sink.
After he finishes, he rinses his face with white body soap and tap water, which exits from the dripping faucet. Once done, he wipes his soaked face with a white towel hanging next to the mirror.
Just as he exited the bathroom, a late sixties woman was making her way towards him.
"Oh, Koa, it's already 8; aren't you supposed to have a class at 7:30?"
"It's only 8 o'clock, Grandma; nothing to worry about. I still have plenty of time, as long as it is not 7," Koa said, shrugging off his grandma's concern.
"Is it?" His grandma pursed her lips, her brow furrowed.
With sudden realization, his eyes widened. "Sh*t! I'm late," he then speedily runs toward his room.
"Tsk, tsk," her grandma shakes her head, looking at him. "That's what you get for staying up late reading... What was that game again you read? Mango or web bovel"
"It's manga and web novel, not mango or web bovel. I already corrected you many times, Grandma," his voice resonates outside his room.
"Umm... manga, manga, whatever, just hurry up so your dean won't scold you again."
"Fine, fine." Koa exited his room; he was dressed in a white, creased tank top, unironed black pants, and sky-blue long sleeves dangling over his shoulder.
"Hold on, hold on, don't tell me you're going to come to work dressed like that. You don't even have a sock on your left foot," his grandma said, crossing her arms and staring at his left foot.
"Of course, I'm late already," Koa said, frowning at his grandma.
"And where is your bag?" his grandma continued.
"F*ck, I even forgot that thing."
All his grandma could do was facepalm as she watched her grandson heading back to his room.
***
Emerging from the bus's automatic door, Koa speeds his way toward the ten-story vintage university building. On top of the university doors, a text is inscribed: "Tuna Island University."
The university lobby is filled with different sorts of noise, from muffled footsteps to howling conversations from the students and faculty members.
The lobby is broad. There is a long information desk next to the entrance, with staff answering the inquiries of both students and faculty. Across the hall, there is a bulletin board lining the wall, plastered with flyers advertising school activities. Several food stalls sell street foods and coffee. Finally, there is a modern and sleek escalator that has two sets for climbing up and down, allowing the steady flow of students and faculty up and down.
In one of the several stalls, two middle-aged men sat on a bench next to each other sipping a cup of coffee.
"Dray, I heard yesterday that the newly promoted professor from our college was scolded by our dean."
"Who's that, Greg?" Dray asked before sipping a cup of coffee.
"Koa Fuegon"
Dray raised his brows, glancing at Greg. "Oh, that lanky guy with blue eyes."
"Yes, he is; he was late on the first day of his job as a professor."
"What a shame; younger people these days lack manners."
"Oh, speaking of which, he's here." Greg shifted his stare at Koa, smirking.
"Good morning, sir."
"Good morning."
"Professor Fuegon, sir, good morning!"
"Good morning."
Each student Koa passed by lowered their head as they enthusiastically greeted him. While quickening his way out of the lobby, a familiar face appeared before him.
"Oh, Dr. Hekkell, good morning." Koa dips his head slightly at the approaching man in his mid-60s wearing glasses.
"What's this, Professor Fuegon? You're late again!" Hekkell said, frowning.
"Sorry sir, the... the bus I ride was stuck in traffic." Koa averted his gaze.
"Traffic? Isn't it the same reason you said yesterday?" Hekkell's voice rose a bit.
Students passing and even faculty around glance toward Koa.
"Dray, look how pitiful he is," Greg chuckles, looking at Koa.
"Shh, lower your tone; Dr. Hekkell might hear us."
"Don't worry, Dray, I don't think they might have heard us." Greg wipes his lips with a tissue.
"If it happens to you late again tomorrow, I will personally report you to HR." Old man Hekkell's frown deepened.
"Go...got it, sir. I promised I wouldn't be late again tomorrow, sir." Koa bit his lips.
"You can go to your class now," Hekkell said before heading straight to the entrance.
"Thank you, sir." Sh*t, that was embarrassing. Koa straightened himself.
"Hey, Professor Fuegon, it seems like you started your day getting scolded by Dr. Hekkell. If you continue doing that, a day will come, and students will look down on us because of you." A smirk played on Greg's lips as he raised his eyebrows.
"What wonderful advice... given by an assistant professor to his superior. Thanks, Greg," Koa sneered as he passed near Greg.
Greg, with a bitter smile, crushed the paper cup. "He's been here for around a year, but he acts like he's so ahead of us who've been here for nearly a decade." He throws his cup in a nearby trash.
***
Koa stood before a long whiteboard, clutching a marker with one hand, pointing at the projector screen with the other, and holding a microphone with the other. His gaze shifted back and forth between the screen and the fresh faces of his undergrad students sitting in a wooden armchair, staring at him.
The lecture hall is quite spacious, able to hold 70 or more students. Plenty enough to have empty spaces on either side of the student's seated area that stretches till the end of the room.
"Are there any questions?" His eyes swept across the array of distinct faces of his students, with lips pursed and gazes averted, silently pleading for the bell to ring.
"Since none of you got any questions..." He took a glance at his wrist. "I think I'm going to let you leave early today, class."
With these words from Koa, the drained looks from his students disappeared. Becoming livelier again as they quickly placed their bags on either their backs or shoulders.
"As expected from you guys," he smiles. "Anyways, see you tomorrow, guys, and don't forget about your assignment," he said. He then turns and rubs out the words written on the whiteboard.
Hearing this, the student rose from their seat, chatting quietly amongst themselves as they ambled their way out of the wooden door.
Koa took his phone out of his pocket, swiping and scrolling.
My next class is at 10:30. His brow raised. I have time to grab some sandwiches at the canteen.
While heading to his table, Koa abruptly fell to his knees.
"Professor Fuegon, are you alright?" A female student who was on her way out asked.
"Yes, I'm alright." Koa quickly gets on his feet, unsteady while clutching at the desk.
"Are you sure? If you want, sir, we can accompany you to the clinic."
"No, no, you don't need to. I just, ah, I didn't have a coffee this morning; that's why," Koa explained.
The female student then casually walks out of the room.
Koa clenched his teeth, his left hand clutching his forehead, seated before a desk. "It seems like something ominous is about to come."
After spending a few minutes of his time sitting, Koa stood. Still clutching his head, preparing to make his way out of the room.
Ding! Koa took his phone out.
"An emergency alert from the university," he whispered, gazing at his phone.
With a few taps and scrolls, his eyes widened. "It's an emergency evacuation," he said before hurriedly moving out of the room. But just as he exited the door, he met a group of students. They run aimlessly with their eyes etched in fear.
"What's going on?" His brow furrowed while asking.
"The...the mostro...the mostro just appeared in the lobby," a male student responded, quivering in fear.
"What?" Koa's voice rose slightly.
***
Mostro, a monstrous creature, first appeared way back seventy years ago. At first, people thought it was an entity from outer space. But then came a disease called "Manaflux.". Those who get infected suffer excruciating pain in their vein. Within just a couple of hours, the infected person mutates uncontrollably. Transforming into a grotesque and terrifying mostro. These mostros were labeled by the public as "Mostro"
When news came to the government, they tried to belittle it. Saying it was a hoax, but in actuality, they are in panic mode, trying to cover it up for the public. However, the disease quickly spread, and then it became mainstream. The mostro not only consumes humans but also infects them. To combat this, the government strictly implemented a lockdown in the areas where this disease appeared. Alongside the military, who battles against these mostros.
But then came what the government feared: the military gets overpowered pretty easily. Despite being armed with the latest technologies. A decision then came to use nuclear weapons as a last resort when the disease reached pandemic status. People all over the world are in panic and chaos here and there. Fake news spreading across the internet worsens the situation.
While this was all happening, out of the blue, a group of mysterious elite people appeared. Armed with magical power and a blade, they swiftly restore the balance and peace within the world. These individuals were later called "exorcists."