"Life isn't always like this, Zev. Yes, there are moments when you feel down—and that's okay. We're still human; we all go through those emotions," Drey said gently, his voice calm as he looked at the boy covered in bruises. "Everyone faces different struggles. What truly matters is how you rise above them."
Zev winced from the pain coursing through his battered body, the result of another beating by his fellow students. Tears welled in the corners of his eyes, not just from the pain but from the weight of his situation. If he hadn't failed the awakening… if his appearance hadn't been marred, maybe he wouldn't be treated this way.
"I understand that, Professor Drey. But it just feels unfair. I came here to train, to survive in this cruel world. And yet, they take advantage of me. Why? Because I'm weak?" Zev's voice rose before he realized it. He quickly lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry, Professor."
"It's all right," Drey replied calmly. "Even though we carry the genes of monsters, we are still human. It is natural to feel anger. In fact, it is better to express your feelings than to keep them buried. If you hold it in too long, those emotions can eventually consume you."
Drey had watched over Zev since the day he arrived at the Academy. He knew the boy was being bullied and had done everything he could to protect him. But even with his efforts, he could not be there every moment of the day.
"Indeed, life can be unfair. There will always be situations that don't go in your favor. That is part of living," Drey said, gently patting Zev's head. "But what matters is that you keep going despite it. It's okay to make mistakes and learn from them. Keep your head high, Zev. One day, you will reap the rewards of all the effort you've put in."
Zev smiled and wiped the tears from his face. "Thank you, Professor Drey. I always feel a weight lifted from my chest whenever I talk with you."
Boom!
A sudden explosion shook the walls of the Mutant Academy. Drey and Zev immediately turned toward the source of the blast. Their eyes widened in shock. This was no ordinary explosion.
"No..." Drey muttered, his eyes reflecting the red-orange glow of the flames now consuming the Academy. He had already pieced together what was happening. "This is bad. You need to get out of here and find a place to hide. We are under attack by the Black Union."
The Black Union—an organization made up of mutants who sought to dominate the world. Their main goal was to recruit every mutant and corrupt them with monster genes, allowing them to control those who were no longer fully human.
Zev wasn't naive. He understood the weight of the situation. "What about you, Professor? We should leave together," he said, voice trembling as screams echoed through the halls—students were being killed.
"My duty is to protect the students," Drey replied firmly. "You must go. Find help."
Zev nodded without hesitation. He knew that calling for help was the best thing he could do, given his current strength. "Please take care, Professor."
"Run!" Drey shouted at the top of his lungs.
Boom.
Another powerful explosion erupted, this time aimed directly at them. It did not hit Zev directly, but the shockwave was strong enough to send him flying. He crashed to the ground and rolled several times, his body twisting with each painful impact. The force of the blast broke several of his bones instantly.
Drey was a magician and also possessed the power of the Viper. In response, he summoned a green, slimy liquid wall made of concentrated poison to shield himself. The barrier absorbed most of the explosion, but the attack was too strong. Desp
"Leave, Zev!"
With a shout, Drey swung his hand, releasing a barrage of acid bullets toward the approaching enemies. The attack was lethal. The poison within the bullets could kill instantly, and once it made contact with a target, it would evaporate, leaving no trace behind.
Despite his power, Drey now faced four enemies, each strong enough to match him. Knowing he could not hold them off forever, he activated one of his most dangerous abilities—Poison Domain. It spread around him like a thick, toxic fog, meant to buy enough time for Zev to escape the battlefield.
Zev turned back and saw Drey standing in the haze,
"Professor Drey..." he whispered, his voice filled with worry. But he understood. Drey was doing this for his sake.
He gritted his teeth and turned away. "Please be safe, Professor."
He ran without looking back. The enemies tried to chase him, but they were unable to pass through the poison that Drey had unleashed. It held them in place, buying precious time.
"You are my opponents now," Drey said, his voice cold and resolute.
Later, Zev returned to the area with reinforcements from the Mutant Organization. But it was already too late. Drey was gone. Judging by his scorched body, he had not died peacefully. He had been burned alive.
"Professor..." Zev whispered, tears streaming down his face.
"I have a lot of debts to settle," Zev said with a broad smile. "This time, I'll make sure you don't die."
To begin the day, Drey stepped forward and introduced himself, his warm voice filling the room as he welcomed the students. All eyes were on him, the atmosphere suddenly serious.
[I would like to welcome everyone to Mutant Academy!]
Many students recognized him immediately.
Did I hear that right? Is that really Drey?
Professor Drey? The one who possesses the Viper gene? Amazing! I can't believe I'm seeing you in person!
Thank you for welcoming us, Professor Drey!
A wave of excited chatter swept through the crowd. It only quieted when Drey raised his hand.
[Coming to Mutant Academy is the right choice,] Drey said confidently. [Here, we will teach you everything you need to become stronger and survive against the monsters.]
He paused, his eyes scanning the students. [I can see many of you are tired. I understand—that journey here was not easy.]
Drey noticed several students bearing fresh injuries. Many looked exhausted, barely holding onto consciousness.
[For now, please head to your assigned rooms. We will continue our discussion early tomorrow morning,] Drey instructed. With a wave of his hand, he used his magic to send small wooden tablets floating toward the gathered students. [These tablets will show you where your rooms are located.]
As soon as he finished speaking, Drey vanished from the area in the blink of an eye. A malicious smile played on his lips. He hadn't yet mentioned the Academy's rules—meaning he was still free to leave the Academy for a while longer.
Star Dust Dormitory, Room 303.
Zev's eyes widened as he read the information on the wooden tablet. In his previous life, his room had been in the Jade Dormitory, reserved for students with low evaluation scores.
Hmm. It seemed that during his encounter with the fisherman Kiel—who had evaluated him—he gave him good points this time.
"I'd rather stay in Jade Dormitory. This place is annoying," Zev muttered.
He had good reasons for choosing the Jade Dormitory. More specifically, low-level mutants like him didn't attract much attention there. If no one was watching, he could move freely and avoid prying eyes.
Of course, he knew he had to be cautious—every choice could affect his future. Still, the Star Dust Dormitory was impressive. It was large and even had a training ground inside. In contrast, the Jade Dormitory was small, with old equipment and a limited number of restrooms.
Zev was quite impressed by the place. "They treat you differently once they see you have potential," he muttered, heading straight to his room.
Since he was the only one familiar with the dormitory layout, Zev was the first to arrive. Without wasting any time, he quickly put his belongings away and left as soon as possible.
With darkness falling, he thought it would be a good opportunity to hunt some monsters in the forest and test his skills.
Quietly, he slipped out of the Academy unnoticed. Now, he stood at the edge of a cliff that had caught his attention—there was a monster nearby he was eager to face.
The place was quite dark, so Zev materialized his spiritual energy to illuminate the area. The light wasn't very strong, but it was enough to give him a clear view of his surroundings.
He cautiously entered the cave. At first, everything was calm—no monsters approached. But after ten minutes, the atmosphere shifted. Zev reached the spot he had been aiming for, a place where a powerful monster awaited.
"As expected," Zev said, a malicious smile spreading across his face. "Long time no see, metallic spider."