Quinn shook off his daze and peered at the sky above.
Two moons shimmered in the heavens, their pale light weaving through drifting clouds that danced lazily around them. Near the center of the sky, something far more unsettling dominated his vision—a vast wound of bleeding crimson, as though the heavens themselves had been torn open. Nebulous clouds burned softly within it, pulsing as if alive, breathing against the night of absolute darkness.
Quinn watched it in silence.
"So… beautiful," he murmured.
He lay flat against the cold ground. His clothes were nearly shredded, his body smeared with fresh blood. Suddenly, a green glow enveloped him. Flesh knit itself together, wounds sealing at an impossible speed, skin stitching itself faster than the naked eye could follow. Within moments, the pain was gone.
Quinn slowly shifted his gaze downward—and the sight sent a chill through him.
The world below was already dark, lit only by the faint silver glow of the two moons. But now something even darker swarmed through the air.They were Flying beasts.
How did I end up like this?
One hour earlier…
Quinn was moving cautiously through the unfamiliar terrain, navigating this new world step by step. He had already marked his original location on the map; if he lost his way, at least he would have a path back.
while from the outside it looked like he was just walking, for quinn infront of his eyes the system window hovered.
It was a list of all the weapong his system could offer in exchange for their crystals. and currerently it was all greyed out.
When the students were thrown onto this planet, with their abilities stolen and no beast weapons, On a planet like this, that was no different from a death sentence.
That was why Quinn had taken on this mission feeling that a part of him has been involved in this.
If he could supply them with beast gear, even basic equipment, it would give them a fighting chance—nothing more, nothing less. Survival here demanded preparation, and mercy was a luxury this world did not offer.
The mission itself would take time. Doing it solo made it even riskier.
Vorden had insisted on coming with him.
But Quinn had refused.
Instead, he had given Vorden a different task: protect the stranded five. If something went wrong—if beasts attacked—Vorden was the only one left with an active ability. On a beast planet like this, every location was a danger zone.
Vorden had only agreed to let Quinn go for three reasons.
The first was Quinn's recent new abilities that had left even Vorden stunned.Lightning and fire. Two of the Big Four's powers.
The second was the number glowing on Quinn's watch-8.
That alone had eased Vorden's worries, if only slightly.
And the third reason… was Quinn himself.
In the heat of arguments and constant crises, no one—not even Quinn—had noticed the changes in his appearance. No one except Vorden, his closest friend.
It felt as though Quinn's very demeanor had shifted.
The first noticeable change was his height. Vorden stood at six feet two, and Quinn had once barely reached his shoulder. Now, he nearly reached Vorden's neck.
Then there was his physique. Quinn's muscles were more rigid, more clearly defined, as though his body had been reforged.
And finally, his hair.
When the light caught it just right, faint red streaks shimmered through the strands.
Quinn continued walking, his fingers moving subtly as he scrolled through the system interface only he could see.
Blades.Spears.Bows.
Equipment suited for every combat style.
The problem wasn't the gear.
It was whether he could find the right beasts to craft them.
Quinn exhaled slowly.
As time passed, he encountered more Rattaclaws. Too many. He was growing tired of running into the same beasts again and again.
Using his earth ability, he shaped the ground into a long-range hammer and crushed them efficiently as he moved forward. Each kill granted experience—but the counter filled painfully slowly for basic- and intermediate-tier beasts.
So far, he had only reached Level 11.
His stats had risen to 25, but it wasn't enough.
He was excited to reach Level 30 for his next evolution.
The faster, the better.
After walking a little farther, Quinn abruptly stopped. He quickly ducked behind a large rock.
Ahead of him, several bird-like creatures were perched atop a dead beast, feasting on its remains.
They resembled death bats, but smaller and more compact. Their wings were sharp and bladed, each beat slicing through the air.
Quinn activated Inspect.
[Devil Flies][Advanced-tier beasts]
At that moment, the system's voice resonated in his mind.
Beware of these creatures, Quinn. They always hunt in swarms. Their wings are exceptionally sharp.
He absorbed the warning and steadied himself.
Moving slowly, careful not to make a sound, Quinn closed the distance. When he judged himself close enough, he launched a surprise attack, unleashing his fire ability.
Flames erupted—
—but the creatures scattered instantly, fleeing into the air.
"Damn it… it flew away."
The moment the words left his mouth, piercing sonic waves rippled outward.
His expression darkened.
"It's calling the others."
From the edges of his vision, more Devil Flies emerged—dozens of them—converging and merging into a growing swarm.
This was bad.
A few moments later, Quinn found himself sprawled against the cold ground, drenched in his own blood.
"This was a bad idea," he muttered, staring at the approaching swarm of Devil Flies.