As the system notifications continued to flash, Raze ignored them.
The hunger was still present, raw and violent, drowning out everything else.
When it finally ended, Raze's legs gave out beneath him.
He collapsed onto the forest floor, chest heaving, fingers digging into the dirt as his hands shook uncontrollably.
He stared at his palms. They were stained red with blood.
"Sorry," he whispered hoarsely. "It was either my life… or yours."
The words hung in the night air, unanswered.
The deer lay motionless at his feet, its blood soaking into the leaves and into his uniform. Seeing it like that made his chest tighten painfully.
He hadn't wanted this. He didn't want to kill anything.
But the hunger had stripped him bare. It had torn away thought, restraint—everything that made him hesitate. Until there was nothing left but instinct.
Now that his mind was clearing, the fear crept in.
Raze looked down at himself. His uniform was covered in blood.
'If anyone sees me like this…'
He didn't finish the thought.
He tilted his head back. The sun was long gone, moonlight filtering through the branches above.
"Damn it," he muttered. "I've been out here way too long."
He forced his breathing to slow. The metallic taste still lingered at the back of his throat, making his stomach churn. Pushing it down, he called out quietly.
"Status screen."
[User: Raze Zaden]
[Race: Half-ling]
[Level: 4]
[EXP: 0 / 800]
[HP: 100 / 100]
[Strength: 16]
[Agility: 19]
[Stamina: 16]
[Endurance: 15]
[New Skill Unlocked: Flesh Bank]
Raze stared at the numbers.
His HP was full. He could feel it now—no pain, no weakness, no lingering strain. His body felt… fine. Too fine, considering what he'd just gone through.
His eyes drifted to the new skill.
[Flesh Bank – Lv.1]
[Stores up to 10 kg of flesh to restore HP or stamina.]
[Auto-activates in emergencies when HP falls below 10.]
[Flesh Bank is currently full.]
"Stores flesh…" Raze muttered. "That's messed up."
And yet—he understood why it existed.
The memory of collapsing, of that gnawing emptiness threatening to tear him apart from the inside, sent a chill down his spine. He didn't want to experience that again. Ever.
He closed the system screen and looked back at the deer one last time.
"No point thinking about it now," he whispered.
Raze exhaled and glanced down at his uniform again.
"Great," he muttered. "Now I look like a murderer."
He heard the sound of running water and followed the sound until he reached a small stream.
Kneeling beside it, he plunged his hands into the cold water. The cold helped clear his head. He scrubbed at his arms, his face, then did his best with his uniform.
The blood faded.
The smell didn't.
After a while, he stared at his reflection rippling across the surface of the water.
The boy looking back at him didn't feel like the same one who had left the academy earlier.
His eyes looked sharper.
Colder.
"I didn't even hesitate," he murmured. "Is this what I'm becoming?"
He shut his eyes, forcing the thought down before it could take root.
When he finally stood, the forest had grown darker. His vision was clear in the dark. He hadn't questioned it.
He began making his way back to the academy.
By the time the academy walls came into view, the dorm lights were glowing faintly in the distance. He checked the time on his watch.
8:40 PM.
Just in time.
He slipped in through a side entrance students used when they were late. The halls were quiet as he made his way back to the dorm.
Inside, Felix sat on the edge of his bed. Liam was already asleep. Beatrix lay staring at the ceiling.
Felix looked up immediately the moment Raze entered the dorm. "Where were you? We were looking for you after training. Thought you'd still be in the nurse room."
"I was," Raze said after a moment. "She let me go. I just needed some air."
Felix raised an eyebrow. "For hours?"
Raze let out a small laugh. "Lost track of time. Guess I needed it after getting tossed around all day."
Beatrix turned her head slightly. "That was reckless. If a soldier caught you wandering, you'd be running laps until sunrise."
"Yeah," Raze said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know. I didn't go far."
Felix studied him for a second longer. "You sure you're okay? I saw part of your fight. You took a brutal hit before that comeback."
Raze met his gaze briefly, then looked away. "I'm fine. Guess I just got lucky."
Felix hummed quietly. "Lucky, huh."
Beatrix yawned and rolled onto her side. "At least you're back. Try not to disappear again. This week's been enough."
"Yeah," Raze said softly. "Got it."
He went to the bathroom, washing away the last traces of sweat and the blood he'd missed beneath his sleeves. After changing, he lay down on his bed.
The room was silent.
But sleep refused to come.