The moment the energy from the shattered scroll entered his body, Ash froze.
It wasn't knowledge.
It wasn't memory.
It was… transformation.
A sharp sensation surged through his veins, spreading from his chest to every part of his body. His muscles tightened, his breathing slowed, and for a brief second—
Everything around him felt clearer.
Sharper.
Slower.
Ash opened his eyes.
The world had changed.
No… not the world.
Him.
He slowly raised his hand, staring at it in silence.
Before, he had relied on raw strength.
Speed.
Instinct.
But now—
There was something more.
Control.
Precision.
Understanding.
Every movement his body made felt… intentional.
Perfect.
As if he had fought countless battles before.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
"Interesting…"
This wasn't just power.
This was refinement.
Ash stepped forward and faced the cafeteria door once again.
The loud banging from inside had not stopped.
If anything—
It had grown more violent.
His eyes turned cold.
Without hesitation, he pushed the door open.
Bang!
The metal door slammed against the wall.
Immediately, the creatures inside reacted.
More than a dozen zombies turned toward him at once.
Their twisted faces locked onto him.
Their bodies trembled as they rushed forward.
Hungry.
Mindless.
Ash didn't move.
He simply stood there.
Watching.
Calculating.
Then—
He stepped forward.
One step.
That was all it took.
The first zombie lunged.
Ash moved slightly.
Not fast.
Not exaggerated.
Just enough.
His body twisted smoothly.
His hand shot forward—
Crack!
The zombie's neck snapped instantly.
Its body collapsed.
Before the second zombie could reach him—
Ash's elbow struck backward.
Boom!
Its jaw shattered completely.
Teeth and bone scattered across the floor.
Ash didn't stop.
Didn't hesitate.
His body flowed from one movement to another.
Like water.
Like a blade.
Each strike was precise.
Efficient.
Deadly.
No wasted motion.
No unnecessary force.
Every attack had purpose.
Every movement had meaning.
Within seconds—
The room turned silent.
Zombies dropped one after another.
Some had broken limbs.
Others had crushed spines.
A few stood frozen—
Alive.
But unable to move.
Ash stood in the middle of it all.
Unharmed.
Untouched.
His breathing steady.
His expression calm.
But inside—
Something was changing.
With every enemy he defeated—
He felt it.
A strange sensation deep within his veins.
His blood…
Was reacting.
Not violently.
Not wildly.
But subtly.
As if it was… learning.
Adapting.
Growing.
Ash frowned slightly.
"This again…"
That same feeling from before.
It was getting stronger.
Closer.
Like something was waiting—
For the right moment to awaken.
Footsteps echoed from behind him.
Ash didn't turn.
He already knew.
Three people entered the cafeteria.
The archer.
The hammer man.
And the silver-haired woman.
They froze.
Their eyes widened slightly as they took in the scene.
Bodies everywhere.
Broken.
Crushed.
Silenced.
And at the center of it all—
Ash.
Standing like nothing had happened.
The archer swallowed hard.
"What… the hell…"
The large man tightened his grip on his hammer.
Even he felt a chill run down his spine.
"This guy…"
He didn't finish his sentence.
Because he didn't know how to.
The silver-haired woman remained silent.
But her eyes—
Focused entirely on Ash.
Sharp.
Cold.
Observing.
She noticed something the others didn't.
There were no excessive wounds.
No reckless destruction.
Everything was… controlled.
Perfectly executed.
This wasn't just strength.
This was skill.
Real skill.
Ash finally turned to face them.
His expression calm.
But his eyes—
Cold.
Deep.
Dangerous.
For a brief moment—
They all felt it.
Pressure.
Invisible.
But real.
As if standing before something…
Above them.
Ash glanced at them briefly.
Then spoke.
"Food is secure."
Simple.
Direct.
No emotion.
No interest in conversation.
But as he walked past them—
The large man instinctively stepped aside.
The archer did the same.
Even the silver-haired woman shifted slightly.
None of them realized it.
But their bodies had already made a decision.
To give way.
As Ash stepped out of the cafeteria, rain hit his coat softly.
His gaze lifted toward the dark sky.
Cold.
Silent.
Unshaken.
His hand tightened slightly.
That strange power within him pulsed once more.
Stronger this time.
More noticeable.
A faint red glow flickered deep within his eyes.
Gone in an instant.
"…Level 25."
He muttered under his breath.
He didn't know why.
But he could feel it.
That level—
Was important.
Very important.
That would be the moment.
The moment everything changes.
Behind him—
Inside the cafeteria—
The three stood in silence.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Because for the first time—
They understood something clearly.
That man…
Was not someone they could control.
Not someone they could compete with.
And definitely—
Not someone they should provoke.
Outside, the storm continued.
But within that storm—
A force was quietly rising.
Cold.
Dominant.
Unstoppable.
Not a hero.
Not a savior.
But something far more dangerous.
A ruler in the making.