^POV: Jean Dalton^
"Hah… I guess this is a new beginning once again."
After what happened during the graduation exam, I escaped and kept moving from one city to another, chased by those bastards from the organization.
I know they're not serious about hunting me. Every time, they only send a few new recruits to try to assassinate me. I think they're using me as some kind of test subject.
"Oh, sorry… excuse me."
While I was lost in my thoughts, a young man bumped into me at the university entrance, spilling coffee all over my clothes.
"Great… now I have to buy new clothes before going in."
I muttered while cursing that idiot who bumped into me.
I checked my smartwatch to look for a nearby clothing store, and that's when I noticed today's date:
(1/1/2212)
"Well… it's the new year. I didn't even realize."
I once read in a book about celebrations on New Year's Eve, but unfortunately, those stopped after World War III a hundred years ago.
"Oh, there's a clothing store inside the university. That'll save some time."
I followed the map on my smartwatch and headed toward it.
People around me were staring with mockery and curiosity. It seems the large coffee stain on my chest was a perfect way to attract attention.
"Excuse me, can you tell me where the nearest clothing store is?"
When I arrived, I was already inside a large shopping complex. Not wanting to waste time, I asked the first person I saw.
"Man, you really need new clothes. Come with me, I'll take you there—it's on my way anyway."
And just like that, I ended up with a handsome young man with dyed blue hair picking clothes for me.
"Thanks for your help, Theodore, but I'm not used to wearing this."
I changed out of the black tuxedo he gave me and instead chose some sportswear that wouldn't restrict my movement, with large inner pockets.
"Damn, man, I don't care. Wear whatever you want. Honestly, with that scar on your face, I don't think you had a chance anyway."
It seemed Theodore got tired of trying to convince me to dress up to attract girls, but he suddenly went silent when he realized he crossed the line.
"Thanks, Theodore. Now excuse me, I don't want to be late for my first lecture."
I touched the scar I got in one of my fights. Even though it clearly revealed my identity, I didn't want to remove it—it reminded me never to show mercy to my enemies.
"Oh right, my lecture is about to start too. See you later."
Theodore checked his watch, hit his forehead, and rushed off.
"So… are you following me or something?"
After walking for fifteen minutes, I turned back and saw Theodore behind me.
"No, no, my lecture is in the same direction."
It turned out we were both heading to the same faculty.
{Transformation complete. Awaken, consciousness of the world.}
[Mana integration in progress… Mana integration complete. The consciousness of the world wishes you good luck.]
"What the hell is this?"
I was washing my face in the bathroom after the lecture when I heard those notifications—
Then I suddenly lost consciousness.
Bang… bang…
I heard strange knocking and growling sounds coming from one of the stalls. I stood up, pulled out the dagger hidden under my shoe, and slowly approached.
"What the hell is this?!"
A student opened the door and walked toward me slowly. His pupils were gone, his eyes completely white, and pieces of flesh were falling from his body.
{Zombie Lv.1: Humans whose bodies failed to adapt to mana became corrupted and turned into grotesque creatures that feel no fear or pain.
The only way to kill them is by destroying the head.}
"I need to stay calm."
After the message appeared, I stepped back twice to give myself space to process what was happening.
"Let's deal with what we know for now."
After the initial panic, I decided I needed to get out and meet others to understand this transformation, mana, and everything else.
"The head… huh."
I grabbed my dagger and threw it, hitting the zombie directly between the eyes.
[You have killed a Level 1 Zombie +5 XP]
[Congratulations, you have reached Level 1. You have 3 stat points. Think of the status window.]
"Status window."
As soon as I saw the notification, I did exactly what it said.
Name: Jean Dalton
Level: 1 {0/25 XP}
[Class: N/A]
[Mana: 22]
[Strength: 12]
[Endurance: 11]
[Vitality: 9]
[Agility: 14]
[Intelligence: 11]
[Free Points: 3]
[Skills: N/A]
"Add one point to vitality, one to agility, and one to intelligence."
After understanding the stats, I distributed the points the way I thought was best.
"This feeling… I'm starting to like it."
The new energy flowing through my body almost made me drunk. When it faded, every cell in my body screamed for more.
"Wait… is that me?"
I saw my reflection in the mirror—a young Caucasian man with blue eyes and short black hair.
But the strange thing—
The scar I used to have was gone.
"Oh… what's this?"
After checking my appearance, I noticed a black glowing book near the zombie's corpse. I was sure it wasn't there before.
I picked it up.
{Skill Book: Night Activity Rank-0
Passive skill. Grants night vision, enhances senses, and increases danger awareness.}
[Quality: Very Rare]
[Mana Cost: N/A]
[Do you want to learn this skill?]
[Yes] [No]
"What the hell is all this?!"
I still couldn't understand anything, and it was frustrating.
I chose to learn it anyway. I felt like I would need it for what was outside.
When I left the bathroom, another hell was waiting for me.
"Help me, please!"
A beautiful girl with black hair in a ponytail ran toward me while zombies chased her.
I stepped forward and threw my knife, killing another zombie and saving her.
"Tsk… too easy."
For me, killing these slow zombies was dozens of times easier than killing humans.
"Thank you… thank you."
She hid behind me while I continued killing zombies and saving students along the way.
I planned to go to one of the classrooms and use it as a temporary shelter.
A wide space, no windows, and a metal door that could block zombies.
"It seems I'm not the only one who thought of that."
When I arrived, there were already people there—and Theodore was among them.
"Hey, my name is Tony Miguel. We want to clear this building and save any survivors before it's too late. Do you want to help?"
Two young men approached me. One was short with a bow and a quiver, while the other was tall and holding a massive shield.
"Yes, no problem."
I agreed briefly while polishing the short sword I got from one of those wooden chests.
I don't like talking much with strangers, and everything happening didn't make me want to change that.
"Alright, we move in five minutes."
We began clearing the building floor by floor. Everything went smoothly, with Liam in front and Tony's arrows from the back. I had no problem cutting through zombies.
We got to know each other better, and our coordination improved quickly. Soon, the whole building was cleared.
"Alright… I think we're done."
After blocking the main gate with furniture and tables, Tony smiled and put his arm around my neck.
I don't know why… but I didn't mind.
…
..
"Wait… do you hear that?"
Those were Tony's last words—
Before a gray shadow separated his head from his body.
I froze in place.
Just seconds ago, Tony was standing here, smiling and joking—
Now his head was flying through the air, and blood was bursting from his body like lava from an erupting volcano.
The attacker was fast—
No… too fast.
From the moment Tony's head was cut to the moment it disappeared, not even a second passed.
"Hah… hah…"
My whole body was warning me. Every hair stood on end like I had been electrocuted.
I trusted my combat instincts—especially after learning that skill.
I jumped to the side without hesitation, dodging the next attack.
A gray shadow landed exactly where I had been standing.
It was a gray cat the size of a large dog, with black claws stained with Tony's blood.
"Be careful! It's a Rank 1 Ghost Cat, Level 12. It specializes in speed and has some kind of skill." Michael warned.
The cat shifted its target from me to Michael and charged at him—but this time, it was slightly slower.
"Wrong choice."
Michael created a white mana barrier in front of him.
The cat crashed into it, breaking it instantly, but stumbled for a moment—
That was enough.
Sean activated a skill that turned his skin red, grabbed the cat by its tail, and slammed it into the ground repeatedly.
"No… no… this can't be real… this is just a nightmare… right?"
Liam collapsed beside Tony's headless body, crying and screaming.
I looked at Sean and Michael—they were also shedding tears.
Yu-Min walked toward Tony's head, his expression unreadable.
"What is this…? Am I crying…?"
Tears were flowing down my face.
I couldn't stop them.
I… who never cried even after killing my father…
even after being tortured in the worst ways…
Now…
I was crying for a stranger I had only known for a few days.
"Why am i....crying"