Deep inside the cell, the student pounded his fists against the unyielding bars. His desperate gaze swept the empty corridor—no one witnessed his anguish. Life imprisonment was his sentence, yet in his mind, the crime wasn't entirely his doing. That mysterious orb hadn't reacted to him but to Ren. Images flashed through his consciousness: blood streaking Ren's forehead, crimson staining the boy's shirt. Finally exhausted, he sank down cross-legged and closed his eyes in resignation.
Suddenly, a voice slithered into his thoughts—dark, seductive, brimming with promises.
"You crave power, yearn for revenge," it whispered. "I can grant you both. All you need is to do me a small favor."
"You want my soul as sacrifice, don't you?" the imprisoned student replied bitterly. "That won't be happening."
"No sacrifice required," the voice countered smoothly. "Simply become my follower, and unlimited power shall be yours."
"All the power in the world," the boy repeated, considering. "And I merely need to serve you? Then bestow your power upon me, demon."
The voice, had it possessed physical form, would have displayed a triumphant smile.
"Very well."
Demonic energy surged through the boy's body. His eyes darkened considerably, and a sinister aura enveloped him like a second skin. Ren rose, prepared at last for his vengeance.
The lunch bell's shrill ring interrupted his thoughts. Students sighed with relief, abandoning their seats to rush toward the door in a chaotic stampede. They poured from the classroom—some running, others walking, a few unfortunate souls being trampled—as they headed toward the cafeteria in the north wing.
Amid the crowded hallway, Ren separated himself from the throng, seeking a secluded spot near the water fountain.
"This should provide enough privacy," he thought. "Hopefully no one will discover me."
As he approached the fountain, Ren noticed a young boy attempting water magic with spectacular failure. Ren crept silently behind him, careful not to alert his prey. His breath tickled the back of the boy's neck before he violently grabbed the child's hair and smashed his face against the metal faucet. Several teeth scattered across the floor as Ren repeatedly bashed the boy's head until his features became a bloody, unrecognizable mess. When he finally released his victim, the boy collapsed lifelessly to the ground. Ren smiled at his handiwork.
"Two soul units added to your chart. Level 1 shop unlocked," a notification announced.
He immediately examined the newly available shop and its offerings. Only one skill was available, priced at ten soul units: Soul Step.
The description read: "Allows the user to phase through objects besides the floor."
Solar, though bodiless, emanated satisfaction. "This will prove useful," he commented from within Ren's mind. "This skill once helped me survive attacks that should have been fatal."
"Wait—you can phase through attacks?" Ren asked, intrigued.
"Certainly, though your phasing duration is limited to ten seconds," Solar explained.
"I assume the more I use it, the more powerful it becomes and the more it can level up?"
Solar's approval was palpable. "Exactly. Now hurry to the cafeteria before anyone notices your absence."
As Ren passed a mirror, he glimpsed a strange reflection—a figure with jet-black hair, dark clothing, and piercing eyes—visible for only a split second before vanishing. Dismissing it as an optical illusion, he continued toward the cafeteria.
The dining hall bustled with activity when he arrived. Some students even employed fire magic to heat their cold meals. Ren joined the line and selected a simple ham and cheese sandwich. He devoured it in merely four bites, his hunger surprisingly intense, as though he hadn't eaten for days.
Yet something seemed off—the sandwich tasted remarkably bland, lacking any flavor whatsoever.
"Solar," Ren inquired, "why does this food taste so flavorless?"
Solar's response carried a hint of amusement. "Food tastes bland because you now require souls to satisfy your hunger. The more souls you consume, the less appetizing normal food becomes. Eventually, you'll be unable to eat anything without becoming violently ill. Only souls will sustain you."
The implications struck Ren forcefully—his future survival would depend on killing. Taking lives would provide not only strength but also sustenance.
He sighed heavily, discarding his tray in the trash before departing the cafeteria early. Other matters required his attention.
Walking through the hallways, Ren contemplated his need for more soul units. He had spent his initial ten on Soul Step, which, according to Solar, could help him phase through attacks with a ten-second duration and a five-minute cooldown period.
He headed toward a private training area in the north wing, unaware that danger lurked much closer than anyone could possibly imagine.