Chapter 6: Among Monsters
The door closed behind him.—Click.A small sound.
But it echoed.Raj stepped inside.The room was different.Too clean.Too quiet.Too controlled.
White walls.No windows.Cold lights above.
At the center—A circle.Marked on the floor.
Symbols.Strange.Unfamiliar.
Raj's eyes narrowed."…So this is the place."The Academy Special Division.Where "problems" were sent.Where "talent" was measured.Or—Controlled."Stand in the center."
A voice spoke.Calm.Emotionless.
Raj didn't ask.Didn't hesitate.He stepped forward.
Into the circle.
The moment his foot touched—
—HUM.The symbols lit up.Soft blue light.
Energy flowed.Thin lines rising—Wrapping around him.Not touching.But close.Watching.Measuring.
Raj stayed still.Observing.Learning.
"…Energy reading stabilizing.
"Another voice.From behind the glass wall.So there were observers.Hidden.Of course."…Interesting fluctuation.""…This is not normal for an F-rank."Raj smirked faintly.Still calling me that…The light around him pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Then—The system flickered.[Interference Detected]
Raj's eyes sharpened.Interference?The glow intensified."…Energy spike!""Stabilize the field!"
"Too late—!"—CRACK.A thin fracture appeared in the air.Like glass breaking.The circle trembled.
Raj felt it.Resistance.Not from him—From the system."…So you don't like being watched."
A whisper.Low.Amused.Then—Everything stopped.
The lights faded.The circle went dark.Silence.
Heavy.The door opened again.Slowly.Footsteps.
Three figures walked in.Different.Not teachers.
Not students.Something else.
The first—
A tall boy.Calm eyes.Sharp posture.Confidence without effort.
The second—
A girl.Arms crossed.
Expression cold.Observing everything.
The third—
Shorter.But smiling.Too much.Too relaxed. Dangerous.
Raj looked at them.Carefully.His instincts—Shifted.
Automatically.His stance changed.Balanced.
Ready.The Combat Instinct activated.
"…So these are the monsters."A quiet thought.
The tall boy spoke first."…You're Raj?"Direct.
Simple.
Raj nodded once."…And you are?"A pause.Then—"…Your limit."The answer dropped flat.No emotion.But heavy.The smiling one laughed.
"HAHA… I like him already.
"The girl didn't react.She stepped closer.Stopped just outside the circle.Her eyes—Locked on Raj."…He feels different."A whisper.The tall boy nodded slightly.
"…Yes."Then—He took a step forward.
Entered the circle.The air shifted instantly.
Pressure.Heavy.Focused.Raj's eyes narrowed.
Strong.Very strong.The system flickered.Faster than before.[New Target Detected, Warning: High Risk]
Raj's pupils shrank.Warning?For the first time—
The system hesitated.The tall boy looked at him.
Calm.Unbothered."…Try it."A challenge.Simple.
Direct.The smiling boy leaned against the wall.
"Ohhh… this is gonna be fun."The girl watched silently.Interested.Raj felt it.The pull.The instinct.
The hunger.Steal.His fingers twitched.
But—He paused.Analyzed.Measured.The system warned him.But his mind—Curious.
"…What happens if I do?"A quiet thought.Then—
He raised his hand.Slow.Controlled."…Steal."
Silence.A second passed.Then—Nothing.
No thread.No connection.Raj's eyes widened slightly."…What?"The tall boy didn't move.
Didn't react.Instead—He spoke."…Did you really think…"A faint step forward."…it would work on me?"
—BOOM.Pressure exploded outward.Invisible.
But overwhelming.
Raj's body moved instantly.Side step. Perfect. Instinct.The floor cracked where he stood.A shockwave.Controlled.Precise.
Raj stabilized himself.Breathing steady.
But his eyes—Sharp.Focused.Excited.
"…So it doesn't work on everyone."The first real limitation.The first real wall.And—
The first real fight.The tall boy looked at him.
Finally—Interested."…Good."A pause.
"…You didn't freeze."Raj smiled.This time—
Not cold.Not calm.But sharp.Alive.
"…You're not weak."The words came out naturally.
Honest.
The tall boy nodded."…Neither are you."
Silence.Then—The smiling boy clapped.
"Alright… enough testing."The girl turned away slightly."…He'll survive."The tall boy stepped back.
The pressure disappeared instantly.Like it was never there.Raj exhaled slowly.So this is the level…
The real world.Not victims.Not fear.But—
Opponents.
The door opened again.A voice echoed.
"…Assessment complete."Raj looked up.The system flickered one more time.
[Host Growth Condition Updated]
His lips curved slowly."…Good."
[Chapter-6 Ended]