Chapter-9:Breach
The alarm didn't stop.
—BZZZT.
—BZZZT.
—BZZZT.
Red light flooded the hall. Sharp. Violent. Unforgiving."No one move!"A voice echoed.
Authority.Urgent.Different from before.
The Academy Special Division instantly shifted.
Students who were training—Now stood ready.
Silent.Focused.No panic.Only tension.
"…This isn't normal," the girl said.Her eyes were already scanning the exits.The smiling boy stopped laughing.
For once."…Feels bad."The tall boy stepped forward.
Calm.But alert."…Something breached the barrier."
Raj's eyes narrowed.Barrier?So the academy—
Was protected.Or…Was supposed to be.
—CRACK.A sound.Not loud.But wrong.
Like something tearing.Everyone froze.
Then——SHATTER.The far wall exploded.
Dust.Debris.Shockwave.Students were pushed back.
Raj slid a step—Then stabilized.His instincts reacted instantly.Attack.From the smoke—A figure emerged.
Slow.Dragging footsteps.Not human.Not fully.
Its body was twisted.Distorted.Skin cracked.
Dark veins pulsing.Eyes—Empty.Dead.
"…What is that?" someone whispered.The answer came cold."…A corrupted."Silence.Heavy.
Fear crept in.The creature lifted its head.
Then—It screamed.A broken.Inhuman sound.
And moved.Fast.Too fast.—SLAM.
A student was sent flying.Before anyone could react.
Chaos exploded."Defensive positions!""Spread out!"
"Don't let it get close!"Commands filled the hall.
But the creature—Didn't slow.It crashed into another.
Claws tearing through air.Wild. Violent. Unpredictable.Raj watched.Still.Analyzing.
No pattern.No control.Pure destruction.
The tall boy stepped forward."…I'll handle it."
The air changed.Pressure dropped.
Then—BOOM.He moved.A single step—
And he was in front of it.A punch—Clean.Direct.
The creature was thrown back.Crashing into the wall.
But—It stood again.Immediately.Unfazed.
"…Regeneration?" the girl muttered.The smiling boy clicked his tongue."Annoying."The creature charged again.This time—Faster.Stronger.The tall boy met it head-on.Their clash—Shook the room.Raj's eyes sharpened.Even him…Was being pushed.
The system flickered violently.[New Target Detected, Warning: Corrupted Entity, High Risk / High Reward]
Raj's breathing slowed.High reward…His fingers twitched.The instinct returned.Stronger than before.
Steal.But—He didn't move.Yet.He watched. Carefully.
The creature attacked wildly.But between its movements—There were gaps.Tiny.Almost invisible.
But there.It's unstable.The tall boy struck again—
This time—The creature grabbed him.—CRACK.
The floor shattered beneath them.For a second—
He was locked.Stuck.The creature roared—
Raising its claw.To strike."…Now."
Raj moved.Fast.Precise.No hesitation.He closed the distance—In a flash.The girl's eyes widened.
"…What is he doing?!"Raj reached out—
And grabbed the creature's arm.Direct contact.
The system exploded to life.
[Condition Met: Contact – Corrupted, Extraction Attempt Initiated]Energy surged.Violent.
Unstable.Different from humans.Raw.Chaotic.
Raj's body trembled."…This is—"Too much.
Too fast.The creature screamed.Louder.
More violent.Its body thrashed.
The tall boy broke free instantly—Jumping back.
"…Idiot!" he snapped."Let go!"Raj didn't.
He couldn't.Or—He refused.The energy flooded him.
Burning.Tearing.But—Powerful.
[Extraction: Unstable]
Raj gritted his teeth.His vision blurred—Then sharpened.Control it.Not force.Not greed.
Control.His grip tightened.Then—Adjusted.
Less pull.More focus.The flow stabilized.
Slightly.Just enough."…Got it."—SNAP.
The connection broke.
Raj was thrown back.Hard.He hit the ground—
Rolled—Stopped.Silence.For a second.
The creature staggered.Weaker.Slower.
The tall boy didn't hesitate.—BOOM.
A final strike.Direct to its core.The creature froze.
Then—Collapsed.Still.Gone.The hall went silent.
Heavy breathing.Shaking hands.Wide eyes.
"…It's dead," someone whispered.
No one celebrated.Not yet.Because—
All eyes turned.To Raj.He stood slowly.Breathing uneven.But smiling.Faint.Dangerous.
The system flickered.Stronger than ever.
[Partial Extraction Successful]
→ Corrupted Energy Acquired
→ New Trait: Instability Resistance
Raj looked at his hand.Dark energy flickered briefly—
Then vanished."…So even this works."The tall boy walked toward him.Slow.Serious."…You're insane."
Raj looked up.Calm."…It worked."A pause.
The tall boy stared at him.Then—"…Don't do that again."Not anger.Not fear.A warning.
Raj smiled slightly."…No promises."The alarm finally stopped.Silence returned.But it felt different now.
Heavier.Darker.More dangerous.Behind the broken wall—Beyond the academy—More shadows moved.
Unseen.Waiting.Raj's eyes shifted toward the darkness."…So it's starting."
[Chapter-9 Ended]