The old college hallways were eerily silent now, dust floating through shafts of pale light that pierced broken windows. Every footstep echoed against cracked tiles, the stench of mold and old blood lingering.
The team moved cautiously, weapons at the ready. The mage they had rescued clutched his staff tightly, his face pale yet determined. Reina rode upon her Toy Guardian, the machine humming low as it swept its gaze across every shadow.
Then—
muffled sound.
It was faint, almost lost beneath the groaning wood and creaking pipes, but Kane froze instantly. He lifted his hand, signaling silence. Everyone obeyed.
The sound came again—a gagged cry.
Kane's sharp gaze locked onto a door half-ajar down the corridor. The wood was scratched, the frame dented as if someone had tried to claw their way out. His heart sank. Slowly, carefully, he leaned toward the crack.
What he saw turned his blood to ice.
Inside, the twins—pale, shivering, their bodies covered in bruises—were bound cruelly, stripped of dignity. Blank terror filled their eyes as they squirmed against the restraints.
Kane's vision blurred red. No…
Before he could move further, Maya stepped forward and quickly covered Reina's eyes, pulling her back into her arms. The little girl didn't understand, but her sister's trembling voice whispered:"Don't look, Reina… please don't look."
Kane pushed the door open with a forceful shove. The hinges squealed before breaking entirely. He stormed inside, tearing blankets from a discarded cot nearby and draping them gently over the twins. His hands, though gentle, trembled with rage.
Their gazes met his, wide and wet with tears. Relief, shock, and fear swirled in their broken eyes.
Behind him, Lena clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms. Maya's lips pressed into a thin line, fury radiating from her usually calm demeanor. Even the mage, new to their group, turned away with clenched teeth, unable to stomach what humans had done while monsters roamed outside.
Kane lowered his head, his jaw grinding so hard it hurt.
How quickly… how quickly humanity can rot.
Some were fighting to survive. Some were sacrificing for others. Yet there were always insects—vermin—who would take advantage of helpless souls, stripping away humanity in the name of twisted lust or cowardice.
The thought snapped something deep inside him.
[Ding!]Exclusive Skill Unlocked!Skill: Warlord's Wrath
[ A skill unlocked only by those who walk the Warlord path.
Born of unyielding rage against cruelty.
Temporarily amplifies Strength and Endurance by +50% when facing enemies marked as "Cruel" or "Corrupted."
Aura of Dread: Enemies within 20m marked as Cruel will suffer fear, lowering combat effectiveness. ]
Kane's body trembled as the system's voice echoed in his mind. He clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked, the air around him distorting faintly as if vibrating with his wrath.
The twins whimpered, clutching the blankets tighter. Kane knelt down, his voice low but steady."You're safe now. I promised your sister I'd find you… and I don't break promises."
Tears welled in their eyes again, but this time they carried a glimmer of hope.
Behind him, Lena's voice was sharp, trembling with anger."Kane… the ones who did this… they're still here, aren't they?"
Maya's grip tightened around her blade."If they are… then they'll pay."
Kane slowly stood, his eyes burning with murderous intent."They will. Every last one."
The hallway seemed darker now, as though the building itself understood what was about to come. Somewhere deeper inside, faint shuffling footsteps and laughter echoed—the sick proof that their tormentors were still alive.
And Kane, with his newly awakened wrath, was ready to show them what real fear meant.
The blankets still clung to the twins as they huddled against Maya, Lena, and Reina. Kane's glare burned like a furnace as he turned from them, stepping back into the hallway. His footsteps were slow, deliberate, and heavy.
The muffled laughter and footsteps came from deeper within the building—oblivious vermin who believed themselves safe.
Kane's lips curled into a cold snarl."Stay here. Protect them. I'll be back."
Maya looked up sharply. "Kane—"
He didn't stop. The air around him pulsed, heatless waves rolling outward. The newly awakened aura—the Warlord's Wrath—spread like a suffocating shroud. Fear would cling to those it marked.
He found them in a wide dormitory room, half-lit by dangling fluorescent tubes that flickered. A group of five men lounged about, some drinking from scavenged bottles, others sharpening crude knives. They laughed crudely, the sound bouncing off the broken walls.
The moment they saw Kane in the doorway, their smirks twisted into confusion… and then fear.
"Who the hell—" one began, but his words choked mid-sentence as the aura fell upon them.
Their hands trembled, eyes wide. Why can't I breathe? their instincts screamed.
Kane didn't speak. He advanced like a storm given flesh.
The first man lunged with a rusted crowbar, shouting to mask his terror. Kane caught the swing with one hand, crushed the metal against his palm, and rammed his forehead into the man's face. Bone cracked. Blood sprayed. The man collapsed in a twitching heap.
The others shouted in panic, but the second barely had time to turn before Kane's boot caved in his ribs, sending him flying across the room into a wall with a wet crunch.
"Monster! He's a monster!" one cried, scrambling backward.
Kane's answer was silence. His blade flicked once, severing the man's arm at the elbow. The scream was short-lived—cut off as Kane drove the point through his throat.
The last two survivors broke. One bolted for the door, the other dropped to his knees, babbling for mercy.
Kane's eyes were pitiless. "You begged for mercy from those children too?" His voice was like gravel. He swung his weapon down, ending the man instantly.
The last one—their leader—was faster, tearing down the hallway, screaming as he ran. His shirt, stained with fresh blood, clung to his back. He shoved through broken doors, tripping over debris, desperate to escape the nightmare stalking behind him.
Just a little further! Just a little further and I'll—
He skidded into the main hall, panting, wild eyes darting for an exit. Relief surged when he saw no one behind him.
But then… the air shifted.
From the shadowed far end of the hall, a wet slap… slap… slap echoed. The sound of flesh dragging across stone.
He froze, terror clawing at his chest. "W… what the hell—"
Something huge moved into the half-light.
A mass of fused bodies, limbs sprouting at unnatural angles, flesh bubbling and knitting over itself. A glowing, unstable mana core pulsed deep in its chest, spilling faint, sickly light through stretched veins. It twitched and spasmed as though its very existence fought against itself.
The leader screamed and stumbled backward."No—NO—"
The abomination lurched forward, multi-limbs snapping out like whips. One arm seized him by the chest, lifting him effortlessly. For a heartbeat, he struggled—kicking, clawing, sobbing.
Then the monster's maw split open where no mouth should exist, biting into him. Flesh tore. Blood sprayed.
The coward's screams ended in a gurgle.
The others—Kane's team—arrived just in time to see the horror begin to feed.
[System Alert]
[Classification: Abomination Class – "Flesh Congregant"]Physiology:– Fused humanoid biomass, unstable mana core.– Regenerative properties accelerated by consuming flesh.– Multi-limb strikes; increased reach.– Emits pheromone signal that attracts nearby lesser mutants.
Warning: Target confirmed as Boss-tier. Estimated combat level range: 15–17.
Kane stood at the threshold of the hall, his team flanking him.
Before stepping forward, he glanced back at Maya, Lena, and Reina waiting with the twins further behind, safely away from the threat.
"You stay with them," Kane commanded, voice low but unwavering. "This thing doesn't touch the kids."
Lena's lips parted, wanting to argue, but the look in his eyes silenced her. Maya only nodded once, holding Reina and the twins closer.
Kane turned back toward the monstrosity, his blade gleaming in the dim light. His new aura pulsed, feeding on his rage, pressing against the abomination's unnatural presence.
The Flesh Congregant dropped the mangled corpse of the cowardly leader, its many eyes swiveling toward Kane and his strike team.
And then, with a screech that rattled the windows, it charged.