Two weeks had passed.
Azrael trained nonstop, completed his daily quests, and occasionally let himself relax, laugh, and even joke around. But deep down, he knew this wasn't sustainable. He couldn't hide behind comfort forever. The ticking pressure of his unknown past, the weight of his system, and the pull of destiny were too much to ignore and the fastest way yo grow according to his system was by killing.
One quiet evening, as twilight bled into the sky and the room bathed in amber shadows, Azrael approached Lyra. She was curled up on the couch, a book resting gently in her lap.
Without hesitation, he asked, "How strong do I need to be… to take the Warlock Academy Test and how far is it from Seoul?"
Lyra's eyes rose, surprised by the sudden question. Her expression shifted serious, calm.
"You're finally decided to join me but beware you will have to register as a commoner?" she said.
Azrael nodded silently.
She set the book aside and motioned for him to sit. "Alright. Listen carefully."
"The Warlock Academy is in London Westminster, to be exact. It sits at the junction where six roads meet, near the statue of King Charles I, close to Trafalgar Square. But it's hidden. The place is protected by old magic, illusions,What you name it. It only appears when certain conditions are met which is likely when accepting students and also releasing students."
This is an extremely classified information, so you should be lucky to have me.
Azrael's brows drew together. "And from Seoul to there?"
"It'll take about a week to reach," she answered. "We can't fly straight. Too many aerial beasts patrol the Wastelands. But we'll go together." She smiled, trying to comfort him. "I'll make sure nothing happens to you."
Azrael smiled back but it didn't reach his eyes.because he'd already made his choice and it pained him to leave like that.
That night, while the city slumbered and Lyra breathed gently in her room, Azrael stood by the window, staring at the moon. His heart ached. She's kind. Strong. She's helped me so much… but I can't drag her down. Not for what I'm about to do she might die over there and i won't risk it.
He activated [Shadow Veil].
Darkness coiled around his form, blurring his edges, silencing his steps. With a final look at the room that had become a temporary home, he slipped out.
Far from the house, with the veil still clinging to him, he whispered, "Cancel."
The magic faded, draining 50 MP.
He raised a hand, hailing a cab on the lonely street.
The cab pulled up, its engine purring.
"West Border Gate," Azrael said, voice firm.
The driver raised a brow but nodded. That destination wasn't for tourists or businessmen it was Variant territory. Dangerous, lawless, and wild and he deduced that Azrael was a variant.
Azrael climbed in. And the car rolled into the night,the city lights fading behind them.
Morning came so soon and they were still driving.
It would be a long two-day journey before they reached the gate.
Back at the house, Lyra stirred awake.
She yawned, stretched, and waited for Azrael to come down for breakfast.
But he didn't So She assumed he was sleeping in exhausted, maybe. After all, he'd been pushing himself hard.
But as noon crept closer and still no sign of him, unease began to creep in.
He wouldn't just sleep through lunch.
Worried, she climbed the stairs and knocked on his door.but received No answer.
She hesitated, then slowly opened it.And it was Empty.
The room was neat. Nothing broken. No signs of struggle. Just… absence.
Her heart began to race.
Did he leave? Did he remember something and vanish? Was he kidnapped?
The worst-case scenarios piled up in her mind until one word hit her like lightning: Kidnapped.
Her hands trembled as she pulled out her phone.
"Mr. Rex."
A calm voice answered, "Yes, ma'am?"
"I need you to access the street cameras immediately. Find this boy." She sent Azrael's photo.
There was a pause.
"And… keep an eye on my father's men," she added darkly. "If they had anything to do with this…"
Mr. Rex's tone shifted. "Understood. I'll get to work right away."
Soon, the western gate of Seoul came into view, and Azrael felt his heart race with anticipation. He had originally planned to show the guard his Association ID and pass through without drawing suspicion. But the moment he considered it, the thought of Lyra tracking him down immediately soured the idea. His plans needed to remain secret, for now.
With a subtle flick of his wrist, Azrael activated his Shadow Veil inside the car. His body shimmered, blending with the shadows, becoming invisible to anyone who might be watching. He left a hundred won bill on the seat, a final gesture to the unsuspecting driver before slipping away unnoticed. The driver, unaware of his disappearance, only saw the money left behind, a chill running down his spine as the car drove away.
Azrael moved through the city, his footsteps light and undetectable. He made his way toward the western gate, carefully avoiding the guards and slipping through the border unnoticed. His pulse quickened as he ventured deeper into the Wild Lands, the familiar hum of the city fading behind him.
Once he was out of range of the gate's detection systems, Azrael canceled the Shadow Veil. The instant the skill was deactivated, he was hit with a sharp jolt of fatigue.
[-100 MP]
The drain on his energy was immediate and more intense than he'd anticipated. A cold shiver ran through him as he mentally recalculated. The longer the skill was active, the more it drained his mana reserves. He had to be more cautious. MP was a valuable resource, and he couldn't afford to waste it recklessly.
With his senses sharpened and his movements quiet, Azrael continued deeper into the wilderness. The dense forest surrounded him, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and the distant hum of insects. He had been traveling for hours, the land becoming increasingly desolate and wild. But something felt... off.
A sudden rustle broke through the stillness, sending a chill down his spine. He froze, every muscle tensing as his eyes scanned the surrounding foliage. The noise came again, this time closer, almost like footsteps.
Azrael's hand instinctively went to the short sword he summoned out of his system inventory, but he stayed still. His mind worked quickly. The rustling could be a wild animal, or it could be something far more dangerous.
His senses heightened, he stepped silently into the shadows once again, ready for whatever would emerge from the bushes.
Soon, a creature emerged from the underbrush. At first glance, it resembled a rabbit, but there was something disturbingly unnatural about it. The creature was nearly the size of a hare, but its fur was patchy and mottled. Three jagged horns protruded from its head, twisted and grotesque. Its eyes were bloodshot, glowing with an unsettling hue.
Azrael's blood ran cold as the creature's gaze fixed directly on him. The rabbit's eyes no longer appeared to be its own; they were his. The intensity of the stare pierced through him, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. It was as if the beast could see directly into his soul.
In that instant, Azrael's training kicked in. He reacted swiftly, activating Appraisal to gather as much information as possible about this new threat.
________________________________________
[Race: Mutated Bunny]
[Rank: Rare]
[STR: 30]
[AGI: 55]
[PER: 45]
________________________________________
Azrael's heart skipped a beat as he absorbed the information. The beast's stats were far beyond anything he had anticipated. 30 Strength, 55 Agility, and 45 Perception? It was clear that this mutated bunny was no ordinary creature. The rare rank indicated it was an anomaly, dangerous and unpredictable.
His instincts screamed at him to stay alert. This beast was on another level. It wasn't just a simple creature; it was a mutated force of nature, born from who knew what kind of twisted magic or experiment.
Azrael's mind raced, considering his options. His MP was low, and his Shadow Veil skill could be too costly to use again so soon. The creature's speed could easily outmatch him if it chose to attack. He couldn't afford to make a misstep.
As the mutated bunny stared at him with those unblinking eyes, Azrael prepared for whatever came next, his body coiled in readiness.