Lord Of The Beast

Chapter 35: Patient Zero

"Hmm, it seems my strength has increased quite a bit," he mumbled to himself.

He began doing a few reps. The weights felt so light that it took nearly an hour before a single bead of sweat finally rolled down his forehead.

After completing three sets of one hundred reps, he placed the dumbbell on the floor and looked down at his tightened muscles.

Are muscles supposed to grow this fast?

Ding!

⟦𓆩The host’s body has successfully gained 20% more muscle mass.𓆪⟧

Victor was flabbergasted. The growth was simply too fast. Even ability users couldn’t strengthen their bodies at such an absurd rate.

It normally took years of relentless training and hard work to achieve even a noticeable increase in physical strength. That was why most ability users relied heavily on their abilities instead.

While contemplating what to do next, a sudden thought crossed his mind.

He waved his hand in front of his face, causing the system screen to shift into his inventory. Inside were his katana and another item.

Without hesitation, he selected the second item. The moment he did, it materialized in the palm of his hand.

A faint smile curved across Victor’s lips.

Then, with another ding, a new system notification appeared before his eyes.

⟦𓆩Would the host like to absorb the Draks Core?𓆪⟧

⟦Yes / No⟧

"Of course. Yes. Why even bother asking?"

The instant he answered, a brilliant flash of white light burst from the core. It was so bright that it nearly blinded him before disappearing just as quickly, leaving nothing behind in his palm.

⟦𓆩Absorption complete. The host has acquired the following rewards.𓆪⟧

⟦Rewards⟧

⟦+5 Power Points⟧

⟦Draconium Essence has increased.⟧

Add all Power Points to Stamina.

⟦Attributes⟧

⟦Strength: 20⟧

⟦Agility: 10 [Average Person = 10]⟧

⟦Stamina: 15⟧

"I guess my energy has increased," he muttered as black flames streaked with faint purple flickered to life in his palm.

He had yet to fully utilize this ability. Instead of relying on brute force, he wanted to broaden his mastery of it and understand every aspect of its power.

The more he used it, the more instinctively he understood its potential and the countless ways it could be applied. Even so, controlling the beast’s influence remained difficult.

Its instincts clung to him even in his human form.

The calm, disciplined young man he once was had gradually become wilder and far more unpredictable.

At times, even Victor couldn’t predict what he would do next. There was an overwhelming urge buried deep within him—a primal desire to let loose.

One thing, however, was certain.

He could feel it.

He was undeniably stronger than he had been just a few minutes ago.

"Hmm?"

Victor raised an eyebrow.

At the corner of the room stood a polished steel panel, smooth enough to reflect his image. But the reflection staring back at him wasn’t the one that caught his attention.

Instead, he saw someone standing behind him...

Someone he wanted to test his newfound power on.

"Who is that guy?" Nyx asked.

Caleb didn’t answer. His entire focus was locked on the figure standing across the noise-canceling dorm.

It was a silent clash of dominance—a battle of wills. Neither of them looked away, each determined to overwhelm the other without throwing a single punch.

Nyx couldn’t hide her surprise.

The usually calm and carefree Caleb was grinning like a madman.

"Caleb?"

He didn’t respond.

"Caleb!"

Only after she called him a second time did he finally answer.

"Hmm?"

"Is he a threat?" she asked, already preparing herself to step in if necessary.

"Nah. It’s just a roommate thing, you know," Caleb replied, never taking his eyes off Victor.

"Oh? You never told me you had a roommate."

Her expression immediately brightened. She stepped forward and extended a hand with a friendly smile.

"I’m Nyx."

Victor glanced at her outstretched hand before shifting his gaze back to Caleb.

"Not interested."

Without another look, he asked, "How about a rematch?"

"Sure," Caleb answered with an excited grin.

Nyx slowly lowered her hand.

The rejection stung far more than she expected.

Her jaw tightened as she ground her teeth, forcing herself to remain calm.

This jerk...

...

...

Back at the academy hospital, the stream of infected students had finally stopped.

For now.

The mysterious illness that had thrown the academy’s higher-ups into panic had been officially designated Nexus Strain. The name came from its terrifying ability to spread rapidly through direct contact and bodily fluids. To prevent widespread panic, news of the outbreak was kept strictly confidential.

So far, only ten infected students had been successfully contained.

Inside a heavily reinforced cryogenic chamber, the patients were kept under constant observation as researchers monitored their vitals and collected blood samples around the clock.

Each student had fallen into a deep coma shortly after arriving at the facility. They were alive... but none had shown even the slightest sign of waking.

Yet their unconsciousness was the least horrifying part.

Their bodies had changed.

The patients lay motionless on their examination beds, their once-healthy skin now stained with a sickly green hue that pulsed beneath the surface like a living organism.

Bulging emerald veins spread across their bodies like glowing roots, crawling from their chests toward every limb.

Patches of skin had hardened into rough, scale-like plates, while other areas had become unnaturally translucent, revealing faint movements beneath the flesh—as though something alive was writhing inside them.

Their breathing was shallow and irregular, every breath accompanied by a wet, rasping sound.

The whites of their eyes had turned pale green, their irises glowing faintly, devoid of all humanity.

Every few seconds, violent muscle spasms rippled across their bodies, making it seem as though whatever lurked beneath their skin was desperately trying to break free.

The room reeked of blood and harsh disinfectants.

Medical monitors blared continuous warnings as the patients’ body temperatures fluctuated wildly despite being housed inside the freezing chamber.

Even cryogenic temperatures couldn’t stop the infection.

The green veins continued spreading.

The Nexus Strain wasn’t simply killing its hosts.

It was mutating them into something else.

At that moment, the lead researcher overseeing the academy’s containment operation received an urgent call.

He answered immediately.

"Hello?"

A panicked voice exploded through the speaker.

"Sir! Patience Zero of the infected has breached containment and escaped into the school!"

The researcher’s face drained of color.

"Shit."

___