Chapter 10: Squad 7
No POV:
Axel awoke the following day feeling the cold morning breeze on his skin.
He had his first class today so he needed to get ready.
[Host is missing several hours of sleep. It is detrimental to health]
"Gh—!"
He flinched.
The system has been... talkative lately.
Sighing, he summoned his system.
The floating transparent screen appeared In front of him.
He read the contents...
[Name: Axel]
[Age: 18]
[Rank: B]
[Race: Hybrid human]
[Level 5: 2200/3000 Exp]
[Points in possession: 3500pts]
He stared at his race with a blank expression.
’Guess it’s bye bye to my humanity...’
It was the same information that got him into this mess...
[Are you gonna stare or you’re gonna check it out?]
Listening clearly this time he realized that the voice sounded like that of a woman...
"What are you?"
[More clicking less yapping]
Despite the vague answer, he started scrolling through.
The screen wasn’t as detailed as to show his status like most game like systems he’s read about in novels.
[Available Skills: Hunter’s Eye LV 2. Upgradable]
[Skill type: Combat]
[Description: A skill that allows the host to check the status and ability of his opponent.]
[Skill duration: 10 minutes]
[Cool down: 1 hour.]
[Upgrade cost: 2000pts]
[Devil’s Veil Lv 4. Upgradable]
[Skill type: Support]
[Description: The Devil’s Veil is a cloak designed to conceal the devil energy of its wearer. Once worn, the wear would be invisible to tracking skills and abilities for an amount of time.]
[Skill duration: 10 minutes]
[Cool down: 30 minutes]
[Upgrade cost: 3000pts]
Axel let out a content sigh. He’d made considerable progress over the past week...
[Transformations]
Clicking, he read the contents.
[Scarion phase one : Teir 1]
[Description: A transformation that boosts speed and agility, best adaptable for evasion.]
[Mastery: 2/100]
[Weakness: Enhanced speed but lower attack power. No to be used in direct combat]
[Scarion phase two: Tier 1]
[Description: A transformation for enhanced strength and durability. Adaptable for direct combat]
[Mastery: 5/100]
[Weakness: Trades speed for power. Not to be used to for evasion.]
[Scarion phase three: Locked.]
[Bane: Locked.]
[Scarion phase three: Locked.]
[Requirement: Must reach a mastery level of 30 in previous stages]
[Transformations are not upgradable with points. Must reach the required threshold for each tier.]
As expected, using his transformations increased mastery level.
’So basically, the more I use it, the higher my mastery level. Seems nice but I’m curious to know what phase three can do.’
Then realizing he had spent way too much time on his bed he yelped.
"Shit! I’m gonna be late." Even though he didn’t want to go, he had to be present for his first class...
Dismissing the runes, he quickly showered, got dressed and headed for class.
~~~~~
Axel POV:
As I walked through the halls, the Commander’s words from yesterday kept echoing in my head.
"The devil that possessed you isn’t completely fused with you yet."
What the hell did that even mean? And why were ranks such a big deal here anyway? I still remembered what happened with that B-rank kid yesterday. I rubbed my forehead and sighed.
"The last thing I want is to get fucked up by some strong-ass hunter..."
Still, I couldn’t just stand by and watch someone get bullied for no reason.
I kept walking until I noticed someone standing ahead. From behind, the figure looked familiar, but I didn’t pay it much mind. As I passed her, a bright voice called out.
"Heyyyy!!!!!"
I turned around to see Amy waving enthusiastically, a big smile lighting up her face.
"Oh, hey Amy."
She jogged over. "Good morning!"
"What’s up? Sorry, I didn’t realize it was you," I said with a small chuckle.
"No worries, I didn’t notice you either. Heading to class?"
"Guess so."
"Great! Mind if I walk with you?"
I realized then what kind of person she was—outgoing, straightforward, and energetic. I actually liked that. At least I wouldn’t bore her to death. Still, a quiet question lingered in the back of my mind: ’Did I really want her hanging around me?’
For as long as I could remember, I’d always pushed people away.
Except for him...
Jean was the one person who kept coming back, no matter what. It still surprised me that he actually enjoyed my company. A small frown tugged at my lips as I felt that familiar ache.
I left...
I left him...
The only other person that treated me like a human...
The thought started to sour my mood, so I pushed it aside and focused on getting to class for now.
~~~~~
No POV:
When Axel and Amy entered the classroom, the chatter died instantly. Every head turned toward them.
"Who’s the guy with Amy? Is he new?"
"I don’t know, but he’s actually kinda hot..."
"Looks can be deceiving."
"Is he even a hunter?"
Murmurs rippled through the room. Hayley looked up from her phone, annoyed by the sudden noise. The moment her eyes landed on Axel, her gaze sharpened behind the helmet—cold enough to pierce straight through him.
Axel ignored her and scanned for an empty seat, only for his expression to twist when he realized the only one left was right next to her.
Vaden’s voice cut through the tension. "Class, this is Axel. He’s a B-rank and will be joining us starting today."
The atmosphere dropped.
"See? Told you. His face is the only good thing about him. Pathetic."
"What’s with his eyes? Why’s he looking at us that way?."
Axel stared out the window, his jaw clenching. ’Same shit everywhere. Fucking assholes.’
Irritated, he walked over and dropped into the seat.
"Why are you here?" Hayley hissed.
Axel shot her a glare.
"Because it’s the only free seat... unfortunately."
He looked even less thrilled about it than she did.
~~~~~
Right after class, Axel met up with Vaden.
"So, how was it?" Vaden asked.
"Crap."
Vaden chuckled. "Well, it’s time to assign you to a squad."
"Ugh, finally. Just hope it’s not some random squad."
Vaden shook his head, amused. "You’re not getting a weak squad. You’re going into mine."
Axel raised an eyebrow. "That’s... actually not bad. When do we head out?"
"Right now."
They arrived at Barracks 7. The moment Axel saw the number, his smile vanished. He’d heard that number before...
From someone he really didn’t want to think about right now.
"Wait—"
Hayley stepped out of the building at that exact moment, her face twisting into a deep scowl the second she saw him.
"What the fuck is he doing here?" she snapped, pointing.
Axel groaned. "Commander, why do I always get stuck with her?"
"This has nothing to do with her," Vaden replied calmly. "I pulled some strings with the higher-ups. You’re in my squad so I can keep an eye on you and train you personally."
Axel barely had time to process that before...
**BANG!**
One moment he was standing on solid ground. The next, he was flying through the air and slamming into a wall near the entrance. Before he could recover, a punch drove into his gut. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he tumbled across the ground, carving a small crater where he landed.
"Did you figure it out yet?" Vaden asked, walking toward him casually.
Axel staggered up, coughing. Another devastating blow sent him crashing into another wall.
"An academy this massive, nine elite squads each led by a ranked Commander... and somehow you ended up in my squad."
**BOOM.**
"Do you know why?"
Axel peeled himself off the wall, blood dripping down his chin, but his expression remained eerily calm. "I knew this was your doing. There’s always some fucked-up catch, isn’t there?"
Vaden smiled. "You catch on quick. Long story short—I made sure you’d be stuck with me."
**BANG!**
The beating continued. Hayley, Vax, and Jax arrived just in time to see their commander pummeling the new recruit.
"He’s holding back," Hayley muttered. Even so, the sheer force of Vaden’s restrained attacks was terrifying. If he wanted Axel dead, the first strike would have been more than enough.
**Bang. Bang. Bang.**
Each hit sent Axel through walls and into the ground, yet he kept getting up with that same unnervingly calm face, now covered in blood.
[Host is nearing critical condition.]
"Tch..."
"Is that the best you can do?" Vaden taunted, driving a knee into his stomach before launching him upward with a punch. He blurred behind Axel in a streak of lightning and delivered a crushing axe kick, slamming him back to the earth.
Then came the omnidirectional assault.
[Initiating protection protocol]
Axel was getting demolished... until something inside him snapped.
A deep, guttural growl echoed through the barracks as the smoke cleared. One arm had turned deep crimson, veins bulging, elongated claws. Axel’s eyes burned a brighter, more sinister yellow. The scar across his face had darkened and extended.
[ Phase two of Scarion has been activated]
"What’s the matter?" His voice carried a demonic undertone that sent chills down everyone’s spine. "Never seen a devil before?"
.
.
.
.
.
The counterattack was immediate and vicious.
Axel grabbed Vaden’s arm and hurled a devastating punch. Vaden blocked, but the force still sent him skidding backward.
The two clashed repeatedly, trading bone-shaking blows. Vaden was impressed. Axewl was faster and stronger in this form, dangerously so.
"I like this part of you," Vaden said, kicking him back.
"Don’t worry," Axel growled,"You’ll see more of it."
Their fight grew even more brutal. A powerful exchange ended with both of them dislocating each other’s joints; shoulder for Vaden, forearm for Axel.
Without hesitation, they both grabbed their injured limbs and *snapped* them back into place with sickening cracks, eyes locked the entire time.
The final exchange was destructive.
Vaden blasted Axel through another wall, shredding what remained of his jacket. As Vaden approached through the dust, a massive wave of demonic energy surged.
Axel stood with his palm outstretched. A swirling red orb formed, humming with terrifying power.
Their eyes met—teal against glowing yellow.
He fired...
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