Chapter 13: Cursed Hound

The Apocalypse descended with the fury of a primordial catastrophe.

A surge of unknown energy burst across the planet, and its consequences transformed the unfortunate mortals into aberrations that looked more like beasts than men. Their eyes glowed with a light that spoke not of reason but madness.

Not a creature was spared. What once walked on four legs or buzzed with wings now stalked the ravaged earth with jaws and claws hungry for death.

The civilized world that humanity had rebuilt over centuries crumbled in a heartbeat.

For most, this nightmare overwhelmed the ability to think, let alone act. Fleeing the monsters that left carnage in their wake and praying for deliverance seemed the only path left to frail mortals.

For a select few, however, this apocalypse was an opportunity. Facing nightmares made flesh, they gained the power to confront the offspring of evolution with their own power.

Items of unknown origin gave them strength while within them awakened mysterious skills. If these powerful awakened beings survive the coming madness, they may be humanity's last hope.

Then...

Ten normal humans walked down what was once a main street, now a ruin and tomb. Beside them walked two who had forged the force of the apocalypse: Evolved beings with power on par with the monsters that fed on the fallen.

However, not even their vaunted power could save them from the doom that awaited them around the next corner.

Out of the shadows lurked a beast that moved at a speed that left the savagery of the Badly Evolved in the dust.

Not even a scream had time to form in human throats before claws and fangs painted the street crimson.

The two Evolved beings could only contemplate, dumb with horror, a massacre that left not even fragments to bury.

They were both Level 7 Evolved with all their <Stats Points> attributed to Agility.

Therefore, their reflexes and senses far surpassed those of ordinary humans. However, even with all those advantages, their eyes couldn't even begin to follow the blurry, ghostly movements of the monster as it slaughtered the students.

—Krahhhhh!—

Emitting a bone-shaking roar that drowned out all other sounds, the Mutated Dog swung with its entire body to appear as if out of nowhere before the dagger-wielding man.

As unheard terror assaulted the man's mind, his legs could not respond fast enough to evade the jaws bearing down on him.

The man's cry of despair was abruptly cut off as his head was torn from his shoulders by the vicious bite of the beast.

The mutilated corpse collapsed on the sidewalk with thick, scarlet blood erupting from the hideous wound in his neck.

The dog's forced swallowing as it greedily engulfed the man's head caused his katana-wielding companion to finally come to her senses, her whole soul trembling with dread as she gazed upon the decapitated remains of her classmate.

She strained to flee, but in the blink of an eye, the Mutated Dog appeared again before her like a specter, its massive forelegs descending upon her frail form to crush her to the unforgiving ground.

The woman could only squeeze her eyes shut and surrender to the monster's wrath, awaiting the wrenching pain of its crushing claws.

However, at that precise moment, a strong wind whipped through the surroundings as the shrieking wind whistled.

—Chin!—

Following the sound of cutting bones, the dog's paw was torn from its body.

Its hairy, bloody arm rolled through the air before falling heavily to the ground. The beast's triumphant fury was cut short, and the gaze lit with rage and agony soon turned to the daring source who dared to interfere.

Dai Zen stood a meter from the dog, looking to meet the monster's demonic red gaze. His sword rested on his shoulders as his icy eyes gazed impassively at the ten-foot-tall beast.

The sun was barely rising, heralding the advent of a new day, when he and the other Evolved cleared the halls of the Academy from the third floor to the first.

Wu Xiuying and the survivors waited on the second floor for the propitious moment to emerge at the entrance, as they had arranged the day before.

The reason they did not accompany Dai Zen was precisely the reason they had discussed.

Thanks to his superior speed, Dai Zen was the aptest to head for the bus stop, allowing him to bring the transport to the entrance while the rest would depart directly to it.

Many Badly Evolved ones lurked, hungry for Dai Zen's pure soul; however, they feared the giant monster before him, whose presence was enough to freeze the blood in their veins.

Though some devoured each other with savage ferocity, they preferred the pure energy seeping from the pores of the crimson-eyed boy, despite his unusual odor that reminded them of themselves.

"Escape. Head for the bus and wait for me there; as soon as I'm done with this beast, I'll catch up with you."

Dai Zen turned his attention to the Mutated Dog without looking at the girl he had saved from such an unfortunate fate. Their eyes met for an instant, and in them, he saw reflected the brutality of a beast.

Dai Zen waved his sword with a shriek, advancing in stride toward the monster. It snarled, baring a row of sharp fangs, and lunged at the boy.

This was a distinct disadvantage for the beast but an advantage that Dai Zen would take advantage of.

He could sense that the monster far exceeded his current strength; however, because he had managed to cut off a paw, the beast lost some of its original strength; therefore, if he used his Magic Skill, he would achieve victory.

Black threads coiled around the monster.

—Grahhh!—

Its roar echoed in the surroundings. Threads of shadow cracked around its legs on the verge of breaking; however, it was slow.

The sword traced an upward arcing trajectory, meeting the monster's arm.

Dai Zen slid his weapon along the beast's body and passed over it to slash the muscles of its hind leg, bringing it to its knees.

Before it could regain its balance, he moved backwards and, with precision, plunged the blade into its skull with enough force to pierce it.

The dog collapsed in a pool of blood. Dai Zen absorbed its Existential Record in the process.

His eyes closed as he felt his muscles charged with a force that was challenging to describe.

[You have obtained the Existential Record of Cursed Hound Level 20]

<+10 Agility>

<+10 Strength>

<+10 Magic Power>

<+8 Vitality>

<+8 Resistance>

<+8 Mana>

[You have leveled up to Level 10!]

[You gain +3 Stat Points to distribute]

...

[You have leveled up to Level 11!]

[You gain +3 Stat Points to distribute]

...

Dai Zen turned his face towards the small Fairy that fluttered around his head, throwing pink powder where her wings fluttered.

"Why can I defeat such monsters when my Level is so far away from theirs?"

"Because you have killed monsters above your Level so far, you have obtained the purest Existential Records to absorb. This way, you get higher Stats than you should get with each kill of a monster of the same level as yours."

She took some time to settle back on his shoulders and point out: "It could be said that you cannot now be measured by your Level alone, as your Stats are far above what a person of your Level would possess. When you killed the <Badly Evolved: Mutant>, your Stats increased tremendously thanks to the energy absorbed from the Level 10 monster...

... While you remained stopped at Level 7, your Stats continued to grow through the Existential Records, allowing you to rival Level 14 enemies. When you level up, you can reach a strength equivalent to that of Level 20 monsters, the one you have now killed."

Dai Zen remained silent, reflecting. That was what she meant when she mentioned that he should really take advantage of the Existential Records—facing powerful enemies and defeating them.

Killing the <Badly Evolved: Mutant> had marked a turning point in his strength. And now, he had once again killed a monster far above his Level.

Although he didn't Level up much, the Existential Records were directly attributed to his Stat because his soul could now hold that much Record without leaving residual energies to Level up.

"Anyway, you should grab that <Skill Rune> and its <Magic Core> before running for the bus."

***

[Dai Zen - Hybrid - Badly Evolved]

Level: 11

Trait: Nullity [Unique]

Evolution: First Rank

Class: No Class

Title: Untitled

[Stats]

Strength: 39 (+30)

Vitality: 31

Resistance: 44

Agility: 36 (+25)

Magic Power: 33

Mana: 85

[Available Stats Points: 33]

[Skills]

—Darkness Manipulation | First Rank Skill | Level 7