BAM! BAM! BAM!
Rocker's fists pounded relentlessly against the barrier, his knuckles turning red from the impact.
"Damn it! Why won't this thing break?!" he shouted in frustration.
The soundproof zone remained unscathed, standing as an impenetrable prison that cut off everything inside from the outside world.
Not only did it block sound, but it also prevented anyone from seeing what was happening within.
The three of them stood there, tense and unsure.
What if the murderer had already killed her?
A chilling thought none of them wanted to acknowledge.
Then—
CRACK!
A sudden shattering noise rang through the air, making all three of them flinch.
The soundproof zone—gone.
The oppressive pressure vanished in an instant.
Baron, Rocker, and Kai immediately snapped their heads toward the alleyway.
Blood.
A fresh stain darkened the ground just at the entrance of the alley.
Baron, Rocker, Kai stared into the darkness.
And something inside them shifted. A strange pull.
An irresistible force tugging at their instincts.
Their bodies moved before their minds could catch up, their feet stepping forward as if entranced.
"Huh?"
Kai don't feel anything but watched in horror as his two companions advanced toward the alley without hesitation.
"Wait! Are you two crazy?!" Kai shouted, his voice shaking.
"Isn't the alley where the murderer operates?! Don't go in!"
His warning fell on deaf ears.
Neither Baron nor Rocker stopped.
They just kept walking. As if something was calling them.
Kai's hands trembled. Sweat dripped down his forehead.
"Damn it…"
I had no choice.
Gritting his teeth, Kai took a deep breath and stepped into the darkness after them.
Step step step...
Baron felt a chill run down his spine because the scent of blood was everywhere.
Rocker, on the other hand, was already used to the smell, so he didn't react.
But the killer—he was a cannibal. And because he was a cannibal, he was extremely dangerous.
That's why Baron was always on guard, in case that monster suddenly appeared and devoured the two academy students.
He would protect them. That was his responsibility, especially since he had dragged them into this mess.
The dim lighting flickered as they reached the end of the alley.
"...Nothing here?"
No matter how hard Baron looked, he couldn't see anything.
But the scent of blood was still in the air.
That meant the killer had likely finished his work and fled the scene, or so Baron thought.
"He might already be gone," Baron said to Rocker.
But Rocker kept staring upward, his eyes filled with pure disgust and rage.
Seeing that, Baron followed his gaze.
That was the moment he made the worst decision of his life.
Right above them, a man dressed like a mental asylum patient was clinging to the corner with only his legs, his arms still strapped inside a restraint jacket.
He was gnawing on something.
A boy's head.
Blood dripped down, landing on Baron's face.
"..."
Both of them fell silent, unable to move.
Until now, Baron had thought they were dealing with an ordinary murderer.
But he had never expected something far, far worse.
A man-eating monster.
A true cannibal.
And then, that thing bit down hard, crushing the skull in its jaws.
Blood and brain matter splattered everywhere, even on Baron and Rocker's faces.
Baron's fear hit its peak.
The creature suddenly leaped down, opening its mouth, still full of mangled flesh.
It was aiming straight for Baron!
Just as it lunged—
A powerful punch smashed into the creature's face, sending it crashing into the nearest wall.
"RUN! I'LL HOLD HIM OFF—CALL THE COPS NOW!!"
"!!"
Baron wanted to stay and fight, but the sheer terror paralyzed him.
"Damn it!!"
He had no choice—he turned and ran to get help.
Rocker smirked as he watched him go, then turned back to face the monster, his expression deadly serious.
"Your opponent is me, you disgusting freak!"
And with that, he charged in, ready to fight to the death.
Meanwhile...
"Shit, how did they run so fast?!"
I was completely lost.
This alley was like a damn maze—too many paths, and the darkness made it impossible to see properly.
How the hell did those two manage to move ahead without any trouble?
I kept walking, trying to find my way, until—
"!"
Someone was lying on the ground.
Looked like... Alice?!
I rushed over to check on her.
"..."
She was still breathing, but injured.
A bite wound on her shoulder—deep enough to expose the bone.
She kept letting out pained whimpers. She was definitely suffering.
"..."
I stared at the bite mark, and a surge of rage boiled inside me.
'This situation is serious. That bastard needs to die, no matter what.'
I hoisted her onto my back—
And holy shit, she was heavy!!
"Why the heck are you so heavy?!"
I gasped for air, struggling to take even a single step.
Was she really this heavy, or was my physical stat just that garbage?
Either way, I had to move.
Step by step, I pushed forward, searching for a way out of this alley.
A few minutes later, I finally made it. I placed her down beside a streetlamp.
'The other two still aren't out yet… This isn't good.'
Worried, I turned back and ran straight into the alley again.
***
"Which way is the exit?!" Baron growled in frustration.
He had been wandering for so long but still couldn't find a way out of this damned alley.
If he didn't hurry, Rocker would be in serious danger.
"Shit!!!"
He slammed his fist against the wall.
When did I become this weak?
Why did I run?! Why did I leave him behind?!
Are my stats just for show?!
Baron was furious—at himself. He felt useless.
Then, the words of the Libert family echoed in his mind.
They had always insulted him, always called him worthless, saying that his powerful skill was just pure luck.
"...Maybe they were right. Maybe I really am useless..."
His arrogance slowly faded, replaced by self-doubt.
'I'm nothing…'
As he was drowning in self-loathing, footsteps echoed behind him.
"!!"
He turned around—
And standing before him—
Was the cannibal.
Blood drenched its entire body, and it was still chewing something in its mouth.
"...No way."
Rocker… had been eaten?
No… No…
Was this all my fault?
I should have stayed and fought… Where did my confidence go?!
Baron's face was filled with guilt and terror.
The creature lunged, its jaws wide open.
Baron just sat there, frozen, hopeless.
A sickening crunch echoed—
Baron opened his eyes.
…But he felt no pain.
He looked up—
And saw green hair in front of him.
"KAI?!"
Kai gritted his teeth. He had stopped the bite with his own arm, his face contorted in pain.
Then, with sheer force, he tackled the killer to the ground, pinning it down.
But if this continued, his arm would be bitten clean off!
"BARON! DO SOMETHING!!"
Kai's desperate shout snapped Baron out of his daze.
But Baron still hesitated, fear gripping him.
Kai was furious—he wanted to curse him out.
But when he looked into Baron's frightened eyes—
For some reason, the anger disappeared.
Because right now, Baron looked just like his younger brother.
So, despite the pain, despite the teeth sinking into his flesh—
Kai spoke softly.
"Baron… Are you scared?"
Baron stared at him.
"It's okay. I'm here. You don't have to be afraid."
"No matter what happen."
Kai smiled gently while sweaty.
"I will be there for you, so just believe in yourself."
Baron's breath hitched.
He had never heard such a kind voice in his entire life.
And yet, here it was—coming from a classmate he had just met this morning.
A classmate who cared more about him than those bastards in his own family ever did.
The words were simple— But the sincerity hit deep.
"..."
Kai saw that Baron still wasn't moving, so he continued struggling against the cannibal.
Give him time to think. People only change when they're at their breaking point.
But goddamn it—MY ARM IS ABOUT TO GET TORN OFF!! PLEASE DO SOMETHING, BARON!!!
Baron clenched his fists.
He gritted his teeth—
Then, he opened his eyes.
And they glowed.
SNAP!
Lightning exploded, illuminating the entire alley. The deafening crack of thunder echoed across the city.
Kai was flung backward, clutching his wounded arm as he stared at the cannibal—
"GUAHHHHH!!"
The monster convulsed, electricity coursing violently through its body.
Kai's eyes widened in shock.
He turned to Baron—
His thumb and index finger were close together, arcs of lightning jumping between them.
"I've had enough."
Electricity surged around Baron as he snapped his fingers again.
A bolt of lightning shot into the ground, snaking toward the cannibal.
The moment the first surge ended—
A second one struck.
Baron's eyes burned with determination.
This monster was going to die.
[Thunderstorm Body (A): Your body is one with electricity. You can control it however you desire.]