Alex's eyes fluttered open, and he was immediately met with the sterile smell of antiseptic. The dim lights of the academy clinic above blurred for a moment as his mind struggled to catch up with reality. His head throbbed, and his body felt like it had been put through a meat grinder. Slowly, his vision cleared, and he saw the white walls of a medical bay.
"Hey, you're awake," a familiar voice called.
Alex turned his head, seeing a nurse standing by his bed. "You're lucky to be alive. Your vitals were all over the place. We've had some students with unusual readings before, but yours were… strange."
Alex blinked, confused. "Unusual?"
She raised an eyebrow. "You went unconscious for a while. Your body was in a state of extreme physical stress, and your energy levels were dangerously low. But your recovery speed is unlike anything we've seen."
Alex felt his heart beat faster. His recovery speed? Was that his ghoul nature at work?
Before he could dwell on it further, a familiar notification chimed inside his mind:
> Energy restored: 25%
Hunger: 58%
His stomach twisted as the notification flashed. He had barely recovered, and his hunger was rising again. The last thing he needed was to lose control.
A voice interrupted his thoughts. "Alex?"
He turned to see Miranda standing in the doorway, concern etched on her face. Her eyes softened when she saw he was awake, and she stepped inside. "Thank goodness. You had us worried."
Before Alex could respond, Kirito strolled in behind her, looking as calm as ever. He gave a small nod of acknowledgment but didn't say much.
"You're lucky," Kirito said quietly. "That last blow could've killed you."
Alex felt his throat tighten. "I didn't mean to—"
"You didn't have much of a choice," Miranda interrupted, her voice gentle. She walked up to his bedside, placing a hand on his arm. "I… I thought you weren't going to make it."
"I'm fine," Alex muttered, trying to push the heavy weight in his chest aside. "I'll be fine."
Zane walked in, his expression unreadable as he leaned against the doorframe. "Impressive," he said, his voice lacking the usual mockery. "I didn't think someone like you could pull that off. I might've underestimated you."
Alex barely looked at Zane. "It was luck," he muttered, but even as he said it, a part of him knew it wasn't entirely true. The system had pushed him into the fight, had given him that chance to grow stronger.
Zane smirked. "Maybe, but luck or not, you still won."
Alex shifted uncomfortably, ignoring the jab. He wasn't about to admit that the fight had unlocked something much more dangerous inside him.
Kirito glanced at Alex thoughtfully. "You're hiding something. Something that's not normal."
Alex stiffened, his heart skipping a beat. But he didn't have time to respond, because a nurse entered, interrupting their conversation. She looked at the group briefly before focusing on Alex. "You've been unconscious for hours, but you're stable now. We'll need to keep monitoring you for a bit longer."
Miranda, Kirito, and Zane exchanged glances before nodding. They said their goodbyes, with Miranda giving him one last worried look before leaving with Kirito.
Zane lingered a moment longer. "Don't think you've won me over," he said. "You're still a nobody in my eyes." With that, he turned and left, leaving Alex alone with his thoughts.
The door clicked shut behind him.
Alex let out a long, tired breath. He didn't feel like a winner. In fact, all he felt was exhaustion and the gnawing hunger in the pit of his stomach.
It was only then, when he was alone, that he remembered the system. His fingers trembled as he called up his interface.
---
[SYSTEM]
> Name: Alex kairo
Race: Halfling Ghoul
Level:2
Exp:0/100
Strength: 15
Stamina: 30
Agility: 16
Hunger: 58%
Energy: 25%
Skills:
Crimson Claw (Lv. 1)
Regeneration (Lv. 1)
Enhanced Senses (Lv. 1)
Physical Enhancement (Inactive)
> Notice: Due to level increase, host has gained +2 Stat Points.
Stat Points Available: 2
Alex stared at the screen, still trying to absorb the fact that he'd leveled up. His eyes locked on Crimson Claw. His hands were still shaking from the adrenaline of the fight, but now, it was the skill he had to focus on.
> New Skill Unlocked: Crimson Claw (Lv. 1)
Description: Allows the host to manifest energy-based claws from the fingertips. These claws are sharp enough to tear through most low-tier defenses and channel the host's ghoul energy. Prolonged use may increase hunger and energy consumption. Use with caution.
He swallowed hard. He didn't know how to use it yet, but the hunger gnawing at him told him he would need it sooner rather than later.
Next, he looked at the Stat Points Available.
"Hmmm,so I gained two stat point from leveling up,this system is really like a game" he thought
"so I can allocate it to any of my stat"
He had two points.
Strength had been the weak link in his fight. It was clear now that he needed more raw power to stand a chance. Without hesitation, Alex allocated both points into Strength, boosting it to 17.
[SYSTEM]
> Strength: 17
Stamina: 30
Agility: 16
Hunger: 58%
Energy: 25%
Feeling a little more confident, Alex slumped back in bed, rubbing his temples. The ache in his body was unbearable, and the gnawing hunger didn't make things any easier. He needed to feed soon, or else…
The thought hit him again: He might lose control.
Later, as the hours passed, Miranda, Kirito, and Zane came by again. They didn't stay long, as the nurse insisted on keeping Alex under observation for the rest of the day. Eventually, they all left, promising to check in later.
Left alone in the quiet, Alex felt the tension in his body begin to fade, though the hunger inside him only grew stronger.
It wasn't until much later—when the clinic had emptied and Alex was left in peace—that he felt the urge to go to the bathroom. He dragged himself to his feet, moving slowly as his limbs felt like lead.
As he passed by the mirror in the bathroom, he hesitated. His heart pounded in his chest. His reflection stared back at him, looking tired, drained, and more than a little beaten up. But something caught his eye—his right eye. It was glowing.
Alex froze, his breath catching in his throat as his reflection stared back at him with a single, red eye. The glow was faint, but unmistakable. It felt like his ghoul nature was rising within him, pushing against the walls of his control.
The system's warning echoed in his mind, louder than ever.
> Hunger: 60%