Zak is dead

Strapped to the gurney with several, cylindrical cables that were attached to his biceps, Zak inhaled a deep breath. The cables were connected to the surrounding machines that reflected the data of his heart rate, stability of his breathing, and flow of his mana on their screens.

"I don't think this is a good idea," Zak gulped as he clenched his fists.

"We need to install the artificial system we created," Danté gave his signature smile and retrieved a syringe filled with a red substance.

"Every single one of the Garrison has the system," Gabriella stated as she checked his vitals. "It contains data and information about the mutated creatures that have already been defeated. It also reflects the rank and level of a particular creature."

'That sounds like the Enemy detection Skill and Enemy analysis skill I should unlock at level 3,' Zak compared.

"However these statistics are based on our discretion and the data we've uploaded onto the system. The accurate and correct statistics of these creatures are still unknown," Danté explained further.

'So their system is just based on collected and theoretical data. My skills will reflect the accurate statistics.'

"Are you ready, Zak?" Alaude who was also present grinned. "This is probably the last time you'll be hearing that name."

Of course. The Garrison Captain had told him to discard his identity and name. Such was the nature of the world in its current era. His memories of the past were the driving force that would shape him into a man that endeavors despite the arrows that pierce his back.

But to throw away his name?

"You must understand that joining the Garrison means risking your life when you're told to," Alaude's expression darkened. "Your emotions and feelings should mean nothing when you're faced with an enemy that could potentially kill thousands of others. Your life is a sacrifice. Remember that."

Such cruelty. Yet that would not stand in his way to reunite with Nikita. There was more at hand than what the Captain and the others revealed, but Zak had to be patient to elicit the information he required.

'I don't know if this is going to affect my system...'

[Answer: System will perform an analysis of the artificial system and prepare for a merge if compatibility reaches 80%]

'A merge...that sounds like it's going to hurt,' Zak mentally sighed and steeled his nerves.

"I'm ready," He finally said. "You may proceed."

"He's confident," Gabriella smirked.

Danté injected the red substance into Zak's arm and the veins immediately became taut and prominent throughout his body. He clenched his teeth as a blazing burn ignited in his blood.

He struggled and kicked away at the gurney but his legs were firmly secured by leather straps.

"Don't fight it," Danté warned.

The substance coursed through his veins and mixed in with his blood. Despite the raging burn that turned his body into a wildfire, Zak attempted to maintain a steady rhythm of breathing.

"He seems to be doing better than the others," Alaude complimented. "But that's just the anesthesia, how will he handle the reorganizing of his nerves?"

'The fuck?' They hadn't explained that to him but suddenly he had lost all feeling in his legs and arms.

"We need you to be awake," Gabriella said as she checked the monitors. "Your heart rate has increased but it's nothing concerning."

Danté brought a black leather strap and secured it around Zak's eyes. Having his sight concealed, enhanced all his other senses. Or rather he could only hear the sounds of their activities, there was no feeling.

"We'd rather you not see this," Danté said.

Zak's heart seemed to thump quite audibly but he focused on calming his nerves. There was the sound of metal tools that clicked, some that sounded like mini drills, and something that sounded like a saw machine.

Nonetheless, he was grateful he could not feel either of the tools that possibly sliced through a limb or two. The procedure seemed to stretch for about an hour or two before the leather strap was removed from his eyes.

[Calculating compatibility for merge...]

[Compatibility check: 81.99%]

[Initiating system merge...]

Zak let out a sudden scream when he felt a spiking pain spear through his head.

"That's not supposed to happen," Alaude stepped forward in surprise.

"Wait," Danté gestured for him to remain in his position. "It may need more time to adjust to him."

"Don't reject it," Gabriella warned.

The changes that occurred felt as if his nerves were being completely rearranged inside his brain.

[System merge completed]

[New system start-up requires a username]

'So that's what he meant by throw away my name huh...'

A new name? What would he choose? The only thing that came to mind was the predatory gaze that instilled an unknown fear in him when he first encountered the Alpha wolf.

Its aura of darkness that enveloped its body never seemed to waver for even a second. Its intimidating body mass was still quite as vivid as the moment it almost crushed him. And the moment when its canines sunk into his flesh, the world around him had dulled into a void.

'Fenrir...Fenrir Hunter,' Zak informed the system.

[Host's Position has been updated]

-Name: Fenrir Hunter

- Age: 22

-Class: Necromancer

-Level: 2

-Rank: Trainee

-Title: None

-Squad: not positioned.

'Those stats are pathetic,' Zak laughed heartily. 'Not Zak, it's Fenrir now."

The name 'Zak' never held much value or significance to him. It was just a name written on a tag attached to his comforter when he was left outside the orphanage.

The name was just a label on a disposed product after all.

His mind was filled with sudden information on various mutated creatures, almost like a bestiary. He had recognized at least three of them from when the wave had first hit but the rest were completely foreign to his knowledge.

"What name have you chosen?" Alaude questioned as Fenrir urged himself up from the gurney.

"Fenrir," Zak smirked.

"Any reason behind it?" Danté pushed back his glasses.

"Fenrir... the wolf that will swallow everything at the end of the world... reminds me of the Alpha I fought."

"And surname?" Gabriella asked curiously.

"Hunter," Zak looked up at Alaude. "I am Fenrir Hunter."

"Cocky bastard," Alaude let out a loud cackle. "Welcome to the Garrison, Fenrir. Let's go get you leveled up."