The Vessel

Zaryx's body slowly faded, his energy dissolving into the air. Meanwhile, Arvian's body continued to absorb the cursed energy, as if it had no limit. It surged into him endlessly, growing stronger with every passing second.

Then, as Zaryx finally disappeared, the energy inside Arvian suddenly stopped. But something was wrong. His body began to change. His very form twisted, reshaping into something new, something unnatural.

Zephiron, believing Zaryx was finally defeated, let out a victorious cheer. He released control, allowing Lioren to take over his body once more. Relief washed over him.

It was over.

Or so he thought.

Before he could react, a sharp pain tore through his back. His body was launched through the air at terrifying speed, crashing into the ground and rolling violently before he lay still, unconscious.

A figure floated in the sky. Its face was Zaryx's—monstrous, with spinning lines and piercing red eyes. Yet the body beneath was human. It was a disturbing fusion, as if Zaryx had taken over someone else.

Then, the horrifying truth became clear, the body seemed like Arvian's—Zaryx had made Arvian his vessel. He had planned everything from the start. If the worst happened, if he was on the brink of death, he had a failsafe. The moment he struck Arvian with his shadow energy, the process had begun. Now, he was bound to Arvian's body—an unbreakable fusion. Not even he could undo it.

But then—something unexpected happened.

Zaryx's confident grin vanished as his expression twisted in shock. His body trembled.

"W-what—?" he whispered.

Before he could understand what was happening, he lost control. His grip over Arvian's body shattered. The energy raged out of his grasp.

And just like that, Arvian fell from the sky, crashing into the ground with a heavy thud.

Silence filled the air. Something had gone terribly wrong.

After some time, a group of elite mages arrived at the devastated battlefield. The once-thriving cityscape was now nothing but ruins—no buildings, no signs of life, only destruction as far as the eye could see. Amidst the wreckage, two bodies lay motionless on the ground, separated by a great distance—Arvian and Lioren. Both were in terrible condition, barely clinging to life.

One Month Later

A month had passed since the chaos. The city had suffered greatly—many had died, while others were severely injured and remained hospitalized under the care of the National Medical Service. Among them were Arvian and Lioren.

Lioren regained consciousness within a day. Thanks to Zephiron's power, he was able to summon the fallen professors and the academy president back to the Medical Service Building, where they were treated by the Elite Healers. Their recovery was slow, but at least they were alive.

Arvian, however, remained unconscious. Even after an entire month, he showed no signs of waking up. His body was healing, and he was breathing—but it was as if his soul was absent, trapped in an endless slumber.

Jaxyn visited him every day with Dareth, unable to hold back his tears. Arvian was his first true friend, and the thought of losing him terrified him. No matter how much he pleaded or how often he spoke to him, Arvian remained unresponsive.

Meanwhile, the ruined city was undergoing reconstruction. Since it was no longer safe, the survivors had no choice but to migrate—some moved to a smaller city, while others left for another nation, waiting for the day their home would be rebuilt.

****

That day, Jaxyn went to visit Arvian again, just like he had every day before. But this time, he wasn't alone.

His father, the leader of the last surviving Velnoctenes, came with him. Unlike his maid appearence, he wasn't in disguise—no maid outfit, no fake beard, no false skin or hair. He stood in his true form—long black hair flowing down his back, his face showing the wisdom of his years.

And at last, Arvian was awake.

He sat on the medical bed, leaning against the wall, his eyes distant as if lost in thought. His body was still weak, but he was alive.

Just then, the door swung open.

Jaxyn's eyes widened the moment he saw Arvian awake.

Without a second thought, he ran forward and wrapped his arms around him in a tight hug.

"You damn monarch! You made me cry for a whole month, you—!" Jaxyn's voice cracked, his grip tightening as if afraid Arvian would disappear again.

Arvian, still dazed, blinked in confusion. "What… What's happening? Where am I?"

Jaxyn pulled back and quickly told him everything—how he had been lyimg on the ground, how he had been unconscious for an entire month, how the city had been left in ruins, and how so many people had died or been forced to flee.

Arvian listened in silence, trying to process it all. Then, suddenly, memories flashed through his mind—the last thing he had seen before everything went dark.

The confrontation with Zaryx.

His chest tightened. He remembered the cursed sword, the overwhelming energy, the feeling of losing control… But there was something else. Something he couldn't quite place.

Zephyraen also spoke with Arvian, his voice calm yet firm. "We'll be meeting at the academy daily," he mumbled before disappearing.

Another month passed, and the city's reconstruction was nearly complete. The process had been incredibly fast, thanks to the elite mages who used their powers to rebuild structures in record time. What should have taken years was finished in just two months.

The professors, the president, and even the citizens had fully recovered. Life was returning to normal, and with it, the academy finally reopened.

***

Today, the academy gathered all the new students for an entrance trial—a survival test inside an endless-staged dungeon. The goal was to confront monsters, test their limits, and prepare them for real battles.

At the entrance of the dungeon portal, students stood in groups, their expressions a mix of excitement and nervousness. Among them were Arvian, Lioren, and Jaxyn, standing together as a team.

Just then, Astrea walked up to them. "Hey, Arvian, can I join you three?" she asked with a hopeful smile.

Arvian nodded. "Yeah, why not?"

Before they could talk further, something unexpected happened.

A similar translucent system screen suddenly materialized in front of Arvian, glowing in the air.

[Unhuman Mission-05]

Mission Title: Kill Your Friend, Astrea Nyxbourne

Description:

Your task is to kill Astrea Nyxbourne, your friend. The mission may seem unbearable, but failure will result in severe consequences.

Failure Penalty:

If you fail, you will lose your human heart, and your humanity will slowly fade away.

Time Limit: 1 hour...