Zain Vs Chris conflict

Students stood there, intensely staring at the list as they searched for their names. Luckily, the list was orderly and organized. The thing the students intensely searched for were the people they would call their teammates. This was a very important matter at the academy, though surprisingly, it did not affect Zain.

Zain received envious stares due to his name being listed alongside the Pentagon, the most influential people in their class.

Zain sighed and walked toward the weapons laid on the tables, both vertically and horizontally. The students gathered there were choosing their weapons, while some were checking to see if they were properly assembled. Among them were the Pentagon, who surprisingly looked dashing now that Zain paid attention to them.

The Scavengers relied on guns and shields, which often did more damage and were quick to reload. Yet, Zain wasn't particularly fond of guns—not because of their functionality, but because of the experience he had with them. Zain shuddered at the thought as he saw the cyber-enhanced version of the G18.

"Hey weirdo! Why the hell are you looking at my back gun that way? Do you want me to put a bullet in you?" an angry-sounding voice spoke.

Zain looked to see who had just spoken, and his gaze met an angry-looking fellow—it was Chris. Zain was pleased with himself for remembering his name.

"Please, you put a bullet in me? While I can even see you? Don't make me laugh," Zain said, beginning to walk past him.

Chris stopped him with his gun pointed at him. This one was a gun that looked like a U.M.P. but was too elaborately altered to be considered one.

"Who gave you permission to walk past me? You... you half-human!"

Zain was a very short-tempered person but could at least control his fury to a certain degree, so he didn't answer the question. Instead, he gestured toward the commander for a question.

"What, are you now calling the commander?" Chris openly mocked him, while the rest of the Pentagon ignored the situation and continued checking their equipment.

The commander saw Zain's gesture and walked toward Chris and Zain, asking, "Yes, young man?"

"I don't know how to use a gun. Isn't there another, easier tool I can use?" Zain spoke.

Zain's question startled everyone—even the Pentagon was shaken by it. The commander was too, but he didn't show it. Instead, he answered.

"Young man, the guns here are of the A+ grade. The only place such a weapon you are asking for can be found is in the Arsenal Cave."

Zain made a questioning expression.

"Arsenal Cave? What's that?"

All the students who heard him were surprised.

"He doesn't know the Arsenal Cave?"

"How can he? He's an outerwall dweller."

"Hmph... even my young sister knows what that is."

The students murmured among themselves.

The commander cleared his throat and explained.

"The Arsenal Cave is where all the weapons of S-class and even slightly above are stored. It is widely known that the highest rank ever attained is the S-rank. But as for weapons, there is no such thing as a strong weapon—you can never know how strong the monster might be. So the forge masters continue forging stronger and more durable weapons. That said, a ranker can only visit the Arsenal Cave once in their life because the weapon they choose directly merges with their DNA. The monster blood consumed prior to that point is called Monstron, which contains the Monstrogene allele that fuses with the already altered alleles of the human body. That is why the ceremony of choosing a weapon from the Arsenal Cave only happens on graduation day. That said, not every ranker can get an S-class weapon, and even fewer get weapons above the S-class."

The students, though familiar with the Arsenal Cave, were glad to learn more about it. They even applauded the commander for giving the information.

"But commander, then what will I use?" Zain asked.

"Oh, please. Are you trying to tell me that a rat like you was never taught how to use a gun? Can you even fight? Huh, I bet your mother is disappointed in you."

Suddenly, Zain remembered a terrible moment from his past. "Your mother was a monster—a filthy, ugly monster who slaughtered so many people."

"No, please! I am innocent! Don't hurt me!" Zain remembered himself being tortured as a young boy.

At that moment, Zain's bloodlust was let loose, filling the hearts of those nearby with fear. Even the commander's expression betrayed an emotion alien to his usual sour face.

"This young man, what is…"

At that moment, Zain dashed forward—not to attack Chris or the commander but straight into the rainforest. He moved so fast that the commander only saw him after he had gotten past him.

Eden, the oldest of the Pentagon, walked up to Chris and slapped him across the face. His deep, tender voice could be heard as he said, "You went too far!"

Eden looked at the commander, who was still stunned by the intense bloodlust, and asked, "Should we chase after him or continue with the mission?"

The commander told them to wait and instead switched the hologram to the observation cameras hidden in the forest. When the first camera showed a bloody trail, someone exclaimed, "Has he been injured? I thou—"

But then, on the second camera, they saw something that made the students cower in fear.

"My God!"