Chapter 2

Yuan and Lory bid farewell as they walked down the hallway. Craige's school was near his sibling's, making their paths almost parallel. As he entered the gate, a sudden hush fell over the students, their gazes turning toward him, followed by hushed whispers and gossip.

"Why is that bastard here? Is that guy still alive after all?"

He ignored their words and the scrutinizing stares landing on him, keeping his expression indifferent as he made his way to his classroom. He found it strange how vividly he could remember the memories of this body—his past self. It was as if those experiences were permanently etched into his mind. Because of this, he knew exactly where his seat was. He had been assigned to the front row, near the blackboard, a position he despised. He hated attention and noisy environments, making it difficult for him to adjust to the chaos of the classroom.

The noise around him grated on his nerves, his patience as thin as paper, ready to snap at any moment. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the growing irritation. The only thing keeping him grounded was the thought of his siblings—his only motivation to stay out of trouble. He reminded himself that he didn't want to get involved in unnecessary conflicts.

However, his resolve shattered when the student sitting behind him abruptly kicked his chair, a smirk plastered across his face. The act was deliberate, a provocation.

"Fucking bastard," the boy sneered, taunting him.

Craige's expression darkened, his eyes turning cold and deadly. A murderous intent flickered within him, his instincts screaming for him to retaliate. His fingers twitched, ready to snap the fool's head like a twig. But just as he was about to act, the teacher walked in, snapping him out of his violent trance. He quickly masked his emotions, his gaze shifting momentarily to the boy behind him. The boy, who had been full of arrogance a moment ago, now looked pale as a sheet.

Unbeknownst to Craige, his strength had manifested in an unexpected way—his grip had crushed the thick metal frame of the chair, bending it as if it were made of paper. The sight left the students around him in stunned silence, their mocking words dying in their throats.

The lesson began, and the professor handed out a quiz. Craige answered it swiftly, finishing within minutes. When the professor collected the papers, his expression turned to one of disbelief. He glanced over the answers, then back at Craige, suspicion in his eyes. Surely, this was a joke? How could someone like him finish so quickly?

Thinking he was being mocked, the professor handed Craige another, more difficult test. Yet again, Craige solved it in a mere minute, submitting it without a single mistake. The room fell into an eerie silence.

The students were in shock. They couldn't believe what they had just witnessed. The loser they once knew—Killan, who had always been timid and avoided attention—had transformed into someone confident, calculating, and terrifyingly intelligent.

What they didn't know was that Craige wasn't just strong—he was a genius, an unparalleled strategist who had crushed many of the greatest minds during his prime as an assassin. He didn't just fight with his fists; he fought with his intellect, making him all the more dangerous.

The classroom remained silent long after the test had ended. Whispers circulated once again, but this time, they weren't mocking him.

They were in awe.

And perhaps, a little afraid.

Craige made his way to the cafeteria, intending to buy some snacks. While selecting his food, he also decided to purchase extra for Lory and Yuan. His thoughts wandered to his sibling, whom he planned to visit during lunch. Despite Yuan's usual cold demeanor and apparent disdain for him, it was evident that he still cared. This was clear in the way Yuan always packed lunch for them, making sure the meals were nutritious and well-prepared.

Craige couldn't help but appreciate the effort. The food looked delicious, and he knew from experience that Yuan was an excellent cook. During his prime as an assassin, nothing had ever satisfied his refined palate. Every dish he had tasted before seemed bland as if he was chewing on paper. Yet, the meals prepared by Yuan had a distinct flavor—warm, comforting, and full of care. It was a rare luxury for someone like him, a reminder that he still had a family to return to, and for once, he allowed himself to relish the moment.

With the packed meals in hand, Craige decided to head to the rooftop, a quiet place where he could enjoy his food in peace. However, as he approached, a loud bang echoed through the corridor. His sharp instincts kicked in, and his eyes immediately scanned the area. Just around the corner, he saw a group of students wielding bats, surrounding a defenseless nerdy-looking boy.

The victim was already battered and bruised, struggling to remain conscious. One of the bullies swung his bat with full force, striking the boy's face, causing him to collapse. The impact was brutal—unforgiving.

Craige paused, his grip tightening around the lunch bag. For a moment, a flicker of his old self threatened to surface. His mind calculated multiple ways he could end the situation in seconds, eliminating every single one of the aggressors without leaving a trace. But he took a deep breath and forced himself to look away.

"This is none of my business," he muttered under his breath, turning in the opposite direction. His goal was to live a peaceful life, away from unnecessary conflict. He had no reason to interfere.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. During class, the professors and students alike couldn't hide their surprise at the sudden change in Killan—now Craige. His demeanor, his intelligence, his confidence—everything about him was different from the timid boy they once knew. Whispers circulated, but Craige didn't care. Their opinions meant nothing to him. Living in peace was all that mattered.

Or so he thought.

That illusion shattered the moment he witnessed the gruesome scene before him.

Yuan—his own sibling—was the target of relentless bullying. He saw it with his own eyes, watched as his younger brother was shoved, humiliated, and beaten while others laughed at his misery. A deep, unsettling rage began to bubble within him. The concept of peace that he had so desperately clung to was now slipping through his fingers, replaced by an undeniable sense of judgment.

In that moment, Craige made a decision.

Peace was no longer an option.

If they wanted war, he would deliver judgment.

Craige hurried to his siblings' school, his mind clouded with unease. As he arrived, he immediately spotted Lory. But what made him freeze in place was the sight before him—Lory was covered in bruises, his clothes disheveled and torn. Tears streamed down his face, his small frame trembling with silent sobs.

Craige's fists clenched tightly, his entire being screaming with rage, but he forced himself to stay composed. He crouched in front of Lory, his voice low but firm. "What happened?" he asked, trying to suppress the fury boiling within him.

Lory could barely speak. His sobs only grew louder, his breaths coming out in broken gasps. The surrounding students who had gathered around them averted their gazes, refusing to meet Craige's eyes. Their avoidance only confirmed that something terrible had happened.

Taking a deep breath, Craige softened his tone, though the sharp edge of his emotions remained. "Lory… where is Yuan?"

Lory lifted his head slightly, his eyes empty, lifeless. His voice, barely above a whisper, carried a weight that sent a shiver down Craige's spine. "Brother… Yuan was drowned by those bullies…"

A sharp snap echoed in Craige's mind. His body tensed, his vision blurred with pure, unfiltered rage. His grip tightened so hard that his knuckles turned white.

"Where are they?" The words came out colder than ice, a deadly whisper that sent a wave of fear through the air. Even Lory, in his weakened state, shuddered at the terrifying aura radiating from his brother.

"At the pool… near the gym," Lory murmured, his voice weak.

That was all Craige needed.

In an instant, he took off, running faster than he ever had before. His heart pounded against his chest, his breath came in sharp bursts, but he didn't care. The only thought occupying his mind was getting to Yuan—saving him before it was too late.

As he neared the pool, his heart sank. His worst fear was realized. Yuan lay motionless on the ground, his body soaking wet, his skin pale as death.

"Yuan!" Craige roared, skidding to a stop beside his brother. Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees and began performing CPR. His hands pressed against Yuan's chest, his movements swift and precise, fueled by desperation. He tilted Yuan's head back, breathing air into his lungs, repeating the process over and over.

Minutes passed. Then ten. Then twenty. Time blurred as Craige refused to give up, his mind refusing to accept the possibility of failure. His arms burned from exhaustion, sweat dripped down his face, but he didn't stop. He wouldn't stop.

Finally—a cough.

Yuan's body jerked, water spilling from his mouth as he gasped for breath. Craige exhaled sharply, relief washing over him like a tidal wave. But as Yuan's eyes fluttered open, his breath hitched at what he saw.

His older brother, usually so composed, looked like a man on the brink of destruction. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—those eyes—were filled with something terrifying. They weren't just angry. They were murderous.