The dormitory fell silent as night settled over the Cobra Collective's hidden academy. Only the soft hum of crystal lamps and the occasional footsteps of patrolling guards broke the stillness. Zaro lay on his narrow bed, counting the minutes until the final room check.

  System Alert: Security Patrol Pattern Analyzed

  Guards: 3 Active Patrols

  Rotation: Every 15 Minutes

  Blind Spots: Several, Actually

  Note: Their patrol timing's about as reliable as a compass in a magnetic storm.

  When the last guard passed, Zaro activated Shadow Camouflage. His form melted into darkness as he moved silently through the halls. If he were running a criminal organization masquerading as a school, where would he keep a valuable prisoner?

  Somewhere close to the crystal work, he reasoned. They needed her expertise. But also isolated, preventing contact with students. That meant lower levels, away from the training areas.

  His enhanced sense pulsed outward in careful sweeps, building a mental map. The upper floors housed students and basic training rooms. The second sub-level contained more advanced practice areas. Below that, things got interesting.

  The old factory's main storage area had been converted into something else entirely. Heavy crystal-powered security, reinforced doors, and dedicated guard patrols all pointed to something valuable being kept there. More importantly, he detected a single energy signature isolated from the others, someone being kept apart.

  Through void whisper, he updated his team. Think I found her. In a sub basement. Multiple security checkpoints. Guards running fifteens on rotation.

  Chad's response came immediately. Security configuration?

  Two stationed, four mobile. Automated systems likely crystal-powered. Standard containment setup.

  Ezra's thoughts carried a hint of anticipation. Tomorrow's sale should get us access to that level. The guards won't expect trouble from "legitimate" business partners.

  Zaro moved silently through shadows, working his way down. He needed visual confirmation before tomorrow's operation. But first, he had to get past those guards.

  Watching their rotation, Zaro noticed their pattern. The main door only opened during shift changes. If he timed it right, he could slip through in the guard's shadow while they swapped positions.

  Minutes later, the night shift arrived. As the door creaked open, Zaro moved. His shadow cloaked form blended with the guard's natural shadow, letting him glide through undetected.

  The air shifted as Zaro stepped into the storage area, the acrid tang of corrupted magic mingling with the metallic scent of rust and old oil. It clawed at his senses, a stark reminder of the Collective’s twisted operations. The chamber stretched vast before him, its sheer scale like stepping into the belly of some ancient, slumbering beast. Massive factory machines, long since abandoned, stood as eerie sentinels, their rusted forms overgrown with crystalline tumors. Time had warped them into grotesque mockeries of their original design.

  He melted into the shadows instinctively, scanning the expanse with a hunter’s eye. The chamber was a battlefield of light and darkness, crystal lamps cutting harsh pools of sickly illumination across the floor. Overhead, wooden beams crisscrossed the space like skeletal remains of the old structure—a high vantage point, and one that promised an edge in this surveillance.

  Void Step carried him upward with a flicker, depositing him silently on a beam above. He crouched low, letting the faint creak of the timber beneath him fade into the ambient hum of machinery below. From here, he could see everything. Conveyor belts ferried raw crystals through spinning blades, shaving them down into jagged shards before dropping them into vats of dark liquid. The vats pulsed faintly, their surface rippling with an unnatural green glow that seemed alive. It wasn’t just machinery—it was something more insidious. Zaro felt the dissonance in the rhythm, the irregular flicker of the crystals’ light making his Void Sense itch.

  Something wasn’t right. The corruption was more than just aesthetic; it felt deliberate, engineered.

  Then, in the far corner of the chamber, his target came into view. A reinforced room stood apart, its walls etched with dampening runes that shimmered faintly under the crystal lamps. Inside, a woman worked with precision over a refinement station. Her tall, wiry frame moved fluidly, hands deftly manipulating raw materials with the confidence of a master. Yet even from this distance, Zaro could see the tension in her shoulders, the stiffness that betrayed her situation.

  It was her. Maya. The Collective’s captive and their key to this entire operation. Her dark braid swung with each movement, a contrast to the cold, mechanical efficiency of her captors. Two guards flanked her chamber, their eyes fixed not on her, but on her hands, studying every movement, memorizing her techniques. It wasn’t just imprisonment; they were draining her knowledge, stealing her expertise to refine their corruption.

  Zaro took in the rest of the chamber methodically. Two guards at the main entrance, four more patrolling the perimeter. Their movements were disciplined but predictable, with clear gaps in their coverage. Professionals, but not infallible. Overhead, the original timber beams stood out sharply against the reinforced walls below. A weakness, one they hadn’t accounted for.

  He sent his observations to the team through the void channel, his thoughts forming a clear mental map. Chad’s acknowledgment came quickly, his usual blend of concern and focus filtering through the connection. Ezra followed with her plan, her calm excitement about tomorrow’s cover as merchants grounding Zaro’s thoughts. They’d use the sale to get access to this level, and no one would suspect trouble from supposed partners. Everything about the Collective’s setup screamed of their hubris.

  Before retreating, Zaro decided to take a closer look. Void-stepping once more, he landed on a beam directly above Maya’s chamber. From here, the dampening runes lining the walls were clearly visible, their faint glow pulsing in a steady rhythm. His Rune Smithing skill flickered to life, overlaying the symbols with a faint aura that revealed subtle flaws in their design. With slow precision, he pulled out his Poison Pen stiletto and began making delicate alterations. A single slip would likely trigger the entire system, but Zaro’s hands were steady. Three strokes later, the runes shimmered and inverted, their energy dispersing in a faint ripple that brushed against his Void Sense like a whisper.

  Satisfied, he loosened a small piece of debris from the beam, letting it fall. The dust caught Maya’s attention. Her sharp gaze flicked upward, and their eyes met. Zaro pressed a finger to his lips, a silent promise. Tomorrow. Her expression didn’t shift, but a flicker of something—hope, determination—lit her features for a brief moment.

  With his task complete, Zaro slipped back toward the entrance, timing his movements with the guards’ rotations. Each step was deliberate, each shadow his ally. By the time he reached the dormitory, the oppressive weight of the chamber had given way to the calm familiarity of his cover. The others would need the information he’d gathered. Tomorrow would be the beginning of the end for the Cobra Collective.

  Using the shadows from the crystal lamps for cover, Zaro void stepped back to the entrance. He timed his exit with the next guard rotation, slipping out as silently as he had entered. The dormitory remained unchanged when he returned, filled with the sound of sleeping initiates.

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  As he lay down, Zaro reviewed the intelligence gathered. The operation would be complex, coordinating his role as a new recruit with Ezra and Chad's merchant cover while managing the actual extraction. But now they had options, and more importantly, confirmation of their target.

  Tomorrow would test everyone's acting abilities. For now, he closed his eyes and regulated his breathing to match the other sleeping initiates. The guards would make their final check soon, and they needed to find exactly what they expected, another recruit resting before his first full day of training.

  He entered Eye of the Storm and made sure he was recharged and ready for the day without losing his faculty's.

  The sharp knock on wood would have jolted Zaro from Eye of the Storm meditation if it wasn't at such a high level. It had leveled up during the night. His newly improved recovery rate of 6 points per second had kept him fresh despite the short rest.

  A voice barked through the door. Get up Initiate. Training room now.

  A senior student waited in the hall. The cobra tattoo on his neck slightly moved as he spoke. All new recruits are given their first forbidden skill before general training begins. Move.

  The training room filled most of the east wing second floor. Crystal lamps bathed everything in sickly green light. Three other initiates already stood waiting. They shuffled nervously while eyeing the racks of forbidden scrolls.

  The instructor pulled specific scrolls from her case and handed them out. No choice. No discussion. Each scroll already marked for its recipient based on their test results.

  The dark scroll pulsed in his hands as the system asked. Learn skill, yes or no. He thought yes and Blood Bond was welcomed into his mind.

  Blood Bond Level 1 Mastered

  Forces parasitic link between targets

  Shares all damage and extended effects. Does not share regeneration or passive abilities.

  Range 30 meters after linking with skin contact.

  Duration 1 hour.

  Mana cost 100.

  The skill settled into his mind as a message notification blinked.

  Message from Chad. Two hours out. Bringing Ezra. Got the real crystals from that dungeon. Everything ready on your end?

  The instructor gathered them before he could reply. Time for duties initiates. Keep this place spotless or face punishment.

  She pointed at Zaro. You take the storage room. Make it shine.

  Zaro worked methodically. Sweeping. Organizing. All while keeping an eye on the corridor outside. The blood magic from his new skill stayed in his mind just itching to be used.

  Two figures appeared at the end of the hall. Chad and Ezra. Right on time.

  Ready when you are Zaro sent through party chat.

  The guards led them toward the sub basement. Zaro slipped into the shadows behind them. Silent. Patient. He climbed into the familiar rafters above. The crystals in Chads bag glowed with pure untainted energy. Perfect for what came next.

  The lieutenant’s barked orders filled the room, his voice cutting through the tense silence of the basement like a blade. Zaro remained in his perch high above, concealed in the rafters. From his shadowed vantage point, the room was a chess board of moving pieces: fifteen guards stationed strategically, some near the entrance, others patrolling the crystal processing area. Chad and Ezra, disguised as merchants, played their roles perfectly, each move deliberate and calculated.

  Zaro's mind sharpened as he assessed the situation. Fifteen guards. Eleven potential sightlines to cover. No margin for error. The soft hum of corrupted crystals beneath the machinery served as a backdrop to the tense standoff brewing below.

  He watched Chad, his movements a study in controlled chaos. The large bag slung over his shoulder contained their ace—the pure, untainted crystals. If everything went to plan, those crystals would undo the corruption the Collective had poured so much into perfecting. Ezra moved with equal purpose, her eyes sharp as she scanned the room, gauging angles and weaknesses. Zaro trusted her instincts implicitly; she was a hunter, after all.

  Zaro’s grip tightened on the wooden beam beneath him as his plan crystallized. The first guard was a tall figure stationed near the chamber’s entrance, his posture rigid but unremarkable. Zaro marked him in his mind. He would be the starting domino. A soft exhale steadied him before he void-stepped downward, materializing in complete silence behind the man. The stiletto found its mark in a single fluid motion, and the guard crumpled soundlessly to the ground.

  Zaro moved before the body had fully settled, his Void Storage absorbing the uniform in a flicker of magic then instantly equipping it as a disguise. The second guard shifted in his peripheral vision, catching movement just as Zaro’s fingers pressed against the base of his skull to ease the stiletto into his brain. A quiet death. Two down, thirteen to go.

  The next two fell almost simultaneously. Zaro used Void Step again, reappearing between them with the grace of a shadow. They turned, but not fast enough. Their heads collided with a dull thud as Zaro’s hands guided the motion with practiced precision. He retrieved their weapons with the same smooth efficiency, stowing them in his storage to ensure the scene remained as clean as possible.

  Now in disguise, Zaro moved among the remaining guards as if he belonged. The ill-fitting uniform pulled uncomfortably at his shoulders, but the helmet’s shadows concealed his face well enough. His movements mirrored the stoic demeanor of the Collective’s lackeys, and none of the remaining guards gave him a second glance.

  Chad played his part beautifully. His voice filled the room as he negotiated with the lieutenant, keeping attention firmly on himself. Ezra added to the illusion, her graceful movements drawing eyes as she inspected equipment, her fingers brushing along the hilt of a borrowed recurve bow. She picked it up, her every action deliberate, almost casual, until the tension in her stance coiled like a spring.

  The guard near her didn’t have time to process her intentions. The bow’s string sang as she fired, the arrow finding its mark in his throat with unerring precision. Zaro didn’t need to see her expression to know she was already drawing another. The second arrow flew before the first guard’s body had even hit the ground, dropping another enemy with equal lethality. Ezra didn’t waste motion, each action pure efficiency honed from years of practice.

  Zaro turned his focus back to the lieutenant. The man stood at the center of the room, a cobra tattoo twisting along his neck as his muscles tensed. Zaro cut himself with his poison pen before he made his move. He approached with feigned deference, adopting the demeanor of an eager recruit. He felt the lieutenant’s gaze rake over him, searching for weakness. When the man finally extended his hand in an act of superiority, Zaro took it with steady resolve.

  The sting of the backhand that followed was a small price to pay for what came next. Blood Bond activated silently, the parasitic link snapping into place between them. Zaro’s shallow breathing steadied as his skill took hold, and the faint flicker of poison already lacing his system began its work. The lieutenant’s expression shifted from smug confidence to confusion as the venom’s effects mirrored themselves in his body.

  Ezra’s arrows flew again, dropping two more guards. Chad released a charged Chain Lightning spell, the blue-white arc of energy illuminating the room as it leapt between targets. Four guards fell in rapid succession, their bodies convulsing before falling still. The smell of ozone filled the air, sharp and metallic.

  The final guard lunged for the alarm bell, his desperation evident in his wild movements. Zaro’s stiletto found its mark before the guard’s fingers could brush the cord. With a thought, he recalled the blade, leaving a spray of crimson in its wake. Ezra was already in motion, her bowstring singing once more as an arrow embedded itself in the man’s eye. The room fell silent.

  Zaro turned back to the lieutenant, watching as the poison worked its way through his system. The man staggered, his hand clutching at his throat. The parasitic bond ensured every drop of venom Zaro carried was mirrored in his victim. As the lieutenant collapsed, his sneer turned into a desperate grimace, his lips forming words that never came. The poison claimed him as Zaro stood over him, unyielding and calm.

  With the lieutenant neutralized, Zaro signaled to Chad and Ezra. Chad moved quickly, swapping the corrupted crystals for the pure ones. Ezra retrieved her arrows, arranging the bodies in a tableau of staged infighting. The story was clear: a lieutenant who had turned on his own men, a skirmish that ended with no survivors. The scene was brutal, but it would buy them time.

  The room now secure, Maya emerged from her chamber. Her hands trembled slightly as she fastened the cloak Ezra had handed her. She murmured her gratitude, her voice steady despite the raw emotion that shimmered in her eyes. Chad offered her a reassuring nod as he prepared the next steps of their escape.

  Zaro took a final glance around the room, ensuring every detail of their cover story was in place. The guards’ positions, the staged scene of betrayal—it all pointed to a calculated internal conflict. As the others moved toward the exit, Zaro stayed behind to cover their tracks, his mind already turning to the next phase.

  This is the most fun I've ever had. The only thing that matters is being strong. He thought.

  [SystemAlert]

  15 enemies killed. 800 experience gained. 2,625 out of 4,300 until level 16.

  Fifteen guards. Two minutes. No alerts raised. Zaro thought about how it would be viewed. The story was clear, the lieutenant had turned on his own men. They fought back. No survivors.

  They couldn't loot the armor, but did go through the pockets. The lieutenant had a few skill scrolls on him. Basic tier but might prove useful. Zaro let void storage swallow those.

  Chad finished with the crystals. “These pure ones will reveal any corruption in the slaves. The masters won't be able to hide the taint anymore.”

  Ezra pulled a spare cloak and merchant's dress from her pack, handing them to Maya. The disguise was simple but effective - she would pose as a merchant's assistant. She helped the crystal smith change out of her prison garments while Chad kept watch.

  Maya's hands trembled slightly as she fastened the clasps. Her words came out barely above a whisper, speaking of the research they forced her to do, the corruption she helped create.

  Chad kept his voice low as he assured her it could be undone. The pure crystals they switched in would reveal everything. Her knowledge would help them fight back now.

  Zaro checked the corridor. Guards would be changing shifts soon. The others needed to move while he stayed behind to ensure no one followed. They would keep to the merchant's exit route.

  Ezra nodded, guiding Maya toward the door. The crystal smith's posture shifted, adopting the deferential manner of a lowly assistant. Her prison demeanor vanished beneath the disguise.

  “Thirty minutes,” Chad mouthed. “see you soon.”

  As Zaro counted the seconds in the shadows, a nagging thought stirred within him. Missions like these always seemed clean on the surface—objective complete, no alarms raised, casualties managed—but they left an unseen mark. The faces of the guards he had dispatched flashed through his mind, blank and lifeless. Each one had been a professional, trained like him, yet they had stood on the wrong side of the line. They weren’t the Cobra Collective’s masterminds, just pawns in a larger, more sinister game.

  He shook the thought away. Guilt had no place in this line of work. These guards were obstacles, and failure to remove them would have meant failure to rescue Maya, failure to cripple the Collective. Still, a part of him wondered if he was growing too comfortable in the role of executioner.

  As Chad and Ezra guided Maya toward the merchant's exit, Zaro lingered in the basement. The echoes of their footsteps faded, leaving behind the heavy silence of the chamber. He thought, The devil's in the details as he scanned the room for the last time. It had to be perfect. The Collective couldn’t suspect an external attack, not yet.

  Before activating Void Convergence, Zaro reached into his pocket, pulling out the stolen Atherium shard. It glinted faintly in the dim light, a pure piece of uncorrupted energy. A small smile slithered across his face.

  Zaro didn't want to become a murderer. He would kill bad people and for a purpose. After all, he wasn't even sure this place was real after all. It could be a fever dream.

  But either way, he needed to have a justification for his actions, at least to prove to himself that he was a good person. They had saved an innocent from a syndicate of crime. They took advantage of people and who knows what else. Zaro thought.

  “Fuck Em" he said to himself.

  “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes."

  Then he activated void convergence and the void swallowed him as the shadows rushed passed and he was gone.