It was already past four thirty in the evening when Mikhail and the others arrived back at the Imperial University.

Mikhail didn’t waste any more time like the rest and headed back to his dormitory.

As he walked up the stairs, Mikhail began to analyse and digest what he had learned from the rift exploration.

’Even though I tried to be perfect there were many instances where I made fatal mistakes.’

Mikhail still thought that the fight with the Hive Lord was rather absurd.

Had it not been for [Enhancement], Mikhail could count at least two instances where he should have died.

He was also rather perplexed as to why Bret didn’t ask him about [Black Spike] even though it was a skill from the assassin class that he had.

’I still need to learn a lot of things.’

Taking in a deep breath, he fixed his train of thoughts as he reached the second floor.

Mikhail had already returned all the items he had taken from the university and even returned the engraved spear he had borrowed from Jasper.

’It’s not worth the hassle.’

Just as he was about to walk towards his room, he stopped in front of room 321.

’What was Kevin doing all day?’

He stepped forward and knocked on the door.

After five seconds, the door opened and a blonde haired boy peeked his head out.

Kevin smiled when he saw Mikhail and opened the door wider. "How was your first rift?"

"It was cool." Mikhail replied, walking in. "I killed a Boss Monster."

Kevin clicked his tongue. "As expected, you are showing off."

Mikhail shrugged. There was no way he could resist flexing in front of Kevin.

"How was your day?" Mikhail asked, grabbing a chair and sitting on it comfortably.

"You were right, the university brought the remaining students to the forest for a hunt."

Kevin replied, leaning back on the wall with his arms folded.

He raised his head arrogantly. "And guess who is an Ascendant now?"

Mikhail tilted his head. "Carol?"

"Fuck you." Kevin replied, flipping him off. "Do you want something to drink?"

He pushed himself off the wall and walked towards the kitchen attached to the main hall.

"What can you offer?" Mikhail asked, standing up and walking behind him.

"Coffee?" He suggested. "I can make good coffee with my special milk."

Mikhail stopped in his tracks, his face contorting. "Special milk?"

Kevin grinned and made a jerking gesture with his hand.

Mikhail groaned. "I am never gonna touch anything you make."

Kevin chuckled and took out two cups before putting them on the table.

"I was joking." He replied, opening the fridge. "I bought monster goat milk, they taste heavenly."

"I would rather not taste anything like that." Mikhail said flatly. "So, don’t make anything."

Kevin shrugged without forcing him.

At that moment, Mikhail remembered the Golden Prince Valkor and his milk fetishes.

’I wonder how Kevin will react if I tell him about it?’

Mikhail mused inwardly as he glanced at the blonde boy.

"Where is Methew?" Kevin suddenly asked. "I don’t see him."

"I sent him to find something." Mikhail replied vaguely. "Don’t worry about it."

Just then, the door of the room unlocked and a weak-looking boy walked inside with an owl on his shoulder.

Patrick first looked at Kevin before his gaze shifted to Mikhail.

He pursed his lips but in the end didn’t say anything.

"I locked the door." Kevin said, walking into the main hall.

"I have a key as well." Patrick replied, glaring at him.

"You should knock, you know." Kevin said with a serious face. "What if I was masturbating?"

Patrick’s face turned blank before heat surged up to his face.

"W-why would you do that in the main hall?" He stammered in reply.

"I might be feeling—."

"I will kill you if you do that!" He snapped. "Bloody barbarian!!"

Saying so, the white haired boy rushed towards his room in a hurry.

Mikhail looked at the door of his room before he looked away.

’An odd ball indeed.’

After talking for a few more minutes, Mikhail returned to his room.

---

With a soft clicking sound, Mikhail closed the door of his personal room.

He stretched his body and moved towards the window.

Mikhail opened the window and let the warm breeze enter his room.

He looked around and found Methew sitting on the overhang.

In the yellow cat’s mouth was a raven, alive, its wings flapping to free itself.

Mikhail smiled and let the cat walk inside. "Good job."

Methew jumped on the table as Mikhail walked just behind him.

He sat down on the chair and carefully took out the raven from Methew’s mouth.

’My guess was right, he can understand basic gestures and words.’

Mikhail thought, rubbing his cat’s head gently.

Then he focused on the raven that was frozen in fear.

’Alright, let’s try it.’

Taking in a deep breath, Mikhail raised his finger close to the raven’s mouth.

He used his newly acquired skill [Bone Parasite].

Mikhail felt a prickling pain from the tip of his finger.

That pain kept on growing as he felt a small portion of his bone break away.

It wriggled out from his muscle and broke through his skin.

A small tick-like insect made from his bone crawled towards the raven.

Sensing the danger, the raven tried to move but Mikhail grabbed it firmly.

The ’tick’ entered the body of the raven in no time.

The bird let out a sharp, terrified squawk that was quickly cut off.

Its entire body convulsed once before going completely still.

Its small black eyes dulled, then slowly regained focus.

Mikhail could feel it.

A thin, cold thread of connection had formed between him and the raven.

He sent a simple mental command: 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

’Calm down.’

The raven instantly stopped trembling.

Its wings folded neatly against its body, and it sat motionless on the table like a well-trained pet.

Mikhail’s lips curved into a small, satisfied smile.

’Success.’

He tried another command.

’Turn your head left.’

The raven obeyed without hesitation.

’Flap your wings once.’

It flapped its wings exactly once and stopped.

Mikhail leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

He slowly closed his eyes and ’willed’ to see.

In the next second, Mikhail saw an enlarged version of himself through the ’eyes’ of the raven.

Mikhail couldn’t hide his smile but he quickly began to analyse the skill.

’The skill is incredibly useful if used properly. Right now, I can only form a connection with one or two organisms but that doesn’t mean it won’t increase.’

From what Mikhail understood, the number of organisms he could handle was directly proportional to his Intelligence stat.

’Maybe one day, I will have an army of ravens under my control.’

Mikhail gently stroked the raven’s head with one finger.

He stood up from his chair and walked towards his bed.

’The skill belonged to a potential [Outer God] called Sun Devourer. I have to be careful while using it.’

Mikhail rubbed his temples as he began to look through the underlying dangers the skill could bring.

’Hmm, as a human with an [Outer God] class, shouldn’t I also have a cool name?’