The Astral soul system-Chapter 180: Terror

"Pfft Hahaha! Seriously?! They were talking about ’Having fun’ with you?"

Zen just finished his retelling and for some reason out of everything that had happened,that was the one thing she’d found it necessary to point out. Maybe he shouldn’t have mentioned that part.

"Well,seems like everything worked out"

Sable sighed, putting her hand over his.

"I’m glad you came back alright"

She said, holding his gloved hand rather firmly.

"Now if only we could do something about this?"

She said, looking at it intently

Looking at him, she suddenly said.

"Hey,i know you’ve probably already tried this, but let me still check."

She looked around cautiously, moving closer so no one could see what she was about to do, before suddenly transforming her hand.

Zen still hadn’t reacted at all, letting her hold him with her normal hand while the transformed one hovered over before suddenly swooping down and with shocking indifference on both sides, snapped his hand at the wrist before the claws finished it, cutting it off completely.

Sable suddenly winced, looking surprised but she didn’t say anything.

In front of them both the hand started to heal, bones,nerves,flesh,skin and blood,all regenerating at a disturbing speed.

After a few seconds, the healing got to the back of his palm and Sable leaned in closer, but disappointingly as it grew back,an ink black mark grew like it was part of the skin.

"Seriously?"

Sable groaned, annoyed.

"You’re right,I have tried that before. Same effect"

"Bummer"

She says, quickly taking the glove off his old hand and covering the new one. Even more disturbing was that the mark on the hand that had been cut off gradually faded away, disappearing.

"Creepy"

Sable commented.

"It isn’t a normal mark. Are you okay?"

Sable looked at one of her claws that had snapped off when she’d cut off his hand and shrugged.

"I did it so fast but I wasn’t expecting it to be that difficult. You’re... different. I can’t tell how but you’re not the same as yesterday night"

Zen shrugged, not knowing what to tell her. She was right. She’d struggled to take his hand and that was when he wasn’t resisting. He felt like if she’d done this before the evolution it wouldn’t have been difficult at all for her.

"Anyway,you can keep that "

She said, suddenly throwing his hand into her storage ring.

"You’re taking my hand?"

"You want to use it?"

Zen shrugged. He wasn’t against it, just didn’t know when they started sharing body parts.

He took the claw and kept it in his ring, wondering what he could do with a vampire’s claw

"Don’t worry too much about the hand "

Theia suddenly said.

"After a few minutes,body parts that separate from you will disappear,so she won’t have ot it for long"

’Seems like an unfair trade then.’

"Exactly "

"So. Are you sure there’s nothing else about yesterday you want to tell me?"

Sable asked, looking at him curiously,still trying to find out what had changed.

Zen thought for a while. How would he explain it when he barely got it himself. Everything about his evolution was weird. Except for retaining his humanoid figure, he looked nothing like a human when he transformed. He’d also gotten a massive boost in stats which he’d learned was in part thanks to Theia’s advice.

"What are you still confused about?"

Theia asked, sitting on the edge of the table, kicking her feet playfully.

’First of all those features. You said something weird’

"oh yeah. Features are different for every astral. Some might get a tail, others get multiple eyes,or horns,or extra wings. It’s basically just an extra added upon your regular form when you transform. Features can be determined by things like lineage, personality,or just at random"

’and the wings?’

"Well,I mean it’s possible for some astral’s not to have wings or only have one but it’s usually considered a deformity like being born blind or with one leg. Luckily your form is that of a complete astral"

’Well that’s good then. Then what about the special class Evolution the system talked about ’

"Oh. Hehe"

A smug look suddenly appeared on Theia’s face .

"You really should be thanking me. How else would you have completed a Royal class evolution if not for me"

’Royal class?’

Theia nodded.

"Astral’s are primarily creatures of energy similar to how humans are carbon based. And there are grades or classes to energy,this is especially important in evolution, and Royal class is the highest of them all. In terms of second rank astral’s you are the absolute peak"

Well she was right about that

[Name: Zen hollow](LV 20)

[Species: (Rank2 Astral) (bloodline - ????)]

[Class: soul sage]

[Profession: Assassin(Arcane)]

[True name/soul name:???]

[HP 450/450]

[Astra: 500/500]

[Strength:25]

[Agility: 25]

[Endurance: 25]

[Intelligence: 25]

[Charm: 50](bloodline effect)

[ Wisdom: 25]

[Stat points: 0]

[Skill points:5]

[Codex: N/A]

Zen closes the system screen and sighed.

"I did grow stronger, but how do i put this. I evolved"

He outright said it.

"Okay, anything cool happen?"

Zen thought about what might catch her attention before saying.

"Oh,i have wings now"

"What?"

"I can fly"

Zen had tried to predict what her reaction would be but he was a bit surprised when she just sighed, looking unhappy with herself.

"Great,you can fly and all I can do is freakify my hands"

She suddenly remembered something and visibly perked up.

"Ooh! Guess what. I can control blood now"

Slightly suprised, Zen mused

"Hemokinesis. The ability to manipulate blood,a staple of vampires in some myths and fiction. Interesting"

"Damn right it’s interesting"

"Can I see"

"Eh, well..."

Before sable could make an excuse, a familiar scent wafted into her nose, accompanied by the faint smell of medicine, sweet and comforting.

"Hey guys!"

A bubbly cheerful voice called and they both turned to look at Jade approaching with a skip in her step.

"Let’s talk about this stuff later. No need to overwhelm the poor thing"

Sable whispered and Zen agreed.

"Hey,Jade. Sleep well?"

Jade nodded.

"Sorry I made you carry me"

"It’s okay. I’ve lifted heavier,way heavier"

A flash of killing intent flickered in her eyes as she remembered that damn lizard

Jade took a seat with them.

"Look,Z, I’m really sorry but I told Sable about...you"

Zen barely reacted.

"It’s fine. She already knew, and I know about her"

"I still feel like I need to apologize though"

"Fine. Apology accepted"

Jade smiled lightly.

"So,you know she’s a vampi-"

"I am NOT a vampire"

Sable suddenly snapped, banging the table.

"O-oh, sorry"

"What’s your problem? I thought you already accepted it"

Sable groaned.

"I did, it’s just..."

She suddenly looked up vampires on her watch and after a few seconds a holographic image of a vampire showed up over it

"See? That’s what they look like. They’re just...ugh!"

’So that’s her problem? Vanity? So the idea of a vampire wasn’t repulsive to her,it was their appearance ’

Zen didn’t blame her though. Unfortunately vampires in this world weren’t all like Lilith and Sable with extreme beauty.

On average vampires were about eight feet tall with leathery grey skin, either rippling muscle or malnourished bones (no in-between),horrid fangs, sometimes humps and sometimes crouched, and completely hairless.

In a word, undesirable. He’d shown them to Lilith and she had been appalled, not knowing what to say or think.

"Do you really want me to eventually look like that?"

"Well I don’t think that’ll happen" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Jade said rather innocently.

Sighing, Sable gave up. She knew that her cosmetic preferences weren’t an excuse, especially when she still looked nothing like that, except for when she transforms her hands.

Maybe she’d be able to transform into those vampires and back to normal? She could already do that with her hands, and if that was the case there was no problem.

"Hey has anyone seen Zaria?"

Sable suddenly asked.

"I didn’t see her this morning"

Zen shook his head and Jade replied that she hadn’t.

"Strange..."

"Hey, guys!"

A familiar voice suddenly called.

They looked at where it was coming from and saw Xavier jogging towards them.

"Getting an early start?"

"Something like that"

Sable replied.

"I don’t remember this place being so empty in the morning"

"That’s because it’s not"

Zen said calmly despite how ominous that sounded.

He’d been to places like these, and they were supposed to be active all hours of the day. It wasn’t just a home for some people,it was a business spot for others and a haven for all sorts of people. These streets were always supposed to be packed, but Zen was almost completely sure they were alone here,of course not counting the students in the hospitals .

He only said almost because he’d seen about two or three people this morning, but something about them seemed off.

Had all the remaining students left to go hunting already?

"Anyways,Max called a meeting. Let’s hear up before we head out"

Hearing that,Jade suddenly jumped out of her seat.

"Oh no!"

"Hm?"

Jade facepalmed,her cheeks burning red with embarrassment.

"Jade? What’s wrong?"

"I forgot my bow in the woods last night "

Sable wasn’t expecting that, but when she thought back she remembered Jade dropping her bow the second she saw her to attend to her, and they hadn’t bothered picking it up after.

"It’s fine. It should still be there. I’ll go get it for you "

"Really?"

Sable nodded.

"It’s my fault you lost it in the first place anyway, and I won’t let you go back out there without your main weapon."

Sable got up, gave a reassuring pat on Jade’s shoulder before jogging towards the entrance.

"So i guess we should meet up with the others "

The three of them started walking towards where the others were and as they did,more and more people appeared on their way, making it seem like they really had just gotten up early, but Zen didn’t buy it.

This place was practically a small town on its own,there was no way everyone just overslept.

His eyes suddenly caught on someone familiar.

"Berny. The fat greedy pig "

He remembered his quest objective: Humiliate him.

He suddenly started straying and instead approached Berny.

As soon as the teacher saw him,a scowl appeared on his face.

"Yo-"

Before he could finish, Zen suddenly planted his foot into Berny’s chest, kicking him and knocking him to the ground.

With that, he turned to walk away. He still had a few hours to figure out exactly how he’d humiliate him and punish him for his greed.

"You!"

Hearing the indignant voice, Zen turned around and except for the angry expression he was expecting, he instead saw a large bright smile on the pig’s face.

"What are you smiling about,pig? Like the look of my shoes from down there?. You can’t kiss them,i don’t want shit on them"

Berny didn’t react to his taunt which suprised him.

"You’ll get whats coming to you. Just like your little friend"

Hearing that, Zen suddenly bent down and punched Berny across the face, spitting on him before turning to walk away.

"Nice,i don’t think he noticed"

Theia said with a smirk.

Berny quickly got up, scurrying away, not noticing the black sludge that burrowed itself into his body.

He eventually arrived at the room, catching up with the other two and when he opened the door the first thing he noticed was Neo on a bed with an IV bag.

’That’s why they couldn’t come to us’

"Looks like everyone’s here"

Maximilian said as he entered.

"I’m guessing by now,some of us have noticed an...odd feeling about this whole place"

Hearing that made Zen think back to Berny. He looked like he knew what was going on.

"I think we need make a decision about somethi-"

Zen suddenly walked past Maximilian, stopping in front of Neo with a puzzled look.

"Zen?"

"You want us to choose to hole up here since we can all stick together, and if there’s a bad feeling about the outside and the inside, what’s the point in choosing"

Maximilian nodded

"That’s what I -"

"What’s the point. Zaria isn’t even here"

Zen suddenly placed his hand on Neo’s head, closing his eyes.

[Soul bridge(lv 3)]

He retreated into his soul realm, trying to see if he could make a link.

Everyone else watched unsure what he was doing when he just stood there.

"...So what do you think? Should we flunk out of today’s hunt?"

Jade suddenly raised her hand.

"I don’t think Sable would accept that. She seemed really serious about the competition"

Diane also added

"Besides, crazy is right. We still can’t reach Zaria. She didn’t come back last night"

Zen suddenly opened his eyes.

"So?"

Zen turned to look at him

"He’s fine. Just busy, lots of damage"

Maximilian wanted to say something else when Zen’s watch suddenly rang.

"A message"

He checked to read it and it was Keith.

<So you made your choice. Fine, I’m in the forest. At that cave you used for your little murder spree. Come find me>

"Hmmm"

"Zen?"

"I need to leave"

"Wait but -"

The sound of the door closing cut him off as Zen walked out.

Sighing, Maximilian didn’t say anything else.

A few minutes passed a Zen left and the rest of them were just sitting around, waiting for... something.

Maximilian suddenly flinched

"Everybody out"

"Why-"

"Everybody OUT!"

Jade was the first person out the door.

"Run! Get out of here! As fast as you can"

Maximilian yelled to literally everyone, and although they didn’t know what was happening, they knew it wasn’t good.

They finally made it out of the base, but as Diane was about to leave it’s borders into the woods, she collided with an invisible forcefield, knocking her to the ground.

"What the fuck?!"

She immediately got up, transforming her hands and started to claw at the barrier but it was useless.

Xavier snarled, equipping his gauntlets and activated the active skill. Punching the barrier as hard as he could but just like with Diane,there wasn’t even a scratch.

A sense of horror gripped Maximilian,he looked around and just like he’d thought, all the "People" they’d seen this morning had stopped moving and were staring at them mechanically.

He began to panic and immediately pushed his ability to his current limit, trying to find out what exactly was going on, and thats when he heard it coming from directly above

The whirring of an engine,large and powerful,but modified to be more silent than most, and it was descending slowly.

"Fuck! Everyone back to the room. Neo’s still in there!"

They all started running back in and surprisingly the people made no moves to stop them, just watching them squirm and struggle. They didn’t have to do anything. The real terror had already begun it’s descent on this world.

"Everyone hurry, were almost th-"

*Boom!*