Night had already settled over Aurelius Academy.

The early noise from the combat placement earlier had disappeared, leaving only quiet hallways lit by soft mana lamps attached to the walls. Most students had already returned to their dormitories to rest before classes officially began the next morning.

Lina slowly walked through the eastern hallway of the Class A dormitories while rubbing her tired eyes.

She wore simple sleeping clothes instead of her academy uniform now, and her long silver hair rested messily over her shoulders.

"I can’t believe I forgot water..." she muttered quietly. Earlier, she had been too nervous and excited about entering Class A to properly prepare her room. By the time she realized there was no water left inside the dorm, the kitchens had nearly closed.

Qhuin rested quietly inside the small side bag hanging near her waist.

At least—

That was what Lina believed, in reality, Qhuin’s crimson eyes were fully open inside the bag’s darkness.

His ears twitched slightly, he could sense someone was nearby.

The scent reached him first and there was a beast too and underneath it, he sensed Hostility.

Qhuin remained completely still while his senses spread through the hallway.

Footsteps echoed softly somewhere ahead, Lina continued walking without noticing anything strange.

The eastern hallway was far quieter than the main dormitory halls. The mana lamps here were dimmer, and several sections of the corridor disappeared into shadow between the lights.

Then suddenly—

A voice echoed from the darkness ahead.

"Well... this is convenient."

Lina froze on her step, as a tall student slowly stepped out from the corner further down the hallway.

Marcus’s cousin.

The upperclassman wore a calm smile while blocking the path toward the kitchens. Beside him stood the large black Shadow Hound from earlier.

The beast’s glowing yellow eyes locked directly onto Lina, or more specifically on the bag-carrying Qhuin.

Lina instinctively stepped backward.

"S-Senior?"

The upperclassman casually leaned against the wall.

"Relax," he said lightly. "I just wanted to talk."

Qhuin remained hidden inside the bag while carefully studying the Shadow Hound.

The creature was much stronger than Marcus’s storm eagle. Its body moved quietly despite its size, and shadows naturally gathered around its black fur.

The Shadow Hound slowly lowered its body while staring toward Lina.

Qhuin noticed the movement instantly.

So did the hound.

For a brief moment, their eyes met, predator met predator.

The upperclassman smiled faintly.

"You know," he said calmly, "Marcus has been pretty upset since the placement battle."

Lina tightened her grip on the bag nervously.

"I-I don’t want trouble..."

"You already caused trouble."

The Shadow Hound suddenly growled, as a deep dangerous roar echoed in the hallway

Lina’s face paled.

Then the upperclassman’s expression changed completely.

"Go. Kill that rabbit."

The Shadow Hound exploded forward, Its body disappeared into the darkness like a black arrow launched through the hallway.

Everything happened instantly, Lina barely had time to react before the beast appeared directly in front of her with its jaws open wide.

She froze, and fear locked her body in place.

But at that same moment, a white blur shot out from the side bag.

Qhuin moved so quickly that Lina only saw a flash of white fur crossing the hallway.

[Blood Predator Lv. 1 Activated]

The world around Qhuin slowed, he could hear the Shadow Hound’s heartbeat, the blood rushing through its neck, and the tightening of muscles inside the beast’s legs.

Every weak point became visible.

The Shadow Hound tried turning toward him mid-air, but Qhuin was already beneath it, his tiny body twisted sharply across the floor before launching upward.

Then—

Slash.

Qhuin’s fangs tore directly through the tendons in the hound’s throat.

The beast’s attack collapsed, Instead of a roar, only a choking sound escaped its mouth as blood burst into the air.

The upperclassman’s eyes widened in disbelief

"What—?!"

The Shadow Hound crashed violently against the hallway wall while struggling to stand.

’Too slow not even worth a challenge’ Qhuin thought as he landed silently several meters away before disappearing into the shadows again.

The hound desperately searched the hallway when another white blur appeared beneath its neck.

Slash.

More blood exploded across the floor, and the beast stumbled backward while growling weakly.

Lina stared in complete shock, her brain could barely process what she was seeing, Snowy was moving too fast.

The rabbit she normally carried around like a stuffed toy was turning into a white phantom inside the dark hallway.

The Shadow Hound tried attacking again, but Qhuin was already above it, his tiny body landed briefly on the beast’s back before his fangs pierced deeper into its neck.

But this time, he consumed the beast’s blood.

Warm blood rushed into his mouth while vampire energy spread through his body, the Shadow Hound’s struggles immediately weakened.

Mana-rich blood flooded his senses far more strongly than the weaker beasts from before.

’Delicious.’. Qhuin thought enjoying his meal.

The upperclassman finally reacted.

"Get away from it!"

He summoned a mana blade into his hand before rushing forward. Qhuin instantly released the hound and vanished backward.

The Shadow Hound collapsed heavily onto the floor as blood slowly spread beneath its body.

The beast twitched twice before going still.

Silence filled the hallway.

Lina stared at the dead Rank D+ beast in horror.

Meanwhile, blue system screens exploded across Qhuin’s vision one after another.

[Target Eliminated: Shadow Hound (Rank D+)]

[Blood Energy Gained: +27]

[Current Blood Energy: 100/100]

[Threshold Reached]

[Forced Evolution Beginning...]

The moment the final message appeared, a burning pain exploded through Qhuin’s entire body.

His eyes widened, from the system message his evolution had started.

Dark red mana suddenly burst out from beneath his white fur like smoke leaking from his body.

The hallway temperature instantly dropped.

Lina gasped.

"S-Snowy?!"

Qhuin collapsed onto the floor as pain spread through every bone inside his tiny rabbit body.

The upperclassman stepped backward in fear while staring at the red mana pouring from Qhuin’s fur.

"What the hell is that thing...?"

Qhuin tried standing but his legs immediately gave out beneath him.

The system messages continued flashing rapidly.

[Bloodline Evolution Initiated]

[Genetic Restructuring In Progress]

[Warning: Evolution Cannot Be Interrupted]

The upperclassman suddenly turned around and ran with fear, he didn’t even look back.

Lina barely noticed him leaving, her full attention stayed locked onto the small trembling rabbit surrounded by smoking red mana.

"S-Snowy!" she cried while kneeling beside him. "What’s happening?!"

Qhuin’s body burned like fire as his vision blurred rapidly

’Damn it...Not here.’

Lina carefully picked him up despite the strange heat covering his body.

The moment she touched him, Qhuin weakly opened one crimson eye.

He needed to say something before losing consciousness completely, fearing that she would take him to the school for help, but his mouth only produced a weak squeak.

Then suddenly—

A faint voice echoed inside Lina’s head.

Sleeping...

Lina froze, her eyes widened in surprise and panick

The weak voice continued again.

Do... not... disturb...

Then silence.

Qhuin’s body finally went limp inside her arms while the red mana continued leaking from beneath his fur.

Lina stood frozen in the middle of the bloody hallway while staring down at the unconscious rabbit in shock.

"...Snowy?"