ocean-life Chapter 32: Explanation
Chapter 32: Explanation
Silas froze after hearing the knock, his gaze locking onto the door. He stared at it for a few moments before cautiously walking toward it. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled slowly before pulling the door open.
Standing directly in front of him was Kara, her presence emanating an aura of barely contained fury. Her expression was akin to that of a raging devil, her eyes burning with intensity.
"We need to have a serious discussion about last night, Silas," Kara said sharply, her voice carrying an edge of authority.
Silas didn't need to guess what she was referring to; it was obvious. Yet, he chose to feign ignorance, playing dumb to confirm his suspicions.
"Uhm... what are you talking about, ma?" Silas inquired, scratching his head with a confused, dumbfounded expression.
"Don't play dumb, Silas. I was there last night. When I arrived, you'd already killed them all. I was the one who cleaned up your mess and brought you back to your dorm room after you passed out," Kara responded, her frown deepening as her eyes bore into him.
Silas nodded slowly, a sense of relief washing over him. "I see... I was wondering earlier how I ended up back in my room. Well, I guess it's good to know it was you. At least I won't have to worry about getting locked up behind the jingling bars," he said, his voice tinged with an ironic sense of relief.
Kara glanced around, her eyes scanning the room briefly before grabbing Silas's right arm and pulling him inside. She shut the door behind them with a swift motion.
"What the hell happened last night? What did you do to Caleb and his friends? I examined the bodies. They were killed by claws, and Caleb's body... it's like he turned into some sort of petrified husk. I need to know exactly what happened," Kara demanded, her tone sharp and unyielding.
Silas stayed silent for a few moments, weighing his response. Finally, he spoke. "There's something you should know about the Apex Mutant artifact I absorbed."
"Okay?" Kara urged impatiently, her arms crossed as she awaited his explanation.
Silas sighed heavily before speaking again. "In order for me to live and use my abilities to the fullest, I need to consume souls. If I don't consume souls, I lose control and go wild until a soul is devoured. That's what happened last night... I lost control of my body, and that's why those guys were killed so brutally. Caleb's body—well, it's what happens when I consume a soul."
His explanation was clear and devoid of any remorse, as if he were merely stating facts. Silas had no qualms about what he'd done; they deserved it. His concern wasn't the act itself but the implications of losing control and whether he had killed others beyond Caleb's group.
"To the Ranking Arena," Kara replied, her tone making it clear this wasn't up for debate.
The Ranking Arena. Silas had heard of it—a place where top students with high-graded mutant abilities went to fight, climbing their way up the leaderboard. It was a prestigious and competitive environment, where students showcased their talents and gained recognition from the academy's top staff.
It wasn't just about the competition; students participated for various reasons—training, gaining popularity, or simply out of boredom. But for Silas, it had always been a place to avoid. He had never once set foot in the arena, both because he hadn't possessed any notable abilities before and because he had no interest in watching his bullies fight.
"Why do you want me to go to the arena, ma?" Silas asked after a moment's hesitation.
"It'll help you improve," Kara explained. "The duels will sharpen your battle IQ. That's why I want you there."
Silas frowned. "Fighting low-graded students won't help me improve anything. The fights would be too easy."
"Then pick a tougher opponent. Maybe a Grade 4," Kara suggested. "I want to see what you're capable of, Silas."
Silas hesitated again. "If I defeat a Grade 4 in front of everyone, I'll be exposing myself. I don't want that."
"Not if you fight anonymously," Kara countered. "I've seen students register under false names and wear costumes. No one will know who you are. All they'll see is an anonymous fighter defeating high-ranked students."
Silas stared at her, weighing his options before letting out a heavy sigh. "Fine," he muttered, before turning and heading to the bathroom.
Once inside, he glanced at the screen floating before him.
[Time left to accept the quest: 10:49:35]
"I've still got time. I'll go to the arena, defeat a few opponents, boost my level, and maybe earn some attribute points. I have a feeling this evolution quest is going to be dangerous, and I could use every advantage I can get." Silas thought to himself as he prepared to leave.