Ryo turned around sharply; his body still tense from everything he had experienced. Standing before him was a girl with silver-red hair that cascaded down her back, glowing softly under the academy's artificial lights. Her crimson eyes locked onto his with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.

"Wh-What happened?" he asked, his voice betraying his confusion and fear.

The girl tilted her head slightly, regarding him with a calm yet unreadable expression. "It's time for dinner," she said matter-of-factly. "Students should head to the cafeteria now."

Ryo blinked. Dinner? Already?

How much time had passed? The entrance ceremony had just finished—or at least, that's what he thought. In his first life, no one had mentioned dinner to him. He had simply gone to his dorm and started classes the next day.

Did I just miss this detail before? Or… is something different this time?

His stomach growled, reminding him that despite his confusion, he was still human—at least in part. He sighed and nodded. "Alright… I'll go."

The girl said nothing, merely turning on her heel and walking ahead, as if expecting him to follow. Ryo hesitated for a moment before falling in line with the other students heading in the same direction.

But just as he stepped forward—

[Ability Unlocked: Blood Rampage]

[Ability Unlocked: Blood Weaponry]

[Ability Unlocked: Hemokinesis]

[Ability Unlocked: Regeneration Boost]

[Ability Unlocked: Blood Puppetry]

Ryo froze in place, his entire body tensing. A strange pulse of energy surged through him, like a rush of adrenaline—but deeper, primal, as if something inside him had just awakened.

His heartbeat thundered in his ears, but at the same time, his blood felt lighter, moving unnaturally fast within his veins. What was happening to him?

"Are you coming?"

The girl's voice cut through his panic. She had stopped a few steps ahead, her crimson eyes watching him carefully.

Ryo took a breath, pushing down the unease clawing at him. "...Yeah. Nothing's wrong."

He forced himself to keep walking.

But deep down, he was confused and terrified.

And this was only the beginning.