By the time Omega returned from the punishment chamber, the academy was already alive with morning noise. Students hurried between buildings, their voices echoing off stone walls. His body still tingled from the cold sparks that had coursed through him every few minutes for the last three hours—a harsh consequence for leaving academy grounds without permission. The sensation lingered beneath his skin like phantom needles. Classes had begun, but for Omega, the day never started normally anyway.

Hex, meanwhile, had just returned to the academy after days away. His journey had been long, and despite his exhaustion, anticipation quickened his steps. He pushed open the dorm door with a cheerful burst.

"Look who's back in school!" Hex called out, his voice bright with expectation.

But the room was empty. Omega's bed was untouched, the sheets cool beneath Hex's palm when he pressed his hand against them. A flicker of worry crossed his face.

"Huh… maybe he already went to class," Hex muttered, frowning as he scanned the silent room. "Guess I'll join him."

He changed into his academy uniform, the familiar fabric settling around his shoulders like a second skin. As he walked toward class, some classmates barely noticed him; others gave curious glances, whispers following in his wake. Kazeem noticed immediately, his face brightening with recognition.

"Hey, when did you get back?" Kazeem asked, grinning with visible relief.

"Just arrived this morning," Hex replied, dropping his bag beside his desk.

"Good to have you back, man," Kazeem said, his smile faltering slightly. "This place's been… weird since yesterday."

Hex scanned the room, his eyes searching each face before lowering his voice. The unease in Kazeem's tone had not escaped his notice.

"Where's Omega? I checked the room—not there. And not here either," Hex said, his expression growing serious.

Kazeem hesitated, his shoulders sagging as though the weight of his words pressed down on him. His voice came out heavy, laden with guilt.

"I… I'm sorry. He fell from a cliff during a hunt."

The classroom fell into silence. All eyes turned toward them, conversations dying mid-sentence.

"What?!" Hex's voice cracked with shock and anger. "He doesn't even have an ability. Why would you let him go on a hunt?"

"When we practiced in class, it felt like he was catching up to me," Kazeem said defensively, his hands gesturing as if to justify himself. "I thought nothing would go wrong… I thought he could handle it."

Hex's fist tightened at his side, anger pulsing through him like a living thing. His jaw clenched, and for a moment, the air between them crackled with tension. But he held himself back, forcing his breathing to steady.

"So what's the school doing about it?" Hex asked, his voice controlled but cold as ice.

"I informed the head instructor immediately," Kazeem said nervously, unable to meet Hex's eyes. "A search party was sent… Jennifer went with them."

"You better pray he's fine." Hex's words came out quiet, dangerous. "Because if he's not—I'll show you a side you won't like."

Before Kazeem could reply, a student burst into the room, breathless and flushed.

"They found him! They found Omega!" the student shouted, hands braced against the doorframe.

Hex shot out of the room instantly, his chair clattering behind him as he brushed past the entering homeroom teacher.

"Hey! Kid! Where are you going?!" Mr. Jonathan shouted after him.

Hex ignored him and sprinted through the halls, his footsteps echoing off the walls. His heart hammered in his chest until he found Jennifer near the main entrance, still catching her breath from the search.

"Where is he? Why isn't Omega with you?" Hex demanded, urgency sharpening every word.

"He's… serving his punishment," Jennifer said between breaths, her hand pressed to her side. "They wanted to postpone it, but he insisted on finishing today so he could start fresh tomorrow."

Hex's shoulders relaxed, the tension draining from his frame. Relief washed over his features, softening the hard lines around his eyes.

"Good… that's good," he said quietly, almost to himself. "I'll see him after class."

---

Inside the Head Instructor's office, a tense meeting unfolded. The air was thick with cigar smoke and unspoken concerns.

"What's with these kids? One gets beaten in a dungeon, another falls off a cliff," the Head Instructor said, frustration evident in every syllable. "Same year, same class. Are we running an academy or a casualty ward?"

"I say we stop allowing them out of school," Mr. Pine interjected, his arms crossed firmly over his chest.

"This exploration is different," Mr. Norway said calmly, though his eyes held a warning. "Many academies have sent students to new planets—but this is the first time they're expected to take over one. The stakes have never been higher."

"Yes," the Head Instructor agreed, leaning forward in his chair. "And if we succeed, the planet joins the Terranova family. Other academies will be competing fiercely. We must claim enough land to rank in the top fifty globally. Our reputation depends on it."

"And we're risking the students for that?" Mr. Norway asked, displeasure coloring his tone. "Feels like using them as soldiers rather than educating them."

"Don't get emotional," Mr. Pine said sharply, his eyes narrowing. "Just make sure the important ones survive. There are city-lord kids in this batch. Protect them and no one will complain. The rest… well, casualties are inevitable in any conquest."

Silence settled over the room, heavy and suffocating. Ambition had thoroughly strangled morality, leaving only cold calculation in its wake.

---

Later that day, the punishment chamber door opened with a metallic groan that echoed down the corridor. Omega stepped out, exhausted and pale, his legs unsteady beneath him—only to find Hex waiting against the opposite wall, arms crossed.

"Man… first you get beaten in a dungeon, then fall off a cliff," Hex said, smirking despite the concern in his eyes. "You must have rotten luck."

"Look who's talking," Omega replied, a tired grin spreading across his face. "Weren't you the one smashed in that dungeon? I was perfectly fine before the hunt."

Hex paused, confusion flickering across his features. His smirk faded.

"What do you mean? Don't you remember?" he asked, genuinely puzzled. "I asked you to join me on a raid—with Uncle Pie, Nora, and Kevin. You were there."

"Wait… that really happened?" Omega asked, his mind racing as fragments of memory shifted and realigned. "Then… the crystal in our room wasn't you…"

"What crystal? We didn't loot anything," Hex said, raising an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

Omega's heartbeat quickened, his pulse thundering in his ears. The implications crashed over him like a wave.

*If he's telling the truth… then the man in that dungeon implanted this system into me. And that meat… that meat turned me into a werewolf. If that's true… I need to learn their goal before I become someone's pawn.*

---

Far away in Lotus City, at the edge of the Holy Lotus River, the woman known as Saint Lotus watched the shimmering waters. The surface reflected the setting sun, turning the river into liquid gold. Her expression remained serene, untouched by the world's chaos.

"The head families are gathering this weekend," a ceremonial man said, bowing low before her. "They request your presence."

"So it's about the exploration," Saint Lotus said calmly, her voice like wind through reeds. "I hope that girl will do well. Have you heard from her?"

"No, Saint Lotus. Only rumors of a missing boy," the man replied, still bowed.

"No need to contact her," Saint Lotus said gently, though authority threaded through her words. "She must find her own path. Prepare my garments. And the holy lotus—I will visit the altars before the gathering."

---

Three days after the cliff accident, Hex hovered around Omega more than usual. His protective instincts had kicked into overdrive, much to everyone's notice. Jennifer noticed—sometimes with suspicion, sometimes with jealousy that she tried unsuccessfully to hide.

Omega sat with Woody in the garden, enjoying the rare quiet between classes. The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves above them.

"So, how's your research? Man or wolf-man?" Woody asked, teasing amusement dancing in his eyes.

"It's called a werewolf," Omega said, rolling his eyes. "And there's no evidence they exist."

"Then maybe you're a science experiment," Woody suggested, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "A freak proving a theory."

"Can you—" Omega started snapping, then stopped himself. His expression shifted to something more thoughtful. "Actually… you might be right."

"See? I'm always right," Woody said, grinning triumphantly.

"One minute I'm in a dungeon… next thing, I wake up with this system," Omega said seriously, his voice dropping. "It doesn't make sense unless someone planned it."

"What system?" Woody asked, curiosity replacing his smugness.

Footsteps approached from behind them.

"What system are you talking about?" Hex asked sharply, appearing beside them with suspicious timing.

"Private conversation, four-eyes," Woody said mockingly, not bothering to look up. "Didn't your mama teach you not to stick your nose in others' business?"

Hex punched him in the head without hesitation.

"What was that for?! Want me to beat you up? I'm ready!" Woody shouted, jumping to his feet with surprising agility.

"What's your head made of? I didn't even feel skin," Hex said calmly, rubbing his knuckles with a puzzled expression.

"That's his robe—it's beast armor," Omega explained quickly, stepping between them before the situation escalated.

"Figures," Hex muttered. "Anyway, it's lunchtime. The others are waiting for us."

"Oh—right," Omega said, surprised at how quickly time had passed. "Got caught up talking."

Woody followed them without invitation.

"What are you doing? I'll see you later," Omega said, confusion evident in his voice.

"I'm coming. Lunch time, right?" Woody said, grinning as though it were obvious.

"You? What are you now, staff?" Hex snapped, eyeing the robed figure with suspicion.

"Not staff. Assistant," Woody said proudly, puffing out his chest.

"What about food? Aren't you allergic?" Omega asked, genuine concern creeping into his tone.

"I drank alcohol once—I survived," Woody said carelessly, waving off the concern. "How bad can food be?"

"Then why wear that robe? Isn't it hot?" Hex asked, studying him critically.

"You don't know the half of it," Woody groaned, tugging at the heavy fabric. "I'm boiling in here. Wish I could strip everything off and feel actual air on my skin."

---

The lunch hall buzzed with noise—conversations overlapping, trays clattering, laughter erupting from various corners. Hex and Omega joined Jennifer and Kazeem at their usual table near the windows.

"Who's he again?" Jennifer asked suspiciously, her eyes narrowing at the robed newcomer.

Woody ignored her completely, grabbed Omega's tray without asking, and began devouring it with alarming enthusiasm.

"Don't mind him. He's… a friend," Omega said apologetically, watching his lunch disappear. "I'll get another. Maybe some spicy ramen."

"And get me chicken! It's not easy saving teenagers!" Woody called after him, mouth still full.

Omega sighed and returned with food, shaking his head at his companion's antics.

But by evening, the consequences of Woody's culinary adventure became apparent.

"I never knew human food would betray me! My insides are burning!" Woody wailed dramatically, clutching his stomach as he writhed on the floor. "This is worse than any battle wound!"

"Thank God you're still alive," Omega said, laughing despite himself at the theatrical display.

And while others prepared for dungeons and rankings, strategizing their next moves and training their abilities, Omega's newest companion battled something far more dangerous—and far more humbling—than any monster: human cuisine.