The western gate of the academy loomed tall and silent, carved from dark stone and reinforced with layers of defensive runes. Kael stood among twelve other students, all wearing standard field cloaks marked with the academy's crest.
This was it.
Their first external mission.
The atmosphere was different from normal training. There was no chatter, no laughter. Even the more arrogant students were quiet, their expressions tense and focused.
Fear.
Not the paralyzing kind—but the sharp, alert kind.
The kind that reminded you this wasn't a simulation.
"You will be operating in Zone C-7," Instructor Mareth said, his voice calm but firm. "Low-grade monsters. Minimal risk. Your objective is suppression, not extermination. Do not pursue targets beyond visual range. Do not act alone. Do not engage if you feel overwhelmed."
His gaze swept across the group.
"And most importantly—this is an evaluation. I will not save you from your own stupidity."
A few students swallowed.
Kael remained silent, his eyes fixed on the forest beyond the gate.
The Hollow pulsed faintly.
Not hunger.
Anticipation.
The western border forest was dense and unnaturally quiet.
Tall trees blocked most of the sunlight, their leaves forming a thick canopy overhead. The air was damp, heavy with the scent of moss and soil. Every sound—footsteps, breathing, the rustle of branches—felt amplified.
Kael walked near the middle of the group.
Leon was at the front, naturally assuming the role of leader. Two second-years flanked him, both carrying enchanted blades. The first-years were spread between them, forming a loose formation.
"So these are the famous 'low-grade monsters,'" one student muttered.
As if on cue, something moved in the bushes.
A shadow darted between the trees.
Everyone froze.
Leon raised his hand.
"Positions."
The group spread out slightly, forming a semicircle.
Kael felt it then.
Multiple aura signatures.
Weak.
Animalistic.
But alive.
Three shapes emerged from the undergrowth—wolf-like creatures with elongated limbs, grey fur, and glowing amber eyes.
Feral beasts.
Common monsters.
Not dangerous individually.
But in numbers…
"Three targets," Leon said. "Second-years take the left and right. First-years support."
The beasts growled.
Then lunged.
Everything happened fast.
One second-year intercepted the left beast, blade flashing as he sliced through its neck. The creature collapsed instantly.
The right beast leaped toward another student, who barely managed to block it with a defensive spell.
The third beast charged straight toward the center.
Toward Kael.
Time seemed to slow.
Not because Kael panicked.
But because the Hollow activated.
Not pulling.
Not absorbing.
Just observing.
Kael saw everything.
The tension in the monster's muscles.
The flow of aura through its core.
The instability in its movement.
He stepped aside.
The beast missed him by inches.
Leon reacted immediately, slamming his sword down into its spine. The creature let out a final screech before going still.
Silence returned to the forest.
Heavy.
Breathing filled the air.
"That was it?" someone said, disbelief in their voice.
Leon wiped his blade.
"That was one pack. There are more."
Kael stared at the dead beast near his feet.
He felt it.
Residual energy.
Dissipating.
The Hollow pulsed sharply.
This is exactly what I was designed for.
Kael clenched his fist.
Not now.
They continued deeper into the forest.
Over the next hour, they encountered more monsters—lizard-like creatures, insect swarms, malformed beasts with twisted limbs. The fights were messy but controlled.
No casualties.
No serious injuries.
The group grew more confident.
Too confident.
"Honestly, this is easier than training," one student laughed after killing a creature with a fire spell.
Kael felt unease crawl up his spine.
The Hollow pulsed again.
Stronger this time.
Not hunger.
Warning.
Before Kael could speak, the ground trembled.
A low, deep vibration echoed through the forest.
Then came the roar.
It wasn't animalistic.
It was… intelligent.
The trees ahead parted as something massive emerged.
A hulking creature over four meters tall, covered in dark, armored plates. Its body resembled a bear, but its head was elongated, its eyes glowing with an unnatural crimson light.
A mid-grade monster.
Not supposed to be here.
Leon's expression changed instantly.
"Formation! Defensive stance!"
The monster slammed its fist into the ground.
The shockwave sent three students flying backward.
One hit a tree and didn't get up.
Kael's heart rate spiked.
This wasn't part of the plan.
This wasn't controlled.
This was real.
The Hollow surged violently.
Not subtle anymore.
It wanted this.
The monster roared again and charged.
Leon and the second-years attacked together, blades and spells colliding against the creature's armor.
They barely scratched it.
The monster swiped its arm.
One second-year was thrown aside like a doll, crashing into the ground with a sickening crack.
Blood.
Real blood.
Panic spread through the group.
"We need to retreat!" someone shouted.
But the monster was too fast.
Too strong.
It lunged toward the weakest cluster.
Toward Kael.
Again.
Kael felt it.
The decision point.
If he did nothing, someone would die.
If he intervened normally, he'd still fail.
There was only one option.
And the Hollow knew it.
Kael stopped thinking.
He reached out.
Not passively.
Not carefully.
He locked on.
The Hollow activated fully for the first time.
A torrent of energy flooded into him.
Not a trickle.
Not mist.
A storm.
The monster froze mid-step.
Its aura core destabilized violently.
Cracks of light spread across its body as the Hollow tore through its internal structure.
The creature let out a sound that wasn't a roar.
It was a scream.
Then it collapsed.
Dead.
Instantly.
Silence fell over the forest.
Every student stared.
Leon turned slowly.
His eyes wide.
"…What did you just do?"
Kael stood there, breathing heavily.
His entire body felt like it was on fire.
Not pain.
Power.
The Hollow was surging uncontrollably, processing the massive intake of energy.
Kael forced it down.
Suppressed it.
Barely.
"I attacked its weak point," Kael said calmly.
A lie.
A thin one.
But no one could prove otherwise.
Mareth appeared moments later, teleporting into the clearing.
He took in the scene instantly.
The dead monster.
The injured students.
Kael.
Mareth's eyes narrowed.
"A mid-grade in Zone C-7…" he muttered. "That shouldn't exist."
Then he looked at Kael.
Long.
Hard.
"Who killed it?"
No one spoke.
Leon hesitated.
Then slowly raised his hand.
"…He did."
Mareth's gaze sharpened.
Kael felt it.
Not observation.
Not curiosity.
Suspicion.
Mareth walked toward the corpse, scanning it with detection magic.
His expression darkened.
"This creature's core was… drained."
He turned to Kael.
"Not destroyed. Not ruptured."
Drained.
The word echoed in Kael's mind.
Mareth's voice dropped.
"That's not something normal techniques can do."
Kael met his eyes.
Calm.
Controlled.
But inside, the Hollow was still pulsing wildly.
Hungry.
Satisfied.
Awake.
For the first time, Kael realized the truth.
He had crossed the line.
Not morally.
Not emotionally.
But mechanically.
The Hollow had tasted real prey.
And it would never be content with scraps again.