Error 001: Mercy not found

Zane stood at the center, his white hair dusted with grit, his piercing eyes softening as he gazed at Ariel, alive against all odds, her golden hair matted but her blue eyes bright with fragile hope. Her tattered dress clung to her body, a testament to her ordeal, but she stood, supported by Zane's steady arm. The Primordials—Kai, Valmer, Kenshi, Yuna, and Celine—stood in a loose circle, their bodies battered, weapons lowered but wary, the tension between them and Zane simmering like a taut wire.

Celine, her red hair spilling over her shoulders, hazel eyes wide with curiosity and relief, stepped closer to Ariel. "Ariel, how are you still alive?" she asked, her voice trembling, echoing the question burning in everyone's minds. Kai, his twin swords sheathed, the dragon tattoo stark through his half-zipped jacket, leaned forward, his raven-black hair whipping in the wind. Valmer, rosary beads clinking, his sable-rose eyes sharp despite the blood trickling from a cut on his brow, waited for an answer. Kenshi, propped on his katana, his torn coat stained, amber eyes narrowed, and Yuna, leaning against a bent streetlight, her black crop top torn, her sharp eyes flickering with pain, all turned to Ariel.

"I have…" Ariel began, her voice weak, but Zane cut her off, his tone sharp, protective.

"What does it matter how she's alive?" he said, his white hair shifting as he tilted his head, his piercing eyes locking onto Celine. His words were a shield, guarding Ariel's secret—her [Second Life] skill. On Zoic, Zane had learned the value of secrecy, of revealing only what served a purpose, keeping the enemy guessing. Celine swallowed hard, her hands clenching, and stepped back, not daring to press further.

Ariel, sensing Zane's intent, turned her blue eyes to him, her voice soft but probing. "Big brother, what's going on?" She didn't answer Celine's question, following Zane's unspoken cue to keep her skill hidden.

Zane's expression softened, but his voice carried a bitter edge. "It's nothing you need to worry about. I just wanted to… reward them for bringing you to this dangerous battlefield." He took a step toward the Primordials, his boots crunching on gravel, his platinum ring glinting as his hand hovered near it. The others tensed—Kai's hands twitched toward his swords, Kenshi's grip tightened on his katana, Valmer's fists clenched, and Yuna's fingers traced a faint spell, her pain ignored. The air grew heavy, their exhaustion no match for their instinct to survive.

But Ariel's voice stopped him cold. "It wasn't them who brought me," she said, her words firm. Zane halted, turning to face her, his piercing eyes narrowing.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice low, a flicker of doubt cutting through his rage.

Ariel steadied herself, her hand clutching Zane's arm. "I ran away from home," she said, her blue eyes meeting his. "I was worried about you. The monsters were attacking where you lived, and Father refused to come here. He wanted to send me and big brother Jason to another zone as reinforcements, so I ran away." Her voice wavered, but she pressed on, recounting how she'd met Celine, how the Whisperkin had appeared, its faceless form hissing promises of Zane's survival if she came to the school. She spoke of the battle, how she'd nearly died, how Valmer's holy light and Kenshi's blade had shielded her and Celine from the Geminis' wrath. "They saved me," she finished, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes pleading.

Silence gripped the battlefield, broken only by the distant rumble of thunder. Zane's gaze swept over the Primordials, his rage cooling, replaced by a grudging reassessment. He stepped toward Kenshi, Kai, and Valmer, his boots deliberate on the cracked pavement. His voice, when he spoke, was cold but steady, carrying the weight of a vow.

"A harm to Ariel is a harm to me. A favor for Ariel is a favor for me. I misunderstood, blinded by rage. You saved my sister's life, so I owe you mine. I don't forget grudges, nor do I forget debts. One day, I'll repay you."

Kai's jaw tightened, his swords still at his sides. 'That's an apology? Sounds more like a threat.' Valmer's sable-rose eyes flickered, his rosary beads still, while Kenshi's amber eyes narrowed, his skull tattoo stark against his pale skin. "I'd ask to hit you back, but I'd just break my hand," Kenshi said, his voice dry but edged with respect. "Good thing you owe us."

Yuna, pushing through her pain, raised her hands, a soft glow emanating as she began healing the group—Kenshi's gashed face, Valmer's bruised ribs, her own bleeding temple. Her sharp eyes met Zane's, unflinching despite his earlier threat.

"You're all far too weak," Zane said, his voice blunt, cutting through the moment. On Zoic, Primordials are leagues beyond the Primordial on Earth. Every trainee there is a force of nature—some with genetic traits that make them deadly. Like Onilia's rival, Nenis, with four eyes, each a different color, each with a unique power.

"What?" Kai snapped, his grin gone, leaning against a broken pillar, his swords crossed. Valmer sat on a shattered stump, frowning, his mind racing. 'Now that I think about it, it seemed like he knew the Whisperkin. What's his connection to this? Does he know something about the Tower?'

Zane turned to Ariel, his expression softening. "Can you walk?"

"Yes," she replied, her voice steady, taking a tentative step.

[System Notice]

Analysis of player Zane Walker complete. Initiating Awakening.

The message flickered before Zane, cutting him off mid-step, its words glowing in the dim light. The Primordials exchanged glances, their exhaustion mingling with unease, as the System's chime heralded something new—and dangerous.

The Primordials formed a loose circle, their wounds freshly healed by Yuna's glowing spell, their weapons lowered but their stances wary. The System's chime still hung in the air, its announcement of Zane's Awakening sending ripples of unease through the group.

Yuna, her black crop top torn but her sharp eyes blazing, stepped forward, her voice sharp with disbelief. "What? He wasn't Awakened? How is he this strong?" Her hands clenched, still tingling from her healing spell, as she studied Zane, his presence a storm of raw power.

Kai nodded, twirling one of his twin swords, his raven-black hair falling over his eyes. "Now that you mention it, he doesn't have that… magnetic pull I feel from you guys. No Primordial aura." His gaze flicked to Zane, surprise mingling with caution, his boots shifting on the gravel.

Valmer rubbed a hand through his messy brown hair, his thoughts racing. 'A human this strong without Awakening? He's a walking disaster. He was ready to kill us just for being near Ariel's body. Being his enemy is a death sentence.' His coat swayed as he steadied himself on the stump, his mind grappling with the implications of Zane's power.

A radiant glow enveloped Zane, lifting him slightly off the ground, his white hair flowing upward as if caught in an invisible current. The System's voice rang out, cold and mechanical.

[System Notice]

Congratulations, player Zane Walker. You have Awakened as an Alpha. You may form a pack and exert authority over those weaker than you.

"An Alpha?" Ariel said, her voice steady, her blue eyes widening with surprise. She'd expected Zane's rank to surpass her own Primordial status, given the sheer force he'd displayed. Her hands clenched, not in fear but in awe, as she stood tall beside him, her resolve unshaken despite her ordeal.

Valmer stepped forward, his rosary beads glinting in the dim light, his voice calm but weighted with insight. "Rank doesn't matter. Up until now, he was like a swordsman fighting bare-handed. Now, he's got his blade." His sable-rose eyes met Zane's, acknowledging the shift, the danger now amplified.

Kenshi, gripping his katana, smirked faintly, "Didn't know you had such wisdom, Valmer. Thought your head was all women and booze."

Valmer shot him a glare, ready to retort, when a sudden movement silenced them all. The Whisperkin's corpse, lifeless moments ago, stirred, its lean, dark form rising from the pavement, inky blood flaking away like ash. Its faceless head tilted, a low hiss emanating, chilling the air.

"What the hell?" Kai snapped as he pointed his twin swords at the Whisperkin, his boots planting firmly. "Why are dead things suddenly not staying dead?"

Zane's eyes narrowed, his hand hovering near his platinum ring, 'I knew something was off,' he thought. 'This isn't just a Gemini.' The Primordials, now healed, shifted into combat stances—Kai's swords gleamed, Kenshi's katana rose, Valmer's fists glowed faintly, Yuna's hands traced a spell, all ready to act.

The Whisperkin's body began to shed, its dark form peeling away like a snake's skin, revealing a sleeker, more menacing figure beneath, its surface rippling with unnatural energy. The System chimed again, its tone urgent.

[System Notice]

Detecting unusual presence from Whisperkin.

Identity: Analyzing…

Identity analysis complete.

Username: Dark Disciple

Pack: Zion

Leader of Pack: The Destroyer

Due to unauthorized entry of a planet in its Tutorial phase, all abilities have been sealed. General stats reduced by 50%.

Calculating… Entity remains a threat to the planet. Reducing general stats by 70%.

Entity must leave the planet before time expires or face penalties.

Time remaining: 5 minutes 59 seconds.