Luke was paired with the green-haired boy. His height was short, and his head rather large, giving him a... well, unique appearance.
Strapped to his back was a greatsword—not sheathed in a scabbard, but crudely slung with a rope. The blade was blunt, unsharpened. One might wonder why anyone would carry such a useless weapon. Could it even cut?
The boy wore filthy clothes, once drenched in mud and now hastily rinsed with only water—leaving behind brown stains scattered across the fabric.
Yet beneath those clothes, Luke could see well-developed muscles. It was evident how much effort must have gone into building them.
And because of that, Luke felt a hint of respect for the boy.
Boy... or man? Luke wasn't entirely sure. His height made it hard to determine his age. And he also bore a mature expression—not one gifted by genetics, but rather one shaped by hardship.
Now that Luke thought about it, miss sub-inspector had mentioned that the boy had prior experience with the Gatekeepers.
With that, Luke instantly deduced that he must have witnessed the dreadful incident that occurred the day the wall collapsed.
"You're Kora, right? So, have you—"
"You're Level 8. Can't you sense them?"
Kora interrupted him mid-sentence.
"Ah... no. I'm not proficient in sensory-type arts. Besides, it's difficult to detect the remaining monsters."
"Why is that?"
"Because the ones that remain possess excellent concealment abilities."
BOOM!!
At that moment, a thunderous sound erupted in the distance, followed by a red flare ascending into the darkened sky.
'That direction... Jin.'
Luke's mind jolted as he identified the location from which the signal had been launched.
The six applicants had been split into three teams and assigned areas spaced roughly a hundred meters apart.
This arrangement was designed to minimize risk—ensuring that, in the event of an emergency, they were still close enough to reach each other in time.
Luke and Kora were stationed at the central point. To their right were Jay and the guy with the ponytail.
And to the left—where the flare had originated—were Jin and the girl.
Without even a second's hesitation, Luke sprinted toward the signal. His speed was so blistering that the naked eye could barely track him.
As he dashed forward, a scene began to replay in his mind—
It was from a day ago, during a conversation with his master, Albedo.
***
In the mansion of the Nameless Domain, which loomed like an ancient relic lost in time, the dying light of a crimson sun bathed its walls with a blood-red glow.
Though the Nameless had no real sun, the world here mirrored reality with eerie perfection.
On the balcony of the third floor, Albedo sat calmly in a wooden chair. Unlike the others scattered across the mansion—most of which had decayed and rotted under the relentless passage of time—this one was untouched. Pristine. As if it had been crafted just yesterday.
At that moment, Luke stepped onto the balcony. His boots clicked softly against the cold, polished stone as he approached.
"You summoned me, my lord," Luke said, bowing slightly, his tone respectful but firm.
"Ah, yes… you came," Albedo replied with a faint smile, turning his gaze toward the distant horizon. "Tomorrow, the three of you begin your first day with the Military Police."
"Yes, my lord," Luke affirmed with a nod, his posture unwavering.
"So before you leave, I want to give you a task," Albedo continued, rising slowly from his chair. His eyes glowed faintly under the crimson sky.
"Anything, my lord," Luke replied instantly, bowing once more. There was no hesitation in his voice—only conviction.
After all, Albedo had saved him when the world had turned its back. When all others wanted him dead, Albedo had taken him in. He had accepted him when even Luke had regretted his own existence.
There was nothing Luke wouldn't do for him.
"Then listen carefully, Luke," Albedo said, stepping closer, his tone now quiet—almost gentle. "From this moment forward, you are no longer alone. Those two will now be part of you."
Albedo's hand rested on Luke's shoulder.
"I understand it won't be easy for you to accept them," he continued, voice low. "It will take time. But remember—you are their senior. My first disciple. It is your duty to protect them."
He paused, his green eyes seeming to glow brighter with the descending sun.
"And in return… they will show you the path you've forgotten."
Luke's eyes flickered. His breath hitched faintly, but he said nothing.
Albedo gave a gentle pat on his back.
"From now on, you're their big brother," he said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "So accept them... even if they reject you."
***
Now, as Luke sprinted across the barren terrain, Albedo's words rang through his mind like a curse he couldn't escape.
Big brother?
Protect them?
Why? Why did he have to be the one to do it?
He couldn't even kill.
He clenched his jaw, eyes narrowing as the red flare burned in the distant sky. His speed increased, but so did the weight in his chest.
How was he supposed to protect them—when he couldn't even protect himself?
How could he be a brother—when he saw his own brother laughing… while his head was being split in half?
A violent shudder gripped his spine.
How could he call anyone family... when he had murdered his own?
As those memories returned—sharp and merciless—Luke's vision began to blur. The sound of his footsteps grew distant, as if swallowed by the earth itself.
The sky darkened, unnaturally so.
The trees twisted like broken limbs, whispering things they shouldn't whisper.
A soft voice echoed from deep within his mind—one that sounded eerily like his younger self.
"Monster..."
"You're not a brother. You're a butcher."
Luke stumbled for a heartbeat, breath ragged.
The shadows ahead thickened like tar, and the air smelled of blood and ash.
Still, he ran—toward Jin, toward danger, toward something that might redeem him… or destroy what little was left.
***
The monster crept toward Jin, its maw wide open and dripping with anticipation.
Its white, matted fur clung to its grotesque body like a corrupted blanket of snow. But it wasn't pure—no, it was filthy, grimy, and stained with dried streaks of red. Most likely human blood. Its previous victims, perhaps still half-digested inside.
The creature shared a distorted resemblance to humans—its four limbs crude mockeries of human anatomy. Its massive front arms ended in hands with disturbingly human-like palms, while its hind legs were disproportionately small, forcing its rear to stay awkwardly elevated as it moved.
Yet what truly marked it as an abomination were its four milky eyes, each one oozing a viscous white fluid that dripped like molten silver. And its gaping maw—large enough to consume Jin in a single gulp—groaned as it opened wider, groaning with hunger.
And of course, it didn't carry the virus that the creature from that day had.
Still, Jin wasn't afraid.
In fact, he didn't know how to be.
He stood silently, unnervingly still—like stagnant water beneath a dying moon.
Emotionless.
That emptiness had its advantages.
His lack of fear sharpened his focus. His decisions were cold, swift, and clear.
Before they had departed from the Nameless, Miss Mira had handed them a few items—gifts, she had called them. For safety.
As the monster inched closer, Jin analyzed his options. He processed the best course of action—and made his move.
The decision nearly cost him his head, but even in his current impaired state—deprived of control to his Psyche—his thinking was still marginally faster than that of a normal human. It was just enough.
And besides... even if he failed, the girl beside him could serve a purpose.
She'd most likely even taste better.
As the beast's rancid breath hit his face, its massive maw now just inches away, Jin took a single step back.
Then—he threw something into the monster's mouth.
A sphere of living flesh, swathed in cloth, harvested from a creature skilled in illusions.
With death just a hair's breadth away, Jin dove back, narrowly escaping the snapping jaws. His foot slipped. He fell and rolled—landing near the terrified girl, who stood frozen.
The monster's teeth slammed shut with a thunderous crack, the sound echoing like a hammer striking bone.
It chewed—but all it tasted was bitter dirt and crumbling concrete.
Snarling in disappointment, the beast thrashed and turned, searching again for its prey.
At that moment, Jin grabbed the girl's hand without a word and sprinted.
The deaf girl's eyes widened—she felt a strange sense of relief. Safety.
She was unaware of Jin's true intent.
Yes, he was holding her hand. Yes, he was running to take her away.
But only as a last resort. Only so he could throw her back to the monster if Plan B failed.
But luck favored her.
Plan A worked.
Behind them, the creature screeched and began devouring the ground in a frenzy. Claws digging, teeth snapping, mouth swallowing chunks of soil and shattered stone. It screamed. It laughed. It cried in a monstrous voice that didn't belong to anything sane.
"Why… why is it not following us?" the girl asked, confusion shadowing her face.
Everyone knew what monsters were. Vile, bloodthirsty creatures driven by rage and hunger.
But this one… this one looked like it had lost its mind.
As if trapped in a dream.
Unbeknownst to her, it was in a dream. A weak illusion, hastily cast.
Not strong enough to trap the mind completely, but just potent enough to blur reality—for a short while.
Inside its illusion, the monster devoured Jin and the girl over and over again. It chewed, swallowed, craved—and still, they reappeared. Over and over. The more it ate, the more they returned.
The repetition delighted the beast. A hellish feast. A never-ending meal.
But it didn't last.
And as the illusion shattered like glass, the monster shrieked in agony—its appetite burning brighter than before.
It roared. And charged.
Jin didn't flinch. He hadn't expected the illusion to last. Nor did he intend to run forever.
He couldn't. Not with his weak body. Not even after sacrificing the girl.
He only needed a few seconds.
And he got them.
A sudden gust of wind tore through the battlefield.
A blur—faster than anything the human eye could properly register—struck the beast with devastating force.
The creature was launched backward, crashing through debris and crumbling stone like a ragdoll.
A figure stood in the dust, radiant and unyielding.
Luke had arrived.