It took Zeke a lot of effort to return home as his body was beaten and battered. Previously, when he retaliated against Rodrick and helped Amelia, he felt slightly satisfied. However, those cheerful emotions were drowned out after Rodrick humiliated him.

Never had Zeke felt so useless and angry, it was almost overwhelming. 

He looked at his reflection in the mirror: A bruised face filled with cuts from the violent slaps, stiff lips that had coagulated blood, and a still-bleeding nose.

“Oh Rodrick… I will come for you first.”

The teenager spoke to himself as he controlled his rising rage and walked away. 

With no one to tend to his wounds, and the adamance to seek his siblings’ help, Zeke had to bandage his wounds by himself. 

He couldn’t walk properly and feared that his left leg might’ve been broken due to the excruciating pain he was still experiencing. 

Unfortunately, he lacked the proper equipment to treat everything. Still, he made do with what was available then laid down, falling asleep shortly after.

He didn’t have the will to check the System logs as he seemed to have heard it while he was getting beaten.

The Daily Tasks, which he was determined to never skip as they provided decent stats and the much-needed EP, were ignored that day.

Zeke, as he currently was, needed to be hospitalised. Yet, he was stubborn to the last and refused to budge. 

In fact, when he woke up, his whole body was as stiff as a rock, rendering him unable to move an inch. He just laid there, staring at the ceiling and listening to the deafening silence, his thoughts wandering off.

He only snapped out of it when a System Notification abruptly popped in front of his eyes.

[Necessary conditions have been met!]

[The Inexhaustible Path(10 PE) can now be unlocked]

[The stat ‘Fortitude’ is now available]

[Fortitude (Special Stat): Modifies the body’s defensive mechanism and decreases the somatic sensation of acute discomfort. The user ‘Zeke Orland’ will have a slightly increased immunity to physiological pain.]

‘Fortitude?’

A split second after the notification, Zeke felt a wave of comfort go through his aching body, bringing with it a momentary clarity. The physical exhaustion and unbearable agony significantly lessened, allowing him to sit up and inspect his body.

He was still aching all over, but compared to a few seconds ago, it was somewhat manageable.

Finally out of his daydreaming, Zeke first took a look at the logs before checking his Status Window.

[Necessary conditions have been met!]

[The Pain Junkie Path(3 PE) can now be unlocked]

[A new feature has become available: Optimal Paths]

[Optimal Paths become available only if very specific requirements are met by the user. They appear only once and can be unlocked only when the ‘Stat Quota’ is reached.]

[Optimal Path ‘Groundbreaker(1 PE)’ can now be unlocked: 30 Strength | 30 Agility]

[User: Zeke Orland]

[Race: Human]

[Level 2 (9/30 EXP)]

[Strength: 30]

[Agility: 29]

[Aether: 15]

[Fortitude: 5]

[Paths: Martial Arts (1/12) inactive | Aether Voltage (4/22) active ]

[Skills: Fists of Fury(Proficiency 100%) - Aether Control(Proficiency 7%) - Voltage Zap(Proficiency 80%) - Spark (Proficiency 0%)]

[Available PE: 2]

[Available Paths of Extinction:

Pyromancer Path(5 PE)

Hydromancer Path(6 PE)

Electromancer Path (10 PE)

Fighter Sub-Path(2 PE)

Pugilist Sub-Path(4 PE)

Inexhaustible Path(10PE)

Pain Junkie Sub-Path(3PE)

Groundbreaker Optimal-Path(1 PE)(30 Str/ 30 Ag)(12 hours remaining)]

It appeared the Optimal Path had a time limit too, thus giving birth to an urgency within Zeke’s mind. He wasn’t particularly interested in it, but it only cost 1 PE and he’s only missing 1 Agility to reach the required ‘Stat Quota’.

Although still mentally struggling to cope with what happened to him, Zeke replaced the helplessness with newfound strength. His body might be in a wreck, but he was able to move, and if he was able to move, then he would be able to complete the Daily Tasks.

It would be slow and difficult with his current condition, but as detrimental as that was, he did not care and pressed on.

In the middle of the night, after satiating his thirst and starving stomach, the teenager got to work.

Soon, however, he learnt that the Fortitude Stat was simply not enough to alleviate the searing agony. His body, although made stronger thanks to the System, sustained too many wounds and to expect it to function after half a day of rest was ridiculous.

In the end, after completing the Meditation and jogging for a bit, Zeke was out of breath and energy. Disheartened, he dragged his tired feet and heavy body back to the apartment and contented with using ‘Voltage Zap’, which was almost about to reach 100% in Proficiency.

He still had ample time to complete the Daily Tasks, therefore, he spent most of the night experimenting with Aether Control, though that caused him to suddenly unconscious.

He overexerted himself, both Physiologically and psychologically. Relying on zeal and willpower wouldn’t help him overcome the tangible limits of his wounded body and lacking Aether.

…

“You did something, didn’t you…”

Tuesday morning, the following day, Azmer met up with Rodrick as usual and they made their way to the classroom. 

As they seated themselves, Azmer noticed his friend’s smug face and overly cheerful mood. He also saw that Zeke’s seat was empty, which was unusual since the latter was not wont to arrive late, especially not at Christopher’s class.

“What did you do, Rodrick?”

Azmer was visibly unhappy with how his friend was acting, thus pushing him to start asking. In response, Rodrick shrugged his shoulders, “I just taught the loser a lesson. I reckon he won’t show up for a few days.”

“...”

“What? I had to rough him up for what he did! He’s only a Defect. Who does he think he is to punch me?”

“I clearly told you not to do anything.”

“Come on, man! Relax!”

Azmer let out a sigh and leaned back, disinterested in talking with Rodrick anymore. Still, the latter wouldn’t let go of the matter as he pulled his chair closer and continued,

“You should’ve seen his face! Ah… it was so satisfying to rip that defiant look from his face!”

A couple of tables away, Julia, who was conversing with Rebecca, her closest friend, glanced at Zeke’s empty seat then at Azmer and Rodrick. She did not hear what they were talking about, but it wasn’t easy to guess that they were behind the Defect’s unexpected absence.

…

At the top floor of the Administrative Bureau building of Erys, a group of six students were lined up in front of an elderly man.

The old man was the principal of this prestigious school, named ‘Solas Clamanton’. He was 84 years-old yet he looked healthy and energetic, contrary to the rest of his peers.

He had ashen-colored hair, strikingly similar to Vanessa, though that wasn’t a coincidence as he was her grandfather.

Solas was comfortably sitting on a leather sofa, grinning from ear to the other, making his long white beard twitch ever-so-slightly.

After an indeterminate amount of silence, he beckoned his young male secretary, who moved from his rear to his side and handed him some documents.

“You may begin.”

With his signal, Maxine Orland nodded and walked to a giant whiteboard. She began her presentation while another one of her team, James, explained,

“His name is Jonathan Stellar Link. 31 Years old, tall and often wears a yellow headband. He was a Lieutenant in the Military, specifically in the Ruin Expedition Squad. 2 years ago, he took his team and went to investigate underground ruins in the Fha’al Valley but the mission ended in failure and he was the only one to survive. A week after that, he deserted and his location could not be tracked.”

“Reports say that, subsequent to the failed expedition, Jonathan became erratic and disturbed, often spouting nonsensical words. His ability, which allows him to control a black mist, granted him the title of ‘Mist Reaper’.” 

Maxine continued on behalf of her colleague, but Solas did not even glance at either of them. He skimmed through the papers in his hand then put them to the side.

“Usually…” He erased the smile off his face, replacing it with an uncommon solemnity.

“Erys doesn’t involve itself in crimes. It’s the Depart of Defense’s job to handle such atrocities. However, given that four of our students were killed, we must needs take the lead and catch the perpetrator.”

Solas paused for a couple of seconds as he swept his narrowed eyes across the six students.

“Beginning from now, you are exempt from attending all lessons. Focus all your energy and resources on apprehending Jonathan and ensuring the safety of our school. I will also inform the Dean to keep an eye out.”

“Yes, sir.”

The six students, which were the core members of a special unit recently formed, replied in unison. They were a separate entity from the Student Council, and though their authority was limited, they were still the best of the best.