Dimensional Overseer: I Can Manipulate DNA!
Chapter 63 – Familiar

Chapter 63: Chapter 63 – Familiar

Chapter 63 – Familiar

"Hm?"

Zane paused, tilting his head at the strange noise that had caught his attention. It was a strange mix of laughter and coughing—muffled, irregular, and oddly offbeat. Instinctively, he followed the sound to a shadowed corner behind the building, a secluded area where no one else seemed to be around.

Leaning against the wall, he peeked around the corner... and there they were.

A small group of candidates, all part of the same intake as him, stood in a loose circle. They were whispering amongst themselves, trying to keep their voices low—but their bodies swayed with a drunken rhythm, betraying their state.

One of them could barely stand, leaning on another for support. Their laughter was drawn out and sluggish, the kind of laughter that didn’t sound quite right.

"This is the good stuff, man..."

"It hits late... but it hits hard."

"I swear, the world’s spinning. Like I’m on a merry-go-round."

Zane squinted, brows furrowed in confusion. ’What the hell are they doing?’

It wasn’t immediately obvious what they were consuming—whatever it was, they kept it hidden behind their backs—but the signs were clear. Slurred speech, unsteady balance, flushed faces.

’Are they... drinking?’ he wondered. ’Already? It’s not even been a full day here...’

He couldn’t tell for certain. It might have been alcohol or something else entirely. But either way, it was something they clearly weren’t supposed to have. Zane wasn’t completely foreign to the idea of students his age consuming stuff they shouldn’t be. But, it was still baffling how stupid they can be.

’How the hell did they even get that?’

Zane sighed and backed away. Curiosity tugged at him for a moment, but his instincts overruled it. ’Not my problem. If they want to screw themselves over on day one, that’s their business. I’m not getting roped into whatever stupidity they’re planning.’

He turned and walked off. He’d already had enough chaos for one day. The last thing he needed was to get caught standing next to a group of idiots mid-offense.

’I’ve already been framed once today. That’s enough for a lifetime.’

Later, Zane took his time with a long, hot shower. The products provided in the dorm’s bathing area were better than expected—fragrant, foamy, and apparently infused with energy. His skin felt softer, and his hair felt healthy and hydrated, almost as if he’d just come from a luxury spa.

’Not bad. At least they make sure we don’t stink.’ He smirked to himself as he toweled off.

Once back in his room, Zane lay on his bed and spent the next hour fiddling with the features on his new watch. The sheer depth of the device continued to astonish him. It wasn’t just a watch—it was practically a computer, a communication hub, and a gaming console all rolled into one.

He explored the calling system, which allowed him to connect with anyone he had listed as a contact. Once permission was granted, it even allowed him to place a tracking arrow on his map showing their live location.

There was also a voice-activated chat interface. Entire threads could be dictated or played back. Even the entertainment apps blew his mind—high-end games from Lower Earth ran on this device as if it were a top-tier gaming rig.

’Processing power like this, in a watch? This thing is years—no, decades—beyond anything we had. The future really is now.’

Eventually, he shut it off and lay back with a sigh, switching off the lights. Sleep claimed him quickly, his body still carrying the weight of travel and the day’s events.

And like always... the nightmares followed.

✦✦✦

"Zane. Wake up."

A cold, monotone voice stirred him from the darkness.

A high-pitched ringing accompanied it, vibrating through his bones.

"Mmmgh..." He groaned, rolling over and squinting at the wall. "What time is it?"

"6:30 AM. You instructed me to wake you at this hour," Dia said, still as emotionless as ever.

"Right... Yeah, I remember." Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Zane finally sat up and glanced out the window.

The early sun poured through the glass, casting warm rays across his room. Dust motes danced in the light like tiny spirits.

"First night in a new realm... Doesn’t feel any different." He muttered to himself. ’I was hoping the nightmares would stop. But I guess they’re coming with me wherever I go.’

Shaking off the residual heaviness, he began his morning routine. After washing up, he slipped into his uniform and made his way downstairs for breakfast.

The canteen was still empty—too early for most of the other candidates. Only one person stood behind the counter, humming to himself as he cooked.

Figar.

The dwarf glanced sideways when he heard footsteps.

"Hm? Well, look at that. An early riser," he said with a raspy chuckle. "That’s rare for you Lower Earth types."

Zane didn’t respond immediately. He just picked up a tray and started browsing the available food.

"What’s your name, kid?" Figar asked lazily.

"...Zane," he replied, grabbing a few pieces of toast.

"Zane, huh? Odd name."

Zane said nothing, but he could feel the dwarf’s eyes still on him.

"Where’d you get that silver hair, boy?"

That question made Zane pause mid-reach.

"...Why do you ask?"

"It strikes me as familiar," Figar said simply, eyes narrowing slightly.

"..." Zane frowned, then resumed picking out his food. "From my mother," he said, tone clipped.

"Oh? What’s her name?"

Zane’s gaze sharpened. "Why does that concern you, sir?"

The dwarf raised both hands in mock surrender, his tone shifting to something a little less intrusive. "Relax, lad. Just curious. You don’t have to tell me."

"..." Zane grabbed the last of his food and walked off without another word.

Figar watched him go, a pensive expression on his face. His brows furrowed slightly as his eyes followed the silver-haired candidate’s silhouette.

’That boy... Something about him feels... familiar.’

The way Zane carried himself. His aura. Those piercing red eyes. That silver hair.

There was something about him—something that stirred an old memory—but the details refused to surface.

’Dammit. I know I’ve seen someone like him before.’ He growled under his breath as he resumed his cooking, trying to push the thought aside.

Zane ate his breakfast in silence. The cafeteria gradually filled with the murmurs of other candidates trickling in, but he paid them no mind. His thoughts were already moving toward the next phase.

After finishing his meal, he left the building.

"Where’s my class, Dia?" he asked as he stepped out into the morning air.

"I shall display the location on your map now."

A map screen opened in front of him, a glowing arrow marking the destination clearly.

Zane nodded and began walking, his boots clacking softly on the cobblestone road.

The streets were less busy than yesterday but still alive with early risers. Carts rolled by. Winged beings zipped overhead. People bustled about with intent.

"It looks like there’s a dedicated training facility for candidates... Judging by the size, it must be massive."

He zoomed in on the location pinned on his map and the name of the place appeared in bold letters for him to see.

The Draco Knighthood Training Facility.