God of Souls: Attaining the Strongest System in an Apocalyptic World
Chapter 28: A day before the Hunt

Chapter 28: A day before the Hunt

It was now a day before the Hunt, and most students had left their dorms to get breakfast. All but Kael, who suggested to the other two that they go ahead without him, claiming he needed to use the toilet.

This was a lie, of course. He simply wanted time to eat his raw meat in solitude. Once he confirmed the others were gone, he retrieved one of the large chunks of flesh from the refrigerator. As he bit into it, he winced slightly. The taste was far from pleasant—nothing like the human flesh he had consumed before. The meat was a bit bitter, likely from not being as fresh as it should have been, but it was enough to satisfy his hunger.

After devouring two chunks, he stored the remaining four back in the fridge and prepared to leave the room.

’System, can I know more about you? Like who created you, where you came from, and why I have so many abilities yet am still a Grade One?’ Kael asked internally as he stepped out of his room and headed toward the cafeteria.

[Access to such information is restricted until you reach a higher level within the system.]

[Your current rank as a Grade One is unrelated to the system’s design.]

Kael absorbed the information, a wave of disappointment washing over him. He had hoped learning more about the system would give him an advantage. Instead, it seemed his only option was to grow stronger the hard way.

Reflecting on recent events, he allowed himself a small moment of pride. He had gained five experience points from his encounter with Mike the other day. While the battle had been far from honorable, it was still a victory in his eyes.

As he wandered through the academy grounds, lost in thought, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps approaching. His instincts kicked in, and he turned sharply, his fists clenched and ready to strike.

"Wait! It’s me! It’s Cole!"

Kael relaxed slightly as he saw the boy raise his hands in surrender, his face a mixture of fear and desperation.

"Oh, sorry, Cole. I thought someone was trying to attack me. So, what do you want?" Kael asked, his tone direct.

Cole hesitated, scratching his head awkwardly before finally speaking.

"I’m sorry... I mean, thank you for saving me yesterday. I’m pretty weak and pathetic," he admitted, his voice filled with self-deprecation. "Please forgive me for asking, but during the Farm Hunt tomorrow, can I... can I stay under your shadow?"

Kael blinked at the request, his mind racing. On one hand, having Cole tag along could slow him down. He wanted to maximize his hunt, aiming to kill as many beasts as possible and gain experience. On the other hand, leaving Cole alone could very well mean the boy’s death.

’He could at least carry my supplies,’ Kael reasoned. ’I’ll just instruct him to stay in a safe spot while I handle the hunting.’

"Fine," Kael finally replied. "But I’m not a fan of working with others. I’ll make an exception this time, as long as you follow every order I give."

Cole’s face lit up with excitement, though it was not for the reasons Kael assumed.

’I really thought he would refuse,’ Cole thought, a dark grin threatening to break through. ’Thank God he didn’t. Everything is going exactly as planned.’

Unbeknownst to either of them, Jeremy, who had been on his way back from the cafeteria, overheard their conversation. Hidden behind a pillar, he narrowed his eyes, piecing together what he had just heard.

’That Cole... Don’t tell me...’

---

The portal room was vast, its walls lined with machines that shimmered with energy. Each portal glowed a different color, signifying its danger level.

White portals were the safest, leading to areas that had already been fully explored.

Blue portals were slightly more dangerous—partially explored regions often used by first-years for their Farm Hunts.

Red portals signified unexplored territory, typically reserved for second-year students. One such portal was already labeled "Second Year" to prevent any confusion.

The most ominous of all were the Dark portals, black as night and pulsing with an unsettling energy. These portals led to areas so deadly that many who entered never returned.

Despite the room being heavily guarded, a figure cloaked in shadows managed to slip inside unnoticed. Moving swiftly, the figure approached the closest Dark portal adjacent to the Second Year portal.

Placing a gloved hand on the machine that controlled the portal, the figure whispered an incantation. The black portal shimmered, its hue shifting to a deep crimson. With another whisper, the figure conjured a duplicate of the label that marked the Second Year portal, placing it seamlessly over the altered one.

Stepping back, the figure admired their handiwork.

"Now," the figure murmured, their voice laced with malice, "let the games begin."