Virus King [Translation]

Blood spurted into the air.

Flowing freely from the body of the fallen. A horrifying scream echoed through the gymnasium, piercing the tense atmosphere.

Novak merely plugged his ears, feeling an odd sense of realization. No matter the nationality or language, fear had one universal tone—a desperate scream. 

The decapitated head spun wildly in the air before hitting the ground. The spreading pool of blood made it clear to everyone what had just transpired.

"F'ck! You—" another foreign student started, but before he could finish his sentence, Novak had already moved, swift and deadly. In the next moment, another head flew into the air, lifeless.

The warm blood soaked the floor, thick and sticky. 

Novak's expression remained calm, the corners of his mouth curling into a chilling smile. His sharp claws, black and menacing, extended from his palms, dripping with fresh blood. Despite the carnage around him, there was no change in his demeanor. 

The other students had finally grasped the gravity of the situation. The horror they now faced was far worse than anything they had imagined. 

"N-Novak..." one of the foreign students stammered, trembling.

Novak glanced over, his expression indifferent. "Now, I'll give you all a chance. Go to that convenience store you mentioned and bring back food and water. Otherwise, you'll end up like those two."

The foreign students, sensing the cold steel in his words, hesitated. They had one thing in common: they bullied the weak but feared the strong. And right now, Novak was terrifyingly strong.

"Hey... hey, man, we were just kidding with you. No need to—"

Before the student could finish, yet another head flew into the air. 

Novak's smile widened. "Oh? Just kidding? Well, I'm kidding too."

His voice remained eerily calm as he looked at the three foreign students now dead at his feet, killed in a matter of seconds.

The blond girl, who had been so lively earlier, was now lying in a pool of blood, completely petrified by fear. 

Though she had lived in a country where shootings and killing were common, the reality of what she was witnessing—a massacre—was far more horrifying than anything she'd ever experienced. After coming to the Faeloria Country, she had become accustomed to a peaceful life. Now, that peace was shattered.

The remaining international students exchanged terrified glances, staring at the blood still dripping from Novak's claws. Their friends' blood.

"N-Novak... we'll go. We'll go get the supplies!" one of them choked out.

Novak nodded. "Good. It's nice to see you being obedient. As foreign students, you're entitled to your privileges. So, go on... separately."

With fear gripping them, the foreign students shuffled toward the gymnasium door, swallowing their dread. Though there were dangers outside, they had awakened some abilities and had managed to kill a few mutated zombies inside. They reasoned they might have a chance outside—certainly better than staying and facing certain death in the gym.

The doors closed behind them, and the rest of the students inside let out a collective sigh of relief. Novak surveyed the remaining group—none of them dared to make eye contact, and even the foreign girls lowered their heads in submission.

Novak, however, had no interest in harming them. In the post-apocalyptic world, women, even if they didn't evolve into skilled fighters, were valuable resources. He had seen this firsthand during his past life's dealings between his White Demon City and other Cities. When gold was scarce, weak women were used as currency.

He turned to the group and asked, "Who here is from the medical school? Or at least familiar with medical studies?"

A few students exchanged nervous glances before one hesitantly raised a hand. To Novak's surprise, it was the blond girl, now covered in blood but still conscious. 

He nodded at her. "You stay. The rest of you should take this chance to escape the University."

The crowd was stunned.

The boy who had opened the door for Novak earlier hesitated before asking, "But... B-Boss Novak, the zombies outside—"

"Don't worry," Novak reassured them, "the zombies outside have probably been lured away by now. Head to G-1 Road and then towards Ocean Blue Villa Area. There won't be many zombies there, and if you're careful, you can make it. Even if you're scratched, the villa has a way to detoxify you. You're all evolutionaries now; the infection won't turn you immediately. Take this opportunity and run."

Novak paused, then added with a smile, "Or, if you want to get stronger by killing zombies like me, you could try that too."

A shiver ran through the group. They knew De M-anila University was crawling with zombies, and the thought of facing them alone was terrifying. 

But why was Novak so certain the zombies had been lured away?

The answer was simple: by now, the foreign students he had sent out to scavenge would be sneezing, attracting the attention of every nearby zombie. Novak had never intended to let them live.

"Let's go!" someone shouted. The students opened the gymnasium door cautiously, relieved to see fewer zombies outside. 

In an instant, the gym emptied, leaving only Novak and the blood-stained blond girl.

Emaly sat nervously, feeling the weight of Novak's gaze. Though she had once pursued him, the Novak standing before her now was a murderous demon. She wanted to run, but fear kept her rooted to the spot.

Novak, on the other hand, ignored her. His focus was elsewhere. The slaughter had given him experience, but not enough to level up. Still, the evolution points he'd gained were sufficient for him to evolve again, which was all that mattered for the trials ahead.