The dark color reminded Daniel of that strange item he had found lodged deep inside the snake's food pipe.
"This Item."
With furrowed brows, Daniel retrieved it and examined it again.
"What is this?"
But no matter how hard he stared, he couldn't figure out what it was.
For a while, he tried different experiments—dipping it in water, throwing it against the wall, even slicing it with a knife. But none of it worked. The item remained unchanged, as if it existed outside the laws of matter.
"What's this Shit? Whatever!, It's not the end of the world."
Eventually, he gave up. Placing the item carefully on the table, he sat on his bed and kept staring at it, trying to make sense of what it could be.
But fatigue crept in slowly.
Still lost in thought, Daniel lay down… and drifted off to sleep.
Unbeknownst to him, the black element that had been covering the mysterious item began to melt. It oozed like thick tar, slowly liquefying. The viscous substance slid off the item and dripped down the edge of the table… crawling across the floor, it reached the base of Daniel's bed.
Then—without warning—it surged upward.
The black liquid crept over the edge and slithered onto the blanket, inching toward Daniel's hand. And the moment it touched his skin… it reacted.
Instantly, it spread like wildfire—rushing over Daniel's body, coating him in a slick, black sheen.
Daniel's eyes snapped open in shock.
What? What's going on?
He gasped, trying to sit up—but it was too late.
The black element had already covered him entirely.
In front of him now stood a terrifying monster—made entirely from the same black element. It loomed over him, its body pulsing and morphing, advancing slowly, menacingly.
But just then, Daniel saw a massive shadow behind the creature. A snake's shadow.
He turned around—and there it was.
The very same colossal serpent he had once consumed.
"Selena…" Daniel whispered, his voice barely audible.
The black entity, as if reacting to the name, began to change. Its body swelled in size, matching the snake's form. It twisted and shifted until it looked almost exactly like the serpent.
Then all hell broke loose.
The two giants lunged at each other.
The black element wrapped itself around Selena, attempting to overwhelm her. But Selena responded in kind—her body began to glow with intense heat. As her scales heated up, the black entity began to melt and slide off.
The liquid pooled at her feet.
Selena opened her jaws and began to consume it. Her tongue darted out, licking the puddle clean. Bit by bit, she sucked it in—until there was nothing left.
At that very moment, Daniel's eyes shot open.
His forehead was soaked in sweat. He sat up abruptly, panting, his breath ragged as though he'd been running for miles
"What was that?" He ask himself.
Trying to calm himself, he ran a hand through his damp hair.
Then… his eyes landed on the table.
The item was still there.
But beside it now, he noticed something else—a small diary. He picked it up and flipped through it. The pages were filled with potion recipes and medical notes, all scribbled in a neat but archaic handwriting.
Daniel let out a disappointed sigh. "That's it? I thought this thing was guarding some treasure or something."
Yawning, he tossed the diary onto the table, changed his clothes, and crawled back into bed.
Soon, the room was quiet again. But somewhere, deep in the shadows, something had changed.
Something was watching.
The next morning, Daniel got ready, slipping into a different uniform than before. With his collar straightened and jacket neatly buttoned, he stepped out of his dormitory.
As he walked into the open, the campus of Sera Hero Academy unfolded before him in all its grand and futuristic glory. Students in various uniforms moved about purposefully, heading toward their respective classrooms. Towering buildings lined the campus, each architecturally distinct yet part of a harmonious design. Training halls, massive gyms, and vast open grounds surrounded him on every side.
There were specialized facilities for everything—from libraries brimming with advanced manuals to weapon vaults stocked with state-of-the-art gear. But it wasn't just about combat. The academy also offered fully equipped centers for cultural activities and sports. Despite being a training ground for future heroes, Sera Hero Academy prioritized one thing above all else—giving heroes the experience of a normal university life.
Daniel had read about this place in his favorite novel.
But the real thing? It was far grander than he had ever imagined.
Eyes gleaming with awe, Daniel took it all in. His heart raced—not just because he was here, but because he was finally going to study alongside the characters he had once idolized. His favorite characters. His favorite story.
He had long dreamed of this moment.
But that excitement began to fade… the moment he approached his classroom.
As Daniel walked through the corridor, he noticed students glancing at him—and then whispering. The hush was unmistakable. Wherever he passed, voices dropped to murmurs, but his sharpened hearing picked up every word.
"That bastard is back again," one student hissed under their breath.
Daniel exhaled deeply, saying to himself, Doesn't look like life is going to be easy around here.
Another voice chimed in, "I thought he died falling into the sea."
"Tch—he still has the nerve to show his face around here?" a boy sneered, not even bothering to lower his tone.
Daniel could hear every word.
Ever since the mysterious change, his hearing had improved drastically. But instead of reacting, he kept walking—calm, unbothered on the surface.
He told himself, Those who bark behind your back are the ones who don't have the guts to speak in front of you.
With that, Daniel kept moving.
He walked past them, head held high, and stepped toward his classroom… ready to face whatever came next.
News of Daniel's disappearance after the bridge accident had already gone viral across the academy. Rumors had spread like wildfire—some claimed he had gone missing, others were convinced he was dead. So now, seeing him alive, walking through the corridors in flesh and blood, left everyone murmuring in hushed tones, disbelief clear on their faces.
But Daniel ignored them all.
Hands casually tucked into his pockets, he walked with unshaken confidence—each step full of silent defiance, his gaze steady, and his posture exuding unbothered swag.
He made his way toward Class C2.
With every stride, the whispers grew louder, but his focus never wavered. A few students even stepped aside, not knowing whether to challenge him or simply stare. And then, after a few more steps, he reached the classroom door.
Without a moment's hesitation, Daniel lifted his foot—and kicked the door open.
BAM!
The loud thud echoed through the room.
Instantly, every head in the class turned.
All conversations died. All eyes locked on the figure standing at the doorway.
Daniel… was back.