As Evans looked into Arthur's cold, calculating eyes, his gaze drifted downward.
A young man lay unconscious at Arthur's feet.
Evans looked back at Arthur and spoke calmly, completely unfazed by his intimidating expression.
"Let me guess..."
"You're the one who did that."
He glanced at the unconscious boy before shrugging.
"Makes sense why everyone's gathered around you."
Mike's heart nearly stopped.
"Out of everyone in the Delta Branch..."
"Why did he have to walk up to Arthur?!"
"I wanted to bully someone today... not to get beaten half to death!"
Mike silently prepared himself to drag Evans to the Infirmary.
Arthur finally answered in his usual calm voice.
"He kept bothering me."
"So I put him down."
Then he turned his attention back to the front as if the conversation had already ended.
Mike stood frozen.
His eyes widened in complete disbelief.
"Wait..."
"Did Arthur actually answer him?"
"Or did Arthur already knock me out and this is all a dream?"
Other people who also saw this froze in pure shook.
Ignoring Mike's internal crisis, Evans stepped beside Arthur, ready to ask another question.
Before he could speak -
Arthur beat him to it .
Without even looking at him, he said calmly,
"Let me guess."
"You're wondering..."
"...why I chose the Delta Branch."
Arthur continued in his calm voice.
"As an A-Rank graduate, I was given a special privilege."
"I could personally choose any Branch Overseer to have private and exclusive training under."
He glanced ahead as he spoke.
"Most people with that opportunity would choose either the Alpha Branch or Beta Branch."
"Their Overseers are famous throughout the country."
"They have the highest Beast kill counts, have closed countless Rifts, and are admired for their overwhelming power."
He paused briefly.
"So instead of following public opinion..."
"I researched every single Overseer."
His usually calm expression showed the slightest hint of confusion.
"And that's when I found something strange."
"Among the four Overseers..."
"Zach Hollow of the Delta Branch had the lowest public appearance rate."
"His recorded Beast kills were surprisingly low."
"He was even absent from several major battles."
Evans listened carefully as the mystery went deeper.
Arthur continued.
"But every time he did appear..."
"The battle ended."
He looked straight ahead.
"No matter how dangerous the situation was..."
"No matter how powerful the Beast was..."
"The moment Zach Hollow entered the battlefield..."
"It was over."
"Within seconds."
Arthur closed his eyes for a moment.
"That alone was enough."
"I concluded that appearance were meaningless."
"If someone could end battles that quickly..."
"Then he was the one I wanted as my mentor."
"No matter the cost."
Silence followed.
Evans stood frozen.
A shiver ran through his body.
"He's right ".
He had experienced Zach's power firsthand.
One punch.
That was all it had taken.
And Evans had been completely helpless.
Just then, Evans eyes twitched.
A familiar crimson screen appeared before him, it was the system's [Quest] tab.
"Daily Quests"
[Stab your hand 15 times (0/15)]
[Consume 10 souls (0/10)]
"Time limit:5 Hours "
"Failure penalty:"
[Hell prison]
Evans expression stiffened.
He gritted his teeth as he stared at the screen only he could see.
"I'm screwed..."
"I'm seriously screwed."
"Why did it have to appear today?"
"There's no way they'll let me casually leave the Delta Branch..."
"So where the heck am i supposed to find ten souls?"
A hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.
Mike tilted his head.
"Dude...are you okay?"
"You suddenly look pissing off."
Arthur also glanced at him.
His expression remained calm, but his eyes were observant.
"He's right".
"What caused that sudden change in your mood."
Evans' eyes widened.
"Crap..."
"Think of something... anything!"
A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"H-Honestly..."
"I was just thinking about how lucky you are."
"It made me a little jealous."
Mike shrugged.
"Oh, is that all?"
"I mean, who wouldn't be?"
He pointed at Arthur.
"The guy's got everything."
"If I were him, I'd be used to hearing that by now."
Arthur let out a quiet sigh.
His expression didn't change.
"If that's all..."
"I'll be leaving."
Without another word, he walked away.
Evans suddenly grabbed his stomach.
"...uh..."
"I've really got to go."
Mike immediately took a step back, looking alarmed.
"Dude , you're not the one ending me ....so don't explode in here!"
"The toilets are down the left hallway!"
"Go! Fast!"
Evans nodded repeatedly.
"Thanks!"
"I'll be back"
Without wasting another second, he hurried down the corridor.
A few moments later...
He rushed into the restroom and locked himself inside a stall.
He reached into his pocket...
....and slowly pulled out a small pocket knife.
He stared at it in silence.
"Wait..."
"There are cameras in here."
A small smile appeared on Evans' face.
"I've got a plan."
He knelt inside the stall and stretched his left hand toward the edge of the partition.
Positioning his back carefully, he made sure the cameras couldn't see what he was doing.
Then he pulled out several pieces of tissue and placed them beneath his left hand.
"This should soak up most of the blood..."
"And the cameras won't get a clear view."
Taking a deep breath, he gritted his teeth.
Stab!
A notification appeared.
"Daily Quest"
[Stab your hand 15 times (1/15)]
He stabbed again and again, and the system progressed quickly as well.
Stab!
(3/15)
(5/15)
(8/15)
(10/15)
His breathing became uneven.
Sweat rolled down his forehead.
He looked at his trembling hand and gave a bitter smile.
"... Still hurts."
"... But not enough to stop me."
With renewed determination, he tightened his grip on his knife.
Stab!
Stab!
Stab!
Stab!
Finally -
He raised the knife one last time.
"... just one more time."
Stab!
A system notification appeared.
"Daily Quests"
[Stab your hand 15 times (completed)]
[Consume 10 souls (0/10)]
Evans let out a long breath.
Blood covered his hand.
Yet, unlike before...
The wounds had already begun closing.
He flexed his fingers slightly.
"... It still hurts."
"... But not like last time."
"My Stats really have increased."
He gathered the blood -soaked tissue and flushed them down the toilet.
Then he washed his hands thoroughly before looking at himself in the mirror.
His left hand was already almost completely healed.
"One quest down..."
"... One impossible quest left."
His expression turned.
"... Now where in this building can I find dead beasts."
He stood there thinking for a long time.
Until -
A notification appeared.
"Time remaining: 2 Hours"
Evans stared at it in horror.
"I've wasted over two hours already..."
He clenched his fists.
"Think..."
"Use your head, damn it!"
"Don't tell me..."
"... today's the day I have to kill someone."
Frustrated, he slammed his forehead against the wall.
Thud!
A small cut opened before healing instantly.
Then -
An idea flashed through his mind.
His eyes widened.
"That's it."
He immediately rushed out of the restroom and found Mike.
"Mike!"
"Please take me to the Beast Cleaner's section!"
Mike blinked in still baffled.
"Huh?"
"... Sure."
"I'll take you."
Without asking any further questions, Mike led him through the Delta Branch.
A few minutes later...
They arrived at a large loading area.
A massive truck packed with dead Beast corpses slowly rolled towards a giant black gate.
Two workers with hazmat suits sat inside.
Evans hurried over and knocked on the passenger window.
The truck stopped.
The passenger stepped out, his deep voice muffled by the mask.
"Kid."
"We're busy."
"What do you need?"
Evans forced a sorrowful expression.
"Please..."
"Are you coming from James Santa street?"
The worker nodded.
"Yeah."
"So?"
Evans lowered his head.
"My relative lived there..."
"The Beasts from the Rift claimed him."
"We never found his body."
"Could I... Just check the truck?"
"... Just in case."
The worker sighed.
"We only collect Beast corpses but knock yourself out."
Evans bowed gratefully.
"Thank you."
The moment he reached the back of the truck...
A faint smile appeared.
"Sometimes..."
"...you have to play a little dirty."
"Hollowbite."
Dark energy spread from his hand.
One after another...
Souls rose from the Beast corpses.
Four ash-coloured.
Four pale white.
They shot straight into Evans' mouth.
"Daily Quest"
[Consume 10 souls (8/10)]
Evans froze.
"... Eight?"
"No..."
"No, no, no..."
"This can't be happening."
His face slowly lost all colour.
"Those were all today's Beast corpses..."
"... then I'm truly finished."
A few moments later, he quietly returned to the worker.
The man noticed his disappointed expression.
His voice softened slightly.
"Sorry, kid."
"You can't win them all."
Only one thought echoed inside his mind.
"Kill him..."
"Kill him..."
"Kill him..."
"That way you'll survive."
He immediately clenched his fist and simply nodded his head as the truck drove away.
"...No."
"... I won't."
Mike waved from a distance.
"Hey , Evans!"
But Evans didn't answer.
He slowly walked away until he was alone.
Then the system appeared again.
"Daily Quest"
[Consume 10 souls (8/10)]
"Time remaining:1 Minute"
Evans slowly closed his eyes.
"... Guess this is it."
The countdown reached zero.
The system appeared again.
"Daily Quest failed "
[Consume 10 souls (failed)]
"Time Up"
[Penalty initiating...]
Evans eyes snapped open.
He instinctively held his breath.
He was about to discover...
... what Hell prison truly meant.