CHAPTER 132: WHISPERS OF STRENGTH

As the sun set on the horizon, disappointed once again in humanity, it sank below the world—hoping a better version of it would rise with the next day. In its place, the moon ascended into the sky. A half-moon stood watch, offering the world space to mourn in silence.

Inside one of the dormitory rooms, silver moonlight spilled across the floor. Alex sat against the wall, eyes closed, his expression unreadable.

Suddenly, heavy panting echoed in the quiet room. With a thud, Alex collapsed sideways. His purple eyes snapped open, bloodshot, red veins spreading around the irises. His chest rose and fell in harsh rhythm. Despite the cold night, sweat drenched his body.

From the corner, Hati lifted his head. His eyes shimmered with concern, but he made no sound—only let out a soft coo before resting his head back on the ground.

Frustration bled into Alex’s voice as he muttered, "What am I doing wrong?"

He tried to focus, to think—but the pain in his head throbbed like a war drum, halting all thought. Gritting his teeth, he began channeling wood elemental energy. But before he could finish, exhaustion overtook him, and he drifted into an uneasy sleep on the floor.

In the depths of his slumber, a whisper echoed through his mind:

"Use your will."

Alex’s eyes shot open. He sat up, heart pounding, eyes wide.

"What was that?" he murmured. "Use my will?"

He exhaled, shoulders finally relaxing, and turned his gaze to the window. The first light of dawn was already spilling into the room.

Taking a deep breath, Alex crossed his legs, sat in a meditative position, and closed his eyes.

In an instant, he appeared in his mind space—a vast, endless sea surrounding a lone barren island beneath a motionless sky. In the center, his consciousness hovered like a faint, wisp-like structure.

He dove deep into the sea, descending into the clear blue depths. Everything was still. Silent. He steadied himself and began to whisper a mantra:

"Use my will... Use my will..."

Will—an invisible force, the power to endure anything, to resist, to survive. With focused intent, he tried to shape that will into a single drop.

But all that came was a gentle ripple.

Still, Alex smiled.

This was the first time he had caused even that.

Again, he repeated the mantra. Another ripple answered his call.

Over and over, he tried. Slowly, the ripples grew stronger—until at last, a tiny sphere formed before him. A droplet of water, suspended like a glass bead in the sea, completely under his control.

But the effort left a toll. Fatigue crept into his mind. He could feel the edge of that same familiar pain returning.

He pulled back, leaving the mind space.

His eyes opened.

Back in his dorm room, morning had fully arrived. Moonlight was gone. Hati was still curled in the corner, softly breathing.

Alex stood, stretched the soreness from his limbs, and walked to the washroom. After a few minutes, he returned, freshly washed—silent, but steadier than before.

Hati woke with a start at the sound of the door slamming. His ears twitched as he looked around the room. Spotting Alex stepping out of the washroom, Hati jumped down from the bed and stretched, his tail flicking lazily. He then looked at Alex, ready to follow.

Without a word, the two headed out toward the cafeteria for a much-needed early breakfast.

Meanwhile, in the girls’ tower, from one dorm room among many, a loud yawn broke the stillness.

A girl with messy golden hair slowly opened her lion-like golden eyes and sat up in bed. Rina groaned, stretched, and blinked in the soft sunlight streaming through the window. Still half-asleep, she dragged herself off the bed, clad in a white tank top and pink dolphin shorts. The morning light glinted against her toned thighs as she shuffled toward the washroom, her feet dragging with every step.

A few minutes later, she emerged—now wearing a black tank top beneath her signature maroon jacket, paired with fitted black jeans. She stood before the large mirror, running her hand through her untamed golden mane, taming it just enough. With a sigh, she turned and walked out, slamming the door shut behind her.

As she walked down the corridor, whispers trailed behind her. Groups of girls leaned into each other, snickering and glancing her way.

Rina ignored them.

She always did.

Her hand rested firmly on the hilt of her katana strapped to her side as she made her way to the cafeteria.

Upon entering, her golden eyes scanned the room. They settled on a familiar pair—the boy and the wolf seated together.

A small smile tugged at her lips.

She moved to the counter, collected her tray of food, and headed to the far corner.

Too caught up in her own rhythm, she failed to notice the strange tension in the cafeteria—the weight in the air, the sideways stares, the lingering hush between conversations.

She sat across from Alex and greeted him with a quiet, "Good morning."

Alex lifted his gaze briefly, nodded, and returned to eating.

Rina didn’t mind. She picked up her utensils and began eating too, silently enjoying the calm.

Then...

A whisper cut through the background noise. Then another. Then a phrase she recognized.

Her hand froze mid-air.

Her stomach twisted.

Clank.

Her fork dropped onto the tray.

Yesterday’s memory surged back.

Her fork clattered to the floor, the sharp sound echoing like a gunshot through the cafeteria—now cloaked in a tense, suffocating silence.

"Did you hear?" a student whispered. "They’ve declared Romania City an S-Rank Danger Zone."

"What? No way..." another voice murmured, eyes wide.

"It’s true," someone else confirmed. "Vice Principal Jasper himself made the announcement. White Phoenix is on high alert."

Then a student suddenly stood, fists clenched and voice cracking with disbelief.

"WHAT?! They can’t be serious, right?! They’re not doing anything? Those fucking monsters ate the people in Romania City like a feast—and they’re not going to do anything?!"

A student nearby grabbed his sleeve, trying to pull him down. "Sit down! Don’t scream!"

But the words had already landed. They echoed in the air—raw, trembling—with the fear and frustration everyone felt but no one dared voice.

Why weren’t they fighting back?

Were they afraid?

Or did human life simply not hold much value to those in power?

So many questions...

But only one answer loomed over them all:

Strength.

Nothing else mattered.