Chapter 25: Chapter 25: The weight of an SSS Rank core

Lina barely made it back to her dorm before the academy lockdown fully kicked in.

The moment she stepped into the first-floor corridor of the elite dormitory sector, glowing blue runic barriers began sealing the outside windows one by one. Heavy metal shutters slid across the distant hallway entrances with deep mechanical rumbles.

The academy was panicking.

And honestly, so was she.

Lina fumbled with her room key and pushed open the heavy oak door with trembling hands. As soon as she stumbled inside, she slammed it shut behind her and leaned against it heavily, trying to breathe.

Her chest hurt, her head felt like it would explode, and everything around her sounded deafening.

She could hear footsteps from three rooms away.

The scratching of tiny insects inside the stone walls, and the low humming of the magical sentinel statues outside the dormitory.

"I-I can’t..."

Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the brass door handle.

CRUNCH.

Lina froze, then slowly looked down.

The solid brass handle had twisted apart in her grip like soft clay.

The broken metal clanged heavily on the floor.

Lina stared at her hand in horror.

"I broke it..."

Suddenly, a deep voice echoed calmly inside her head.

"Calm yourself, brat. Your frantic breathing is vibrating my eardrums."

Lina’s whole body tensed, and then the voice continued coldly.

"Sit on the bed before you accidentally collapse the entire door frame."

Silence.

Lina’s eyes widened, searching the room.

It was empty—no one near the balcony, no one hiding behind the curtains.

Yet the cold, arrogant voice had sounded perfectly clear, like some ancient king looking down on peasants.

Her breathing quickened again.

"W-Who said that?"

No answer.

Then suddenly—

WHOOOOOM!

A massive blue-and-gold holographic screen exploded open in the center of the room.

Light flooded the pink stone walls instantly.

Lina screamed and fell backward onto her soft bed.

Lines of glowing text shot across the floating screen rapidly.

[System Warning: Contractor body experiencing Mana Saturation.]

[Symbiotic Transfer Status: Complete.]

[Current Mana Capacity: 250 / 250]

[True Core Awakened: SSS-Rank — Infinite Symbiosis active.]

Lina grabbed her head.

"What is this?!"

The glowing letters reflected in her terrified eyes.

"What... what is a System?!"

Her voice cracked.

"And why can I hear a man talking in my head?!"

At the edge of the bed, Qhuin calmly hopped out of the carry-bag.

The tiny snowy rabbit landed softly on the blanket and sat near her pillow.

His fluffy white ears twitched and his ruby eyes stared directly into hers.

Then he squeaked, "Squeak."

But inside Lina’s mind, the voice translated perfectly.

"What you see is the baseline boundary of our contract."

Lina nearly fell off the bed again, and Qhuin continued grooming one paw casually.

"As for the voice, it is mine."

Qhuin licked his paw once before dragging it across his ear.

"You wanted a miracle beast, commoner. Instead, you got a Progenitor."

Lina’s lips trembled, and Qhuin’s red eyes narrowed.

"Now stop shouting and suppress your mana before you alert the entire building."

Lina clutched her chest; everything felt wrong—her body no longer responded and tears welled in her eyes.

"S-Snowy..."

Qhuin’s ear twitched violently at the name.

’Curse this rabbit body. Why does hearing my title spoken like a pet name affect my nerves?’

He forced himself to stay composed. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"You are leaking mana unconsciously," he said inside her head. "Control your breathing."

Lina stared silently.

The tiny rabbit looked harmless and cute, but every word inside her mind carried the weight of a dark ruler giving commands.

Strangely...

That calm authority was the only thing keeping her from totally panicking.

Then suddenly—

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Lina jumped so hard the bed frame cracked loudly beneath her, and outside the door, Chloe’s nervous voice echoed through the hallway.

"Lina?! Are you in there?!"

Lina immediately panicked, her foot pressing too hard against the wooden floor.

CRACK.

The polished mahogany split apart instantly.

Lina nearly started crying.

"Lina!" Chloe called again. "The whole school is freaking out! They said a rogue vampire appeared inside the ravine!"

Qhuin narrowed his eyes sharply.

Then he hopped forward and lightly bit Lina’s ear.

"Ah!"

Not enough to hurt, just enough to snap her focus back.

His cold voice entered her mind once more.

"Breathe."

Lina froze.

"Lower your vocal cords. Slow your heartbeat."

Qhuin’s ruby eyes locked onto hers.

"Act like the fragile commoner you were an hour ago."

His tone grew colder.

"If Valerius notices your changes, he will execute us both."

Lina swallowed hard, then slowly inhaled.

Finally, she forced herself off the bed.

Trying very hard not to destroy more furniture, she carefully stepped toward the broken door.

The brass handle still dangled crookedly from the wood.

"I-I’m okay, Chloe!"

Her voice sounded shaky again.

"Snowy got scared, so we’re staying inside like Professor Valerius ordered!"

A pause from outside.

Then Chloe spoke softly.

"O-Okay... just stay safe, alright? Mei said the teachers think a real vampire might be hiding near the academy..."

Lina’s grip tightened nervously.

"I will..."

After a few more seconds, Chloe’s footsteps finally faded down the hallway. Lina slowly slid down against the door afterward, exhausted and confused.

Her eyes drifted toward Qhuin.

The tiny rabbit sat calmly in the middle of the room grooming his fluffy chest fur as if he hadn’t just spoken inside her head like some ancient dark emperor.

"You’re really... talking to me..."

Qhuin ignored her.

Instead, he hopped down from the bed and walked toward the balcony window.

Moonlight spilled softly across his white fur.

Beyond the glowing runic barrier surrounding the academy grounds, the central courtyard below was bustling.

Search-orbs floated through the night sky, and guards rushed along the stone pathways.

And near the center of the courtyard—

Marcus and his upperclassman cousin stood surrounded by academy staff while Professor Valerius interrogated them coldly under the floating lights.

Qhuin’s ruby eyes narrowed slightly.

Far above them, perched silently on the roof edge—

The Storm Eagle watched everything quietly. Marcus believed it was still his loyal beast.

’Foolish noble.’

The eagle’s eyes flickered crimson briefly in the darkness.

Qhuin’s hidden thrall.

The rabbit’s nose twitched once, and outside the academy, the seals grew tighter and tighter to keep a monster out—completely unaware that the monster was already inside, sitting beside a pink balcony window, lecturing their top rookie about breathing properly.