Leonidas straightened up, his posture as he began to explain. “An Epithet…” He said slowly, savoring the word as though it held some kind of special significance. “It’s something even better than a Trait. Not everyone gets one. Some, like me are lucky, some aren’t. But if you have one, you’re in a whole different league.”

  Akira felt his impatience creeping in. Leonidas’s explanation offered too little actual information. “So what is it, exactly?” Akira’s words were sharper now, a little more irritated. He didn’t have time for these vague answers, not when his future chances at survival were at stake.

  Leonidas chuckled again, clearly enjoying the fact that he was starting to crack Akira’s mask.

  Finally, he relented, his voice lowering to a more serious tone. “Well.” He began. “An Epithet is like a title. It grants you Traits related to it, it’s also unique to each person who has one. It’s not just any power, though. It’s something that sets you apart from others.”

  As if to prove his point, Leonidas raised his hand, and with a subtle motion, glowing runes began to materialize around his fingers, lines of shimmering symbols that appeared and vanished in the air with a soft hum. Akira’s eyes widened slightly as the runes flickered in the air, the same kind of symbols he had seen when his own Trait manifested. The patterns seemed to ripple with energy, and Akira could sense a subtle weight to them, as if they weren’t just for show but held real, tangible power.

  “See for yourself.” He said with a sly grin, his hand still outstretched, the runes dancing in the air like living things, each one a testament to the strength he claimed to possess.

  Epithet: [One Man Army]

  Epithet Description: Forged in the crucible of relentless conflict, this epithet is bestowed only upon the bravest and most worthy. A warrior sculpted by the gods themselves, the owner of One Man Army title stands as a singular, unstoppable force, embodying unmatched strength and valor on the battlefield.

  Epithet Trait: [Warrior’s Resolve], [Lion’s Mane]

  Trait: [Warrior’s Resolve]

  Trait Type: Passive

  Trait Description: Embodying the unyielding will of a true warrior, always pushing forward with an indomitable spirit that refuses to surrender, regardless of the odds. Even in the direst situations where all hope seems lost, the bearer remains steadfast and resolute, driven by a fierce determination.

  Trait: [Lion’s Mane]

  Trait Type: Active

  Trait Description: Exuding a shimmering, translucent aura resembling a lion’s mane as it envelops the user in a protective shield. The barrier deflects both physical attacks and supernatural ones as well, fortifying the user's defense and enhancing their resilience in combat.

  Akira’s eyes narrowed as he studied the runes. Forged in relentless conflict?

  “Pretty cool, huh?” He said, lowering his hand and letting the runes dissipate into nothingness. “Now, how about showing me yours?”

  For a split second, Akira’s gaze hardened, almost a predatory glare as if deciding whether to kill Leonidas then and there, but it was quickly changed for a soft gaze someone weak would have. “It's called [Hawk Eyes], nothing impressive.”

  “Hawk Eyes, huh?” Leonidas repeated thoughtfully, as if trying to assess the significance of the name. “Sounds useful. You’ll be able to spot danger from miles away, right?”

  The boy nodded, simply going along with it. Relieved that the man did not make him show it like he did.

  “Well, tomorrow we’re gonna finally learn something about this place and what the hell this Heart Core and stuff is, so let’s get some sleep.” Leonidas lay in the bed next to Akira and closed his eyes. “Oh, and call me Leo from now on, it’s weird for friends to not call each other by their names, Akira.”

  Akira stared at the now quickly sleeping young man. Why approach me? I don’t look strong enough to help in a survival situation, I made sure to look as pathetic and useless as possible, so why decide to team up?

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Leaning back against the rough wooden frame of his bunk, Akira’s mind a tangle of confusion and irritation as he stared at the back of the empty bunk over him. The barracks had grown quieter now, the hum of conversation reduced to hushed whispers and the occasional creak of the old bed frames. Most of the occupants had settled in, golden light shifting through the small windows signaling the sun was already setting.

  With a sigh of defeat, Akira decided it was time for him to rest as well, so he closed his eyes and tried to empty his mind.

  …

  Something felt off. Akira’s eyes fluttered open, the world around him shrouded in darkness. The faintest sliver of moonlight filtered through the high window, casting eerie shadows across the room. His heart quickened as a cold unease settled in his chest. The stillness seemed wrong, too quiet, too watchful.

  Then he saw him.

  Oliver.

  The figure stood next to Akira’s bed, so still that for a moment, Akira thought he might have imagined it. But no. The man's eyes, glowing faintly with a predatory light, pierced through the dark, fixing on him with an unsettling calmness.

  His features were barely visible in the gloom, but those eyes, those deep blue eyes... They seemed to radiate a strange energy, and Akira’s pulse spiked in his throat.

  Before he could move, before his instincts could scream danger, Oliver was upon him.

  The man’s hands shot out with inhuman speed, his short and wavy, navy colored hair following. His left hand pressed firmly over Akira’s mouth, silencing any attempt at a scream. The coolness of his skin was like ice, an unnatural chill that seeped through Akira’s lips and down his spine. His breath caught in his throat.

  The other hand clamped down around Akira’s throat. The pressure was just enough to pin him to the bed, to hold him there, but not yet tight enough to suffocate. Akira’s pulse hammered under the man's grip, the sensation of helplessness rising in his chest.

  Oliver’s voice was soft but carried an ominous weight, as though every word had been carefully chosen. "I’m not here to hurt you, Akira." He began, his tone unsettling in its calmness. "But I’ve come to give you a warning."

  Akira’s body tensed, but he didn’t flinch. His gaze remained fixed, unwavering, though his heart beat just a little faster. There was something about the man’s presence, something in the steady cadence of his words that gnawed at the edges of his mind. His eyes, sharp and watchful, never left Akira’s face.

  "I know those eyes better than anyone." Oliver continued, his voice growing colder. "Those are the eyes of someone who has killed before. And I don’t mean only monsters or some white deer."

  Not feeling the need to explain himself or offer any denial, Akira simply sat silent. There was no use in lying, there was no point in denying the truth.

  In the blink of an eye, the memory surfaced, Ekhis's twisted face, eyes wide in terror as Akira ended his life. The image sliced through his mind like a jagged shard of glass, raw and painful. You… monster. The words echoed in his thoughts, haunting him. But before he could grasp at the memory, it slipped away, fading as quickly as it had come.

  "I won’t ask you about why you lied about your Trait or your condition to pass. But I’ll tell you something, Akira. I’m here to protect the people of Verdant Haven, that includes you and the new Hatchlings. So don’t do anything stupid, or I’ll have to take drastic measures."

  There was a pause. A pregnant silence. The air between them felt thick with unspoken threats.

  "This is the only warning you get." The man’s words hung in the air like the weight of a falling guillotine before he left the room.

  Strangely, fear didn’t settle in Akira's chest. Instead, an unsettling calmness spread through him, and before he could stop himself, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

  It wasn’t a smile of joy, not in the slightest, it was something darker, something almost twisted by the recognition he felt in the moment. He quickly pressed his hand to his mouth, desperate to hide the expression that had formed against his will.

  His heart pounded, but his mind buzzed with something different, something sharper. Oliver, you bastard. He thought as a bitter chuckle left his mouth. You’ve got the same eyes as me.

  The lingering sensation of the man’s cold touch clung to Akira’s throat, a silent threat that seemed to tighten with every passing second. It was as if the icy grip of the dark haired man’s hand had left an imprint on his skin, a reminder of the encounter. Akira could still feel the phantom pressure, the silent warning that hovered in the air.

  Which is more dangerous.

  A wolf wearing the wool of a sheep. Or a monster who wears the guise of a shepherd?

  Akira’s gaze shifted to Leonidas, or Leo, his new so-called ‘friend’. The boy lay there, completely unaware, his breathing steady and calm as he slept soundly, his body sprawled out over the straw mattress.

  With a quiet sigh, Akira forced his eyes to close, his thoughts still racing, but a sense of weariness settling in.

  Tomorrow was a new day, and it would bring its own trials, one way or another. There was no escaping it, all he could do was hope that he would be able to learn a bit more about what this whole thing was.