Death System: I awakened SSS rank System

Zakar sat beside the unconscious lady, his gaze fixed on the faint rise and fall of her chest. Behind them, the debris of the bodies of the men had long since been consumed by his dark flames, leaving nothing but bloodstains etched into the floor. He frowned at the mess, still pondering how best to cleanse it, though the thought gnawed at him more than it should.

The spot he had chosen was hidden well tucked behind the refectory, veiled in shadows. For extra measure, he had wrapped the area in his Stealth skill, smothering it like a dome of darkness. But even that had limits. He could not remain cloaked forever.

Sooner or later, Myia would start looking for him. And worse, the lady's own team would come searching probably like a pack of hounds, sniffing every corner until they found her.

His eyes drifted down to the woman again. Her face was marred with bruises, yet her beauty still radiated through the pain. A small cut on her cheek bled fresh, tracing a thin line of crimson across her pale skin.

Zakar stared too long, wondering how someone like her had stumbled into the clutches of those men.

Then the system's interface shimmered before him in a haze of purple light.

[Murderous Intent: 2%]

[Successfully controlled Murderous Intent until next twelve days.]

His heart sank like a stone.

"Damn it… Twelve days… I'll have to deal within the next twelve whole days?" he cursed under his breath, jaw tightening.

He looked back at the lady, and his chest clenched with dread. If he hadn't managed to suppress his beast form, he would have devoured her without hesitation. The thought sickened him.

And yet, another realization struck him dark and cruel. Perhaps if those men had not appeared, if they hadn't given him a reason to fight, he might never have had the focus needed to chain down his murderous hunger.

For a fleeting moment, he almost felt… grateful. Grateful to the very men he had burned and eaten.

"Thank you," he muttered bitterly.

Then his eyes widened in horror as another thought slashed through his mind.

"What if I killed them for nothing?" he whispered, his voice trembling. His palm slammed against his forehead as his body shook.

"What if I just… triggered the beast inside me to slaughter them because she was a woman? Because of something as shallow as that?"

Tears welled in his eyes, streaking silently down his face. "I murdered people for selfish reasons. How am I even sure they intended to harm her? Maybe I am just a monster… just like I was in my previous life."

But then like a knife twisting in his skull images flashed. The man fumbling with his belts, his grins sharp with intent. Zakar's fists clenched hard, veins pressing against his skin as fury burned away his doubts.

"No," he growled. "They wanted to rape her. I saw it. I know it." His jaw set like iron. "They deserved death."

His fists tightened until his knuckles cracked. "And I gave it to them."

Turning his eyes to the unconscious lady, he exhaled slowly. He had to move. Dinner would soon be served, and if anyone found them here… it would all be over.

The bloodstains still bothered him, but relief soothed his nerves. No one could easily trace them back to him. He had done what he could.

Zakar rose, lifting the woman gently onto his shoulder once again. He scanned the surroundings with narrowed eyes, his senses sharp as blades. Nothing moved. No one lurked nearby.

"Good."

"System," he whispered, "deactivate Group Stealth."

At once, the veil of darkness dissolved, peeling away from them until their bodies shimmered back into sight.

Without another glance behind, Zakar bolted forward, his body blurring into motion as his lightning speed carried them away.

---

Moments later, two shadows emerged from the darkness he had left behind. Their boots crunched softly against the ground, the air itself tightening around their presence.

"Seems like our target has good taste," a man's voice murmured, low and edged with amusement.

"Mm… and he's far more handsome than described," a woman's voice chimed, smooth and sly.

"I'll agree with that," the man replied with a snort. "But I only hope he doesn't screw himself before we get to him."

"Yah," the woman said, her tone laced with quiet laughter. "He's clueless. Absolutely clueless."

"All we can do is to help him with his mess." she muttered.

She stepped forward, stretching her arm toward the bloodstains and shattered walls. Dark energy pulsed from her palm, swelling outward like a ripple across still water.

BOOM!!!

In an instant, the entire place gleamed as though nothing had happened. The stains vanished, the walls rebuilt, the debris dissolved into nothingness. The space looked untouched, as if no one had ever been there at all.

"Good," the man muttered, his voice calm. "We should leave before anyone notices us."

"Fine by me."

And just as silently as they had arrived, they were gone vanishing into the night without a trace, leaving only the faint swirl of dust drifting in the air where they had stood.