Dimensional Overseer: I Can Manipulate DNA!

With the triangle diagram still lingering in their minds, the real bulk of the lesson began. Miss Sel wasted no time diving deep into the details of monster biology—covering every conceivable aspect. She spoke of the various species they might encounter on missions: their anatomical structures, behavioral instincts, diets, habitats, life spans, reproduction patterns, and countless other nuances.

Before long, the chalkboard was a sprawling collage of illustrations, diagrams, and scribbled terminology. Her explanations became increasingly complex, to the point that a normal human might have shut down from sheer cognitive overload.

But none of the students here were normal humans.

Each candidate present had undergone significant evolution—mentally and physically. Their enhanced memory and mental endurance allowed them to absorb information that would break others. Not one person seemed overwhelmed; in fact, they were all fully engaged, eyes locked on Sel or their notes, hands scribbling furiously.

To Zane's surprise, he found himself genuinely intrigued.

The way these creatures functioned fascinated him, particularly their behavior. As he browsed through the document Miss Sel had shared earlier, one entry caught his eye—a spider-like species he instantly recognized.

"Hmm… That's the one from the train…"

He leaned in slightly, reading the entry with narrowed eyes.

"Cluster Spider… commonly found in unstable realms. Lifecycle: highly parasitic. Reproduction involves implanting fertilized eggs into the partner's abdominal cavity. Upon hatching, young spiders burst out of the host's ocular tissue, destroying all visual organs in the process."

Zane blinked, his lip curling slightly.

"That's… grotesque. And they do this naturally?"

He could hardly believe it. Even among monsters, that was a horrifying way to reproduce.

"Brutal. Their existence is chaos… Even among themselves, there's no structure or mercy. Just instinct and survival."

Yet somehow, these grotesque creatures endured. They flourished. Not through brute force alone—but through adaptability.

Despite their savagery, these monsters evolved rapidly, adapting to new worlds and hostile climates with terrifying efficiency. It was the reason they were so widespread across the dimensions.

"They're not just predators. They're survivors. Ruthless, intelligent, and constantly evolving."

Zane rubbed his chin in thought. "That's probably the most dangerous part. Not their claws or teeth—but their ability to change."

He glanced up at Miss Sel, still writing on the board, and allowed his mind to wander again. His thoughts spiraled to the vastness of the universe, to the infinite gates opening and closing at random, and the countless monsters pouring through them. Beings born in realms incomprehensibly far from their own, somehow finding their way to his doorstep.

"To think… someone could die from a creature spawned in a realm they'll never even hear of. That's the absurd cruelty of it all."

Zane exhaled a breathless laugh, the weight of it sinking in.

"Fate is a cruel joke."

Three hours passed like a single breath.

When the bell finally rang, it echoed through the halls of the facility like the sound of freedom. Miss Sel lowered her chalk, brushing the dust from her hands.

"That will be all for today," she announced curtly. "Make sure to revise everything we've covered. Next lesson, we will explore the role of Energy—how it affects creatures across realms and how each realm's density alters their biology."

With that, she walked out, leaving the room in contemplative silence.

Zane leaned back in his seat, staring at the ceiling.

"That was a lot of information… but incredibly useful."

"Hey, Dia."

"Yes, Zane?"

"I want you to summarize the document into bullet points. Just the key things I'll need to remember."

"Understood."

The AI fell silent, presumably compiling the summary. Zane was about to relax when a quiet voice interrupted him.

"Um… Zane?"

He turned his head slightly and found Elizabeth standing beside him, looking a little nervous.

"How was the first lesson?" she asked, fiddling with the hem of her sleeve.

"Not bad," he replied casually. "Though memorizing everything will take some time."

She sighed as she sat down next to him. "Mmm… I'm not sure I can remember all of this. I've never been great at studying…"

'A mind-reader with a bad memory… That's ironic.' Zane gave her a side glance but kept his thoughts to himself.

"Don't worry," he said instead. "Your device can help you with that. It can summarize the lesson for you just like I asked Dia to do for me."

"Oh? That's really helpful!" she said, letting out a relieved laugh. "I'll definitely be using that feature a lot…"

Zane said nothing, but silently observed her. The way she sat beside him, hesitant yet seeking connection… it was obvious she hadn't made any new friends yet. Her shy nature made it difficult—and in that, they were more alike than either of them might've realized.

Around them, the Lower Earth batch was already forming groups. Small cliques and alliances were sprouting—stronger candidates naturally gravitating toward each other. But the one who attracted the most attention by far… was Lune.

Zane's gaze shifted toward her.

She sat at her desk, calm and unmoving, while nearly ten students surrounded her—talking excitedly, trying to include her in their conversations, practically begging for her attention.

It was obvious what they wanted: proximity. Power through association. To stand in the shadow of a prodigy.

She had it all—an extraordinary talent, mesmerizing beauty, and an aura of command that set her apart. Being close to her was a fast track to status, survival, and success.

"Greedy cowards," Zane thought, eyes narrowing. "And she knows it too."

Her cold demeanor and blank expression made it clear she didn't care for their presence. She wasn't fooled. But oddly enough… she hadn't sent them away either.

"Is she playing a role? Trying to maintain a certain image?" he wondered. "She didn't strike me as the type to tolerate this nonsense…"

Zane's thoughts spiraled until Elizabeth nudged him gently.

"Zane?"

He blinked and turned to her.

"Hm? What is it?"

"You were staring at Miss Lune…"

He looked back at the cluster forming around the girl and shrugged. "Just… noticed she's popular already."

"Of course she is," Elizabeth said softly. "She's amazing… So cool, so composed… She shines so brightly. Brighter than anyone else…"

Zane gave her a subtle glance. She spoke with awe—but also with quiet longing.

"She might shine now," he thought grimly. "But the brighter the star, the more weight it carries. Lune's not just carrying expectations—she's carrying the hopes of an entire world. There's no room for error at her level. One mistake… and it all falls apart."

That kind of pressure… wasn't a blessing. It was a curse.

"Anyway," he said, changing the topic. "What's our next class?"

Elizabeth perked up. "Oh! It's Survival Class! We'll learn how to survive in dangerous territory when stranded—how to keep ourselves alive as long as possible."

"Another vital skill," Zane mused. "So far, they're giving us everything we'll need. Comprehensive education. A powerful AI. This isn't generosity. They're preparing us for something serious."

And Zane wasn't sure if that was a good thing… or a warning.

The bell rang again.

Their next teacher entered the room—and his presence was a stark contrast to Miss Sel's.

A young man with a wide grin and bright eyes, practically glowing with enthusiasm.

"Good morning, everyone!" he beamed, clapping his hands together. "I'm your Survival instructor, Kiran! It's great to meet you all!"

Zane blinked. "The energy difference is insane…"

"I hope we'll have a lot of fun over the next four weeks," Kiran continued. "Survival might sound grim, but it's an essential part of your training. You'll learn how to make fires, build shelters, find food, and stay hidden—regardless of climate or conditions. We'll also cover first-aid and emergency medical techniques. My goal is to keep you alive and healthy out there."

Before he could continue, someone raised a hand.

"Yes?" Kiran asked.

"If we don't have any water… are we supposed to drink our own urine?"

The class erupted.

"Eww!! I'd rather die!"

"Bro, what?!"

"Ugh, you're a freak!"

Kiran laughed along, shaking his head. "No, no, that's not a good idea. I'll teach you how to actually find water sources. Don't worry—you won't have to resort to that."

He stepped forward, his grin still wide.

"Now then. Who here has gone camping before?"

A few students raised their hands timidly.

"Good. Experience helps. However—"

Suddenly, his voice dropped a few degrees.

The cheer vanished, replaced by a sharp, haunting edge. The shift in the atmosphere in the room was instant and the smiles and laughter vanished along with it. Even Zane could only push himself off the chair.

'Hm... What is going on here?' He asked himself. 'This guy's entire vibe changed in a split second.'

"I want you to forget everything you learned on those trips."

The sudden shift sent chills through the room. All eyes widened.

Kiran's tone was no longer playful. It was deadly serious.

"Out there… it's not a forest picnic. It's a war zone. And nature doesn't care about your textbooks."