Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

'Where in the hell did a weapon like that come from? Could he have been hiding it all along? No… there's no way he could keep something that massive hidden without me noticing.' Sensei Josh's thoughts raced, his intense gaze locked onto Silas, who approached him steadily, gripping a massive scythe in his right hand. The weapon's dark steel gleamed ominously, its deadly arc exuding an aura of dread that sent a chill up Josh's spine.

"The system gave me a compulsory quest...and that quest is to kill you. Not that I need the system to tell me to rid the world of filth like you, Josh." Silas's words dripped with venom as he launched himself forward at a speed that was almost invisible to the naked eye.

[Active skill: Lightning Dash has been activated]

In a flash, Silas vanished, his activated skill leaving Josh momentarily paralyzed, as if frozen in time. Silas reappeared inches from him, a blur of motion with his scythe raised high, his grip tightening as he swung it down with lethal intent toward Josh's neck. The blade carved through the air at breakneck speed, cutting through the silence like a thunderclap.

**SLASH!**

Blood sprayed in every direction, a crimson shower that painted the sand as Sensei Josh's head was violently severed from his neck. The head spun through the air, landing with a hollow thud, while his body remained upright for a single, eerie second before collapsing in a heap on the ground. Blood gushed out, pooling beneath the headless corpse as Silas stood over it, his face an impassive mask.

"I expected more of a fight. In the end, you were just a weakling," Silas murmured coldly, his piercing gaze fixed on the lifeless body of his fallen opponent.

"Impressive, kid."

The voice from behind shattered the silence, and Silas whipped around, his eyes widening in disbelief. There, a few meters away, stood Sensei Josh, perfectly intact, wielding a katana blade that gleamed with menace.

"What the...?" Silas muttered, his expression a mixture of shock and confusion as he tried to process the sight before him.

"The speed you demonstrated... I guess I was right about you acquiring the power of the Apex Mutant," Sensei Josh's voice was steady, carrying a hint of grim satisfaction.

"How are you even alive? I just killed you!" Silas exclaimed, frustration lacing his voice.

"No, you didn't," Sensei Josh replied with a sly smirk. "Look behind you and see for yourself."

Silas stared at him, his gaze intense, before slowly shifting his eyes back to where the body should have been. The headless corpse was gone, as though it had never been there at all. Even the blood and traces of violence had vanished from the sand, leaving only an unmarked surface.

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"Do you know why people hide their abilities, Silas?" Sensei Josh's voice broke the silence, the question laden with a dark irony. "It's so their enemies stay unaware, allowing them to strike when least expected. Catching them off guard, rendering them helpless."

The nature of Sensei Josh's powers had long been shrouded in mystery, with only a select few in the academy—the Sirs and a handful of trusted staff—privy to it. Among the students, rumors abounded. Some whispered that he wielded the power of wind, others believed he commanded fire, while still others guessed telekinesis. But all of them were wrong. Josh did not fall within the elemental ability users; his power was something far rarer and infinitely more dangerous.

"You didn't really think I'd go down that easily, did you?" Sensei Josh's voice dripped with derision, his expression smug as he watched Silas struggle to piece together his power's nature.

"I had a feeling you were the one who obtained the artifact, which meant you likely gained its powers... so I came prepared." Josh's smirk deepened as he rolled his katana in his hand before gripping its hilt tightly. "You want me dead, don't you, Silas? Then come and make it happen!" His taunt cut through the tense air, daring Silas to attack again.

Silas's face twisted with dark resolve as he charged forward, his speed amplified by the lingering effects of Lightning Dash. Sensei Josh stood his ground, assuming a defensive stance, his blade poised and ready.

Within striking range, Silas swung his scythe horizontally, the blade whistling through the air with deadly precision, closing in on Josh in a heartbeat. Josh lifted his katana at the last possible moment.

**CLANG!**

The resounding clash echoed across the sands as Josh blocked the attack, his katana straining against the force of Silas's blow. But Silas didn't relent, launching another vicious strike before Josh had a chance to fully recover.

**CLANG!**

Again, Sensei Josh managed to parry, though the sheer power of the impact forced him back several paces. Before he could regain his footing, Silas activated Lightning Dash again, appearing directly behind him in a flash.

Silas swung his scythe once more, this time aiming to bisect Josh. The blade found its mark, slicing cleanly through his body.

Blood erupted from the wound as Sensei Josh's body was cleaved in two, his insides spilling out onto the ground. But as his body hit the sand, it instantly disintegrated into dust, leaving no trace of his defeat.

Silas's eyes widened, his face a mask of horror and confusion. Before he could react, a sharp, searing pain tore through his back as a blade pierced through him from behind.

Gritting his teeth, Silas leaped several meters forward, spinning around to face his attacker. Sensei Josh stood there, his katana glistening with fresh blood, his face twisted in a mocking grin.

"I warned you, Silas. You'll have to try a lot harder than that," Josh taunted, his voice mocking. "I brought you here to die, to pay for killing my son, and that's exactly what I'm going to ensure." His words were a chilling promise, heavy with a hatred that ran deep.

'What's happening here? I'm killing him, yet he's not staying dead!' Silas thought, his mind reeling as he felt the wound on his back begin to close, healing faster than he'd anticipated.

As the injury knitted itself closed, Silas activated Lightning Dash once again, the burst of speed propelling him forward like a lightning bolt. He appeared in front of Josh, whose body seemed momentarily immobilized, and with a swift, clean stroke, he decapitated him once more. Yet, just as before, Josh's head and body vanished the instant they hit the sand.

'ARRGH!' Silas's agonized scream echoed as a blade struck from behind, piercing through his back and emerging from his chest. Blood poured freely as he dropped to his knees, gasping, while the pain radiated through him.

'Damn it… just what kind of ability does this bastard have?!' Silas screamed internally, writhing as Sensei Josh twisted the blade with a slow, sadistic pleasure.

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A/N: Creation is hard! Vote for me! (⁠人⁠ ⁠•͈⁠ᴗ⁠•͈⁠)