The next morning, I woke up from the mattress and got dressed up. Mornings were the worst times of the day but endured the pain. I've already been here for a while, I'll leave a note for Ryan that I'll be fine by myself.
With that left in mind, I closed the door behind me and left the room.
As I'm walking through the exit of Ryan's base, let's look at our current situation. Firstly I need to use the System's power to get stronger. My current state is weak, but with the system's help, it'll help me to get stronger.
Then there's the accident back at the alleyway.
Only the strong will survive, and if you're weak, you're nothing but a nuisance. In the end, you'll be thrown away. Power is the only answer.
Though it'll take my peaceful days of living, it's worth it. Not that I ever considered a day peaceful in my entire life.
And finally… I won't show any kindness to anyone. It won't matter how much I give to someone, or how I express it. In the end, it's an unconditional and unnecessary act. I was in the blink of death back there just because I saved someone from a frightening experience. My life is all that matters from here on.
'I swear it…' In the end, I'll sooner or later become like those b*stards. I'm the kind of person who won't forget what I've gone through and never will.
"Haaa…. I can do this." My body trembled.
***
Inside a room, multiple people were sitting around a large circular table. The room could be seen as big, almost as a basketball gym. Photos were hung on the walls of famous heroes that roamed in the past.
The room was silent with all the individuals present.
Finally one of them spoke up.
"Sign… alright who did it…" There was no response. They looked around and asked again.
"I'll ask again, who did it?" This time, they asked with a demanding voice. Everyone in the room looked at each other. He kept a firm face the whole time until his eyes landed on a certain someone. "Do you have anything to say, Matthew?"
Matthew didn't respond, rather he was sweating buckets. What possible could he have done to make this individual upset?
"I-I don't know what you're talking about." Matthew looked away.
"Matthew, how many times do I have to remind you. Do not get carried away. You let One-Eye get away!"
"Come on, it wasn't my fault that he got away!"
"Matthew, you covered the whole alleyway with your fire which created smoke all everywhere! You only needed to capture him, not fight him!"
"So, just wanted me to stand there and let the special agency take care of him? That guy was way above their league in power!"
"This— sign…." They didn't bother to argue with Matthew. Right now there were important things for the whole room to discuss. "We'll talk about this later Matthew, but right now we've got important things to talk about."
He slaps his hand on the table. "It's about the Academy." The others started to whisper. The final decision would determine whether kids should start going to a special academy made by the government to learn as well as training and study their powers.
Although the academy existed before, back then it was closed down due to the corruption of war between villains and heroes, seemingly causing great destruction.
Many heroes refused because of that incident but others still considered it. With some of the heroes gathered here, the final resolution will be concluded.
One of the heroes raised their hand up
"While some of us are still missing. How would you conclude what the final resolution will be, principal Evander."
The figure who was arguing with Matthew moments ago was named Evander Koen.To be exact, he's a hero who's going to be the principal of the new academy for young teenagers to learn about their powers and how to control them. Their actions in saving civilians were outstandingly professential, though it was different for the hero Aurora.
While she was a great hero, not only was she the world's best hero to ever exist, but also the only hero who saved the most people around the world.
Soon many disasters and calamities, be it small or big, had decreased the amount of misfortune around the globe because of her aid.
Shortly, the people had given her the name, "Humanity's Champion", which means the one who saves from all sinister.
"We'll start the voting, those who wish for the children to receive an education at the academy raise their hands." said Evander. One and one started to raise their hands which were 13 in total.
"Looks like the answer is obvious. 30 heroes are present here, meaning 13 out of 12. It's decided then, I'll prepare to welcome the students. You guys go on and decide what duty's you'll each get. 12:00 A.M. is your final decision. Thank you for your time." Evander has come to a conclusion. He got up from his seat and left, leaving the heroes in awe.
The heroes continued to stay silent until one of them decided to speak up.
"Umm, I guess we should start getting set up. I'll go first." He was young, maybe in his 20s, with brown hair reaching to his shoulders and bright emerald green eyes that reflected, his face smooth as a baby's skin. "I'll teach the kids English."
One of the heroes present spoke up. "In other words, we can teach them however we like as long as it doesn't go out of the academy boundaries?"
"That is correct."
The heroes continued to chat among them while others only listened to the conversations. None of them wanted to speak.
***
A week has passed since I started taking on the Daily Quests. At first, I never expected much from the workout, however, I'm starting to change my mind. I haven't noticed it after, but now looking at myself in the mirror, I'm a bit embarrassed.
'Is this the reason why people were staring at me at the park?' The transformation of my body drastically changed. I checked my entire body in front of the full-length mirror. I even ended up flexing and doing poses.
'This is amazing… I've got muscles now.' Truth to be told, what eye-catches me the most were the muscles on my body. Not only have my weak bones been replaced with strong and hard muscles, but also giving my shoulders to widen more and grow bigger as well as increasing my body structure to grow bigger now.
For many years, I've always been the skinny boy with a child's face, but now, I seem to look more like an adult.
The muscles don't look too big nor small, only enough to grow in some places which don't seem heavy or slow. The Stat Window must've put muscles in necessary areas on my body, making me look like a famous model or athletic.
'As expected of the System's power.' No wonder the people at the park found my appearance appealing, so it wasn't anything weird to stare at someone who has a nice body.
I summoned my Stat Window.
Name: Alan Walker
Level: 1
Class: None
Title: None (0/100%)
HP: 100
MP: 10
Fatigue: 0
[Stat]
Strength: 24
Stamina: 2
Agility: 2
Endurance: 2
Intelligence: 1
Perception: 2
(Available attribute points: 0)
[Skills]
Passive Skill:
– (Unknown) Lv. Max
– Overcome Lv. 1
Active Skills:
– Dash Lv. 1
Overall, I've gained at least 21 attribute points, plus from the random box, I've gotten 6 more for it. Not bad, my strength stat now passed 20 already. The effects on my body probably must've been from investing points on Strength Stat.
'There's no way my body could've changed in a week.' It would've taken months or weeks, but the growth for just a week is remarkable.
Although Strength Stat is good for natural strength, generally, I want to have at least 1 point for each stat. Except for Intelligence Stat only has 1 point stat which I don't know what it does. The rest of the stat were obvious to know what they were.
Certainly, it doesn't mean brain power, there's no way. While it's still a mystery for me to know, I'll find out eventually.
'Isn't this too eye-catching? Would the employees at the Hero Association still recognize me?' I don't want to be the center of attention which not only would create a problem, but I can't let them know about the strange phenomenon of my appearance.
I don't want to be questioned by my transformation.
I won't be coming back to the Association at least for a while. In any case, I hope the Hero Association will let me go over this time. I mean, I was almost killed. Not that it matters to them to care for a lowly human like myself.
"Now, how do I use this?" I search through my pocket. I brought out a grayish key that gleamed in hue. Its feature was simple which would be glanced at as a normal key at first sight.
I observed the key for a while before I slid it back into my pocket.
***
The Hero Association is an organization that was created by the government which not only manages the city's heroes but also the globe's. They held the responsibility for organizing the heroes as well; they established a class system individually divided into four classes (E, D, C, B, A, and S).
"If I'm not wrong, this should be—"
Riiiing, riiiing….
I was soon interrupted by the ringing of a telephone from the living room.
'Who could it be?' Don't tell me it's the Hero Association. Are they having problems with work already? Well, it's best that I pick up quickly now. I hope I don't get fired…
I answered it.
"Hello?"
– "Finally, you finally picked up Alan. What took you so long anyway? Will you be able to come to work tomorrow?"
Ah… so it was the Hero Association after all…
I signed in regretfully.
"What do you want Kalila."
– "Now that is not a way to talk to your superiors. Y'know, I might just have to punish you~"
"Enough with your childish games, why did you call? Does the Association need any help there, overwise I'm going to hang up if that's not the case."
– "Wait! Don't hang up, fine I'll stop. Tch your no fun…
"Pardon?"
– "Nothing, anyways the reason I called you is that the President Grayson River has given you time to take a day off."
"You don't really expect me to believe that bullsh*t. Come on now— me have a day off? That's obviously a lie. I'm the only person who never had or took a day off in my life."
– "But the president gave days off back then and you refused to take his offers. A lot."
"Work is work. Money is money. I yearn to survive. Although you guys may have offered me days off. A day won't cover it for the years I've been working here since the beginning."
Kalila sighed.
– "Honestly. Well it doesn't matter, you'll be taking a break for a few weeks, maybe months. But maybe consider it. How would Ava feel, what do you think she'll say? Think about it. I'm not saying this because you're Ava's friend, but because I want to see yourself taken care of."
I know it's been years since I've worked. Though it became harder for me to learn new things. Have I ever once taken care of myself?
"...Alright. Thank you."
– "It's fine, call me whenever you're ready."
With that, the call ended there. A comfort leaked from my mouth. I headed out of my apartment and took out the grayish key again.
[Item: Dungeon Key]
Rarity: E
Type: Key
A key that transfers you into an instant dungeon. Can be used at 59 exit subway station, four blocks away.
The key was given to me from one of the random boxes as a Daily reward. At first, I presumed that the key was only for decoration but once I saw its 'rarity', this wasn't just any normal key.
But the information given wasn't just its rarity, it also revealed an 'instant dungeon'. I don't know what exactly that is, but I'm pretty sure a dungeon is where monsters are filled in.
Aside from its rarity, that was an obvious answer, but could this be a bad idea? Well, I'll just run away since I've been doing 10 kilometers every day already, so I'm confident that I'll be able to run away.
***
It seems that I've been mistaken. Not only was I too confident about this, welp this is bad.
After I headed down the subway station, the entrance behind me suddenly closed. It's as if there was an invisible wall blocking it. I pounded on the invisible wall and shouted at the people outside, though my voice couldn't reach them. They didn't hear me.
The people carried on with their own lives while I was still shouting at them. Someone was coming from the stairs of the subway station. I tried to grab his shoulder, but it merely just went past it.
Whenever there's contact with me, they simply go through me. It's as if there were two dimensions together.
While I was busy trying to find a way to get out, a message popped up.
Tti-ring.
[You are not allowed to leave this dungeon. Please defeat the boss or find a return rune stone.]
The key I had in my possession soon disappeared after I set foot inside the 59 exit subway Station. Though it was soon late when things started to come together. This instant dungeon simply doesn't want me to leave.
I groaned and looked back at what was in front was completely different than before. The station turned into somewhat cave-looking.
Although there were some thick veins and plants on the ground and walls, it doesn't change the fact that this place gives an unpleasant feeling. This whole station is completely abnormal.
Well, it's too late to turn back now.
I started walking down the stairs as I briefly looked through the surroundings. The railroads were completely covered in water and the trains looked completely abandoned. The overhead lamps were a mess-up which only flicked and the signs were torn down.
Flicker, flicker…
A few lamps flicked as I kept walking. The whole place was completely quiet as well, there wasn't anyone or anything here. Was the system wrong?
The more I kept walking, the more this place felt dangerous. Something was lurking around here. I can feel it.
It was then that a rotten odor had caught my senses. The smell was so bad that flies were buzzing around it. As I took my fifth step it was then it happened.
Swoosh!!
The window of a subway train behind shattered into pieces revealing a small and green begin jumping out. As it landed on its feet, it changed towards me with a dagger with its cunning smile.
"Sh*t!" Although it might've not been easy for a sneak attack, I at least have my senses with me. I dodged its attack, which allowed me to take a step. As I gave myself some space between us, I soon noticed the creature's identity.
Green, pointy ears, and short, there was no doubt about it. This creature was a goblin.