[Ding!]
[The host is detected to be unawakened. Initializing temporary first awakening...]
[You have successfully awakened (first awakening - temporary)]
[You have now entered the S-grade portal. Estimating the number of challengers...]
[A total of 1,000 challengers have been estimated]
[Retrieving the S-grade mission...]
[Mission:
Option 1: Kill the survivors of the destroyed Planet Dem
Option 2: Survive for 30 days]
[Number of survivors: 4
Number of challengers: 1,000]
[The system wishes you luck in your mission!]
To date, only two methods were unveiled in awakening one's power. The first method is being caught in near-death situation and second is through awakening stone. Still, only a million out of 2 billion of Earth's population had awakened. After all, not everyone could awaken even after being delivered near the death's door while awakening stone is inherently scarce.
With that, normal civilians almost had no chance of awakening in their lifetime.
Upon seeing the notifications assaulting their head, they couldnt help but drop their jaws in thrill.
"This... Did I really just awaken?! Am I now a hero?!"
"I am now a hero!"
"Yay! Bombastic Hero is now being reborn!"
Several people throw their arms in the air, amazed by their awakenings. Temporary it may, the thought of exploring their power made them jump with joy.
"Can I be like Golden Hero now?...", muttered Alab, his eyes dazzling with stars as he envisioned fighting monsters alongside the Golden Hero.
But he also knew that that was still a far long dream since the Golden Hero was already in his third awakening. Alab had to catch up if he wanted to join battle with him.
Awakening has a total of three levels discovered so far. In each level, one could awaken three talents. Golden Hero, as one of the few A-grade heroes in the world, had entered its peak and was reckoned to enter his 4th awakening in matter of five more years.
Golden Hero also possessed 5 A-grade talent which was rare even for A-grade heroes.
With that thought, Alab felt a strong pressure pressing against him as he pondered if he had an A-grade talent, only then would he had a chance to stand at the same ground as Golden Hero.
He was about to check his status window when a wild havoc occured ahead of him.
A man kissed the ground as an enlarged feet of a man shoved his body to the ground. Blood oozed out of his mouth as the feet relentlessly pressed him.
The surrounding people didnt extend any helping hand. They just gawked as the man was closing to his death. Confused, Alab couldnt help but stepped forward.
"You... Please stop that.", uttered Alab as the man glared at his direction.
Looking at the bloodshot eyes of the 50-ish old man before him, Alab felt that he was a bad news. His enlarged feet raised in the air as it seemed to draw more force. Once satisfied, the man delivered his feet downward with brute force, right at the head of the man on the ground. His head smashed into pieces...
*gulp
*pukee
Bewildered by this scene, Alab puked whatever amount of undigested food left in his body. Witnessing one's death first-hand remained too much to handle, much more for this 14-year-old boy.
Unfazed by his commited murder, the man withdraw the enlargement of his feet coated with blood and minced meat, his body moving towards Alab.
"Did you just dare command me?", muttered the man as he used his talent. His arm grew bulkier each second until it became ten times its original size. Veins bulged out his arms, exuding a deathly aura.
Alab remained on his feet as he vomited. It was too late for him to notice the enormous hand hurling towards his small build. As his body made contact with the fist larger than his head, his body came flying dozens of meters away, meeting the barren ground as he landed.
Watching the madman punched the helpless boy, the 30-40 people gulped.
Just a minute ago, they were rejoicing at finally becoming a hero, saving lives of many. And now, in faced of larger power, they couldnt help but tucked their tails.
After all, the madman proudly declared his A-grade talent just seconds ago, and that same deceased man with crushed head, dared to doubt him, spelling his end.
"Anyone dare to talk back, command, or even oppose me, will suffer the same fate as these two!", the madman uttered, his bloodshot eyes scanning the "puppies" around him.
It was clear that no other people awakened an A-grade talent among the crowd. No one dared to oppose him anymore.
By his command, the 30-40 people rummaged through the scattered materials around them, searching for food or other useful things. The madman sat at his chair made of kneeling humans, satisfied with his newly-attained pets.
----
An hour later, Alab felt vitality rushing his veins. It ran to his muscles, organs, to his heart as it healed his deformed body.
It took him no time before he reclaimed his energy, discreetly opening his eyes.
The same azure moon in the sky, lighting the dreary night dimly, greeted him. Breathing raggedly, Alab recalled that a large force hit him before he lost conciousness. He was certain that he met his end that time...
Confused as to what pulled him out of his deathbed, Alab tilted his head. A familiar face of a man greeted his sight.
The man knelt on the ground, his hand extended forward as energy seeped out of his body, rushing towards Alab's. Alab deduced that it was that energy that healed him.
Sweats dripped on the man's head, his hair darker than coal wrapped his drenched forehead. His wide mouth drew the close air as his small chest contract and expand from his deep breath.
Double chin clinged to his jaw as his thick eyebrows right above his azure eyes met Alab's, knitting as he seemed annoyed.
"If you are healed now, just say a word.", the manly hoarse voice of the man resounded. Annoyance clear in his tone.
Hearing him, Alab opened his mouth.
"I think Im good now...", muttered he as he started to drag his upper body upwards, sitting on the blood-drenched ground.
He couldnt help but look at the man beside him, rummaging through his memories in attempt to recall where he saw this man.
And in that note, his pitiful state of stumbling in front of the "Lion's Brain Hero" entered his head. The similar man who caused it was now before him.
"You...", Alab was about to run out, recalling the police who was clearly in chase of this man. Apparently, he was a criminal.
Still, Alab had to consider the most important thing first.
"You... Thank you for saving me.", muttered Alab, his eyes sincerely meet the man's.
'If I remember corretcly, his name is... Nathan Fury. He doesnt seem a bad guy', pondered Alab.
*tsk
"Thank you? I dont need that, I saved your pitiful ass, and now you have to work for me", muttered Nathan as he stood up, shattering the thought of Alab.
"Shit... So you are a bad guy after all!", screamed Alab as similarly, he stood up.
"When did I say that Im a good guy?"
"Ahmmm... Thatt.. Nothing", Alab avoided Nathan's gaze as he scanned their surroundings. The people with them earlier were nowhere to be seen.
"They have already left... after taking everything here", muttered Nathan, fury clear in his hoarse voice.
"So you are one of that madman's puppies, huh?", mocked Alab as he recalled that Nathan was here earlier too. He either hide in fear or remained a bystander like the others.
At this remarks, Nathan furiously gazed at Alab.
"I am not his puppy! It was just you who is reckless and idiot for taking him on", muttered Nathan.
"He has an A-grade talent, why didnt you use your skill?!", he added Nathan as he closed in to Alab, his azure eyes piercing the latter.
These words made Alab confused.
He remembered never checking his skill and much more, he recalled never telling it to anyone.
'How?...'
Just as he was about to utter a word, an abrupt notification of the system answered all the current queries in his head.
[A nearby awakened has been detected... Scanning for talents]
[Ding!]
[The following talents have been detected:
Eye of the Truth (S) (Active)
- You can peak at the living and non-living's information.
Mana cost: 50
Cooldown: None
Hand of the God (A)
- The ability to heal bleeding till A-grade illness have been bestowed upon you.
Mana Cost: 40
Cooldown: 2 hours
[Do you wish to switch skill with the nearby awakened?]
[Yes/No]
Seeing this notifications, Alab couldnt help but widen his mouth in shock.
"Can you see it now?, huh, HERO SWITH SKILLS.", mocked Nathan, a grin flashed in his face.