In 2012, a young boy was called upon to greatness as he was summoned to become a savior of another distant world.
Ten years later, he was granted his wish to return to his own time and world after saving the other world from the clutches of the evil god.
The goddess who summoned him allowed him to have another reward as sending him back was too little for the hero who saved her world.
The boy asked for 10 Orders of Magnitude in gains. And the goddess easily granted it. She felt that this was a simple thing to grant to the savior of her world.
[You have received Ten Orders of Magnitude in Gains passive ability.]
"There you go. I can't let you return with your current state, I'm sorry, but I'll have to strip you off your powers and other abilities. I'm sure you understand."
"…Yes."
"That ability you received though, has to be detached from me and my influence or else, your world would be connected to mine as you live."
"What does that mean, goddess?"
"It means, you'll have to provide the energy needed for the ability to activate. I'm sure you'll find a way."
"I understand."
"Well then, goodbye, hero."
"Goodbye… goddess."
Then a snapping sound swallowed the whole scene and darkness followed.
…
The world had undergone great technological changes since he disappeared. In but a blinking of an eye, Gideon reappeared into the world he originated and loved.
He was anxious to see his family again, but also afraid they'd already forgotten him. Gideon looked around and not that much changed in terms of buildings that surrounded him in the city he appeared in.
This was his city. The city of his birth and the city that bore witness to his pains as a student. However, as he walked around the streets of the city, he found vehicles that were moving through the air, unmanned cars, and people taking to the skies, albeit, lesser in number.
"What has become of my world?" Gideon's voice couldn't be contained. He was heard by one of the busybodies that walked along the sidewalk.
"What cave did you come out from, young lad? I overheard you muttering. You still asleep or something?"
"Huh? No. I'm amazed at how much the world changed while I was away."
"While you was away? Should I be worried that I'm taking to a lunatic?"
Gideon felt insulted by this stranger's words. He asked, "What do you mean by these words, sir?"
"Well, you say, you've been away… which brings me to two possibilities, one, you're from a rehab center for the coozies, or two, you're from a rehab center for the criminals, y'know what I mean?"
Hearing his explanation, Gideon reviewed their conversation in his head and understood how the man came to that kind of conclusion.
"I see. I am from a rehab for criminals. D-Don't worry. I'm under probation." Gideon lied. However, the stranger took two steps back carefully as if ready to run.
"Well then, young lad, I'll leave you to your business." He then turned around and almost to a run, he disappeared. Before he disappeared, Gideon heard him muttering, "Whatever business that is, leave me out of it, damn criminal."
"Sigh." Gideon turned to his surroundings and continued to observe the world as he tread the familiar way home.
"Aside from the latest technological advancements, everything else seems the same."
After a few more minutes of stopping and going, Gideon arrived at the former site of his house. It was nowhere to be found.
"What the…?" Gideon was utterly devastated. He was already thinking of the worst cases.
"Did my family get driven out?"
"Did they all get killed somehow?"
"How about my neighbors?"
He then turned to the 'neighbors' only to find that the former households connected to theirs were not there as well. It was replaced by some warehouses.
At the entrance, just beyond the gates, a guard saw Gideon standing and staring at the mansion that stood on the very ground his house was previously.
"Ahem. Young lad, this is private property, I'd be best if you left on your way now." The guard wasn't unnecessarily rude. He was reminding Gideon to move away before he was forced to so.
Hearing this, Gideon's eyes lit up and he asked… "Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me whose residence this is?"
The guard heard him and raised a brow, he was somewhat confused as to why this young lad even had to ask. This household was home to a famous individual and wasn't someone that anyone of this generation wouldn't be aware of.
"Young lad, this mansion is home to the S-Class Fighter Ms. Debbie and her family. Don't you know?"
"Deb…bie?" Gideon's face was full of shock and surprise.
"Yes, Ms. Debbie, Debbie Johnsons."
Gideon's eyes turned moist the moment he heard the name Debbie, especially when the last name was also mentioned in the same breath.
The Johnsons, was exactly Gideon's family. Debbie, or Deborah, was his sister. She was merely 7 years old when he disappeared. Now, he was an S-Class fighter…?
"Wait, sir, what's an S-Class Fighter?"
"Eh?" The guard was openly confused as well. What's this young lad asking this for? Really, he doesn't know this?
"You really don't know?"
"I just got out from isolation."
"Is that so…?"
"Y-Yes." The guard looked at him suspiciously and he recoiled a bit for his lie. The guard thought he was embarrassed.
"Ahem. Okay. Well, a fighter is someone who has awakened to become a herald of a God. Although not all heralds are fighters, Fighters as a Class are those tasked by their God to become their sword.
"There are three Classes to the awakened. Fighter being one, Oracle the second, and Producer the last one. Each Class is rated from F-Class to S-Class.
"Ms. Debbie is an S-Class Fighter of the Ranger Profession. Excelling in long-range sniping. Her 'Comet Shot' skill alone allows an arrow to travel at sub-sonic speeds to impale a target and maim or kill.
"Her value in group fights stand at the peak. I admire her very much."
"I s-see!"
"Do you understand now?"
"Yes. Um, if I may, could you maybe tell anyone from the Johnsons, that Gideon is at the gates? If you do this for me right now, I won't treat you bad later."
"Young lad, it is best if you don't try this here. Many wants to solicit the help of the Johnsons but they never indulge anyone.
"If you know anyone from the family, better call them personally to avoid troubles like being stopped at the gates, wouldn't it?"
"I understand, sir. However, if you do this for me, I'll give you 5 grand, I promise." Of course, Gideon did not have money on him. He was hoping to enter his family's house, now a mansion. However, 10 years had passed and he couldn't remember the telephone or any contact information of any of his family members.
"Young lad, I really don't think you should be doing this here." The kind middle-aged guard reminder him for the second time. He was getting annoyed by this juncture. So, he sighed, and said to Gideon, "How about this, since you seem insistent, I'll let you speak to the head butler directly through the intercom. Whatever happens next, we won't blame each other. Deal?"
The middle-aged guard was somewhat sympathetic to Gideon as he was of similar age with his son.
"Really, sir? You'll do that for me?"
"Remember, you'll not blame me nor will I blame you for what happens next, okay?"
"Okay, deal."
The guard went for the intercom which had some voice receiver attached to a cable hanging from it to the wall-mounted transmitter.
Compared to the high end and highl8y scientific devices spread all over the city, this mansion still employed some mixture of analog and digital technologies, Gideon thought. What Gideon did not know was that this particular intercom was powered not by electricity but by a mysterious energy source he has yet to come across even in his travels in another world.
Bzzt! Click!
"What is it, gate 1?"
The sound of the intercom coming alive and someone speaking with authority could be heard.
"Hello? May I speak to Debbie? Tell her this is Gideon, I need to see her." Gideon said naturally. However, this tone of his was received by the butler as if someone was not speaking at all.
"Send some men to gate 1, it seems someone had entered with some skill. The guard seems to have been negligent."
Kachak!
The receiver on the other side cut off the transmission and Gideon was gloomily holding the receiver in his hand.
"Young lad, I won't blame you for what happens to me for letting you do it, but don't blame me as well if they beat you and throw you out, understand?"
"I get, sir. Thank you for at least giving me a chance." Gideon was bowing is head to the guard as he muttered, "Just how am I supposed to go home if they wouldn't let me in?"
The guard heard this and somewhat had a suspicion in his heart about Gideon's identity, however, he still had to protect his livelihood, so he asked, "Young lad, since I've done you this favor, I should also cash in on that favor now. Can you make it believable that I was punched by you so that they don't take it out on me and lose my job?"
"Ah…" Gideon was shocked. This middle-aged man was kind but he was not stupid as well. He helped Gideon out of the goodness of his heart but he was not stupid enough to lose his job over some small act of kindness.
"I understand, sir. Please grit your teeth and tighten your jaws properly. I'll be punching in 3, 2, 1…"
Pow!
Gideon's punch, although not supernaturally empowered, was still the punch of a grown young man. The guard did all the preparation but he was still knocked over by Gideon's punch. This surprised him greatly. A few seconds later, the Men sent from the mansion also arrived in time for them to see the guard being punched and knocked over by the intruder.
"Head Butler Jonas was right! Someone has intruded and needs to be thrown out before the miss returns!"
"Let's go!"
"Yes, sir!"
The few men, five of them arrived and immediately yelled at Gideon, "Halt, intruder! Do not lay a hand on the Johnsons guards or you'll receive not any light punishment!"
Hearing this, Gideon smiled wryly. He didn't beat anyone up, well, he did, but this was to protect the old man.
"Oh, man. How do I even explain this?"
Tap, tap, tap. The Men arrived and surrounded Gideon. They were intimidation him with their numbers. This was a good strategy, Gideon read.
"What the, it seems it is indeed a reckless young man. Lad, why don't you go and walk on out of here. The owner of this household isn't someone any ordinary people can offend. Let us help you by escorting you out and Let's not trouble ourselves.
"The guard won't be punished and you won't be beaten up by us. If the miss returns and sees this mess, by then, we won't be able to resolve this peacefully."
"Uh…" Gideon was lost for words. He thought that like in the other world, he would face belligerent Men sent by the owners of the house wanting to break a few of his bones to teach him a lesson.
"I'll follow this, brother's advice and leave now then. I beat up that guard cause he wouldn't let me use the intercom. Now that I have, I'll let you all be." Gideon starting retreating step by step backwards. He was on guard against possible sneak attacks, yet it seemed no one wanted to attack him.
When he heaved a sigh, was when a vehicle came from behind him silently, this was an ultra-silent vehicle that wasn't running on gasoline or diesel. It was not even electric. It was powered by something that didn't produce any Heat for the engine to make any loud sound.
Gideon was startled by this car… by the time he had noticed it, he had already been hit by the cars bumper. The safety measures of the car activated and made a full stop to avoid injury on both the person who bumped into it and the passenger.
Of course, because of this, the passenger would surely feel discomfort. And true enough, the passenger felt annoyed and came out of the car only to see the long haired Gideon who seemed to have walked in front of the car.
"What's a beggar doing in front of the gates? Someone escort him out of the way, will you? You're all here yet you can't even do your jobs properly? Shall I sack all of you?"
The moment this voice resounded, two sides had different reactions. One was the Men and the guard, and the other one was Gideon. His face revealed not the same paleness the men had, but a flush. He was excited to see this person, the girl who was barely 20, yet had the demeanor befitting a 3-year-old beauty. This was Deborah, Gideon's sister whom he had wished to see for 10 years while in another world.
Without any warning, Gideon came to Debbie's side and gave her a hug, however, before he could even close in, Debbie waved her hand to keep him at bay, pushing out with her hand to use the force of the wind summoned by that simple wave to keep Gideon from further approaching.
However, contrary to her expected outcome, Gideon, as if a well-oiled machine, used his body to softly let the wind pressure hit him and yet flow gently with it to his advantage.
Seeing this, Debbie raised a brow. "This man was definitely not just a beggar. He might even be an assassin sent to hinder my progress! I must retaliate." Without hesitation, Debbie displayed her majesty as an S-Class Fighter. She pulled back her outstretched arm and clenched it hard. With the force she put into it, breaking a boulder would have been easy for someone like her who had S-Class strength.
Her clenched fist was pulled back and from the trajectory, it would have hit Gideon with that simple pulling movement. However, as if expecting this move of her to fail in catching the opponent, she also sent her free hand to punch towards the predicted spot where Gideon would most likely dodge.
Gideon felt the force hidden inside that punch and could only smile wryly. He was an expert martial artist by every sense of the word. He could feel that Deborah was truly trying to eliminate him as if he was some sort of enemy.
Backed to a corner, Gideon's expression turned serious. He was not going to let his sister have her way and beat up her brother. S-Class or not, this kid was still his little sister to him.
Gideon was supposed to dodge, but when Deborah sent another punch from her other hand, he had no choice but to concentrate on the hand that Deborah pulled back. One, it had lesser force than the forward strike, two, he could use it as a boost to his powerless counter.
After putting his next move into account, Gideon stopped moving. He was going to receive the punch towards the back of his head. As a martial artist of his attainment, even the touch of a hair on his skin would allow him to react properly. As the skin of Deborah's fist touched the hair on Gideon's back, Gideon immediately propelled himself forward and allowed the movement to become a pull, carrying him together with the fist instead of an impact strike.
Even Deborah thought that she held the assassin too highly in her opinion if he was going to be done in with just this. However, the next instant, she regretted her negligence. When she let up, Gideon had already arrived in front of her, too close for any other move than to step back to create distance, Gideon did not let her have this chance and immediately held her shoulder, locked her hands on her back as he pulled her back with him successfully using the momentum and strength of the pull that Deborah did.
When they landed, Deborah was properly subdued, while Gideon was sitting on top of her. Her dignity and majesty totally not worth anything in front of her brother.
"Bastard, let me go! I'll kill you!" She felt helpless. All that strength in her S-Class body, and yet she couldn't muster even a tiny shred of it at this moment. The moment the guards heard her, they were shocked and did not know what to do. This situation had never happened, ever in the history of S-Classes.
"What are you useless things doing just standing there? Help me!" She yelled for her men. These Men were hired by her butler but it seems they were useless when it comes to situations such as these. They were not to blame as well. After all, this was unprecedented in history. Who would admit that someone who's not awakened could subdue an S-Class at all? No one!
"Y-yes, yes miss!" They scurried towards Gideon who was on top of Deborah. Gideon did not even put them in his mind. He was concentrating on Deborah who was trying real hard to break free. She was employing various methods she could think off to get rid of him and she failed every time and this only added to her dreadful feeling of powerlessness.
"No, no! I don't want to ever feel that same way again! I don't want to feel powerless in front of the problems that come my way! There's no way! I don't want to!" her strong emotions could be felt by Gideon as she struggled as if something like this cannot be, it cannot happen.
"Stop, right there! Release the miss!" They did not know what else to say, after all, this young lad subdued an S-Class in front of them, they were only doing this for show t keep their jobs. Who would be crazy enough to challenge someone like this?
"Shut you traps, a moment." Gideon glared at them for an instant and shut them up. Then he turned towards the struggling Deborah and he patted her head with the free hand he had. He then said, "Hey, squirt. Why are you so desperately fighting like this?"
When his serious and carefree voice entered Deborah's ears, she dared not believe it. This voice, although it matured and lost the childishness of the past, it was a voice she longed to hear and the owner, to see so desperately. It was the voice that kept her awake for 10 years each time she closed her eyes. It was the brother that she had lost on that fateful day!
"B-Brother…?" When she uttered this one word, this hopeful word, it seemed as if a dam broke in her heart and the barrier she held in place in front of her pool of emotions broke as well.
She remembered that fateful night.