[Preliminary analysis detects no life force. Conclusion… Targets are dead]
[1 Soul essence absorbed]
[The soul essence of the other targets cannot be absorbed as host didn't kill them directly… A waste indeed]
[Berserk Mode canceled]
[Gladiator title unequipped]
Felix didn't bother with the notifications appearing from the corner of his eyes as he stared blankly at the collapsed building.
Taking a deep breath, he pulled out his sword from the redhead's forehead, returning it to [Weapon's Vault] before crouching down.
Moving the body, he accidentally made contact with the plasma gun the redhead held.
[New weapon design discovered]
[Starting Analysis]
[Analysis complete]
[New weapon design added to Weapon's Vault: Multi-shot Pulse Gun]
As the notifications filled his vision, Felix reached out and picked up a chest covered in blood.
"Is this why you did it?" He asked softly as he brought the chest to eye level, clearing away the notification with a thought.
He was quite familiar with it, after all, it was a family heirloom.
His father took pride in the fact that they were descended from a long line of sword cultivators, always saying that a day would come when a worthy soul would receive the contents of the chest.
Unfortunately, his father wasn't the chosen one as he was labeled a terrorist and died a dog's death.
It was pathetic.
He chuckled self-deprecatingly as he sat on the ground.
"Just what was so important about this that you had to risk your life, Mom?"
Unfortunately, he'd never be able to get the answer to that question.
As he kept silent, looking blankly at the chest, winds began to pick up causing his hair to flutter.
Suddenly, there was a flash of lightning followed by roaring thunder.
Felix glanced at the sky which was slowly getting covered with dark clouds. "… Let it rain."
A few minutes later and rain began to fall.
***
(Next day)
At the outskirts of District 13, Felix sat at his mother's makeshift grave with the chest beside him, contemplating life and its meaning.
All this while he still held out hope that his mother would be waiting but now, after saying he was alone for so long… he truly felt what it meant to be alone in the world.
No family, no friends… only a desire for revenge.
Nathan walked up to him with two food packets. "Here you go."
Felix didn't respond, merely giving him a sidelong glance before returning to his initial posture.
Nathan didn't force him as he dropped the packet beside him and sat alongside Felix.
Opening the packet, a slightly stale bread with mutated meat and some kind of sauce was mixed in a weird sandwich style.
Like that, one man continued contemplation while the other stuffed himself, each to their own.
"You know, I never experienced it." Nathan broke the ice after almost an hour of silence.
Felix glanced at him but remained silent.
"I was taken from a young age and Awakened after two years in the project. Sure things were slightly bad before I was taking, but… I never had it as bad as you."
"What's your point?"
"… I can't claim to understand what you are going through. I don't know what I'd do if I lost everything right now… I'd probably lose it."
"I see." Felix looked away.
"You are strong, Felix. To remain resolute even now… I can never measure up."
No response came from Felix but Nathan knew he was listening so he continued regardless.
"But that's only mentally. If you want to change this world… then become stronger, that's all I can say. Strong enough to make the world a better place."
"You are mistaken, Nate." Felix suddenly said.
Nathan pursed his lips. "How?"
"I don't want to make the world a better place. That's a pipe dream that won't happen no matter what I do."
"Then what do you want?"
Felix looked toward the sky, at a particular floating city in the distance. "Even if it's with my dying breath… I want to make them feel what I'm feeling now. I know they are strong… I'm too weak to consider destroying the Demirs completely but I'd be damned if I don't leave a mark before I go."
Each word was spoken with conviction, his eyes focused without flinching for even a second.
"And if you become strong enough to destroy them completely…"
The aura around Felix turned cold to the point of stimulating Nathan's senses.
"I won't hesitate to do so."
Nathan gulped as he turned away to sort his thoughts.
It was crazy.
Talking to such a suicidal fellow was a risky move.
What if he began to get thoughts as well?
Would his family be safe?
But then why couldn't he leave?... Was it because of pity?
No…
Nathan reached out and grabbed Felix's shoulder. "Then I guess we should get going to those dungeons. We aren't going back up until you level up from a Disciple into a Master."
… It was because he also realized that the world needed fixing even though he couldn't do the fixing himself.
Despite everything, Nathan still had to consider his family but Felix was different so even if it was just a little bit…
"I hope you win."
He wanted to be part of the revolution Felix was going to start.
Felix made eye contact with Nathan for a few seconds before slowly removing his hand from his shoulder.
"You could put yourself in danger… not just you, but your family would be affected as well," Felix spoke as a man with experience.
After all, his father's reputation was what destroyed the little peace his mother was able to enjoy before his death.
If only he wasn't a terrorist… would life have been better for them?
It was hard to tell but one could dream.
"I won't go overboard," Nathan remarked. "But I'd be damned if I do nothing at all. I've lived most of my life deceiving myself that the Demirs occupation of Earth was a good thing… I was wrong."
"You will regret it."
"I hope I don't." Nathan chuckled before reaching out to offer the food packet again.
"You must be hungry." He glanced at the grave before adding. "She wouldn't want you to starve."
Felix nodded as he received the packet and peeled it open.
As he took a bite from it, the corners of his mouth rose slightly.