One day, a colossal, translucent screen appeared in the sky, visible to every corner of the world. It bore a 72-hour countdown, and when it reached zero, the Apocalypse began. That day, the world witnessed the sudden emergence of towering structures and immense gates, accompanied by colossal portals that loomed in both the sky and on the ground.
The first time the monsters emerged from these enigmatic portals, humanity's confidence in their military prowess crumbled. On that dreadful day, nearly 800 million, 10% of the global population succumbed. In the aftermath, the screen in the sky transformed into humanity's guide, titled "How to Survive an Apocalypse," displaying vital instructions.
The guidance encouraged humanity to enter the towers, where they could harness new powers, an intricate system, skills, magic, and precious items to combat the relentless monsters. Those who entered the tower and conquered its challenges earned the title of Heroes, sparking the dawn of a new Post-Apocalyptic Era that upended the world's economy and norms.
Following the first harrowing wave of monstrous creatures, the world had been thrust into an unending cycle of terror. Every week, like clockwork, the portals crackled to life, unleashing different types of monsters. Aerial horrors descended from the portal in the sky, their eerie silhouettes blotting out the sun. Meanwhile, land monsters emerged from the small portals that dotted the distant horizon.
Year 2024, 16 years later, the world had changed drastically. Each individual's dream was to become a hero; Heroes were considered celebrities, earning fame and fortune.
Private vehicles hummed in traffic, public transport buses carried passengers, and a throng of people walked, their excitement palpable in the air. The towers' gates opened only once every year, and this was the day everyone had been eagerly awaiting.
Heroes and police officers were stationed at every street junction, ensuring the safety of the crowd and the orderly flow of people. Their uniforms were a symbol of hope and protection in these trying times.
As the lively crowd moved toward The Tower, one particular black car glided through the bustling street, drawing everyone's attention. It was a sleek and luxurious vehicle that stood out like a raven amidst a flock of sparrows. The curious whispers and pointed fingers of onlookers followed the car's every move.
Finally, the black car eased to a stop in a private parking area nearby, and the passenger's door opened. A young boy, no older than 15, emerged. He had jet-black hair and piercing black eyes that seemed to hold a world of secrets. He was dressed in luxurious clothes, his attire reflecting a status of privilege, matching the elegance of the vehicle itself.
The boy meticulously adjusted his clothes, every motion filled with an air of sophistication and self-assuredness. He then walked with measured steps to the driver's window, where a lady driver in a sharp black suit waited.
"You don't have to pick me up," the boy stated with an air of authority, his voice calm yet firm.
The lady driver, equally composed, responded, "I have been told to bring you back."
"I will return to the castle with Brother Eric. Mother Elena specifically instructed me to bring Brother Eric with me."
The lady driver raised an eyebrow, her gaze unwavering. "I haven't received any such instructions."
"If you doubt my words, feel free to confirm with Mother Elena."
"Very well." The lady driver retrieved her phone and, with the boy standing nearby, made the call. Her voice was polite but unwavering as she spoke, "Please wait here."
The boy couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief. He let out a sigh and muttered to himself, "Can't believe she actually called. I have no respect."
Amid the chatter and the shuffling of feet, the boy couldn't help but overhear snippets of conversation from those around him:
"Can't believe it's that time of year again! The Tower's gates are finally opening!"
"I heard they found rare treasures on the upper floors last year. Ancient relics and powerful artifacts!"
"I heard the rewards on the higher floors are incredible."
"Last year, my cousin made it to the 50th floor. He's got amazing powers now!"
"Last year, I reached the 20th floor! It was amazing."
"I got a cool lightning spell on the 10th floor. Zapped those monsters good!"
"This year too… So many people are planning to enter the tower. The demand for heroes keeps rising and rising," The boy pondered inwardly as he gazed at the surging crowd. The weight of his unique position and the expectations placed upon him were never far from his thoughts.
His contemplation was abruptly interrupted by the lady driver's voice. "Young Master Reed, are you zoning out again?" she inquired, her tone laced with gentle concern.
Reed turned to face her, his dark eyes refocusing on the present. "What did Mother Elena say?" he inquired with a sense of urgency.
"She was occupied, but I spoke with Miss Maria," the lady driver replied, her demeanor unwavering.
"Mom?!" Reed exclaimed, his frustration evident in his tone. "Why her of all people? Couldn't you have talked with my other mothers?" His irritation was palpable, and he let out a frustrated groan.
The lady driver, unperturbed by Reed's outburst, asserted, "She agreed."
"What?" Reed raised an eyebrow, his surprise evident. "She actually agreed to let me have some freedom?"
The lady driver clarified, her voice calm, "Don't say that. She is worried about you, nothing else. Any mother would worry about leaving her 14-year-old son alone in a city-wide event like this, where almost all the city's citizens gather in one place."
Reed squinted his eyes and muttered, "You're not supposed to tell the truth and make me seem like a rebellious son."
"Oh, I would never dare to say that to you, even if it's true," the lady driver replied with a hint of amusement.
Reed let out a sigh, realizing that he couldn't outwit the lady driver. "Anyway, I am leaving now," he declared as he moved to distance himself from the car.
"Also, I'm turning 15 next week. Don't treat me like a kid, I am ready to become a hero," he added, a slight correction to the lady driver's earlier remark where she had called him 14 years old.
As he took a few steps, Reed heard the lady driver shout his name. He turned back to see her peeking out from the car window, her eyes still watching over him.
"What?" Reed asked curiously.
"You're heading the wrong way. The stadium entry is the other way," she commented.
Reed looked up at the signboard overhead and muttered something inaudible under his breath. Although he had intended to blend in with the crowd, Reed was a privileged guest, and his entry point was at another gate, away from the bustling masses.
With a hint of embarrassment, he corrected his path and made his way toward the less crowded entry point.
Reed had initially intended to follow the same path as the rest of the people, making his way to the Tower. However, his plans took an unexpected turn when he realized he was supposed to go to the stadium instead. He had hoped the lady driver would leave, but to his surprise, she waited patiently until he appeared to have entered the stadium.
However, Reed had other ideas. Instead of going inside, he quickly found a hidden corner where he could observe unnoticed. From his vantage point, he watched the car drive away and eventually disappear into the distance. Seizing the moment, he made a run for it, smoothly blending into the bustling crowd.
Reed's heart raced with the excitement of experiencing life as a normal 15-year-old, free from the expectations that came with his name. He gazed upward at the screen in the sky, which displayed a countdown of only an hour left until the Tower's gates opened.
As he approached the stadium that enveloped the Tower, the density of the crowd increased, and Reed found himself jostled from all sides. The pushing and shoving made it difficult to move in a straight line. Soon, the feeling of suffocation crept in, and Reed began to grow anxious.
Reed regretted not using the private gate, and he desperately sought a way out of the crushing crowd. Panic set in, but he managed to change course and pushed his way through, finally reaching one of the main gates of the stadium.
Every year, on the day of the Tower's opening, a grand spectacle unfolded. Top heroes from cities near and far converged to participate in the event. It was a day of celebration, a day for the people to unite and witness their idols in action. News of the heroes' arrival had spread like wildfire, igniting the crowd's enthusiasm to a fever pitch. The atmosphere was electric, charged with anticipation and excitement, as people surged forward, vying for a glimpse of their favorite heroes.
Reed, having navigated through the dense and fervent crowd, finally reached the front lines. Amid the chaos, he tapped the shoulder of a vigilant guard stationed at the entrance and, with determination in his voice, declared, "I want to go inside the stadium."
The guard, caught up in the whirlwind of crowd control, responded promptly, "Sure thing. Show me your pass and stand in the waiting line."
However, Reed's confident demeanor wavered as he realized his predicament. "I don't have a pass with me," he admitted, a note of frustration in his voice.
The guard, used to dealing with such situations, shook his head regretfully. "I'm sorry, but you can't enter the stadium without a pass."
Desperation welled up within Reed, and he pleaded, "No, you don't understand. I had the pass, but I forgot to bring it."
The guard's response was a common refrain: "That's what everyone says."
Reed's frustration was mounting as he attempted to reason with the unyielding guard. "My name is Reed, Reed Ross," he introduced himself, his voice laced with sincerity. "I was invited to the event by my big brother, Eric. Surely, you have heard of him. He is the—"
The guard, not one to be easily convinced, couldn't help but let out a scoff upon hearing Reed's claim. "Hah! If Eric is your big brother, then the president's daughter is my little sister."
Reed's eyes widened in disbelief. He was telling the truth, but the guard's skepticism was palpable. "I am telling the truth!" he insisted, hoping to convey the urgency of his situation.
The guard, however, remained unmoved by Reed's claim. He leaned in closer and delivered his verdict with a touch of annoyance, "Look, kid. I know you want to meet your favorite hero, but so does everyone else. If you don't have a pass, I can't do anything. Now, shoo away so the people who haven't 'forgotten' their pass can enter."
Frustration welled up within Reed, and he felt stuck, not knowing how to convince the guard that he was being sincere. Nevertheless, Reed had no intention of causing a scene that might result in his expulsion from the event.
In the midst of his vexation, a sudden chill swept over Reed, making him shiver as if a frigid wind had pierced his very core. He glanced around, but the sea of people offered no clear source for the feeling. Then, as he looked to the adjacent pass checking booth, he saw a remarkable sight.
There, a girl with striking pink hair stood in a standoff with a different guard. She was adorned in beautiful and pristine adventure attire, setting her apart from the bustling crowd. Her voice carried above the noise as she quarreled with the guard, frustration evident in her words.
"Like I said, I had the pass but it was stolen!" the girl shouted at the guard, her voice filled with frustration. "I have a picture of my pass if you don't believe me."
The guard, maintaining his unwavering stance, responded, "You could have taken a picture of someone else's pass."
The girl's retort was swift and indignant. "It had my picture and details on it!"
Reed watched the exchange, realizing that he wasn't alone in facing pass-related troubles. He couldn't help but empathize with the girl's situation. 'I was also planning on showing the picture,' he thought to himself. 'But it seems that doesn't work.'
Reed understood the guard's perspective, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of injustice for those like himself and the girl who had genuinely forgotten or lost their passes.
As the heroes finally made their entrance, the crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers and cheers. Reed, once again, found himself being crushed in the tumultuous surge of bodies. He desperately sought an escape route, stretching his hand out in the hopes that someone would pull him to safety. His actions were met with success as an unknown hand grasped his own, yanking him free from the suffocating crowd.
Once Reed was safely out, he came face to face with the pink-haired girl. He had been about to ask her if she had been the one to rescue him, but he hesitated. There was a realization that struck him as he observed her hand. 'The hand that grabbed me felt rough, and this girl's hand seems soft...'
Reed was so lost in thought that he didn't notice his gaze had wandered to the girl's chest, and the girl interpreted his focus as something entirely different.
"What are you staring at, pervert?" she remarked, her disgust evident on her face.
Reed couldn't help but inwardly sigh, 'Wow. I guess she's only beautiful on the outside.'
Together, Reed and the girl watched as the heroes made their way into the stadium, greeted by the ecstatic shouts of the crowd. Reed's attention, however, was firmly fixed on one hero, the one he had been waiting for.
And then, it happened. Eric, Reed's brother and a hero of great renown, descended the red carpet. Reed tried to call out to him, but his voice was nothing more than a drop in the ocean of cheering. Eric didn't seem to notice, and Reed felt the weight of frustration settle upon him. If Eric didn't see him, Reed would not only miss out on the event but also face the inevitable scolding from all his mothers for his decision not to use the private gate assigned to him.
Desperation took hold, and Reed pulled out his phone from his pocket, trying to get Eric's attention with a call. However, his attempts were in vain. Frustration mounted until Reed, driven by desperation, hurled his phone in Eric's direction. In a display of remarkable reflexes, Eric effortlessly dodged the incoming projectile without even glancing at it. The guards, however, moved swiftly and apprehended Reed, their grip firm.
"Let me go!" Reed yelled, struggling against their hold, his frustration and desperation evident.
Amid the tumult, a voice rang out, "Move aside, please." The guards, recognizing the authority in the voice, complied.
Eric, Reed's brother, had arrived, his gaze intent on the commotion, who had stepped forward to see who had dared to throw a phone at him.
As his eyes landed on Reed, he stared at him for a few seconds before recognition flashed across his face. "Reed?"
"Brother! Help me! I forgot my pass, and the guards wouldn't let me in!" Reed pleaded, his voice a blend of relief and desperation.
Eric, in a calm yet authoritative tone, requested the guards to release Reed.
The guard who had initially confronted Reed was baffled by the turn of events. "Do you know him?" he asked Eric.
"Yes, this is my little brother," Eric replied, the surprise evident in his voice.
The guard, once skeptical of Reed's claim, was now dumbfounded by the revelation.
Even the crowd surrounding Reed was bewildered, and they made way for him out of respect.
"He is the little brother of the world's strongest SSS rank hero?"
Indeed, Eric wasn't just a city, state, or country hero—he was known as the world's strongest hero, a title that had the power to leave anyone awestruck.
Meanwhile, not far away, the lady driver had parked the car and was pondering her next steps. As she opened the car's glove compartment to retrieve a cigarette, her eyes fell upon a sight that left her gasping in disbelief. Nestled amidst various items, Reed's pass had been inadvertently left behind, a silent witness to the young boy's daring escape.
"Young Master Reed..." she whispered, her voice a mixture of concern.