"What are you doing here?" Eric inquired with a hint of surprise.
"Same as everyone else," Reed replied, though his voice held a note of discomfort.
Eric's tone grew a touch stricter. "I was asking why are you here when you were supposed to use the private gate?"
Reed avoided eye contact, casting his gaze elsewhere as he explained, "That's... I got lost and followed where everyone was going. And before I knew it... I was here."
Eric's disappointment was palpable as he pressed further. "Where is your pass?"
Reed admitted reluctantly, "I seem to have forgotten it in the car..."
"You had one job. How can someone mess up something so simple?" Eric sighed in exasperation.
Reed, in a feeble attempt to deflect blame, pointed at Eric and accused, "It's because of you."
"Oh?" Eric raised an eyebrow in amusement. "How so?"
"If you were there to pick me up, nothing would have happened."
Eric scratched the back of his head, a wry smile on his face, and told the guards, "Let him through."
Reed crossed the barricade and joined Eric on the other side. The pink-haired girl, who had been observing the exchange, was quick to voice her protest. "Hey, that's not fair! Why are you letting him through without a pass?"
The guards found themselves speechless, realizing they were in a difficult position.
"Breaking the rules and favoring someone is against the law!" the girl exclaimed.
Eric turned to the girl and clarified, "No one is breaking the law. I am meeting my little brother, and since when does meeting family become against the law?"
The girl, unrelenting, retorted, "I didn't say that. You can meet him outside. You are breaking the law too."
Eric glanced around, aware of the watching crowd. "Where is your pass?" he inquired.
"It got lost in the crowd..." the girl admitted.
"What's your name?" Eric asked.
The girl, now a bit taken aback, questioned, "Are you going to report me and ban me from becoming a hero?"
Eric reassured her, "No. I want to help you. I will check the database and see if you were invited to the event."
The girl's curiosity was piqued. "Why would you do that?"
"I am a hero. My job is to help people in need," Eric explained.
The girl, realizing her misjudgment, introduced herself. "My name is Zora Stellar."
'I have heard that name before…' Reed uttered inwardly.
Eric nodded. "Got it. Wait here. If you are telling the truth, I will let the guards know, and you can come in."
With that, Eric placed his hand on Reed's shoulder, and they made their way into the stadium.
Reed, puzzled by the situation, glanced at his brother and asked, "You could have just let her in like you let me in. She wasn't lying about her pass."
Eric turned to Reed, sharing a piece of wisdom. "And say what? Don't you think the other people present there would have felt it was unfair? What if they asked me to let them in too?"
Reed was left momentarily speechless, contemplating the weight of Eric's words.
"Remember, you can't be fair to everyone in this world, Reed. There will always be injustice. What matters is that you are doing the right thing," Eric advised, offering Reed a valuable lesson.
Reed couldn't help but ponder, 'What can be considered right in a world where fairness and justice often seem elusive?'
Eric had taken the initiative to contact his team to resolve Zora's situation. After thorough verification, it was confirmed that she was indeed invited to the event. With that assurance, the guards allowed her to enter the stadium, and Zora could finally join the festivities.
Eric and Reed roamed through the vibrant sea of people, taking in the festivities around them. The atmosphere was nothing short of electrifying, akin to a grand fair where everyone had come to meet their favorite heroes. It was a celebration of unity and hope, a day when heroes became real to the people, not just figures of legend.
As they meandered through the crowd, Eric decided to engage Reed in conversation. He was ever the protective older brother, even though their age gap was substantial—Eric was eighteen years older than Reed, and he had been a young adult of eighteen when the apocalypse had struck.
The generation before the apocalypse was referred to as Gen Q, while those born in the aftermath were known as Gen X.
Are you feeling anxious?" Eric inquired, a hint of concern in his voice.
Reed initially denied any unease, saying, "No."
Eric, however, wasn't easily fooled. He knew Reed had battled anxiety in the past. "You don't have to pretend to be okay. I know you get anxiety attacks from time to time."
Reed reluctantly admitted, "That was when I was a kid. I will turn 15 soon."
"15-year-olds are kids too," Eric remarked with a warm smile.
Reed countered, "Yet, they are old enough to enter the tower."
In the early years of the post-apocalypse era, only citizens above the age of 18 had been allowed to enter the tower, but the rule had been met with criticism. Realizing that waiting until 18 was often too late, the age restriction had been changed. Anyone older than 12 could enter the portal, though it had sparked debate and opposition from parents. However, no one was ever forced to enter the tower; it remained a personal choice.
Despite the initial flexibility, the growing number of deaths among the younger generation had led to another amendment, setting the age restriction for entry at 15. Even so, those under 15 could still enter if accompanied by a guardian.
Reed's desire to enter the tower had been a burning ambition, even though his age was the only thing standing in his way. Despite being just shy of his fifteenth birthday, his family remained firm in their decision not to let him enter the tower.
Frustrated and feeling like he was being held back, Reed had thrown a memorable tantrum, unleashing his youthful stubbornness in the hopes of swaying his mothers. It had worked, but only to a certain extent. They had consented to his attendance at the stadium event, understanding his fervor to be part of the spectacle. However, they remained unyielding in their stance that entering the tower was not permitted until he reached the required age.
Reed wasn't one to give up easily, and he knew he needed a plan if he wanted to convince Eric, his protective older brother, to change his mind. He understood that appealing to Eric's protective nature might be the key to his success.
Determined to sway Eric's decision, Reed knew he needed to strategize. His brother had always been the toughest nut to crack. As they wandered through the crowd, Reed couldn't help but consider the best approach to buttering up Eric and convincing him to let Reed take on the trials within the tower.
Reed pondered how to appeal to Eric's sense of responsibility and protectiveness. Perhaps he could showcase the strides he'd made in training and demonstrate that he was ready for the tower's challenges.
Reed's anxiety spiked as he glanced up at the massive screen in the sky, noting the countdown of just 20 minutes. He realized that time was slipping away faster than he'd anticipated.
'Not good. I only have twenty minutes,' he fretted. 'The gates of the tower stay open for twenty-four hours, but the event will end in three hours. I can't think of anything to convince Brother Eric!'
Reed wished he could simply run away, dodge the guards, and slip through the tower's gates. But that wasn't feasible since he had to confirm his age by showing an ID, and a guardian was required for anyone under 15.
Desperation etched in his features, Reed turned to Eric and asked, "Can I enter the tower?"
Eric's response was swift and firm, "No."
Reed's frustration began to bubble up. "Why not? I'll turn 15 next week anyway! What's the difference?"
Eric held his ground, his tone resolute. "No means no."
Reed's frustration reached a boiling point. "If I don't enter today, I'll have to wait for a whole year! You can't do this to me!"
"Say whatever you want," Eric replied. "I am not letting you enter the tower."
Reed was on the verge of throwing another tantrum, but Eric's next words stopped him in his tracks.
"Your mother warned me. Even if you were 40 years old, I would still have to listen to your mother. Period."
Reed bit his lip, his mind racing for a different solution. Then, an idea struck him. "What if you come with me? They won't have any objections if you are with me, right?"
Eric explained patiently, "Not possible. I am level 899. If I step into the tower, the difficulty level of the tower will become 899. All the new heroes will die on the trial floor."
Reed's hope began to wane, and he scrambled to find another solution. "What if I enter and return before the tower gates close? I won't even enter the first floor, I promise!"
Eric stayed silent, and Reed interpreted this as a sign of success.
"Once I enter the tower and get my system, skills, and magic, I will come out. I know I'll need to clear the trial floor, but it's easy. Everyone can do that."
Eric, his expression unchanging, finally spoke, "Not happening, Reed."
Frustration clawed at Reed's throat, and he persisted. "Oh, come on!"
Eric's tone grew graver. "You have no idea how deadly the tower floors can get. Over 40% of those who enter don't make it."
Unfazed, Reed maintained his resolve. "I know, but I'll be careful. I'm not like those weak heroes. I'm strong. I bet I'll get amazing skills and magic spells as soon as I get my system. After all, I'm your brother. And besides, I'm confident that, because of our father, I will—"
"With that attitude, you'll die on the first floor," Eric interrupted sternly.
He pointed at an empty seat and commanded, "Sit here. Once the event is over, I'm sending you back to the castle."
Reed's efforts to persuade Eric had only succeeded in making his brother angry, and he had little choice but to comply. He settled into the seat, his dreams of entering the tower slipping further away as the countdown ticked on.
Eric settled into the seat beside Reed, his gaze fixed on the preparations for the event. The anticipation in the air was palpable as hundreds of thousands of people had patiently lined up, waiting for the gates of the tower to open. Reed, however, harbored a secret wish that the tower's gates would remain closed for at least another week, granting him the opportunity to enter the tower this year.
Deep down, Reed knew that even when he crossed the age of 15, his mothers would never grant him permission to enter the tower. Nonetheless, he was ready to rebel against their wishes. Once he reached the age of 15, he would no longer need their consent to make his own choices.
Reed couldn't contain his emotions and muttered to Eric, his voice trembling as if on the verge of tears, "I... just want to become strong like you and help people."
Eric turned his attention to his younger brother and, with a measured tone, said, "There are over two billion heroes in the world. One less wouldn't make a difference. Why would you want to forgo a safe and luxurious life and become a hero?"
Reed's determination remained unwavering. "I don't care about fame and fortune. I want to learn the truth. I want to know the real reason for the apocalypse. Why did it happen? Why was Father..." He paused, altering his question, "Don't you want to know the truth?"
Eric's voice was laced with a mix of emotions, including frustration and protectiveness. "The entire world wants to know the reason. It has been 16 years, and no one knows why. What makes you think that you can find the truth?"
But Reed was resolute, and his next words were tinged with sorrow. "You don't live with me, so you wouldn't know how much Father's absence is hurting our mothers."
Eric's mood darkened, and he replied curtly, "Stop talking about Rudy, Reed."
Reed's spirit was waning, his mood and confidence eroded by the series of rejections and arguments. He gazed at the stadium and the gathering crowd, but his mind was no longer focused on the event. The tower, the heroes, and the spectacle around him had all lost their luster. His desires had dimmed, and he no longer cared about anything at that moment.
"Can you call Mom and ask her to send someone to pick me up?" Reed finally asked Eric, his voice tinged with a sense of resignation. "My phone is busted after I threw it at you, so I can't call. Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked for your help. I already tried asking for your help earlier, and I will never make the same mistake again, never in my lifetime."
A sudden disturbance rattled the atmosphere as a device that all heroes carried to detect new portal openings and monitor monster readings blared loudly. The crowd of heroes, each possessing their own unique abilities, turned their attention to the source of the commotion.
"Why are the portals opening today? Wasn't the last wave just a day before that?!" exclaimed one hero, his voice filled with concern.
"A surprise wave?!" murmured another, the tension in the air palpable.
Eric rose from his seat, his face etched with a stern determination. "The readings on this device are off the charts. This is no ordinary portal."
Without hesitation, Eric activated his communicator, urgently calling his team and alerting the other heroes in the vicinity. The impending crisis demanded swift and decisive action.
"Guard the citizens. This is a very dire situation. If the monsters break free, they will pose a catastrophic threat to everyone gathered here!"
"Focus on the evacuation. Get the medics ready!"
"What about the newbies who are here for the tower?" inquired a hero, concern evident in his voice.
Eric, displaying his experience and leadership, didn't miss a beat. "Guard them too. Wait until the gates have opened and then escort them inside the tower."
The heroes sprang into action, their experience and training taking over in the face of danger. Their ranks and abilities varied, but at this moment, they all shared a common goal: to protect the people from the impending threat.
"Fortunately, the portals have opened in the outer areas, a few miles away. However, it won't take the monsters more than five minutes to reach this location."
"All heroes above rank A are requested to dispatch to the portal openings!"
It was a day filled with irony. Portal opening days were usually considered the unluckiest, but this time, the heroes were fortunate that it happened on the day when they had gathered for the event.
Before leaving, Eric turned to Reed, his expression a mix of reassurance and urgency. "Don't leave this place. The monsters won't come here. I will get you home safely, I promise." With those words, he embraced Reed in a tight hug and then rushed away to join his fellow heroes in the battle against the impending threat.
Reed's gaze shifted from the bustling crowd growing increasingly impatient for the tower gates to open, and then he lifted his eyes to the screen in the sky, where the countdown displayed a mere five minutes.
In that brief moment, Reed's emotions and thoughts wrestled within him. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his decision pressing on his chest. He swallowed hard, steeling himself for what he was about to do.
His voice was barely a whisper, yet it carried a resolute tone. "I am sorry, Brother Eric, Mary, and mothers, but I have to do this."
With those words, Reed rose from his seat, and walked down the stadium.