California State University, Sacramento a portal appeared there.

"Oh, hey. Jake, Over here. Here."

"Oh? John, what are you doing here? I thought you were giving up on being a Hunter?"

"Well, that… My wife is pregnant with our second child."

"Hahahaha, is that so? Yeah, for a Hunter to earn big in one go, participating in a raid is the best, isn't it."

Jake jovially burst out in laughter. John followed suit with a sheepish chuckle, before asking Jake.

"By the way, why do I feel like that the Association is calling on us less and less nowadays? Did the number of Gates decrease or something?"

"Eii, of course not. That's only because the Guilds are getting all worked up over clearing the Gates; it's got nothing to do with the Association. I hear that various Guilds are jumping in with both feet since there is big profit involved in this whole thing."

"Well, in that case, since this raid is being supervised by the Association, it should be safe, no?"

Jake took a glance around as if he was getting nervous.

If a Guild was not involved today, that meant there wasn't enough profit to be had, and if there wasn't enough profit to be had, then that could only mean that this particular Gate's difficulty would be low.

Of course, nothing in this world was 100% absolute.

It wasn't just Jake; other Hunters were nervously glancing around as well.

"Hmm. I wonder…."

Jake finished the rest of his coffee while avoiding answering his friend, before spotting a certain someone and raising his hand in happiness.

"Uh! He's here. Hey, Michael!! Hey Michael!"

Other Hunters also displayed joy at discovering that young man.

"Ah, hello."

It was none other than Michael Tui.

Michael performed a simple nod of the head at the joyous Jake and walked by.

After making sure Michael was well out of earshot, Jake began sniggering while confidently speaking up.

"So, Michael showed up. Then it's going to be okay today, too."

John's eyes widened and he hurriedly asked Jake.

"What was that? Is that Hunter Michael really strong?"

"Ahh. Right, of course, you wouldn't know who he is. He's just a normal person who started working shortly after you left, you see. However, every Hunter here knows who that guy is by now."

…

"He's really that strong? Wait, why is he working for the Association, then? Why not for a Guild or as a freelancer?"

Jake sniggered some more before narrowing his eyes.

"You know what that guy's nickname is?"

"How should I know that? C'mon, man. Just tell me already."

"Humanity's weakest Hunter."

"….Weakest? Not something like the ultimate hunter?"

"Dude, that's the nickname for the rank S Hunter or Nation level. That guy is the 'weakest Hunter. I'm pretty sure he's the weakest Hunter in America. He is not even awakening like us."

"Really?"

John began frowning deeply.

Why would other Hunters greet this guy then if he was really that weak? After all, didn't they need someone to trust their backs if things went south?

John couldn't understand the reactions of other Hunters. He thought he was some big shot or something.

…

When Jake's head tilted this way and that, John chuckled and poked the side of Jake with his elbow.

"Eii! The raids that Michael participates in will only have low difficulty because he's so weak. The Association would never entrust him with a tough job, don't you get that? They don't want to see him get killed, right?"

Only then did John's expression brighten up.

"R-right. Yeah."

His wife was deeply worried about him since this would be his first raid in quite a while. Honestly, even he was worried, too. However, now that he listened to Jake's words, he felt like a weight was lifted off his mind.

"Besides, he doesn't have any ability "

John was now deeply sorry for him, why would he participate in a dangerous job?

Jake " I heard that his parents are sick"

" Still why would he apply through "

Jake " I told you... he trying to pay their medical bill, I think "

John " Well. He got some ball to raid this gate, I'll give that"

While the two having the conversation, Michael thinks thought what he should do, since, he is not a hunter like his brothers. He could barely kill a low-level goblin.

He thought to himself, that he could raid this gate like his brothers.

Michael " Let's get this over with"

He knew that today was gonna be hard since he always got injured at the lower level gate. He wishes to become something like a god-like being, but it's only a fantasy dream.

Michael " Sigh"

" Okay everyone! let's go"

Michael then got his backpack and got ready to raid.

" HEY YOU!, WAIT..."

Michael heard someone call out to him, so he stopped and turned around and saw who he was. A homeless man came up to him in a hurry.

" You can't... go in there"

Michael heard what the homeless said but, he didn't care what he said. He then walked away but, the old man grabbed my shoulder tightly.

" Look here! once you go in there... you will die a horrible death, you and everyone in there."

Michael shoves his arm away.

" How would you know that, huh, how would know that.... that I was gonna die in there."

The old man didn't say a word.

Michael can tell that this old man is hallucinating, probably crazy- who knows what he smokes.

" The thing is... it's because you are about to turn 25 this month"

"What! ..... you seriously pu-hahaha"

Michael was laughing at the old man, he thought that he was joking.

" Please, listen carefully Michael... if you stop right now & walk away and...."

Michael cut him off.

" Why would I listen to you, give me a good reason to stop"

" Because I created you no.... wait... more like, I made you"

Michael " Ookkkay.... I'm outta here"

The old grab him again.

" Listen here, if you go in there you'll die, you won't pay your family bill, your brothers won't survive as well."

Michael immediately shoves the old away.

" Look here, I'm getting tired of you bugging me.... get the hell away from me... you crazy son of bi...."

The old man cut him mid-sentence.

" I'll help you, I know you want to become strong like those heroes on TV and the comic you read since you were 11."

Michael " What da hell you mea...."

The old man didn't let him finish.

" When you were 18, you quit school to find a job but ended up as a Hunter, and when you were 20 your brothers ended up as gang members."

Michael " Wait... how did you.."

" 5 years later, you here, the day you will miserably die as a virgin. So, I'll tell you again, don't go in there."

Michael still didn't believe it but, for some reason, this old man didn't look like he was lying. Even though he doesn't know him very well, he can tell that he is not a liar.

" Hey Michael!, are you coming?"

Michael looked back at the Hunter that called him, but he was thinking about the old man who said before, that if he went in now he'd die. Michael then looks back at the old man waiting to see, whether I stay or go. Michael has to make the decision.

*****

Starbucks

" Okay, old man... you got my attention, tell me everything"

The old man was sipping smoothly with an extra shot.

Michael " Are you listening?"

"Mmm. Oh!, sorry...hehe.. where, were we, again "

Michael "Sigh.... let's start with our name, I'm Michael T****, and you are?"

" My name... it's been so long, that I haven't heard my name again but, I can't remember my real name. So, you can call me the 'Author' in this world. "

Michael was showing a confused expression.

Michael " From this world?, are you an Alien "

Author " No, more like, I'm in a fantasy novel that I created"

Michael " You saying, that you in a novel, that you wrote, and I'm a friction character that you write down"

Author " That sounds about it"

Michael was now stupid, he thought the man was some kind of prophet. He thought the man could help him but, he was not in his right mind.

Author "The face, that you are showing, means that you don't believe me"

Michael " Was that obvious"

Author " I guess.... I have to make you believe me then"

Michael was still sitting while the old man finished his smoothly, once he was done, the man's face got serious. The old man raised his hand and snapped.

Flick!

The area that Michael was in, disappeared, his surroundings were empty except for the chair he was sitting on.

Michael " What!.... where are we?... What's going on!"

Author " Calm down, you safe, I pulled us out for a moment"

Michael " Out of where?"

Author " Out of time, So, listen carefully, do you still carry any device on you."

Michael "Well... I only got my Samsung tablet on me right...."

Author " handed over here, quickly "

Michael was holding the tablet tightly away from the man.

Michael " Come on man, you stealing my cheap tablet now, that I brought"

Author " What!... no, you idiot, let me add something to it"

The old man immediately downloads something on his tablet.

Michael " What are you doing with my tablet"

Author " I'm using my authority in this world, to download an app that I'm been working on."

Michael " And what it is"

Author " Well, in my world, it was my favorite game of all it's called ' Solar Smash' but, I've already adjusted some settings quickly.... and, done, here you go"

Michael "Mmm"

Michael was scrolling through his tablet, and looking for some changes but, everything looked the same except the new app. Michael pressed the new app that had just been added.

DING!

[ Welcome to the world invasion]

[Please scan for recognition]

Michael " Mmm.."

Author " Don't worry, it's probably harmless"

[Scanning]

....2%....45%...89%...100%

[Scanned complete]

Author " Good, since everything should be alright "

Michael " Wait.... that was it?"

Author " Yea...oh!, I almost forgot... the app won't work if anyone is on it, except you, and if you accidentally lost it... just say return to me tablet, and it will automatically appear to you."

Michael " Like Thor's hammer?"

Author " Yeah"

The author then snaps his fingers.

Flick!

Michael woke up from his dream. He was looking around his room, not seeing anything wrong but, everything looked exactly like he left it. He thought that the man that he met was real but, I guess it was a dream.

Michael, then saw his tablet next to him, he reached towards it and checked the time. While scrolling down, he saw a new familiar app.

Michael "Mmm... that's weird, I don't remember having this app... wait... could it be"

[ Welcome to the world invasion]

[ Please select]

[ Protect this planet] [or][ Invade this planet]

Michael " What the....."

**********

Next Chapter