"Even the mightiest hero falls, but it's what they do afterward that defines them."
My master used to say that a lot.
Back then, I never really understood what she meant.
How could I? I was just a seventeen-year-old who thought he had all the time in the world.
But now... everything has changed.
Because of him.
***
Current Location: Flora Island
"If it's you, Sir Hope, this mission won't even take half a day."
A sigh escaped me as the voice crackled through my earpiece.
'When will they learn?'
What am I, their god?
Everywhere I go, people worship me, they praise me, they all look at me like I'm some kind of god. "The strongest hero known to mankind!" "The savior of humanity!" "No one is stronger than you!"
Utter bullshit.
They don't know the blood, sweat, and tears I've endured to reach this point.
The Rank-1 Hero— It's a title that didn't come easy, and trust me on this, it won't be claimed by anyone else for a long, long time.
What about the Rank-2 Hero?
Heh.
Not. Even. Close.
But enough about that. Let's get back to the mission.
As always, the Hero Association handed me another one of their so-called "impossible" tasks—standard procedure for Rank-1.
I tapped my wristband, and a holographic screen flickered above it, displaying my mission.
____________________
Mission Details:
Mission Rank: SS+
Task: Reclamation of [Flora Island]
Assigned Hero Name: [HOPE]
Hero Rank: 01
____________________
"I'm in position, confirming target location—over." I tapped on my earpiece and reported in.
A cold, emotionless voice responded, "Assistant Mary reporting. Location confirmed your coordinates are 0°24'34'' South, 78°35'40" East on [Flora Island]. Sir HOPE, you are cleared to proceed."
"Oh, it's Mary. Been a while, how have you been?" I asked.
"Position confirmed. Current location verified. Sir HOPE, please proceed with your mission."
I smirked. "Still all business, huh? That's why you're still single."
"Sir HOPE, the president is monitoring your move."
My smile faded.
'Fuck! Just my rotten luck.'
Sigh....
"I'm proceeding with the mission."
The atmosphere in [Flora Island] was different.
The wind across the island carried a mournful tone that echoed through the dense forest.
The towering cliffs loomed over the raging ocean, where all the waves slammed against the rocks, creating a thunderous cry.
The air around me felt heavy and cold, and the atmosphere was unusually silent.
It was 7 p.m., but the sky was so dark that it felt like it was midnight.
Thunder rolled into the distant sky, and rain fell relentlessly, making a hammering sound on the ground.
The chill was so piercing that it could freeze even an undead to its death.
Something was not right.
'It's too quiet.'
"This is the right place, yeah?" I asked.
"Affirmative," Mary replied.
I stood at the edge of a cliff as I scanned the Island before me.
The mission seemed very simple: 'Reclaim the island from enemy forces.'
But the silence was bothering me. It was as if the island had been deserted for at least a decade.
"Heh, I guess, this might be my last mission," I said jokingly.
"Did you say something sir?"
"…No. Anyway, what am I fighting here? A [Ghoul]? A [Reaper]? Or maybe a [Fallen]?"
"It's Wrath sir."
I frowned.
Wrath? That didn't make sense.
Monsters in this world came in all shapes and ranks, each with unique abilities. Wrath was middle-tier—not weak, but nothing a Rank-10 hero couldn't handle.
"You're kidding, right? Then why is this mission ranked SS+? Wait… don't tell me it's an army of [Wrath]?"
Silence.
That was never a good sign.
An army of Wrath shouldn't warrant an SS+ classification. Something wasn't adding up.
Was this a trap? A test? Or something far, far worse?
A cold chill ran down my spine.
'No time to think.'
I won't take any risk, I will give it my all.
"Permission to use [Doombringer]," I ordered.
As these words left my mouth, a heavy weight settled on my chest.
I deduced, this wasn't just any regular mission.
Something is definitely off, something far bigger than I had ever anticipated.
And for the very first time in years, I wasn't sure of myself, that I was ready.
End of Chapter.