'Even the greatest hero can fall, but it's what happens afterward that defines them.'
It's something my mentor always said. Back then, I didn't really understand what she meant by it. I mean, come on—I'm only 17.
Everywhere I go, people worship me. "Oh! You're so powerful!" "No one is stronger than you!" "The savior of humanity!" "The strongest hero known to mankind!" "The No. 1 Hero!"
'—Bullshit.'
They don't know the blood, sweat, and tears I've poured into this journey. "The strongest human ever known to mankind"—that title didn't come easy. And trust me, no one in the next thousand years will come close to earning it.
What about the Rank - 2 Hero, you ask? Heh. Not. Even. Close.
But enough about that. Back to the mission. As always, the Hero Association handed me one of their "impossible" tasks. Standard protocol for the Rank -1 Hero.
"Sigh... Let's begin,"
I tapped my wristband, and a glowing holographic screen appeared in front of me, resembling a blue transparent screen:
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 tappen on my earpiece and reported in.
A cold emotionless voice responded, "Assistant Mary, reporting. Location confirmed—your coordinates are 0°24'34'' S, 78°35'40" E on [Flora Island]. Sir HOPE, you are cleared to proceed."
"Oh, it's Mary. Long time no see! 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 don't have any friends."
"Sir HOPE, the president is monitoring your move."
My smile faded.
'Damn it. Just my rotten luck.'
*Sigh....*
"Let's, proceed with the mission."
The wind across the [Flora Island], carried a mournful tone, that echoed through the dense forest. The towering cliffs looming 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 to the ground. The chill was so piercing that, it could freeze even an undead to its death.
Something felt wrong.
'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 scanning the Island before me. The mission seemed very simple 'Reclaim the island from enemy forces.' But the silence was bothering me. It was just, too quiet, as if the island was deserted for atleast a decade.
"I guess, this might be my last mission," I muttered silently.
"Did you say something sir?"
"…No. Anyway, what am I fighting here? A [Ghoul]? A [Reaper]? Or maybe a [Fallen]?"
"It's [Wrath], sir."
My brow furrowed. Wrath? Monsters in this world came in all shapes and ranks, each with unique abilities. [Wrath] was middle-tier—a threat, sure, but nothing a triple-rank 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]?"
Even that didn't sit right. A single Rank–10 Hero could take care of an army of [Wrath]. Sending me, the Rank–1 Hero, to handle this was overkill.
Something was off. A trap? A test? Or something far worse?
"Permission to use [Doombringer]," I ordered.
As this words left my mouth, a heavy weight settled on my chest. And I knew very clearly that this wasn't just any regular mission. Something was definately coming, 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.