The days following Kaiza's return home were far from how they used to be. He withdrew into himself, becoming quiet and distant—almost as if he were slipping back into his old self. He avoided conversations and kept to his routines, his daily habits reflecting the monotony of his holidays. However, one notable addition to his schedule stood out: exercise.
Will found this change peculiar. Kaiza had never been the type to seek attention for his physique, though he had always been slightly fit. The sudden focus on physical activity left Will wondering. Was it just a new habit, or was it Kaiza's way of escaping reality and clearing his mind?
Unknown to Will, Kaiza's motivation was far more profound. This was his personal pursuit of power. As he dedicated himself to this new regimen, something else became evident—Kaiza's growing bond with Luson, his bodyguard. Will couldn't help but feel excluded when he saw the two spending time together.
Every morning, Will would find Kaiza outside, working out under Luson's guidance. Luson wasn't just standing guard; he actively participated, helping Kaiza refine his movements and offering encouraging words to keep him going. Their dynamic was strikingly different, and it deepened as the days passed.
After the morning drills, they would head inside for breakfast, and then Kaiza would retreat to his room. The first day was quiet, with little interaction between him and Will.
That night, Will visited Kaiza in his room to inform him about the prom party and graduation scheduled for the following day. To his surprise, Kaiza declined both invitations without hesitation, reminding Will that he was still mourning his parents.
Will was momentarily frozen, unsure of how to process Kaiza's words. Should he peel at the barely healing wound, or should he act as though the words hadn't stung? For a moment, guilt crept in—he hadn't been considerate enough to avoid mentioning prom and graduation, given the circumstances. Still, he reassured himself that his intentions had been pure. He only wanted to help Kaiza step out of the isolation he had built around himself. Prom and graduation were the final rites of any teenager's "normal" life, and Will wanted Kaiza to experience those fleeting moments of freedom before being sent off to military school.
But things didn't go as he'd hoped. Kaiza's rejection left Will at a loss, the situation spiraling far from how he had envisioned it.
In his frustration, Will sought out Luson to check on Kaiza. When he asked if Kaiza was okay, Luson replied with a single word before falling silent. The man's stoic demeanor only added to Will's growing frustration and helplessness.
Desperate for a solution, Will considered calling some of Kaiza's old classmates to lift his spirits. But then, he remembered the incident from years ago.
Back in Kaiza's first year of high school, his so-called friends had turned on him. In their quest to join the notorious LIT gang, they sacrificed him, brutally beating him to the point of hospitalization. For what? To gain power. That betrayal marked the beginning of Kaiza's isolation.
Soon after, rumors about Kaiza began to circulate, claiming he was the son of a wealthy tech mogul. With no evidence to prove his lineage, the accusations only fueled his troubles. The bullying worsened, and Kaiza retreated further into himself, choosing to become invisible rather than confront the relentless torment. From that point on, he stopped trusting anyone and no longer had a single person he could truly call a friend.
Kaiza never gave friendship another chance. Growing up surrounded by betrayal had left scars too deep to heal. The pain lingered, a constant reminder of what people would do for power. After all, wasn't that what the world had become? A battlefield of power-hungry hunters, each more desperate than the last.
Determined to help Kaiza enjoy one last glimpse of normalcy, Will approached Luson again. He pleaded with him to convince Kaiza to attend either the prom or graduation. But Luson shook his head, reminding Will of the dangerous situation Kaiza was entangled in. His hunters were relentless. Prom or graduation would be the perfect opportunity for them to strike, and Luson wasn't willing to risk his job—or Kaiza's life.
It was then that Will saw reason. He dropped the idea of prom and graduation, silently resigning himself to the reality of their situation.
The following morning, Will woke to the familiar sight of Kaiza and Luson exercising outside his window. The day dragged on, quiet and uneventful, with an eerie stillness enveloping the house. But as the day drew to a close, something unexpected happened.
Kaiza received a letter. A call to duty. The letter announced that he was to report to military school in three days.
Will rushed into Kaiza's room, breathlessly announcing the news. But Kaiza's reaction was anything but what he'd expected. He neither seemed happy nor upset. His nonchalant demeanor left Will feeling even worse. The weight of Kaiza's silent blame pressed heavily on him, and he couldn't help but feel misunderstood.
Deep down, Will knew the situation wasn't entirely his fault. He'd only agreed to send Kaiza to military school after his sister, Susan, had explained the consequences she'd face if she refused her promotion. He hadn't made the decision lightly. It had been a sacrifice—a way to mend his relationship with Susan and honor her wishes.
But there was more to the story. A silent war had long brewed between Will and Susan, a war no one spoke of. Perhaps Enzox knew, but he'd never brought it up.
Will was haunted by his own demons. His sister's sudden death weighed heavily on him. He had betrayed her trust, and she had never forgiven him before her passing. The guilt lingered, gnawing at him. All Will wanted was to ensure Kaiza wouldn't face the same devastation he had endured—especially after the trauma of his first year in high school.
Yet, as he looked at Kaiza now, he couldn't shake the feeling that his efforts were in vain.
Will reluctantly placed the letter down, his head hung low as he turned and walked away from the room.
"Uncle Will," Kaiza called out suddenly, his voice breaking the heavy silence.
Will stopped in his tracks, but he didn't turn around. Kaiza had been watching him closely, observing the subtle shifts in his uncle's mood—how it mirrored his own behavior.
Inwardly, Kaiza wrestled with himself. He wanted to apologize, to explain his actions, to ask for forgiveness. But somehow, the words felt heavy, unexplainably wrong. Still, Luson's words and the kindness Will had shown him throughout his stay couldn't be ignored. Kaiza knew he couldn't hold on to his resentment any longer.
"I handled the situation wrongly. I'm sorry," Kaiza said softly, taking slow steps toward Will, who stood by the door. "I didn't mean those words. I—I take them back. And I promise, I'll never act like that toward you again. Never."
He stopped a few steps away, waiting for Will's reaction. He knew his uncle well—his soft heart, his boundless kindness. Kaiza could predict his next move.
Opening his arms, Kaiza stood just behind him, silently inviting him into an embrace.
As if on cue, Will turned abruptly, stepping into Kaiza's arms and hugging him tightly. His hands trembled as he patted Kaiza's back.
"Kaiza," Will began, his voice trembling, "I blame myself for everything that happened. I should have been better. A better person. A better brother to your mother. I—I'm a bad uncle. A terrible uncle."
Kaiza froze, caught off guard by Will's words. His mind raced, trying to decipher what he meant. Was it grief talking? Or was Will confessing something deeper? Kaiza wasn't sure, but he dismissed the thought, assuming his uncle was simply overcome with emotion and guilt.
When Will began to sob softly, Kaiza unfroze. Mimicking Will's gesture, he gently patted his back, offering silent reassurance. For now, Kaiza chose to let the moment pass without questioning it.
'Why isn't he saying anything? Does that mean he knows nothing? That's... satisfying! I can still be his favorite uncle,' Will thought, a subtle, almost mischievous smirk playing on his lips. He quickly masked it, returning to his gentle pats on Kaiza's back.
A few minutes later, Will stepped away, leaving Kaiza to his own thoughts.
Left alone, Kaiza felt the familiar surge of determination. This was the perfect time to delve into his system and uncover more about the war. The system had already hinted that his training would begin once he hit the five-day reading target. Now, Kaiza was on his fourth day, but he had already surpassed expectations. Instead of the usual two chapters, he had completed four and was now ready to tackle two more.
His thirst for power hadn't diminished in the slightest; if anything, it had grown. He was desperate to unlock his potential, to grasp the strength that seemed just out of reach.
Seated in a quiet corner of the room, Kaiza sank into the couch, his eyes narrowing with focus as he opened the system interface. The glowing interface sprang to life before him, instantly grabbing his attention.
[Knowledge Gained +10]
[Knowledge Gained +10]
[Quest Completion +10]
[Knowledge Gained +10]
[Quest Completed +10]
[Knowledge Gained +10]
[Knowledge Gained +10]
A slight smile curved Kaiza's lips as he scanned the messages. These points were crucial—they would allow him to unlock more chapters and begin his training in no time.
Without hesitation, he opened another tab, navigating to his daily quests. A single task surfaced on the screen:
[Read 2 Chapters]
That was the only task available to him. The other quests, such as his daily exercises, could only be completed in real-time, one day at a time. There was no way to fast-forward them. Reading, however, was different. He could use his accumulated bonus points to unlock new chapters ahead of schedule.
But Kaiza knew this came at a cost. Unlocking chapters with bonus points delayed his system's overall growth. Each chapter required a minimum of ten bonus points, a cost that increased with each new level. Similarly, his experience points required significant effort—he needed two hundred experience points to advance to level two.
Kaiza understood the consequences of his actions, but he didn't care. His thirst for power far outweighed the drawbacks.
With focused determination, Kaiza navigated through the system tabs and used his bonus points to unlock the final two chapters for the fifth day. He wasted no time and began reading.
The chapters weren't lengthy—just a heartfelt note penned by a retired hero for aspiring ones. The letter offered encouragement and wisdom, freely given to guide those chosen to wield the system.
The retired hero recounted his journey, starting as a young, inexperienced fighter, just like Kaiza. He spoke of his fear of death, a fear that had gripped him at the beginning. But over time, after facing death countless times, he had grown accustomed to its presence.
"Do not be afraid of death," the letter urged. "Instead, cherish every moment as a hero. You are fortunate—chosen to stand where others cannot. The world's future rests solely on your shoulders. Wear that responsibility with pride."
Kaiza paused, his mind lingering on the retired hero's words. There was something both inspiring and daunting about them. They reminded him of the journey ahead—one that demanded courage, resilience, and strength.
As Kaiza reached the final line of the chapter, marking the completion of the book, a metallic chime echoed in his mind. Almost instantly, a new tab opened on his system interface.
[Hero System X Book Finished]
[Training Classes Unlocked]
Kaiza's eyes scanned the message on the screen, his heart pounding in anticipation. But just as he processed the words, something unexpected occurred.
A sudden surge of energy coursed through his hand—a force so intense it made him flinch. The once-faded symbol on his palm began to glow, its intricate design becoming vivid and alive.
The sensation wasn't entirely painful, yet it wasn't pleasant either. It was overwhelming. Kaiza instinctively shifted from sitting to kneeling on his bed, pressing his other hand against the glowing mark in an attempt to ease the discomfort. He gritted his teeth, unsure whether to fight against the sensation or embrace it.
Moments later, the energy subsided, leaving Kaiza breathless but steady. The glow on his palm faded slightly, settling into a faint but visible mark. A new message appeared on his screen:
[Power Installed]
[Host Can Begin Classes]
"Power?" Kaiza murmured, his voice low and filled with curiosity. "Do I have power now?"
He stared at the symbol on his palm, then turned his hand over to inspect the back. A mix of wonder and satisfaction filled him as the realization sank in. Slowly, a smile crept across his lips—a smile of anticipation and newfound confidence.
Without hesitation, Kaiza navigated through the system interface, his fingers moving with purpose as he opened the training tab. The glowing screen reflected in his eyes, brimming with determination.
[Training Classes Available]
[Combat Basics]
[Tactical Strategies]
[Energy Manipulation]
[System Synchronization]
Each option pulsed faintly, as if inviting him to choose. Kaiza didn't waste time pondering. He selected Combat Basics, eager to begin his journey.
[Class Selected: Combat Basics]
[Initiating Training...]