Kael decided to test his limits further after his first trial. He wanted to evaluate his speed and reaction time.
Since the living room wasn't very large, he began by running laps around the couch. However, he quickly realized how pointless this test was—it only left him worn out without offering any measurable insight into his speed.
Frustrated, he switched to testing his reaction time. Picking up a glass plate, he tossed it into the air above his head, intending to dodge it as it fell. Yet, even this felt insufficient. He still had no concrete understanding of how fast or reactive he had become.
Instead, Kael decided to explore the other enhancements the system had hinted at.
{Your hearing and smell might have also evolved.}
The system's voice, deep and mechanical like an AI, prompted him to act.
He moved to the kitchen, turning the faucet on so that a single drop of water fell into the sink every second. Then, he rushed to the farthest end of the living room and focused on listening. To his surprise, he could hear the water droplets clearly.
Wanting to verify the extent of his enhanced hearing, he went into his bedroom and listened again. Despite the increased distance, the sound of the dripping water was as clear as ever.
Fascinated, Kael grew curious about how far his hearing could actually go. He concentrated on the sounds outside—footsteps, cars driving by, and faint murmurs.
But the influx of noise overwhelmed him. Everything came at once: the clatter of shoes on pavement, the hum of engines, and indistinct voices. It felt as if his mind was being torn apart by the sheer volume.
Abruptly, the chaos stopped. His body seemed to instinctively shut out the external noises, leaving him in silence once more.
"Damn, that was scary."
{You should probably take your training one step at a time. Don't forget, you just woke up to these abilities.}
Kael nodded, agreeing with the system. As he sat on his bed, thoughts swirled in his mind. If he was already this powerful as a Grade One, just how strong would others be?
A sudden knock at the door interrupted his contemplation.
'What? I'm not expecting any visitors. Who could it be?'
Rising cautiously, Kael moved to the living room and stared at the door. Anxiety gripped him—it seemed too convenient for someone to show up now. His house had been lifeless for years. Unless... Could this visitor have received word from the hospital about his awakening?
"Who are you?"
"I'm a government messenger. Please open up, Mr. Kael."
A deep, coarse voice boomed from the other side.
Of course, it was the government. Who else could possibly have information about his awakening?
Kael opened the door reluctantly. The last thing he wanted was trouble with the government. Standing before him was a man in a blue suit, wearing a dark face cap and holding a large suitcase that practically screamed "confidential."
"I'm Mike Rikom," the man said, extending a hand.
Kael shook it timidly. "Kael Auron."
"I come as a representative of the government and with a favor from your father," Mike began, pausing briefly as though gauging Kael's reaction. Kael maintained a stern, unfaltering stare.
"The government tax on this property has been overdue for years. As a result, we are here to confiscate your house. Everything owned by you is now government property."
Kael's expression darkened.
'What the hell? Didn't these guys get hit by the same wave? They should understand that the tax is overdue because we were all in slumber!'
Despite the anger bubbling within him, Kael kept his composure. He knew there was no point in retaliating against the government—not as a human, and certainly not as a mutant.
"You should meet my father about the tax. After all, he works for you," Kael responded coolly.
Mike shook his head. "That's the problem. Your father has been missing since the wave. We have no idea whether he's alive or not. All his responsibilities now fall onto you, including his loan, which currently amounts to five million diamonds."
Kael's mind reeled.
'Five million! What the fuck is this guy saying?'
"Though the loan was taken two years ago, the failure to pay on time caused it to inflate to this amount," Mike continued.
Kael's throat went dry.
'I'm in debt. Fuck. I'm dead—'
This wasn't his father's debt. The government had to be using it as leverage to claim his property—or worse, enslave him to work off the amount.
'Damnit. Why me of all people?'
Kael clenched his fists, tempted to grab the man by the neck and squeeze the life out of him. But the sight of the necklace around Mike's neck made him pause.
A Grade Three.
"Uhm, what is this? You're not even reacting. The usual human would be jumping in the air, begging for mercy," Mike said, puzzled by Kael's calm demeanor.
"It would be useless to do that. I'm dealing with the government, not some local loan shark. What's the deal?" Kael's voice was firm, though inwardly he was screaming.
'I'm friggin' dead. My Steeze! Loan taker! Curse you, government loans!'
Mike smirked. "The deal, huh? In time, you'll know."
With that, Mike raised the suitcase in his hand and handed it to Kael.
"What's this?"
"Your father left this in his lab for you. It's password-protected. I don't know what's inside, but since it was meant for you personally, I did him a friendly favor and snuck it out without the government's consent," Mike explained, winking. "I'm not all that bad, am I?"
Kael forced a fake smile.
'I feel like ripping this bastard apart.'
Mike waved and began walking away.
"We'll see each other sooner than you expect, Kael Auron. Till then, take care."
Kael watched him get into a Lamborghini and speed off. Once the car disappeared from view, Kael looked down at the suitcase in his hands. Frustration surged through him.
'Even when you aren't here, Dad, you still find ways to ruin my life.'