I walked toward my home. After about ten minutes, I arrived at my house.
It wasn't too big nor too small—just enough for me and my sister. Two spacious bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen, and a small garden at the back.
For a moment, I stood still, staring at it.
I lived here with my younger sister, Olivia, who was fifteen years old.
This home was a part of my father's legacy, something I had inherited after his disappearance.
Both my father and mother, they both were S-rank hunters—exceptional warriors with extraordinary skills and abilities.
But one day, everything changed.
Fourteen years ago, an S-rank portal suddenly appeared in the middle of the city.
Monsters began roaming freely, something that had never happened before. Normally, creatures from the portals never crossed into our world, but that day was an exception.
My parents rushed to the scene, leading the evacuation efforts and battling the monsters that had emerged.
Alongside their comrades, they successfully pushed back the invading creatures, ensuring the city's safety.
But then, the government made a decision that sealed their fate.
Determined to eliminate the threat at its source, they organized a raid on the portal, selecting six S-rank hunters to enter. Among them were my father and mother.
But they never returned. None of them did.
And now, fourteen years have passed, yet the portal still remains, untouched, sealed off by the government—restricted to all citizens.
A monument to the hunters who never came back.
The government restricted a 14-kilometer radius around the portal, enforcing high security to ensure no citizen could cross its borders.
I sighed and stepped inside my house. My gaze landed on the shoe rack—Olivia still wasn't home yet.
She was late today.
I removed my shoes, placed them neatly on the rack, and walked further inside.
Opening my bedroom door, my eyes swept across the familiar sight—a bed covered in red sheets, a ceiling fan lazily hanging above.
A small cupboard stood against the wall beside a simple wooden table. The walls were plain white, adorned only by framed pictures of my father and mother.
I moved toward the table and pulled open the drawer.
Taking out the forty dollars from my pocket, I placed the money inside and shut the drawer.
With a tired sigh, I pulled off my shirt and turned to the mirror.
A reflection stared back at me—nineteen years old, red hair, blue eyes. My body wasn't flawless, but it was strong. My face, however, was another story.
Sharp, well-defined—features that mirrored my fathers in every way. A face that could make any girl fall for me if I tried.
But in contrast, it was all fake.
Dark circles clung beneath my eyes, a result of pushing myself too hard. My face, though chiseled, looked worn.
Scars marked my body—some old, some fresh. But the worst was my reddened, swollen skin, still stinging from the boiling water Logan had thrown at me.
I sighed again and headed toward the bathroom.
After spending some time in the bathroom, I stepped out, half-naked and refreshed.
Water droplets clung to my skin as I grabbed a towel and began drying my damp red hair. Sitting at the edge of my bed, I felt the mattress dip slightly beneath my weight.
My gaze wandered around the room, taking in its familiar features. It was big and spacious—at least, that's what it seemed to anyone who walked in.
If someone saw this house, they'd assume I was doing well, that I earned a lot.
But reality was different.
Only I knew how hard it was to manage everything.
Then—
My eyes landed on the old clock hanging on the wall. 7:20 PM.
"Olivia is late today," I thought.
I stood up and opened the cupboard, searching for something comfortable to wear.
After rummaging through my clothes, I pulled out a black baggy T-shirt and a pair of black trousers. Slipping them on, I felt a sense of ease.
Stepping out of my room, I headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
By the time I finished cooking, the clock read 8:45 PM—but Olivia still hadn't come home. A sense of unease settled in my chest.
I grabbed my phone and dialled her number.
But—her phone was switched off.
My concern deepened. My heart pounded faster with each passing moment.
Without hesitation, I rushed out of the kitchen and made my way to the front door, ready to leave and search for her—
But—
The door suddenly swung open.
Olivia stood there.
My breath became shallow as I took in the sight of her—
Relief hit me—until I saw her uniform.
The once crisp white and blue fabric was now dull, smeared with dirt and ink. Her crimson hair—the same shade as mine—was a tangled mess, strands sticking together with grime.
But what made my heart skip a beat was the swollen, red mark on her cheek.
I rushed toward her, my hands trembling as they hovered just inches from her face.
"W-what… Who did this to you?" My voice wavered, thick with anger.
She flinched at my words.
"N-no one, Ren… I-I'm fine." She spoke quickly, avoiding my gaze.
Then, without another word, she slipped off her shoes and hurried into her room, shutting the door behind her before I could say anything else.
My fists clenched, my jaw tightening.
James.
I knew exactly who had done this—James and his group.
He had been bullying her for weeks, and today, he had gone too far.
Without hesitation, I shoved on my slippers and stormed out of the house, my mind clouded with fury.
I knew where to find him.
Ten minutes of relentless running, my breath ragged with anger, brought me to the park.
And there he was—James, sitting on a bench, laughing with his group.
Seeing him laugh, something inside me snapped. Olivia's bruised face flashed in my mind, fueling my rage.
Without a second thought, without thinking the future consequences, I lunged at him.
"JAMES! HOW DARE YOU—"
Before he could even react, I tackled him, pinning him to the ground.
Punch.
Punch.
Punch.
Each blow landed with raw fury, my knuckles stinging with impact.
Jimmy, Lara, and Sophia's eyes widened in shock as I overpowered James, my rage fueling me beyond exhaustion.
But then—
A crushing force slammed into my face.
Pain exploded through my skull as I was sent sprawling onto the cold, hard ground.
James had used his skill 'superhuman strength.'
I barely had time to register the blood dripping from my nose before he wiped his own, his expression twisting with rage.
"YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" he roared.
And then—he started hitting me.
Hard.
Fists rained down like iron, each blow rattling my bones. I tried to block, but he was too fast—too strong.
Blood poured from my nose, my vision blurring. My face throbbed, swelling under the force of his relentless assault.
And all the while—
Jimmy, Lara, and Sophia watched.
Smirking.
Satisfied.
Then—
Javier stepped forward, his hand catching James's arm mid-swing.
James's fist hovered in the air, frozen.
He gritted his teeth and tried to push forward, but—he couldn't move an inch.
The difference in power was painfully clear. Javier gripped his wrist effortlessly.
James glared at him in fury, then yanked his arm back with a sharp pull. Meanwhile, I lay cradling my ribs on the cold ground, blood dripping from my mouth and nose.
"DID YOU FORGET WHO'S SUPERIOR, YOU BASTARD?!" James barked, lifting his fist to strike again.
But Javier stopped him—again.
"Enough. Both of you." His voice was deep, steady—commanding.
A tense silence fell over the group.
Sophia, Lara, and Jimmy stiffened at the sound of his voice. It was clear—they had never heard him speak before.
Then, Javier turned his gaze to Sophia.
"Sophia."
His cold, piercing eyes held a power that made her shrink back.
"Heal him." The command was firm, absolute.
Sophia flinched.
"I—I'm not healing that useless wretch," she stammered, her voice unsteady.
"Yeah, let him rot like this," James scoffed, spitting to the side before turning away.
Jimmy hesitated but quickly followed behind him like a loyal dog. Lara and Sophia exchanged glances before leaving as well, disappearing into the night.
Now, only Javier and I remained.
Javier watched them leave before shifting his gaze back to me.
I exhaled sharply, forcing my battered body to move. Slowly, I pushed myself up.
His eyes widened as I staggered to my feet and spat a mouthful of blood onto the dirt.
It wasn't the fight that surprised him—it was the fact that I was still standing.
Even after taking blow after blow from James's superhuman strength, I was still able to move.
"…Are you alright?"
He stepped forward, reaching out to help me.
But I shook my head and walked past him.
Javier didn't stop me. Instead, he watched my retreating figure, his expression unreadable.
Then, in a quiet murmur, he said, "…He's… impressive."
His eyes lingered on the bloodstains marking the dirt.
"He endured multiple iron punches—directly to the face. And more importantly, he hasn't even awakened yet, but his endurance is…" He trailed off, deep in thought.
Meanwhile, I walked through the dimly lit streets, the soft glow of the moon casting long shadows on the pavement.
My face throbbed, swollen and red, but it wasn't as bad as I had expected.
But more than the pain—something else lingered inside me.
Satisfaction.
The thrill of having finally landed a punch on James.
And… something else.
A quiet, growing excitement.
Because something was flashing before my eyes.
Bright, glowing blue letters.
⟪ Congratulations. ⟫
⟪ Congratulations. ⟫
⟪ Congratulations. ⟫
[ YOU HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECRET QUEST: 'WILL OF POWERLESS.' ]