Putting the Rune

Lifting its finger, Vesa began to trace intricate symbols in the air. Each stroke left behind a green glow, forming an intricate rune. Alex tried to follow the movements, but they were too fast, too complex. 

It didn't take long. The rune floated, humming with power. Then— With a single gesture, Vesa pushed it into Emily's forehead.

A brilliant light erupted, flooding the room in a pulsating green hue. Alex was forced to shut his eyes. When he opened them— Vesa was gone. But Emily… Her once white hair had turned back to golden. Her pale, lifeless face had regained its rosy warmth.

A wave of relief crashed over Alex, and he slumped onto the couch. A small chuckle escaped his lips—then another. Until he was laughing. Laughter, filled with exhaustion, relief, and disbelief. He had just realized how insane everything he did was.

Normally, he calculated everything. He planned. He optimized. But this time—he had thrown caution to the wind. He had fought like a madman. He remembered every single wound. Every bite. Every torn limb. Every moment of pain. And yet— It was worth it. His eyes softened as they landed on Emily's peaceful, sleeping face. A quiet whisper left his lips. "I never knew… they mattered this much to me."

A new thought crept in. If he had this power when his father disappeared… Would things have been different? Should he go search for him now? He needed to enter a Category Five dungeon anyway… Alex shook the thought away. "Forget it for now." Instead, his gaze flickered to the storage cube. A smirk tugged at his lips. "Let's see if I can really catch 'em all," he chuckled, recalling an old anime pun.

With excitement, he checked the storage box's interface. But His face dropped. "FUCK!" His smile vanished as he stared at the display. Inside the cube, The Sabertooth Wolf lay lifeless. It was dead. Alex's fingers tightened around the cube. The backlash from its own ability must have killed it. Before he could process the frustration, a groggy voice spoke. "Brother… who are you cursing at?" His head snapped up.

Emily was awake. Her body lifted slightly, her sleepy eyes blinking in confusion. "Is it a game again?" She rubbed her forehead, her memories returning in fragments. Then— She froze. Her face paled. Her breathing quickened. She jumped out of bed, rushing toward Alex. Her hands gripped his shoulders, her eyes scanning his body for injuries. Her voice trembled. "You…!? What happened to you!? Are you okay now? Last time, I—" Her words died as she touched her own neck. Her fingers trembled over the spot where Alex's hands had been. Her expression shattered. "Shouldn't I have…?"

Alex reached into his storage ring, pulling out a bottle of water. He placed it on the table. "Drink first, Emily." His voice was low—almost hesitant. Then, softly, "I'm sorry. I failed you as your brother. I put your life in danger…" He exhaled, eyes fixed on the bottle—unable to meet her gaze. Then, in a whisper, "Are you… afraid of me now?" He couldn't bring himself to look. Because if she lied—if she said no just to comfort him—He wasn't sure he could handle it.

After awakening his ability, Alex had gained an uncanny ability to detect lies just from people's expressions. At first, he thought it was a blessing. But those first few months had been hell. He started realizing just how often the people around him lied. It was one of the reasons he had buried himself in the virtual world—where he didn't have to see it. Where lies didn't matter. Where he could just… exist.

Emily, watching her brother, knew exactly what he was thinking. This wasn't the first time she had seen him like this—closed off, hesitant, doubting. And it pained her. Without a word, she stepped forward and pulled Alex into a tight embrace. Her voice was soft, yet firm. "I'm your family, you dumb brother. Not those shallow people with their own agendas. Why the hell would I lie to you?"

Then, before Alex could react, she grabbed his face, forcing him to look at her. Her sapphire eyes burned with emotion. "I am afraid. Afraid you'll leave me too… like Dad did." Her grip tightened. "So tell me what happened. I'm not letting you go until you tell me everything."

Alex froze for a second. Then— He smiled. And with a light knock on her forehead, he scoffed. "Who are you calling dumb? You silly sister of mine." 

Emily pouted and stomped back, pretending to be angry.

CRACK!

The ground split beneath her feet. She stopped mid-step, eyes wide. She hadn't even used that much force. Closing her eyes, she focused inward. There it was—a new source of energy. Something foreign, yet familiar. Her eyes snapped open, locking onto Alex. She didn't say a word. Instead, she grabbed the water bottle, took a long sip, and sat down on the couch.Her gaze, however, never left him. Alex sighed. There was no escaping this. Emily had always known when he was hiding something. And now? She definitely wouldn't let this go. "Alright." He exhaled, leaning forward. "First off, what's inside you is a Rune made from lifeforce."

Then, he told her everything. About the Rune. About Vesa. About vampires, the Progenitor, and Mingyue. About the cultivation world. He even showed her the storage cube, explaining his plans for it. 

The entire time, Emily just sat there. Not blinking. Not interrupting. Just listening. When he finally finished, she spoke. Her voice was calm, yet sharp. "So you're telling me… the blood you consumed is Progenitor blood?"

Alex nodded. "Yeah. You've heard of it?"

Emily hesitated. Then, slowly, she said— "Every new hunter is told… if they ever hear the word Progenitor— They should report it to the Association immediately. And stay the hell away." Her eyes were filled with worry as she looked at him.

Alex's fingers tightened against his leg. "So… there are other Progenitors?" he muttered.

[Of course, King. Every race has one. Even humans.]

Alex's frown deepened. Humans didn't just exist on his planet. Even Mingyue's world had humans. Which meant… The Human Progenitor must be insanely powerful. His mind raced with questions. But with Emily sitting across from him, he held back. Now wasn't the time.