"Do you still wish to become a hero?"

I opened my eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling. I would sigh and get up from my bed.

'Again with that dream, why do I have that same dream over and over... I've gone crazy, haven't I?..'

I started getting ready for the rest of my dull day while recalling the dream I've had every day for the past 14 years of my life since I was six. 

'"Do you still wish to become a hero?"'

'How stupid was I? How am I supposed to become a hero?'

I've been going to the same places for two years now, my workplace, a small coffee shop called Morning Haven, with the same people, with mostly the same customers every day, and the same basic college classes over and over. What am I doing with my life?..

I quickly left my apartment and locked the door as I started heading down the stairs. I strolled down to a bus stop and waited for my bus to arrive; when the bus finally arrived, that felt like a dull eternity. I got on and took a seat in the back right corner of the bus, staring out the window and watching the same scenarios go on as I listened to the news on my phone.

'"Do you still wish to become a hero?"'

'Those words said to me in my dream, I've heard them billions of times, words that repeat in my head every day.'

A few blocks away from my bus stop, the ground shook and a piercing roar filled the skies; the bus driver sped up the bus, and the other passengers and I looked out the windows horrified. A calamity, which was the hybrid between a dragon and lion the size of a semi-truck, crashed into another building; it quickly recovered and slaughtered the people nearby. Even though it was wingless, it soared through the air and tore anything with its fangs and claws, and scorched them with its fiery breath.

It spotted the bus in the distance and quickly leapt in the air, slammed its paw into the bus, sending it into a nearby building. The bus's side banged against the side of the building's wall, and most of the passengers were sent flying into the left wall, me included.

In a daze, I slowly got up from being flung to the left side of the bus. I winced in pain and saw the beast coming closer to the bus I looked around at the other passengers; most of them were either unconscious or injured due to the impact, including the bus driver. 

'What should I do?.. I don't want to die..'

I stared at the emergency exit of the bus and back at the other passengers.

'"Do you still wish to become a hero?"'

I took a deep breath, and my body began to move. I ran toward the emergency exit, grabbing a nearby rock from the ground. I threw it at the calamity.

*Thud.*

but it bounced off harmlessly. I then yelled at the beast, drawing its attention even more.

"HEY, MUTT! OVER HERE!"

I started running, the creature following me relentlessly.

'Ahh... I must be insane. I'm going to get myself killed for the sake of being a hero... I'm an idiot.'

I dashed into a nearby alleyway, but the beast couldn't fit through. It began tearing apart the buildings around it. I quickly glanced around, my heart pounding as I realized the alleyway was a dead end. Panic surged through me.

'So this is how I die...'

'"Do you still wish to become a hero, Kim Taejune?"'

I muttered to myself, barely able to speak through the fear.

"I... still want to be a hero... I wanted to go to Eden... I wanted to be a savior... But... is it okay if I die a hero, even though I won't become a savior... and die at twenty?"

'"I will grant your dream, Kim Taejune.."'

As the beast broke through the walls of the building and was standing before me and prepared to kill me, I felt like time slowed down, as a golden screen appeared in front of me.

[The Salvation System has completed loading..]

[Congratulations! Kim Taejune! You have passed the first trial a "hero"]

[You have gained the "Blessing": Spatial Acceleration]

[You have gained the "Passive": Limitless Dream]

I stood there in shock as the multiple screens appeared in front of me, I was feeling multiple emotions at the same time, confusion, happiness, and a touch of hope.

'"Do not be afraid, Kim Taejune.. this is the potential that was stolen from you... I will show you how strong you can be..

Listening to the voice in my head seemed to calm me down; my body moved on its own as the beast lunged at me its mouth opened as it prepared to scorch me with fire, I grabbed a nearby piece of the broken wall that the calamity broke off and threw it.

The chunk of the wall suddenly accelerated and in almost an instant pierced into the beast's forehead and through the rest of its body cleanly like a bullet. The beast stood there for a few moments before slumping down dead.

'I what- just happened...'

[You have saved 20 people from the "common" calamity, Dragalion]

[You have gained 100 Salvation Points]

I stared blankly at the screens while trying to process what just happened; then I felt my body grow weak, so I leaned against the wall as I slowly slumped down. I closed my eyes as I heard the voice in my head speak. While my eyes were about to close shut, I barely saw a screen appear in front of me.

'"Rest, Kim Taejune.. this isn't the end.. ████ █████ shall be █████ ██ ████ █████.."'

[You have gained the title: "█████ of █████████"]