Rewards[3]

I stood still as Silia placed her hand on my chest. It was time to upgrade my Healing Self skill. A warm, almost searing energy spread from her fingertips, and suddenly, an unbearable pain shot through my body. My legs gave out, and I fell to my knees, my breathing ragged. It felt as if my very cells were being rewritten. Every fiber of my being screamed in agony. But as quickly as it came, the pain began to subside, leaving behind a strange sensation—like something deep inside me had changed.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and hurriedly pulled up my status panel on my device.

[Healing Self – C Rank]

User can heal minor and moderate injuries quickly. Deep wounds require time. Cannot regenerate lost limbs or heal fatal injuries. Cooldown time: 6 hours.

A smirk crept onto my lips. Not bad. This will be useful in battle.

Without wasting time, I placed the transparent silver stone on the table and looked at Silia. "Now, let's see what this thing has in store for me."

She nodded, placing her delicate fingers over the stone. The moment her palm touched it, a blinding silver glow burst forth. The stone cracked apart, dissolving into shimmering dust that coalesced into a floating book made of rough, aged wood.

Silia handed it to me. On the front cover, glowing in golden letters, was the title:

[Acceleration Burst – F Rank]

I frowned. "F rank? That's a bit underwhelming."

Silia shrugged. "Skills aren't always about rank. Some have insane potential if trained well. But since you're lucky enough to have me…" She smirked.

I sighed and absorbed the skill. Unlike before, this time, the pain was minimal—just a sharp jolt through my veins before it settled. A familiar feeling now.

"Alright, time to upgrade it." I looked at Silia expectantly.

She placed her hand on my chest once again, and the pain returned, sharper this time. It felt like my bones were burning from the inside out, but I gritted my teeth and endured. After what felt like hours, the pain faded.

I pulled up my status panel.

[Acceleration Burst – C Rank]

User can move at 2x their maximum speed for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes.

I clenched my fists, feeling the raw power flow through my veins. Not as game-changing as I hoped, but mobility in battle was crucial. This could mean the difference between life and death.

Silia and I spent the next four hours practicing my new abilities. She tested my reaction speed, endurance, and control over Acceleration Burst, while I pushed my Healing Self to its limit, seeing how much damage I could sustain before my body refused to regenerate.

By the time we finished, exhaustion hit me like a truck. My muscles ached, and my mind was foggy.

I walked back inside my house, heading straight to my parents' room. The familiar scent of old wood and faint traces of their cologne lingered in the air. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at their framed picture.

"I miss you…" I muttered, my fingers brushing against the frame.

It didn't make sense. Where were they? No letters, no calls, no explanation—just gone.

A sudden urge hit me. I needed answers. I searched the entire house, from the kitchen to the storage rooms, but nothing stood out.

Then, in my own room, I opened my closet, rifling through the cabinets.

And that's when I saw it.

A note.

It was small, folded neatly, and placed deep in the cabinet as if hidden on purpose. My heart pounded as I slowly unfolded it.

The message was simple but haunting.

"6 years for life."

The letters were written in dark red ink—or at least, I hoped it was ink.

I stared at it, my fingers tightening around the edges. What the hell does this mean?

I turned to Silia. "This… this isn't some prank, right?"

She took the note from my hand, her golden eyes narrowing. "No… This carries a strange energy. I can't tell exactly what, but it's not ordinary."

A deep sense of unease settled over me. My gut told me this was serious. My parents were involved in something far beyond what I understood. Meanwhile… Far Away…

While I was preparing for my future, something terrifying was happening elsewhere.

A crack appeared in the sky, and from it, a red-skinned figure with white glowing eyes and scar-covered muscles emerged. Its presence distorted the air, and the ground beneath it cracked with each step.

It walked towards a large building, and on the front, the words "Central Hospital" were written.

Two B-ranked guards standing at the entrance noticed it.

"Hey! Who are you—"

SLASH!

Before they could react, their heads rolled to the ground, their bodies collapsing in a pool of blood.

Inside the hospital, screams erupted as the figure slaughtered everyone in its path. Doctors, nurses, patients—none were spared.

Minutes later, the Elite Heroes Association (EHA) was informed of the attack.

Vice Leader Alaric Grant, a Legendary-ranked hero, immediately sent two S-ranked heroes to investigate.

When the report came back, Alaric's face darkened.

17 B-rank guards

3 A-rank staff

21 F-rank nurses

All dead.

Even worse?

No security footage. No survivors. No trace of the killer.

Alaric clenched his fists. "What the hell is going on?"