The hero paradox. | 4

I was in the park early in the morning, when the sun was just beginning to light up the horizon. At that time, the park was deserted, giving it the perfect setting to train without attracting attention. As I stretched my muscles, I found myself thinking about my new body and how I can adapt using valuable knowledge from his past life as Alexander Stone.

The first few days had been difficult. My current body, though young and full of energy, lacked the stamina and strength I possessed in my previous life. I knew I needed to work hard to reach my true potential. I started with basic exercises: push-ups, sit-ups and short runs. Each repetition was another step towards my goal, and although fatigue was present, I could not give up.

This is just the beginning, I thought as I performed a series of push-ups. Every drop of sweat is an investment in my future power. The cool dawn breeze stroked my face, giving me a moment of calm amid the effort.

I get up and start practicing combat moves, visualizing my former enemies and how I skillfully defeated them. Every punch and every kick was executed accurately, seeking to improve their technique and efficiency. My current little body was weak as a little puppy and I had to strengthen myself, but my mind was still that of an experienced warrior.

As the sun rose in the sky, I moved on to more advanced training. I used my Initial Arcane Energy, created small barriers and projectiles to improve my control over this ability. Each training makes me stronger, faster, more accurate, I repeated myself endlessly.

My thoughts also returned to recent events and the promise I had made to myself never to give up. I remembered the confrontation with the man in the alley and how having used my ability was the cause to emerge victorious. That was just a first step, I thought. There is still a lot to learn and improve.

With each exercise, I felt my body adapt and strengthen. My breathing became more controlled, my muscles responded more quickly, and my mind remained focused on its ultimate goal. I knew I was on the right track, but also that the road would be long and full of challenges.

Finally, when the park started to get crowded, I thought it would be better to stop. I was able to train in secret once again, and my progress was evident. One day at a time, I said to myself.

With a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, I finally left the park.

Should I check my profile.

Then I stopped for a moment and decided to check on my progress. With a clear thought, I said quietly:

— Show Profile —

Immediately, a holographic panel appeared in front of me, showing their current statistics and skills.

What should I focus on?

|Raiden Profile|

|Current level: 15

Attribute points available: 20

Available Skills: 10

|Player Statistics|]

Force (STR): 20

Agility (AGI): 18

Resistance (END): 16

Intelligence (INT): 25

Wisdom (WIS): 22

Charisma (CHA): 12

Lucky (LUK) **: 10

Arcane Control (ARC) **: 23

|Assign Skill Points|

|Magic Skills|

Arcane Barrier: Level 5

Arcane Projectile: Level 6

New Skill: Blocked

|Summary|

-|Assigned Attribute Points: [...]

|Assigned Skills: [...]

|confirm Assignments: [yes] [No]

As I analyzed my statistics in the holographic panel, a loud explosion echoed in the distance, shaking the ground beneath my feet. Instinctively, I looked up and saw a plume of black smoke rising in the sky from a nearby building.

The noise of the explosion attracted the attention of people in the park, who began running in the opposite direction to the scene of the incident. I closed the holographic panel with a quick movement and headed towards the source of the disaster, determined to find out what was happening.

When I arrived at the scene, one of the towers of an office building was engulfed in flames. Broken glass and debris scattered on the ground indicated the extent of the damage. Without wasting time, the mystical system was activated, showing me a new mission at its interface:

[New Mission: Rescue in the Catching Fire Building]

|Description|: An explosion has caused a fire in an office building. Your mission is to rescue trapped people and secure the area.

|Difficulty level|: Medium

|>Rewards: 15 experience points, 5 skill points, 10 attribute points

|Objectives|

1. Rescue at least 5 trapped people.

2. Control fire with your Arcane Energy.

Three. Ensure emergency exit.

I watched the panel for a moment, feeling a mix of emotions. The sound of the explosion still echoed in my mind, still stunned. The mission was dangerous, and although he had trained hard for months, he could not ignore the fact that he was still a child. Was it really worth risking your life for this? I thought about the pros and cons, currently considering my physical limitations and my body's lack of experience in extreme situations.

But then my gaze focused on the mission rewards: 15 experience points, 5 skill points, 10 attribute points. I felt greed shine in my eyes. It wasn't the concern for trapped people that honestly motivated me, but to have in front of me the reason why I can increase my level in the system.

With a sigh, I knew I couldn't pass up this opportunity. I closed the panel with determination, aware that dangers are not always chosen.

I walked to the entrance of the building, dodging debris and avoiding the most dangerous areas. Dense smoke made breathing and visibility difficult, but I was confident in my ability to adapt and act under pressure.

The smoke was thick and hot, making every breath feel like a burn in my lungs. I moved forward carefully, dodging debris and looking for any signs of life. I heard a faint scream to my right and headed there.

When I arrived, I found a woman trapped under a desk. Without thinking twice, I used my Arcane Energy to lift the furniture and release it. — Quick, go that way to the exit! — I said as I pointed the clear way. The woman nodded and began to run towards the exit.

I continued to move forward, cries for help echoed in my ears. I arrived at a small cubicle where a child was huddled, crying and refusing to move. Shit, I thought. — Come on, it's dangerous here! — I said, but the child didn't move. Without wasting any more time, I took his hand tightly and quickly led him to the exit. I felt his fear and despair, but I couldn't afford to falter now.

With the child safe, I headed to the next floor. The stairs were filled with smoke, and every step was a challenge. I found an older man staggering, barely conscious. — Don't worry, I'll get you out of here — I muttered as I helped him stand. With effort, I took him to the exit, where some rescued people had already gathered.

The fire was getting more intense, and the flames seemed to want to catch me. My heart was beating hard as I climbed to the fourth floor. I can't fail now, I said to myself. I found an older woman, semi-conscious from the smoke. I carried it on my middle back dragging it, feeling the weight and pressure at every step I took to descend. I knew it was impossible for me to carry it now. It had to save as much energy as possible. As soon as I was near the exit I left it near the entrance hoping it won't be burned. And again I headed for the immense heat.

My breathing was heavy and my legs were shaking, but I forced myself to stand. It didn't matter how tired he was. As long as I could achieve my goal, nothing else mattered.

In the middle of chaos. The fire roars around me, and the thick smoke tarnishes the view. I don't feel the heat or the pain; I'm focused on my mission. Firmly, I raise up the old man, the fifth civilian I must rescue. His weight isn't significant, but every second counts in this hell.

As I move forward with the old man, a flash in the distance catches my attention. Amid the flames and rubble, I see a little girl. His eyes, filled with deep terror, look at me pleadingly.

She's alive, barely, I thought. I didn't need to guess much. The fire looked hungry and desperate to melt her skin, it was immense, as if at any moment it will engulf her with its flames.

a waste of time.

His eyes dig into mine, a mute plea that I ignore without hesitation. Weakness has put her in that situation, and if she hadn't depended on others, she could have been saved. Life is cruel, and those who cannot fend for themselves are destined to perish. Trying to save her was like a totally unnecessary kind of heroic suicide.

The old man in my arms is my priority, and I lead him out with unwavering determination. I look away and continue to move forward. There is no internal conflict, no doubt. I have learned to be insensitive to the suffering of others when it stands in my way. My mission is to save the old man, and that's what I'll do.

Every step brings me closer to the exit. The noise of flames and screams fades into the background. Finally, I'm out, handing the old man over to the paramedics. I pause for a moment, watching the chaos I have left behind. However, something in the old man's expression forces me to stop.

— What's wrong? — I ask, my voice barely audible by the noise and confusion around me.

The old man, his eyes filled with tears and his voice broken with emotion, looks at me with a mixture of disbelief and fury, — You are a monster... You didn't save my granddaughter. —

The accusation hits me like a wave of poison. My face remains impassive, confused by his claim but his words burn in the air.

— How could you do that? — he shouts, his voice filled with despair and anger. — She was there, still alive; you could have saved her! But instead, you let her die. Damn you! You are but a demon disguised as a savior! —

His gaze pierces me like a dagger, full of hatred and resentment. The blood overflowing in my palms warmly greets the dirt stuck to my knuckles.

Was it dirt coming from the dilapidated building or was it always instilled in me?

I stopped clenching my fists tightly. I don't know when my nails turned into vampires in search of miserable drops of blood, but they had plunged firmly into them.

I did what I had to do, nothing more, nothing less. Guilt isn't part of me when something happens that I couldn't control. It wasn't my fault. Rationality and efficiency are my only guides in my survival and have never failed me for trusting them.

— You have no heart —

Between my life and that of others, I will always choose mine.

— You will never be a hero. Just a monster. —

––

The cold, bright lights in the interrogation room lit up every corner, casting long, gloomy shadows. A boy was sitting in a metal chair, his hands resting quietly on the table. The room had a clinical and aseptic air, but the sound of the fan buzzing in the ceiling was the only thing that broke the oppressive silence.

However, his appearance was still that of a child. His large, expressive eyes did not reflect the calculation and coldness of his thoughts, but an innocent curiosity. His face, free from any signs of tension, could have belonged to any child on a school day.

A security officer, with a stern expression and furrowed eyebrows, sat in front of him. He dropped a thick file on the table with a dull blow. The leaves slid, showing photos of the rescue, including the blurry image of the girl caught in the flames.

— Raiden Takumi, — the officer began in a deep voice, — we need to understand what happened in the burning building. There are conflicting reports and many unanswered questions. —

The boy looked at the photos with apparent disinterest, letting the officer get impatient. — What exactly do you want to understand? — he replied, keeping his voice neutral and revealing nothing.

The officer frowned. — You are accused of letting a girl die when you had a chance to save her. We want to know your side of the story. —

Raiden bowed his head slightly, assessing the situation. — Interesting accusation. Who made those reports? Were they eyewitnesses? Because the details can be misleading in such chaotic situations. —

The officer tensed up, clearly upset by Raiden's evasive response. — We are not here to discuss the accuracy of the reports. We want to know why you didn't save the girl.—

Raiden remained calm, letting the silence spread before speaking. — Are you telling me that, as a child, I had a duty to save everyone? Where were the adults while I was risking my life? Why doesn't he claim them, those who watched from the outside? He should be thanking me for saving five lives, instead of attacking me for not being able to save one who was doomed. —

The officer was speechless for a moment, surprised by Raiden's counterattack. His face showed a mixture of disbelief and frustration as he tried to process the boy's words. I knew Raiden was right to some extent. His mind struggled to find a way to respond without losing authority, but doubts began to infiltrate his resolution.

The officer leaned back in his chair, rubbing his face in an attempt to soothe his growing irritation. His thoughts were a whirlwind of justifications and unanswered questions. He could not deny that the situation was desperate and that the responsibility for saving everyone should not fall solely on Raiden's shoulders. However, the pressure to find a scapegoat pushed him to maintain his stance, albeit with less and less conviction.

Raiden felt slight satisfaction at the agent's confidence crumbling. He had planted the seeds of doubt in his mind, diverting attention from his actions and into the incompetence of others.

The officer was silent for a moment, staring at Raiden. The boy's words had affected him more than he was willing to admit. — And you? How do you feel about it? — he asked finally, his voice barely whispering.

Raiden smiled a faint smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. — What I feel is not relevant. What matters is that I did what I could. Maybe you should reflect on why someone like me, a child, was the only one to act while others watched. —

Raiden's words penetrated deep into the agent's mind, sowing a latent guilt he could not ignore. He recalled scenes from his own life, moments when he had been a passive observer rather than an actor. Doubts cluttered, and the bitter realization of his own failings made him falter.

The officer looked at Raiden, but no longer saw only a child. I saw someone who had played with him from the beginning. Someone who had highlighted the weaknesses and failures of those they were to protect. The irony was painful, and the helplessness palpable.

With one last effort to maintain his composure, the agent slowly stood up, feeling the weight of guilt and doubt at every step.

Raiden watched him as he left, the agent's gaze charged with conflicting emotions. For him, manipulating, hurting and this time, diverting the conversation for his own benefit was as natural as breathing. He was fully aware of their actions and their impact, but he did not see the gravity of them as long as they served their own ends. Indifference to consequences was part of his nature, one he felt no need to question.

Raiden looked away at the mirror on the wall, aware that there was surely someone watching him from the other side. I knew that mirror wasn't just there for aesthetics. The thought of being watched did not disturb him; on the contrary, he found something ironic in the situation. In this world, an interrogation was as far as they could come. In their home world, if it hadn't been Alexander Stone and just a commoner, they would have opted for execution without a second thought.

The sound of the door opening broke the silence. An officer entered, informing Raiden that his guardian had arrived. The door opened completely, and Hana, her mother, burst into the room, her face overflowing with concern.

— Raiden! — He exclaimed, his voice trembling. He knelt beside him, inspecting him quickly for any signs of damage. — Are you okay? You've been hurt? Oh my God, I'm so sorry I was late! —

Anxiety and fear shone in his eyes as he filled him with questions, barely giving him time to answer. Every word, every gesture, reflected a mother's deep love and despair for her child. It was evident that Hana not only feared for her physical well-being, but also for the emotional impact of everything that had happened. Her only son, her reason for being, was safe, but the fear of losing him still gripped her.

Raiden, meanwhile, watched Hana with genuine curiosity. The intensity of his emotions seemed distant, almost alien to his own experience. Despite everything, he allowed her to express her anguish, aware that this demonstration of love and concern was a facet of life that he had never fully understood.