《The Villain's Shopping System》


 Chapter 1 - 0 - Introduction

    <h4>Chapter 1: Chapter 0 - Introduction</h4>


    Everything changed on Red Night. It all started that night


    In 2050, the world was a different ce. The cities glowed with neon lights and technology reached new limits that humanity had always longed to attain. Still, billions of citizens lived their daily lives, unaware of what was going to arrive.


    After the sunset of that day, everything changed. A catastrophic event, that became worldwide known as the Red Night, immersed the world in darkness. All the lights in the world went out, and electronicponents, industry, and machines, all copsed as human society fell into this unprecedented chaos.


    Every governmental institute was left unresponsive, and voiceless to their peers. As even the most basic radio transmission was impossible as if an electromaic pulse of unprecedented length had spread over the entire. But it all worsened in the uing hours, when the supposed sunrise was finally set free, approaching the different parts of the world on the next day, no light appeared, as if that gigantic sphere of fire disappeared. Instead, in some ces of the world we were left with only one thing shining a scarlet light, the blood-tinged moon.


    Initially, most schrs theorized that a devastating sr st was the reason for the fall of the technology, burning out even the mostplex circuits, but secretly, the answer was far away from it.


    On one of the G7 nation''s territories, the first practical test to seek the creation of a teleportation machine took ce. In theputer simtions, everything was going wlessly, connecting one point of the world to another, and so, those in charge of the test program believed it would be a safe test, which has proven to be far from reality. They indeed seed in creating teleport technology, at the cost of the release of unknown energy to the world.


    Regardless of whether these tests were the cause of the darkness, humanity''s consequences were terrible. Amidst the worldwide chaos, thousands of people died as a result of riots, break-ins, and general fear. Establishments all over the globe were looted, and the government''s loss easily passed trillions.


    Seventy-two hourster, the sun was finally back on the horizon again and with the return of the electricity, mankind received a ray of hope. However, the biggest problem that the Red Night brought with it was not technological destruction or even social decay, but something worse.


    After a few days, while the government was still trying to understand what had happened that day and how to recover, an unknown portal appeared in the middle of a hospital in southern China. Three of the hospital''s five floors were quickly consumed by purple mes, leaving no trace of the doctors, nurses, and patients on the building. From the rubble of the hospital, a burning humanoid creature emerged. That very night hundreds of simr cases urred all over the world, and on this day humanity discovered that the Red Night was only the beginning of something much worse than anyone could imagine.


    Creaturesing out of mysterious portals were dubbed as Transcendent, for they were beyond anything humanity had ever faced during its entire history, transcending the natural limits of living beings. The nation''s governments affected by the appearance of the Transcendents needed to use all their warlike potential tobat these supernatural creatures in the very first days, and yet this was hardly enough.


    These monsters, that were only known as myths, were iming dominance over ournd and slowly turning it into ruins.


    A few weeks after the start of the pandemonium with the Transcendents, thousands of people began to be taken to hospitals, as they were suddenly falling asleep.


    In the beginning, when the first patients were stilling in, doctors thought that these was just basic cases of narcolepsy, from all the stress and hunger from the days before. But the ones who fell into this deep sleep haven''t woken up since. And after weeks, the cases just kept increasing.


    Soon, this symptom of drowsiness followed by the deep sleep became known as Lethargic Encephalitis, a disease with no known cure and so a further danger to the human civilization. As one could not tell how it was spreading, nor how to deal with it.


    After two months of the first official diagnosis of Lethargic Encephalitis, the one individual returned to this chaotic world scenario, with even more famine and misfortune ravaging every corner of the earth than when he fell. Just one hourter, 10 more opened up their eyes for no apparent medical reason, these few that returned from that endless dream were called the Awakened Ones.


    The Awakenings were sorted as such as they were individuals who, for some reason, managed to wake up from the deep sleep. Following the first year, not more than a few hundred have woken up, and the research into why they were released from that strange state still needed to be carried out by the authorities. After just two months, the first experiment with one of these unusual individuals began, and humanity finally contemted the dawn of a new hope. It was still far from a cure, but it could be something even better than one.


    In Northern Europe, arge horde of Transcendents was moving towards a medium-sized settlement in Norway, and this colony was extremely important logistically as it served as a distribution center for supplies for the entire European Alliance. However, the horde of Transcendent never actually attacked the ce, as halfway through, an Awakened jumped out of a ne into the middle of the horde, andpletely single-handedly wiped it out in a just few minutes.


    Humanity was breathless by that news. The few lucky ones that endured and managed to wake up from the deep sleep were blessed with the powers to fight the monstersing out of the other world.

 Chapter 2 - 1 - Awakening

    <h4>Chapter 2: Chapter 1 - Awakening</h4>


    Over neen years have passed since the so-called red night, and humanity is still struggling to survive in a world transformed by the emergence of the Transcendent and Awakened.


    Society has been changed to only focus on the existence of the Awakened Ones, who started to get more idolized than the heroes of the oldic books. But such fame was not just in vain. Since the year 2050 the global poption has been reduced from 10 to only 5 billion, the citizens now lived in cities, settlements, and security areas scattered all over the world, and the only few that could travel around with flying cars were the ones previously authorized by governments or their unions.


    There was not a single part of the would that ever returned to resemble the days before the red night, after all, the portals can still appear anywhere and at any time, just as anyone can be affected by the deep sleep. But for the regr citizens, getting affected by Lethargic Encephalitis was not that bad for those who live in extreme poverty, as the slightest chance of bing an Awakened is probably the only gasp of air they can have in this dishonored world.


    As any other regr citizen, Kaito was a young man living in an ordinary safe zone, far away from the big districts and the great cities, with a mostly boring life, he never had the misfortune or luck to see a Transcendent with his own eyes in his entire life, as the Awakened Ones usually enter the portals before they can escape.


    Kaito was far from fit, but his dark red hair and strong green eyes would get the attention of those who see him, he loves the history of the Old World and the materials from all that is left of it. As such, he would spend most of his days reading books about how the world used to be, learn about the Transcendent and the Awakened Ones, and since his childhood, he had the only focus of of ying a ssic MMORPG that was created before 2050 but is kept online to this day.


    However, in today''s Earth situation, anyone who is notpletely focused on military studies and martial arts is considered strange and out of touch with reality. Thus, Kaito''s fascination with monsters from games and stories has alienated him from ordinary people, not to mention his appearance.


    Ever since he was a child, his life has always been garbage. When he was only five years old, his parents divorced and his mother left. His father exined yearster that she went to study and live in one of the 26 big capitals. Later Kaito realized that this was just a huge lie to hide that she had left them to be a concubine of some rich guy. Alone and raised only by his father, and although his father''s financial life was notfortable, they had aforting life if you may call so.


    Kaito''s father worked for 15 hours a day as a plumbing supervisor in the sewers of the safe area where they live, with his sry he could provide just an ordinary life for his son, with ordinary schooling and ordinary growing supplies. However, on a certain day, the umtion of so much effort took a heavy toll on Kaito''s father. He became seriously ill and, dayster, was fired from his job for supposedly not fulfilling his obligations.


    From that moment on, life became moreplicated for both of them.


    To begin with, Kaito was obviously not one of the popr kids. And being fat and talking about weid subjects was far from helping him, he often suffered bullying from his ssmates, while most of the other kids and instructors at school pretended not to see it.


    Although Kaito did not like going topulsory school because of these things, he persisted, as his father once told him that to be a good man one had to learn a little bit of everything, especially how to protect oneself, which would not really be the case, as the other kids would train their new martial arts moves on Kaito. Moreover, since there was a chance that anyone could be an Awakened if they got the Lethargic Encephalitis, he was also forced to receive basic training, only this hypothetical fate was more than unlikely in his opinion.


    The two months with his sick father were far from great for Kaito, but the young man did his best and continued going to school and doing everything his father asked him to do. But his father''s medical condition only worsened. Over time, he began to sleep more and more, and since physical weakness was not a symptom of Lethargic Encephalitis, he did not get free medical help from the Alliance, Earth''s main governing body.


    Few day after Kaito''s fifteen birthday, his father would finally have some rest. The day after Kaito''s only family member closed his eyes forever, an Alliancewyer visited him at the empty funeral with a letter of the testament in hand.


    Before hisst breath, Kaito''s father still left some money saved in a card, as well as a letter authorizing his emancipation, so that he wouldn''t have to live in some orphanage in the security area, at least if he didn''t want to.


    Six months have passed since then and Kaito continues to live alone in his small apartment, which is now almost empty after selling most of the furniture to grab some quick money. The few that he inherited practically run out from the trent and the abusive taxex that only help the rich and awakened. With less and less options, the only thing that could sustain Kaito was the job as a cleaner.


    After the lost of his father, he had no reason to go to school, and with the few time left from work, he would continue to y Death Tower, his favorite MMORPG since childhood.


    However, even after a few years of ying, Kaito has never managed to explore all fifty floors of the game, and from all the time he spent in the game, he was only able to visit fout of them. When he started ying, Mortal Tower was a very famous game and at one point in its past there were almost four thousand simultaneous yers, but after all this time, Kaito realized that he was probably the only yer left on the server.


    Even so, he insisted on ying, as he found the history of the world, the NPCs, and everything else so fun. It was maybe hisst form of relief, as the ce where he could live a life different from his meaningless and boring life.


    In Death Tower, he always tried to act like a powerful viin, so that the other yers could have someone to fight, but even this wouldn''t save the game. And at one point, the game seemed to adapt to Kaito and exalt him as the viin to be defeated by the great hero. So when Kaito finally reached the forty-first floor, the hero was waiting for him at the door.


    Sitting in his chair in front of his dusty oldputer desk, with the shining screen brightening the dark room, Kaito fought with everything he had against the hero and still lost, and when a yer dies in Death Tower, there is no reviving. Therefore, as he is thest yer to die, Kaito does not see the typical death words, instead, he hears a line from the narrator of the story.


    "... And so, the hero''s journey hase to an end, leaving behind a world that will never be the same again, now that he has finally rid himself once and for all of the Vampire King''s shadow of evil."


    Hearing thosest words made Kaito feel a little ufortable, for an obvious reason. This was not quite the ending he wanted for his gamey from the beginning, however, there was no other way. This was inevitable, and maybe it was time for him to grow up.


    After listening to the monologue, the game closed and Kaito felt his body strange. His eyes started to close and his breathing started to get weaker and weaker. Slowly blinking and trying to understand what was happening, the game closed and he fell asleep.


    ''''I''ve been pretty tired these days�� Guess I''m ending just like dad��" he said, trying to remain awake.


    "So much work everyday, it''s normal to feel tired right? I am just trying to do my best" The fatigue is so great that he could barely keep his eyes open. Even trying to fight the urge to sleep, he still lost the battle.


    Getting up from his chairs and slowly walking towards his bed, Kaito fell into the soft mattress with a smile on his face. With closed eyes and a resting face, he sinks into a deeper sleep than he imagined.


    After what seems like only a few hours, Kaito slowly awakens from a long and empty dream. He felt his body hot and his throat thirsty, and even feeling like he overslept he was still felling tired.


    With difficulty, he stands up a little and unconsciously reaches out for his weblink at the head of the bed. Automatically, he puts the weblink on his wrist and hears a message in his mind.


    [Battery extremely low.]


    Even though he hears the message from the Weblink, he presses the slim button on its side, to show the holographic clock, but the time and date were not appearing.


    "...Huh? Ah..."


    Disoriented, he wonders how much time has passed, but he was too dazed to even be concerned about a possible dy to his work. Suddenly, he feels an itch on his chest and scratches as he goes through the ssic spiritless phase of every morning, but as Kaito runs his hand down his abdomen, his fingers find defined muscles.


    Kaito looks down, still feeling sleepy, and after a few seconds of staring at a defined abdomen without recognizing it was his own, his brain finally processes the information and his eyebrows rise in surprise.


    "What is happening here?" he said to himself.


    Immediately, Kaito runs into the bathroom, stumbling over the furniture in the darkness and sliding with his bare foot on the wooden floor.


    And when Kaito finally looks in the mirror, he cannot believe his eyes.


    His body is no longer fat, no longer full of pimples, and his skin is no longer oily. He is different, very different. Not only does he have a defined body, but his face is thinner and his skin looks as smooth and pure as a jade vase.


    Kaito is perplexed as he looks at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes are a deep red, like those of a wild animal, and his ears are pointed, almost like those of an elf. He brings his hand to his face and feels the sharp fangs, as sharp as those of a dog. He cannot understand what is happening.


    "How is that possible?"


    He pinches the very skin of his arm to check that he is not dreaming, but


    "Ouch!" Kaito exims.


    The pain is real.


    Then immediately he remembers hisst moments before sleep, and so the connection between his appearance and that of his avatar in Mortal Tower bes clear in his mind.


    "Why the hell do I look so much like... him?" Kaito wonders, running his left hand across his face.


    Suddenly, his weblink disys a sequence of messages in mid-air.


    [Error!]


    [Error!]


    [Error!]


    [Data needs to be updated].


    [Updating physical changes...]


    [We have identified that you have be an Awakened. Do you wish to call an ambnce...?...?]


    [Error!]


    [The system will be updated and rebooted].


    [The Merchant''s store will be added.]

 Chapter 3 - 2 - Switch

    <h4>Chapter 3: Chapter 2 - Switch</h4>


    Kaito was bullied throughout his childhood and adolescence, but he learned to deal with it the best way he could. He respected the bullies as they wished and would ept every single one of their requests, even the weird ones. He was just too afraid to be beaten up ande home with bruises that would just make trouble and worry his father.


    Even if it was hard for Kaito''s already low ego, when the bullies asked him to kneel down and clean their shoes, he would do it. When they asked him to give them his lunch, iming that he didn''t need to eat because he was too fat, Kaito didn''t even respond, even though his stomach was begging for food.


    But Kaito learned toote that if he didn''t fight his situation, it would only get worse.


    One day, while Kaito was changing out of his uniform into his gym clothes in the locker room, his normal clothes were stolen by the bullies and thrown into the mud. Without the option of leaving with the gym clothes, he had to go dirty while all the studentsughed and yelled at his face.


    After this and countless other stories, when Kaito woke up and saw his new self in the bathroom mirror, he felt his heart pounding like never before. Still dumbfounded by everything that''s happening, he stared at himself for several minutes without taking his eyes off his own face. He was so focused on his new look that he couldn''t even realize the several notification windows appearing over his weblink as pop-ups in the side of his eyes. The sound would just blink every second and then disappear from the low battery.


    Kaito was not just looking different, with just a blink of his eyes, he becamepletely different, to the point that it was hard for him to recognize himself. He had grown at least thirty centimeters in height, and almost the entire look of his face has changed. His red hair is shinier than ever, and he had lost much, much weight, giving him a slimmer, more elegant appearance that blends with his new stature. His eyes, once green, now glow with intensity in a red hue, as if trying to reflect an inner fire not yet perceived.


    As much as Kaito doesn''t understand anything about what''s happening to him now, as the reason for his look to be exactly like his old avatar. He automatically smiled at his reflection in the mirror, with a happy feeling that he never experienced before.


    After a couple of minutes of this self-esteem pump, Kaito got out of the bathroom, still confused, but walking fast and with rhythmic steps, as if a song is ying in his head. He feltpletely different, he was feeling more willing than ever.


    After leaving the bathroom, a strange problem appeared in front of him. Cockroaches all the way throught the walls and ceiling and even other insects eating the rest of food. Everything was out of ce and looked off, as if his old room aged within a second.


    "Is that a fucking rat?!" he said, after hearing a squeak and fast-running paws in the darkness of the room. As he walked, the strong smell of rotten flesh floating upon his nose made him almost throw up.


    "Urgh! What happened while I was asleep? Did I forget to put my work clothes in the washing machine?" Kaito wonders, trying to turn on the light by pressing the switch next to him.


    *Tlec*


    Even after turning the switch onn, nothing happened. Everything was still as dark as before. Nevertheless, he tried again.


    *c*


    And at the second try, the room remained dark.


    "Tsk! Did the power go out again? Damn, I have to talk to Mr. Fujimya about the wiresst week..."


    Kaito sighed, and looking at the mass of his ce, he tried to take walk taking care to not step on the creatures crawling upon the floor. With sess, he reached the window.


    Opening it up, it was way stiffer than usual, and closing his eyes burning from the touch of the brightness of the sun on his face, he felt like it was the first time he was looking to the daylight.


    Outside the apartment, everything seemed normal as far as it can be. The sky is covered with clouds all the way to the horizon, as it is on most days of the year. His focus was far from the outside world, as he had a bigger issue in front of him, in his apartment.


    With the help of the sunlight, he realized that everything is a real mess. The mouse heard was chewing one of the cockroaches while trying to hunt some of the remaining that walked all over the floor. At the door, hundreds of papers clog the mailbox to the point of overflowing, and a thickyer of dust covers every inch of the floor and furniture.


    Confused and without understanding everything, Kaito was startled. He couldn''t understand why his apartment is so messy, as he remembers everything being in perfect order before he began his gaming the night before.


    Running out of options, Kaito stretches his head and starts to think about how to clean up the apartment before he checks to see what the problem was with the electricity.


    "Probably that damn rat tore the garbage bags and that attracted the cockroaches," Kaito said, approaching the rodents in front of him. In his mind, maybe the apartment was already very dusty the whole time and he just didn''t notice it.


    As soon as the red-haired boy''s shadow covers the rat, the rat stops trying to eat the cockroaches. The rats look at Kaito with a frightened face and immediately start to run towards a cupboard in the small kitchen where there was a hole through which it could escape, but Kaito moves surprisingly fast and catches it by the tail.


    Holding the rat on his hands, Kaito smiled and at the same, got confused as he realized that he was much faster and smoother than usual. In fact, this time, he didn''t even have to strain to get down, nor did his back hurt.


    ''What was that?'' he asks himself mentally, a little skeptical. ''Was that just because I lost a few pounds?''


    Looking to the creature in his hands, he felt a strong pain in his stomach and his vision blurs. In an instant, Kaito was on his knees on the ground, stunned. He felt like something was away from him, he was not understanding this deep feeling of hunger, but while he is on the ground holding the mouse, a new message from his web link appears before his eyes, this time he can see it clearly.


    [Do you want to sell the creature ''Urban Mouse'' to the merchant?]

 Chapter 4 - 3 - Shopping

    <h4>Chapter 4: Chapter 3 - Shopping</h4>


    [Do you want to sell the creature ''Urban Mouse'' to the merchant?]


    Looking at the rat in his hands and at the message next to the squeaky little creature, Kaito waspletely confused by what was happening to him, reading that message, his mind still couldn''t understand the meaning of it. He has never received such a screen on his weblink before and could hardly believe that what he was seeing was real. Still, his eyes widened in surprise, as his body got tenser and his mind wondered if it was really a dream or not. With one of his hands, he reached the button and unconsciously touched YES, realizing that the floating window was not just an illusion, as the mouse in his hand suddenly shattered into golden particles. With a strange sound in his ears, another window popped up.


    [You have received 10 bronze coins from the merchant.]


    [Do you want to open the merchant''s shop?]


    Inside his chest, Kaito''s heart started beating faster as his breathing quickly got deeper. And even after blinking his eyes and rubbing his hands over his face, the message was hanging there, floating in front of his face. With a surprised look on his face, his eyes glowed, not believing what he was reading.


    "This is crazy." He said aloud.


    Even without knowing what to do or how to react to this strange situation.


    "It''s just like in the game," he said while staring at the floating message mid-air. The text and everything in the interface was precisely like the ones from selling items on the markets of Mortal Tower.


    "But that''s impossible, isn''t it?" Kaito wonders.


    Kaito felt a shiver run down his spine, as he couldn''t exin what was happening after he opened his eyes. But deep inside his chest, he could feel that something huge happened to him while he was unconscious.


    After pressing, the [YES] button, this time to open the merchant shop. At the same time, his stomach rumbles, as if a big hole is consuming him. A shiny new window appears in front of his eyes, and with this mixture of curiosity, fear, and nostalgia, he was not knowing how to react. The window disys two lists of items for sale, divided into two sections. The section on the left is for seasonal items, and there is a 72-hour countdown to loading, but what caught his attention was the section next to it, a long list of normal items.


    His eyes quickly scanned the options, that range from fruit and bread to more borate items. The temptation to satisfy his hunger was almost irresistible, but to the left, among the seasonal items, one of them caught his attention.


    "Beginner''s manual? If I''m not mistaken, that was an item that was only avable in the first few days in Mortal Tower." he said out loud.


    [Item: Beginner''s Handbook


    Description: Aprehensive guide for the newly awakened as they seek to understand and master their new skills. This is exclusive content with valuable tips for beginners in this new world and a limited edition avable for 72 hours only].


    Reading the word ''newly awakened'', Kaito''s eyes widen again and things finally begin to make sense. However, some things still don''t add up, like the fact that Kaito never had Lethargic Encephalitis to be an Awakened - or was he infected and didn''t realize it?


    Kaito had been feeling more tired than usual in thest few days, but he thought that was because he was working hard to earn extra credits at the end of the month, not because he might be infected. Besides, even if Kaito was lucky enough to contract Encephalitis Lethargy, he was always sure that he would be thest person on Earth to seed in bing an Awakened, after all, less than 1% of the infected were so lucky. There was no way he could be one of those lucky ones, right?


    Of course, when you realistically consider the whole dystopian setting of his apartment, as well as his brutal physical transformation, and now an extremely Death Tower-like magic shop in front of him, you cannot deny that the adjective "newly awakened" does not sound as absurd as it should.


    Kaito is fascinated by the manual in the seasonal shop. This item seems to be exactly what he needs right now. He knows he needs to get answers to better understand what is going on around him, and the idea of getting all the guidance from a simple book quickly bes tempting.


    After a few seconds, he pressed the buy button and another window popped up.


    "Oh! it''s also like in the shop." he said out loud.


    [You have spent 5 bronze coins.]


    [You have received a Beginner''s Guide.]


    Suddenly, the manual appears in his hands, with a worn cover and yellowed pages, the size of a small children''s bedtime storybook. Kaito turns the first page of the book expectantly, and there is only one small word written on a nk page.


    "Hello." He listens as the written word echoes in his mind like a voice.


    Then other words begin to form.


    "If you are reading this manual, it is because you are part of a select group of individuals who have acquired special abilities. I am your guide, and this manual will help you understand and master your new abilities. First, allow me to clear up any doubts you may have about your role as a "newly awakened.


    When Kaito heard the word "newly awakened" directed at him, he unintentionally dropped the book on the floor. He had a suspicion, but to have it confirmed is still a surprise.


    "Each Awakened individual has unique abilities, and so they are divided into sses that serve to separate the Awakened into categories, such as warriors, mages, and others." The mysterious voice continues. "By the way, your ss is Viin."


    "Viin, huh?" He said, looking at his left hand, which no longer has even a remnant of the chubby hand it once was. "Now things are starting to fall into ce."


    "Through this manual, you will learn to explore and hone your abilities to meet the challenges that wille your way. As you progress through this manual, you will find valuable information on how to control your abilities. You will also learn how the threats that exist can affect your destiny and vice versa. Be aware that time is of the essence. The manual is only avable for 72 hours, so use it wisely. Dedicate yourself to reading and learning as it will help you unravel the mysteries of this awakened universe and find your ce in it.

 Chapter 5 - 4 - Thunder

    <h4>Chapter 5: Chapter 4 - Thunder</h4>


    A sh in the sky always precedes thunder, and thunder always precedes a storm.


    Even by this logic, humanity could never have predicted that the Red Night was just the lightning before the thunder. What an ironic fate, right?


    After the Red Night, society copsed with the appearance of the Portals and the Transcendent, monstrous beings that even the best human weapons have trouble killing. And with society in pieces, the Awakeneds appeared as the light, thest resource and hope for humanity. However, even with such an uing help, this was still far from the end of the story, as the storm finally arrived after nearly twenty years of the Red Night.


    In the year 2069, the quantum scientists of A-City, who are in charge of the studies on the dimensional portals, finally got permission to reopen the oldboratory in the basement of the city, the same one from which all the energy came out that plunged the world into darkness for three days and that the poption believes to be the reason for all the misfortunes on Earth in thest two decades. And with the possibility of the ce being radioactive, they entered wearing thick protective clothing and heavily armed, just in case.


    Their prudence in arming themselves was rewarded, as the ce was infested with unique Transcendents, simr to spiders, but with the size of wolves.


    It took days for the main team of scientists to reach the epicenter of the energy explosion, the mainboratory. And when they got there, the whole journey was worth it, as what they found changed the whole world''s perspective on science.


    The main idea of a teleportation portal is to serve as a shortcut between point A and point B, but what would happen if instead of connecting the two desired points, something interfered, a point C, revealing apletely unknown world? Would that be an alternate reality? A parallel world? Or the same world?


    Whatever definition such a ce would receive, this is exactly what happened. The portal at the center of theb led to a ce unlike anything else on Earth.


    This discovery shook humanity''s understanding of the nature of dimensional portals. It was normal for Awakened Ones to enter portals to defeat the main monster and then leave the dungeon, but to have a vast world waiting for them on the other side was something else entirely.


    And the existence of a C-point in the equation raised several questions and theories about the nature of portals and the possibility of multiple realities coexisting.


    The scientists of City A, faced with this revtion, began intensive studies and experiments to explore and better understand this new world beyond the portals. In the first months, they sent expeditions equipped with advanced technology and specialized scientists to investigate and document this alternate reality, but for some reason, no modern equipment is able to function in the world they call the Celestial Abode. Furthermore, they have discovered that, as with random portals, only Awakened Ones can pass through the Great Portal to this new world, if a normal human were to attempt it, their body would bepletely torn apart.


    Nevertheless, the expeditions of the Awakened Ones brought back fascinating and haunting tales of exotdscapes, unique creatures, and differentws of physics. They have discovered that this world beyond the portals is inhabited by a variety of transcendent beings, some friendly, and some hostile. New life forms, resources, and opportunities were also found in this new territory. With the knowledge gained, humanity began to see new possibilities, but also new challenges. Humanity stood at a crossroads, with the opportunity to shape its future and find bnce as it searched for answers. However, the unknowns and dangers of this new world also demanded caution and care.


    The presence of the Transcendents and other hostile beings could pose a constant threat to Earth, and humanity needed to protect itself from this, so it created shelters in the Celestial Abode. Since each of the different portals to the Celestial Abode was found in different regions of this new world, this was necessary.


    Kaito learns all this from the Beginner''s Handbook and confirms some of it by reading some newspapers among the hundreds of letters at the foot of his apartment door.


    Finding out that a year has passed is definitely a shock to him since the night before was only a few hours ago for him, but this passage of time also exins that he didn''t be an Awakened overnight.


    So, with more response than before, Kaito smiles with excitement because his life can finally change once and for all. He can stop being the humiliated and poor boy from before.


    "Well, I guess I have to test my powers first. How did it say in the manual? Activate! No, that wasn''t it... .... Switch on!... Um, maybe it is: Analyze!" He tries to open the system ording to the instructions he received.


    Suddenly, a holographic window of his web link appears, disying his physical attributes as if he were in a game. The numbers and information float in the air, forming a visual representation of the attributes of his awakened body.


    [Attributes window.


    Name: Kaito | Race: Vampire


    Level: 1 (0/1000 XP)


    HP: 100


    MP: 20


    Attack: 10 | Defense: 10


    Agility: 10 | Stamina: 10


    Speed: 10


    Intelligence: 10


    Luck: 5


    ss: Viin


    Points left: 0


    -


    Unique Abilities: Life Drain and Evil Point Maniption].


    Kaito looks at the floating numbers and graphs and realizes that he has rtively low physical strength bymon sense, but only a few seconds after seeing this window, his eyes widen in surprise.


    It ismon knowledge that the only UP an Awakened can have is when he bes an Awakened. And after Awakening, the Awakened are ranked from E to S after an Alliance evaluation.


    Even an Awakened rank E, which is stronger than most ordinary humans, is much weaker than a rank D, and so the strength gap increases with each rank. This system was created to prevent weaker Awakened Ones from dying in vain, as each portal can hide a sinister, desperate monster much stronger than even a Rank B or A Awakened One can face.


    Of course, just as bing an Awakened is a rarity among those who contract Lethal Encephalitis, bing an S-Rank Awakened is extremely unlikely.


    Considering Kaito''s physical attributes, he was nowhere near an S rank, but...


    "So I can evolve like I''m in a game? HAHAHA! That must be a joke, right?" Kaito says.


    Suddenly, as if someone is answering Kaito, another window appears in front of his eyes.


    [Message! The daily quest {Empty Stomach} has arrived (Unread)].


    "Read." Kaizen says, a bit confused.


    [Quest Guide! Feed on Blood (0/1)


    Warning: Failure toplete this daily quest will result in death].


    "DEATH?!!!"

 Chapter 6 - 5 - Quest

    <h4>Chapter 6: Chapter 5 - Quest</h4>


    [...


    Warning: Failure toplete this daily quest will result in death].


    Kaito stared at this message for a few minutes, feeling a shuddering chill. At this moment, he finally realized that not everything is all miracles and rewards.


    "Yes, this is serious... after all, I inherited the vampire race from my Avatar along with the appearance... it is obvious that I will die if I do not consume blood and fast." He says aloud, still in shock. "But as a vampire in the game, I didn''t have to consume blood every day, so isn''t that a bit extreme? Come on, I just woke up."


    As Kaito finishes his sentence, his stomach rumbles loudly, echoing through the room. The sound is strange and somewhat disturbing to him, as Kaito has never experienced such a feeling of intense hunger, not even in the harshest of winters. Instinctively, he puts his hand to his stomach and feels a stab of pain that almost brings him to his knees again.


    Realizing the gravity of the situation, Kaito looks back at the message about the Daily Quest and understands that he must find a solution to satisfy his hunger for blood. He immediately remembers the merchant''s shop.


    "The shop might be the easiest way to get something to eat, at least it will be better than looking for something in my cupboards. What was thatmand again? Ah, yes... Reveal the charms of the goods offered!"


    A holographic window appears in front of him, showing a long list of items. Kaito''s eyes scrolled down the list, which included everything from small MANA potions to modern basics like oxygenated water and apass, but nothing like a human blood transfusion bag. Kaito is momentarily stunned, as he never imagined that he would be in a situation where he would need to buy blood to survive, nor that he would be so disappointed not to have it for sale. Ironically, the clearest options avable to him are to buy a fish for 30 bronze coins, or to buy back the same mouse he sold earlier, now for only 12 bronze coins, and he only had 5.


    "This thing is robbing me! I just sold the mouse, why can''t I cancel my purchase?" Kaito says, holding the screen in disbelief. "Sigh... I don''t even have the coins to buy it back." He says, sitting down on his bed, feeling exhausted and hungry.


    [Would you like to sell the ''Rotten Bed'' item to the merchant?]


    Another window appears in front of Kaito''s eyes.


    "And how much will I get for selling this item?"


    [The ''Rotten Bed'' item is currently worth 13 Coins.]


    Kaito clenched his eyes as he looks at the system that answers him. "I don''t know whether to be disappointed that my bed is worth so little, or to be afraid that an object is worth more than a living being. Is everything in my room really worth so little?"


    The first thing Kaito learned from the Beginner''s Guide a few minutes ago was that he can sell any item to get coins to use in the merchant''s shop to buy other items. However, the value of the materials and the condition of the item determine the number of coins that can be received. For example, Kaito sold a live rat and received only 10 bronze coins, because in any world, rats are just pest spreaders, so they are worth very little.


    Of course, Kaito can''t sell everything he sees in front of him. There is a limit for the merchant, which is ten items per day.


    Also, Kaito discovered how much each of the different coins you can get for use in the Market Shop is worth, and that scared him because the system is identical to that of the Death Tower. So 100 bronze coins are worth 1 silver coin. Following the same logic, 100 silver coins are worth only 1 gold coin, which also precedes another coin, the tinum coin.


    As Kaito considered his situation and the need to obtain more coins to support himself, he has a sh of inspiration. He realizes that there may be a way to make money from some of the useless objects in his apartment. Excited, Kaito begins to inspect all the objects in his apartment that he believes are no longer of any use, such as the rotten food in the cupboards and the maggot-infested refrigerator, and not even the mail papers piled near the door to escape a price evaluation.


    A window appears in front of Kaito, showing a list of items selected as possible sales. He finds that most of the rotten food and papers are worth no more than a bronze coin or two, not to mention those that were worth nothing.


    Kaito sighs with disappointment. However, his gaze was drawn to an object he had forgotten about, an old wristwatch lying on the bedside table where he usually left his weblink. The watch had a ssic and elegant design, with delicate details and an immeasurable sentimental value for Kaito. A thickyer of dust was covering it.


    Although he has always refused to sell it, no matter how much the bills keep rising, he thinks for a moment that this might be the key to solving his current hungry situation.


    With mixed emotions, Kaito decided to appraise the watch at the merchant''s shop.


    [Do you wish to sell the item ''Ancient Wrist Watch'' to the merchant?]


    "How much is it worth?" He asks with a little fear in his voice.


    To his surprise, considering the clock''s critical situation, the market value of the clock is extraordinarily high: 10 silver coins.


    Kaito is in awe of the price and realizes that this might be his chance to get enough resources to satisfy his hunger. However, as he stares at the watch, Kaito begins to dive into his memories. A vivid memory emerges. He sees himself again, sitting at the bedside of his father, whose face was pale and aged from the illness that afflicted him. His father''s faint voice echoes in his mind, reminding him of a conversation they had during those difficult times.


    "Kaito, my son," his father whispers fondly. "Never forget that... Cof!... Life brings us challenges that seem insurmountable, but it is in fighting them that we find our true strength... No matter how difficult it seems, you must find a way to ovee, to find bnce within yourself, for life will always be a constant struggle between animal instinct and reason. Cof! Cof! Learn to control your emotions and you will be stronger than anyone.


    This was his father''sst and one of the wisest pieces of advice. To sell this watch with such sentimental value because of hunger would be the same as getting rid of his family''s only heirloom. So Kaito quickly turns away from the watch and concentrates on his old refrigerator.


    "You are family, but you are old, rotten and full of maggots, and I am hungry. So, goodbye." He says, looking at the refrigerator that isrgely responsible for the disgusting smell that permeates his room.


    [Do you wish to sell the item ''Deteriorated Refrigerator'' to the merchant?]


    Kaito quickly presses YES.


    [You have received 40 bronze coins from the merchant.]


    +


    Discord: https://discord.gg/ kQQqYmMNkz

 Chapter 7 - 6 - Random Box

    <h4>Chapter 7: Chapter 6 - Random Box</h4>


    A vampire''s hunger can be staved off for a few hours by drinking animal blood, but it takes days to truly satisfy it with human blood. This is an inescapable reality for Kaito now that he had be a vampire.


    In Mortal Tower, he had an NPC that he used to buy a few vials of blood, but now there was no such option.


    While still shaken by the idea of having to feed on human blood and indeed it is disgusting, he knows that it is a vital necessity for his survival. But for the things were pretty clear in his mind ''Let''s avoid it for a while'' he thought. As it would be very stupid to attack someone in the security area.


    Two days have passed since Kaito woke up, and he was still discovering a few things.


    First, other people cannot see the new windows that his web link projects, which means that no one else can see the store or the ratings. He got this evidence when he went to ask Mr. Fujimya, thendlord of his building, and was answered by his eldest son.


    Unfortunately, Mr. Fujimya passed away almost a year ago. Nevertheless, it took a while for his eldest son, named Hasegawa, to be able to travel from a central city to take over his father''s business in the Z4 safe area, which not only exined to Kaito why no one broke into his apartment because of the smell and the overdue bills, but also why he didn''t see any of his neighbors when he went to the front desk.


    Anyway, all this made it easier for Kaito to exin his disappearance. He simply told Mr. Fujimya''s son that he was on a long trip to visit a distant part of his family in another safe area. Fortunately, Hasegawa was like his father, an umunicative and questioning man, so he asked no questions and only promised to turn on the water and light in the apartment in a few hours.


    On top of that, Kaito discovered the next day that the daily quest that required him to feed himself gave him rewards, just like in a game.


    [Quest Guide: Feeding on Blood (1/1) {Completed}].


    [Quest Rewards! Choose your reward:


    - Skill Points (+3)


    - Random Box (+1)


    - Experience Bonus (+10%)]


    The first time this came up for Kaito, he thought carefully about the reward options, and despite the temptation to grab a random box, he decided that the skill points would be more valuable to him in the long run.


    Considering that he can increase any of his physical attributes as long as he has skill points, this was definitely the best option among the three on the first day.


    [You have chosen the reward Skill Points (+3), do you wish to ept it?]


    Kaito pressed YES with a smile on his face and immediately felt a pulsing energy coursing through his body. In the next blink of an eye, his attribute screen appeared before his face, but Kaito decided not to use any points for the time being.


    ''If this works just like in the game, it''s better to wait to have a nice buld'' he thought.


    However, Kaito is a curious person, and on the second day, instead of choosing more attribute points, he chose the random box.


    [Warning! You have received a Random Box.]


    Kaito felt an explosion of excitement after receiving the Random Box. He wonders what might be inside and decides to open it immediately. With a tap on the Random Box icon on his interface, the box materializes in front of Kaito. He holds it carefully in the palm of his left hand, feeling the soft texture of a typical gift box. With a quick movement, he opens the lid and a mysterious glow emanates from the box.


    Inside, Kaito finds a small parchment that is immediately rolled up.


    Curious, Kaito unwraps the parchment and is amazed to see a detailed map of Safe Area Z4, where he currently resides. The streets, buildings, andndmarks are meticulously depicted on the map, indicating that it was made with great precision, but he could easily check this with his weblink, there is no use for a paper map.


    Running his eyes lightly over the map, Kaito notices a small symbol between some of the buildings, a symbol that seems to imitate a spiral.


    A chill runs down Kaito''s spine as he realizes that this discovery cannot be a mere coincidence, but just to make sure he is not overthinking things, he checks the online map for the same symbol. After checking, he finds, as he expected, that there is nothing simr to what he saw on the parchment.


    So Kaito hurries out of the apartment, grabbing only a jacket to cover his arms as he walks towards the location indicated on the map.


    Safe Area Z4 stretches out before him, revealing andscape of strange contrasts. Though considered a poor region, it is permeated with elements of modernity and a hint of the strange high-tech city aesthetics, with holographic signs advertising Awakened Ones, jobs, and essentials such as rations and water. As Kaito wanders the streets of Safe Area Z4, looking at the weathered buildings and the sandy region surrounding the settlement, he finds graffiti adorning the walls, some cursing the system, others boasting of the discovery of the Celestial Abode.


    On the busy streets, Kaito encounters an eclectic mix of people. Exhausted workers rush by, while groups of young men in military uniforms from the Compulsory Education Academy socialize on the sidewalks. Lights flicker abovemercial establishments, adding a characteristic glow to the night scene.


    The sounds of Safe Area Z4 are a strange urban symphony. Flying cars glide through the air, emitting a low hum. Street vendors hawk exotic foods from street carts, from insects to monster meat from the portals, filling the air with tantalizing smells.


    As Kaito makes his way through the maze of narrow streets, he finds himself immersed in a fric, almost nostalgic atmosphere where technology and decadence are intertwined.


    ''This ce still looks the same.'' he thought while looking at the other citizens.


    Rustingmpposts provide dim illumination, contrasting with the bands of colored lights that cut across the night sky. When Kaito finally arrives at the ce indicated by the spiral on the map, his heart races as he sees a no-go area further down the street where some people are. Spotlights illuminate the wastnd where, to the young man''s surprise, there is a blue portal.

 Chapter 8 - 7 - Interdimensional Portal

    <h4>Chapter 8: Chapter 7 - Interdimensional Portal</h4>


    There are three different types of interdimensional portals, not counting therge portals that work as passageways to the Celestial Abode.


    The first type of random portal, and the mostmon, is easily identified by its flickering blue color and small height, butrge enough for three people to pass through side by side at the same time. Usually, this type of portal is treated with less urgency, as it takes more than two weeks for them to "break" as it is called when monsters manage to cross over to Earth.


    In addition, there are only weak creatures inside this kind of portal, and any group of E and D Awakened Ones can often handle them with no further issues.


    However, the second type of portal is certainly more unreassuring, the level two portals, as they break down within a week are not only extremely more difficult but also dangerous to the surroundings. They are green in color and contain creatures so powerful that they can destroy an entire security zone in a matter of hours once get out of the portal.


    Thest known type is the level three portals, the most dungeons and rare ones, that fortunately for humanity, are not appearing as often. Only five have emerged in thest twenty years. They can be recognized by their scarlet color and arerge enough to cover the sky of a city. It has never happened that such a portal has broken, but if it ever did, humanity would surely be reduced to only barely a few couple of thousand.


    Because there are different types of portals, there are alsows that prohibit an Awakened of a lower rank than the required level of the portal type from forming a group and attempting to enter. This was created to try to reduce the high death rate of Awakeneds.


    Of course, while the Alliance is very powerful because itbines the influence of the world''s major nations, it cannot take care of all the portals by itself, let alone monitor or control them, and that is what guilds are for.


    Guilds arerge, official organizations that are responsible for the portals they encounter. Basically, the first guild to find a portal is the guild that bes legally responsible for it. This guild also has the right to capitalize on the resources within the portal and, if they wish, sell the rights to the portal to another guild. The Alliance only takes a small percentage of the profits from the portal - yes, mankind has once again turned risk into business.


    However, even with therge guilds in ce, smaller groups of Awakened can im ownership and the right to use a portal if they are quick enough to do so. For this reason, it is not umon for some blue portals to bepleted by smaller, independent Awakened groups. In fact, this seems to be the case when Kaito finally arrives at the ce where the spiral is marked on the map.


    In the vacant lot where the portal is located, there is a group of people, including some young people and others who look older.


    By the way, there is also a stall that seems to be serving hot coffee, water, and other supplies to these people. However, Kaito''s eyes do not linger on this stall for more than a second.


    "They need to be awakened." Kaito whispers to himself as he watches these people from a distance, believing that he is hidden well enough not to be seen.


    The group of Awakened in front of the portal looks like a group of ordinary people. Of course, Kaito never thought that the Awakened Ones would have horns or glowing eyes, but he was surprised at how ordinary they looked up close. In fact, they looked nothing like the Awakened Ones he was used to seeing in the Alliance''smercials and marketing advertisements; it was more like an ordinary group of people, with young men in their twenties and other men well into their forties.


    "If there are people here, I won''t even be able to get close. This random box should contain more useful things". Kaito says to himself.


    Then, just as Kaito is about to leave to concentrate on his task of finding something to sell and food to buy, he turns around and suddenly hears a voice calling out:


    "Hey, are you there? Aren''t you the helper we''ve been waiting for? Hurry up ande, we''ve been waiting too long."


    Kaito turns and looks in the direction the voice came from. One of the Awakened, a man with short gray hair, has noticed him and is approaching, calling to him with his hand.


    A little taken aback, Kaito points to his face, almost asking if the man is talking to him.


    "Of course, I''m talking to you! Let''s go soon, you''re all that''s left!"


    All the other people in front of the portal look at him expectantly, and Kaito feels his heart quicken and a mixture of fear and curiosity take over. He hesitates for a moment, knowing that this man is confusing him with someone else, but this seems to be a unique opportunity as well, so he finally decides to join the group of Awakened to explore this portal.


    "Ah! Sorry I''mte, sir. I got lost on the way." Kaito says, scratching his neck andughing nervously.


    "That''s okay, don''t worry about it. What''s your name, boy?" The gray-haired man asks as another question gues him in his mind. Hell! How could I forget the name the boss told me less than two hours ago?


    "My name is Kaito."


    "Well done, Kaito. It''s a pleasure to meet you. Pick up your gear with my friend John Mry over there and then meet us toe in." He points to a tall, ck man with dark sses standing next to some iron boxes near the nearby coffee stand. "By the way, you can call me Mr. Ishikawa. And if nobody minds, I''ll take care of the group when wee in today."


    None of the people present seem to refuse Lord Ishikawa''s request and agree to him being the captain.


    Curious and a little nervous, Kaito joins the group of seven Awakened Ones after he has gathered the equipment he will need. He carries arge, roomy tool bag on his back, containing a shovel and arge pickaxe. Normally, such a backpack would be heavy, so Kaito is even surprised how light it is when he adjusts it on his back.


    Kaito is greeted with a few friendly smiles and seriouspliments as he approaches the group, and he soon discovers that his job is to collect valuable resources such as crystals, rare materials, and possible magical artifacts, but not to intervene in the Awakened''s battles for his own safety. The idea is that everyone works as a team to maximize the chances of sess and share the profits in the end.


    As they prepare to enter the portal, Kaito observes the determined and hopeful faces of the Awakened around him. Though they do not resemble the morous stereotypes of the Awakened in the Alliance''s advertisements, these people are willing to venture into an unknown world in search of a chance to improve their lives, and that is very respectable.


    Kaito, his heart pounding with fear, doesn''t even notice Lord Ishikawa''s thoughtful gaze:


    ''This boy... is much better looking than I was warned. But that makes sense, considering that hees from an important family, as they said. I just hope that since he''s a Rank E, he won''t get in our way or slow us down.''


    No doubt, Kaito will be mistaken for someone else.

 Chapter 9 - 8 - Dungeon

    <h4>Chapter 9: Chapter 8 - Dungeon</h4>


    Lord Ishikawa gathers the group for a brief lecture before entering the portal. He talks about the importance of cooperation and teamwork, and how everyone must stay alert at all times to avoid any surprises in the dungeon.


    "We''re all in this together. No matter what we find inside, we will ovee it together ande back without much trouble." Lord Ishikawa concludes with conviction.


    These words echoed in Kaito''s mind, and then the group of Awakened ones headed towards the portal, led by Lord Ishikawa himself.


    Kaito felts his heart race as he approaches the glowing edge of the portal. The shimmering blue color is mesmerizing, and he can hardly contain his curiosity about what he will find on the other side. Before he enters, a few other people who seem to be more auxiliary to the group speak some encouraging words to the Awakened Ones standing in line.


    "Come back safely!"


    "Please, if it gets too dangerous in there,e back! And supporters, don''t forget that after the boss is defeated, you have one hour at most before the portal closes!"


    This moment is one of excitement and great nervousness for Kaito, although he has read dozens of articles and watched hundreds of videos about Awakened Ones, he has never even imagined what it would be like to be one or to be one. Kaito''s heart is pounding, almost trying toe out of his mouth, and his mind can barelyprehend that this is real.


    As people begin to walk through the portal, a red-haired woman, also in the back, puts her hand on Kaito''s shoulder and smiles.


    "This is your first time, right?" She asks.


    "Did I make it that obvious?" Kaito answers and turns to look at the woman.


    She is pretty and young, with long hair and wears ordinary clothes, like most low-ranked Awakened who can''t afford equipment. She smiles and holds out her hand to introduce herself.


    "Hello, my name is Maya. I am a healer."


    Kaito returns the handshake, but is so surprised by her ss that he forgets to introduce himself. "A healer? Ouch, that''s a very rare gift."


    "That''s what they usually say. But I''m, let''s say, a bit clumsy, so no guild wants to recruit me." Maya says with some shyness.


    Kaito is grateful that he is not the only support on the team, and having a healer certainly makes things easier. Then he smiles at Maya.


    Led by Lord Ishikawa, the group gets through the portal.


    A feeling of lightness and excitement ovees Kaito as he crosses the boundary between the worlds. An intense sh of light blurs his vision, and in the next instant he finds himself in an environmentpletely different from anything he has ever experienced. The ce is sinister and dark, immersed in a disconcerting darkness with rocky walls and faint details of civilization such as torch holders on the walls and a few stone columns.


    [You have entered a dungeon].


    Kaito''s eyes widen as the warning appears in front of him, and he immediately looks around to see if anyone else can see the warning, but no one else is looking in his direction.


    The group of Awakened remains silent, cautious in the face of the unusual scene.


    The torches scattered throughout the dungeon cast a dim and somber light, creating dancing shadows on the stone walls. The smell of mold and dampness hangs in the air, mixed with a sense of expectation. Kaito feels a shiver run down his spine as he adjusts to the eerie atmosphere. He tightens his grip on the strap of his backpack, searching for somefort and security. This is the moment when he realizes that he has entered a ce where monsters can lurk around every corner.


    Lord Ishikawa breaks the tense silence around him. His voice echoes in the gloomy air, conveying the security that a leader must convey.


    "This is a dangerous ce, folks. Stay alert and stay together. We don''t know what awaits us here, but don''t hesitate. All of us, except Kaito, are experienced, so let''s make it easy for our supporters, okay?"


    The Awakened Ones agree in silence, looking at each other with a mixture of concern and determination. Since they are experienced, they form a tight formation with vanguard and rear and begin to slowly advance along the only path in front of them. After they have advanced a few meters, an icy wind blows that makes Kaito''s hair stand on end, but this is no ordinary wind, not for Kaito, who senses a sinister presence in the air that is carried by the wind, not to mention the smell of blood that makes his pupils dte and his ears prick up like when he woke up.


    A momentter, strange noises, like indistinct whispers, echo around them, causing everyone to immediately stop moving forward.


    Suddenly, a high-pitched squeal cuts through the silence, echoing from all directions.


    "GWIAAAARH!"


    "Prepare for battle!" One of the Awakened shouts to the group.


    Immediately, the others raise their weapons. Kaito looks into the wind as the group spreads out to protect the pirs and sees a dark greenish figure moving between the stctites on the ceiling, clinging to them like monkeys to vines. The green figure is a grotesque creature with short limbs and glowing orange eyes. Its distorted face looks like a mask from a horror movie.


    However, no one in Kaito''s group is aware of the approaching monster. Kaito doesn''t even hesitate to warn them.


    "A goblin!" He shouts as he points in the direction where the monster is, which gets everyone''s attention.


    Lord Ishikawa quickly lunges forward, and a water sword forms out of nowhere in his hand. When the group leader brandishes the sword, causing the wind to sway with its force, the goblin avoids the attack with agility, sliding backward, and then draws a small bone knife from the leather sheath at his waist.

 Chapter 10 - 9 - Goblin

    <h4>Chapter 10: Chapter 9 - Goblin</h4>


    Just as Lord Ishikawa''s water sword finds its target and cuts the goblin in half, a menacing twist urs. The fatal blow defeats one enemy, but it also unleashes the fury of a horde of goblins that emerge from the shadows of the cave.


    The goblins advance with ferocity, disying their twisted features and an unquenchable thirst for blood. They wield their makeshift weapons with astonishing speed, and their tiny hands disy dexterity with knives that Kaito has never seen even from great chefs.


    The battle quickly devolves into frenzied chaos. The Awakened find themselves surrounded on all sides, forced to fight for their own survival, each one watching the backs of the others. And most of the Awakened in the group are, as expected, formidable. They can easily dodge quick attacks, and despite their small stature and awkward movement, they can handle the goblins very well, as goblins are rtivelymon enemies.


    As a result, no one is rmed by the sudden attack of these low-level Transcendents.


    While the vanguard spreads out to the sides to protect the supports, Maya, who is standing next to Kaito, shows her expertise in the use of healing magic by casting simple spells to heal the scratches. A greenish aura surrounds her hands, and a scent of spring hangs in the air, softening the strong smell of blood.


    Kaito''s eyes roam the battlefield with fascination as he watches everything, static in the same ce since he saw the first goblins. He watches as each person in the group fights bravely and with such confidence.


    But the goblins do not back down, and their numbers do not even seem to diminish, making it harder and harder for the vanguard to keep them at bay. They advance relentlessly, like a wave of violence out for blood. Their high-pitched voices echo through the cave, mixed with the metallic sh of weapons. In this sea of chaos and danger, Kaito sees everything like a child visiting an amusement park for the first time. Everything is fascinating. For him, being here is like jumping into the world of Mortal Tower. Kaito feels adrenaline coursing through his veins and fears turning to excitement.


    As Kaito immerses himself in the battle, watching the agile movements of the Awakened and the goblins, he senses a presence nearby. A shiver runs down his spine and he instinctively turns away.


    "Oh, I''m sorry! I let one through!" a swordswoman protecting the group''s support shouts.


    At that moment, Kaito sees a goblin with a wild expression and a pair of knives in his hands approaching him quickly. Time seems to slow down around Kaito and his sharp instincts kick in, allowing him to think rationally in these moments.


    ''Goblins are way uglier than what I could ever imagine.. I have to keep focused'' This is the first thing Kaito thought when he saw the goblin approaching.


    Kaito can also see the worried look on the face of the woman who was unable to defend herself, and he can see that Lord Ishikawa seems to be willing to help him, but somehow he knows that even though the leader of the group is someone who is skilled and fast for an old man, he will not be able to help them because the goblin that has targeted him is much faster and more skilled than usual, no wonder he was able to pierce a solid defense with ease. Only Kaito can save himself at this point.


    So with an impressive reflex, he ducks and dodges the goblin''s attack at thest moment, causing the goblin''s expression to change from one of anger toplete confusion.


    The creature thought Kaito would be an easy target, and his speed frightened it. He moved so fast that he disappeared from sight for a second.


    ''What is this feeling?'' He said to himself while moving from one side to another with ease. His agility and speed are remarkable, surprising everyone that was watching. His movements in this dodge were fluid and precise, demonstrating an impressive mastery of his own body.


    Immediately, the goblin tried to attack again, but Kaito once again demonstrates amazing dexterity, dodging the enemy''s desperate attacks several times in a matter of seconds, impressing everyone in the group with his impressive agility. Kaito''s movements looks almost as if he nned it before with the goblin, it was almost like a speed challenge between him and the strange creature.


    ''Is this guy really just an E-ss?'' Lord Ishikawa asks himself.


    Eventually, Lord Ishikawa gets to Kaito''s side, and as the goblin jumps to attack Kaito, the creature''s head is suddenly separated from its body by a sheet of water.


    The water sshes into the air and turns red as the goblin''s lifeless body falls to the ground.


    "Thank you, sir," Kaito says with a mixture of relief and admiration in his voice.


    Lord Ishikawa nods, showing a slight smile. "You are fast and agile, Kaito."


    Looking down at his own hands, Kaito nods, still feeling the adrenaline making his heart beat faster.


    Soon, the goblin horde reaches itsst member, who is torn apart by the vanguard without the slightest pity.


    The swordswoman who failed to defend the pirs approaches Kaito with a serious expression on her face. She has short, curly brown hair and looks to be between thirty and forty years old. She even lowers her head to Kaito without any pride and says:


    "Sorry for the disturbance. Are you all right?" she says with a determined tone, "If necessary, Maya can heal you instead of me."


    "No, there''s no need. I''m fine." Kaito says.


    The woman takes a deep breath, relieved. "Phew! That''s good to hear. By the way, I''m Ayumi and I promise I won''t let another one pass me by." She holds out her right hand.


    Kaito smiles and takes Ayumi''s hand in return. "And I will be right behind you." He says, which makes herugh for some reason.


    Lord Ishikawa watches this scene with crossed eyes. Then he calls out to the whole group:


    "Guys, let''s keep going! There is no time to rest! We have to find the boss room!"

 Chapter 11 - 10 - Always keep your eyes open

    <h4>Chapter 11: Chapter 10 - Always keep your eyes open</h4>


    The interdimensional portals that appear randomly around the world are believed to be passageways to random and dangerous ces within the Celestial Abode, as the monsters in both ces are simr or, in many cases, identical.


    However, unlike the Celestial Abode, where there are different regions with different monsters, there is no way to predict what the monsters inside the random portals will be unless someone gets into it, nor is there any way to close a portal other than by defeating the strongest creature inside, the ''''boss''''. These are two undeniable truths.


    In addition, there are many other things that humanity does not yet know about interdimensional portals.


    In fact, humanity may have learned as much about portals in twenty years as it learned about the Celestial Abode in one year, which is almost nothing.


    Going through a random portal is like trying to explore the ocean. While some days the journey can easily be fascinating, tedious, or even monotonous, on certain asions things happen that humanity simply cannot exin logically, and these are events that take everyone by surprise, even the most experienced. Awakened.


    When the awakened group sets out to find the boss''s room, they have no idea that they are about to run into something beyond their imagination.


    Before this inevitable encounter, however, Kaito collected the usual drops from the goblins that his party members were killing. From one item to the next, he curiously analyzed each one of them. Although he couldn''t sell any of these, as it would be not the best idea to show items disappearing to the other members, Kaito was still excited as the prices were considerably higher than the rotten stuff in his apartment.


    Meanwhile, Borja, a young warrior, was looking disdainfully at the remaining of the goblins from thest battle. His confidence is evident in his prideful posture and in the way he rests his sword on his shoulder instead of its leather sheath. He is one of the most experienced Awakeneds in the group and has a reputation for his fighting skills, but with the anxious young adult heart, he still felt the need to brag and show himself to the female members of the party.


    "These goblins are really weak," Borja says with a tone of disdain in his voice as his eyes scan the hollowndscape around him. "It''s hardly worth the effort to take them on."


    "Be careful what you say, Borja." said Ayumi, a swordswoman in her thirties. "In these ces, appearances can be deceiving. Never underestimate what might be lurking."


    "Ayumi is right, young man." Lord Ishikawa intervenes before the talk turned into an argument. "Always keep your eyes open."


    Since Ishikawa was the one who led this expedition, Borja doesn''t even think of arguing with him, despite his pride, but mumbles:


    "It even seems that today will soon be different than thest few days..."


    Ironically, just as Borja is about to finish his sentence, he feels something stiff wrap around his head and when he raises his eyes, he catches a glimpse of something green. Then he hears a loud sniffling behind his back and at that moment he discovers how stupid hisst sentence was.


    As soon as they all hear the same loud sniffling, like that of an animal, they look in shock at the sight of arge hand gripping Borja''s head, and the owner of that hand is a goblin muchrger than any other that has emerged from the darkness. He has huge muscles and two pairs of lower fangs protruding from his mouth, like those of an orc. His skin is dark green to help him hide in the darkness, and red tattoos in thick lines detail his arms and extremely defined abdomen. This is not a goblin like the others, this is a High Goblin.


    Fear overwhelms all the Awakened present. They arepletely unprepared for the sudden appearance of the High Goblin.


    Borja''s scornful expression quickly vanishes from his face, reced by one of pure fear.


    To make matters worse, two more superior goblins appear behind the first one, and although they are not asrge as the first one, they are also very frightening.


    Each of them has a different pattern of tattoos, which are used to show importance and status among the goblins. This makes it clear that the goblin holding Borja hostage is not just any goblin, but an Alpha.


    "What is that...?" Someone whispers in the middle of all this.


    "I''ve never seen anything like it." Another reply.


    Behind all the Awakened Ones in the back, Kaito observes how frightened everyone looks and finally remembers that the upper goblins are notmon enemies of ranks E or D. On the contrary, it is normal that only ranks C or B can defeat Transcendents of that level. At this moment, his heart begins to race as he finally realizes that he is facing death.


    Suddenly, the Alpha begins to squeeze Borja''s head tighter and tighter, making a strange crackling sound while speaking in a strangenguage:


    "Asee...jja nan eekr ayirih naakooy amma."


    The Awakened Ones all look at each other in confusion, while the other two upper goblins begin tough.


    However, since no one but the upper goblins areughing at his sentence, they quickly be serious again. In fact, they look even more angry than before.


    "Help me..." Borja pleads in a whisper, feeling his head slowly being crushed.


    Despite Borja''s mumbling and the critical moment, Lord Ishikawa regains hisposure and takes a deep breath. He knows that it is necessary to act quickly to protect the group.


    "Prepare for battle!" Ishikawa shouts with a firm voice. "Do not underestimate these enemies. Unite and fight with everything you have!"


    The voice of the experienced Awakened One was all the others needed to hear to regain their consciousness. The other members of the group immediately positioned themselves at Ishikawa''s side, raising their swords bravely and with a determined look, ready to attack.


    The superior goblins, however, only look at them seriously for a second, then begin tough euphorically. They know that they are stronger.


    Kaito, for his part, watches the scene from behind with trembling hands.


    Don''t... Don''t do it... What do you think you can do? You will die like this... There is no way to face superior goblins with only ordinary swords and no armor like us. It would be like a level 10 yer trying to fight a level 90 monster. Death is certain.


    Kaito wants to shout for everyone to retreat and run away so that at least some of them have a chance to survive, but his voice disappearspletely.


    In this way, most of the Awakened in the group are massacred, thanks to the courage and confidence they have gained from their recent expeditions. In a matter of seconds, all of the group''s strongest members are down, and Kaito finds himself face to face with the Superior Alpha Goblin.


    Just as when the first goblin tried to attack Kaito, everything was slowed down, the seconds of the battle between the Awakened and the upper goblins were reduced to the blink of an eye from Kaito''s perspective.


    All are badly wounded and blood covers the fists of the Transcendents. Lord Ishikawa, Borja, Ayumi... All of them. Only Kaito and Maya are standing, forming the rear of the team.


    Maya is on her knees, exhausted from using too many spells in such a short time.


    Kaito can hear her gasping for breath behind him and can feel the bloody breath of the goblins approaching them. But when the Alpha gets close to Kaito, hepletely ignores him and goes for Maya, who he looks at with a perverted smile.


    At this moment, Kaito''s eyes are still static, but somehow theynd on Ishikawa, who is stopping the bleeding from his own neck with one hand. Ishikawa is silently screaming with his eyes and his expression of desperation. He seems to be asking for something, a request that Kaito quickly understands.


    "Help Maya!" Ishikawa cries, not loudly, but with his heart.


    His right hand slides down the handle of his pickaxe and an immeasurable lightness fills his body.


    Kaito jumps with frightening speed, capable of destroying the stone floor beneath his feet, and swings one end of the pickaxe at the Alpha''s head, ignoring the basic logic in his mind. After all, there is no way a level 1 can defeat a level 60 monster, is there?


    +


    Discord: https://discord.gg/ kQQqYmMNkz

 Chapter 12 - 11 - Pain

    <h4>Chapter 12: Chapter 11 - Pain</h4>


    Moved by Ishikawa''s silent plea, Kaito acts without thinking.


    With ruthless determination and surprising speed, he leaps toward the head of the leading goblin, swinging the tip of his pickaxe in a ferocious blow.


    Time seems to slow down while he is in the air. Kaito can feel his own heart pulsing with adrenaline, driven by the desire to prevent Maya from bing another victim of the Alpha. Still, a selfish thought pops into his head.


    ''What the hell am I doing? My ss is Viin, I should be running away now, not trying to save someone!''


    But it is toote to turn back.


    The top goblin, with red tattoos in circr patterns on his chest, ispletely taken aback by the sudden attack and tries to react, but it is toote. The tip of Kaito''s pickaxe hits its target hard, striking the enemy''s head with devastating force. A loud crack echoes through the scene as the leading goblin''s head is pierced by Kaito''s weapon. Dark red blood spurts from the wound and the Alpha''s body crumples to the ground.


    The thud of the Alpha''s massive body echoes through the scene. The ground shakes and cracks form around the point of impact.


    Thanks to the adrenaline, Kaito quickly notices the advance of the other two superior goblins. He quickly spins his pickaxe and tries to attack, but the first one of them hits him easily, throwing him back several meters until he collides with a series of pointing rocks. At that moment, Kaito felt his entire body shake from the pain and impact, but he refuses to give up. He stands up, clenching his teeth in pain and his legs shaking.


    ''I can''t beat them... Of course, you can''t... One more blow like that, and I will really die.'' Kaito thinks and stands upright with the help of the pickaxe.


    To make matters worse, the Alpha started to get up again at that moment. The blow with the pickaxe was powerful and certainly effective, but not enough to kill such a high-level Transcendent. Kaito feels the throbbing pain spreading through all his limbs and his mind threatens to ck out, but he resists. Now that he is thinking more logically, his focus is solely on the mission at hand: to survive.


    Against all odds, Kaito knows that there is no way out of this fight, so if he wants to survive, he must fight.


    So he pushes himself forward, swinging the pickaxe once more. Now that he is weakened, he must defeat the Alpha Goblin in order to have any chance of emerging victorious.


    Immediately, the other two upper goblins stand in front of him, forming a wall of protection for their leader. Breaking through such a barrier would be easilyparable to the difficulty of climbing the highest mountain in the world with one''s bare hands, something humanly impossible. But Kaito is no longer human.


    He holds the pickaxe firmly in his right hand and waits until thest second to decide what to do, hoping to react to the goblins'' movement faster than they can hurt him.


    One of the goblins sees Kaito approaching and moves toward him with closed fists. This is the same one that hit Kaito before, so he is confident that he can kill it this time.


    Kaito watches as the goblin bends his torso forward, his eyes narrowing as he tries to think of a way to get past this monster. If he had the skills he had in Mortal Tower, this would be like taking candy from a child, but he doesn''t even have 100 bronze coins to purchase the Skill Usage Guide, so all he has for a weapon is his pickaxe.


    As the upper goblin strikes in his direction, Kaito ducks as he runs, almost losing his bnce, but he narrowly slips under the monster''s left fist, which immediately attempts a right jab that Kaito miraculously dodges.


    However, as he moves to the right, Kaito finds himself facing the second superior goblin, who tries to grab him with his powerful hands. The top goblin''s palms close in one swift motion, attempting to crush Kaito as if he were an insignificant insect.


    Kaito does not want to be caught so easily. With impressive dexterity, he slides between the legs of the second top goblin and slips out of its grasp.


    He quickly stands up after the slide and assesses the situation. He is now behind the two upper goblins, and his eyes glow with grim determination when he sees that their Alpha is still on his knees. He lunges at him, taking advantage of the surprise caused by his skillful dodge. His pickaxe moves in a smooth motion, and he concentrates on using as much power as he has. Veins appear all over Kaito''s right arm, and the pickaxe in his hand draws an arc in the air, aiming directly at the skull of the leading upper goblin. With a quick and precise movement, the tip of the pickaxe finds its target, or so Kaito sees. The expected image of the enemy''s blood gushing once more is clear in the boy''s mind, but it does note true.


    Fate ys a cruel trick on Kaito. Before the pickaxe reaches its target, the goblin leader acts with astonishing speed. With overwhelming strength and speed, he grabs Kaito''s right arm, preventing the pickaxe from reaching him.


    A shock of pain shoots through Kaito''s body. The Alpha closes therge hand around the boy''s right arm and pulls as hard as he can, ripping off Kaito''s arm with indescribable force.


    Kaito lets out an anguished cry as his member is torn from his body.


    "ARRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"


    The leader of the upper goblins, enraged, holds Kaito''s arm in his powerful hand as he gasps for breath. A sadistic smile forms on his face as he takes advantage of Kaito''s agony and desperation.


    "Huf... Huf... Etuud ita." The monster mutters.


    There is no blood gushing from Kaito''s wound and even though he is in unbearable pain for any living being, his instincts drive him to resist. He uses some of his remaining strength to leap to the side and free himself from the enemy''s grip.


    The pain is intense, but Kaito keeps his mind sharp.


    On the other hand, the Alpha, frustrated by Kaito''s brief moment of escape, moves forward with even more ferocity than before, only the monster runs incoherently, slowly, like a stunned animal.


    ''SOMETHING! I really hope that since I became a vampire, this thing will regenerate!'' Kaito thinks as he feels the pain of a torn limb quickly fade away. ''But instead of thinking about that, I have to think about how I''m going to survive this...''


    Kaito looks over his shoulder and sees that the other two upper goblins are also running toward him.

 Chapter 13 - 12 - Merchant鈥檚 Stock

    <h4>Chapter 13: Chapter 12 - Merchant''s Stock</h4>


    After the fierce battle against the superior goblins, Kaito quickly realized that he wouldn''t win that fight and quickly started to run away, after all, he cannot deal with three of these monsters at the same time.


    However, the three enemies didn''t give up and continued to run towards him.


    Strangely, with a mixture of skill and luck, Kaito somehow managed to lose track of the superior goblins in the winding corridors of the dungeon. After looking to the back, he was no longer being chased, he quickly hides behind a rock in a dark corner to think.


    Of course, such a desperate escape has its price. While he managed to distance himself from the superior goblins, he also managed to distance himself from the group of Awakeneds that were traveling with him. The feeling of failure weighs heavily on his heart, as he looks at both sides trying to gasp for a clue about the other members.


    ''I need to think�� The highest priority right now is to survive and find a way to heal this thing.'' he thought, while looking at his torn arm. Hiding in a patch of darkness, Kaito begins to assess his situation, and surprisingly, the merchant''s shop appears in front of him, as if this were just a brief pause between stages in a game.


    This brings a wry smile to Kaito''s face.


    The merchant''s shop does indeed offer a remarkable variety of items that can help him. The only problem is that the prices of the items are almost too high. Still, Kaito has a backpack full of items on his back, so he carefully examines some of the options, weighing the pros and cons of each choice.


    [Wee to the store of the merchant! There are many items for sale!


    - Basic Mana Regeneration Potion (50 bronze coins)


    - Basic Life Regeneration Potion (60 Bronze coins)


    - Rabbit meat (30 Bronze coins)


    - Assorted bulbs (15 Bronze coins)


    - Southern dagger (200 Bronze coins)


    - ming Elven Sword of G��lidus (200 silver coins)


    - Wind Shadow Armor (180 silver coins)


    - Ancient book of banned spells (250 silver coins)


    - Starry night cape (110 silver coins)


    ...]


    These are just a few of the items avable in the merchant''s inventory, each with its own unique properties and abilities.


    Looking to the window, he was secure that the answer to healing his arm was among these items, more specifically in a pool of life or in some ordinary flesh, but he also understands that his current financial situation does not allow him to purchase the items that are not desperately needed.


    [Current amount: 3 bronze coins].


    ''I''m not getting really far with only 3 bronze coins�� I need to keep these with me..'' He thought, looking to the only number floating in front of his eyes.


    Kaito sighs and whispers to himself:


    "I almost forgot that I already ate today..."


    As his torn arm throbs with pain, Kaito realizes that he has to make a quick decision. At that moment, he looks at the backpack full of items in front of him and wonders how much he could get if he were selfish and sold everything.


    "Estimate." He says, extending his left hand toward the bulky backpack.


    [Do you wish to sell the item ''Backpack with Misceneous Items'' to the merchant? This may yield 300 bronze coins].


    "Only 300 bronze coins? There are treasures in this bag." Kaito asks incredulously. "Sigh... Maybe he''s giving a discount because I''m selling it all at once."


    Kaito thinks about the offer to sell the bag with all the items he carries with him. After all, everyone in his group risked their lives to get it.


    With a resigned sigh, Kaito agrees to the sale.


    [You have received 300 bronze coins.]


    Although he is a bit mncholy about getting rid of all this, he knows that nothing in his backpack could help him survive. At least he has arger amount now, which might be crucial for him to get out of this random portal alive.


    [Current amount: 303 bronze coins].


    Kaito examines the avable items again, taking everything into consideration, including the urgency of healing his arm. He knows that he can buy five Simple Potions of Life and try to heal all five members of the vanguard, but he can also buy several other things, including the tutorial to learn how to use his abilities. This is a difficult decision, almost a dilemma.


    But Kaito does not want to back out this time. He knows that retreating would be tantamount to defeat, and he feels that if he still chooses to lose with a new body and a number of options at his disposal, he will not be able to change his life and will continue to live miserably forever. So, for the first time in a long time, Kaito decides to make apletely selfish move.


    [Would you like to buy ''Guide to Skill Usage'' for 100 bronze coins from the seasonal shop?]


    Kaito doesn''t even blink to press YES.


    [You have spent 100 bronze coins.]


    [You have received Guide To Skill Usage].


    Then Kaito''s eyes slide to the shop tab on the right, the same tab as the long list of items he looked at earlier. And without much thought, he clicks on the icon of the only weapon he can buy with the little money he got.


    [Would you like to buy ''Merchant''s Southern Dagger'' for 200 bronze coins?]


    Kaito''s left index finger trembles for a second, but he agrees to the purchase.


    [You have spent 200 bronze coins.]


    [You received the Southern Dagger.]


    "The total cost was 300 bronze coins. I received the entire amount. It wasn''t even enough for a life potion for me..." Kaito says a little discouraged, but when he looks down and sees his new items, he smiles happily.


    The Skill Usage Guide is very simr to the Beginner''s Guide, a small book with a few dozen pages.


    The Southern Dagger, on the other hand, is simply magnificent. Its curved de is thin and sharp, glinting in the dim ambient light. The leather-covered hilt provides a firm andfortable grip.


    Kaito feels a new sense of determination as he holds the dagger in his left hand. The feel of the dagger''s weight in his hand gives him a mixture of power and responsibility, even though he has no ability to use it with his bad hand. The curve of the de, however, evokes a sense of fluidity and dexterity, while the shine of the metal underscores its potential. It is certainly a good weapon.

 Chapter 14 - 13 - Life Drain

    <h4>Chapter 14: Chapter 13 - Life Drain</h4>


    Kaito moves silently through the dark corridors of the dungeon, careful with each step.


    There is a mncholy mood in the air, everything is very quiet.


    Sometimes, he hears strange sounds that seem to echo from far away, but since he walks carefully, he is sure that he is not being followed.


    After his escape from the battle with the higher goblins, he noticed that the small goblins scattered throughout the area are more alert, as if they have been rmed by his presence.


    ''These little fuckers are smarter than I thought They were now patrolling cautiously, scanning every corridor in search of the intruder.'' But somehow, Kaito manages to stay hidden and avoids fighting them.


    ''I should go back and see if anyone is still alive who can help me defeat the superior goblins. Besides, it''s been over thirty minutes since we entered the portal, we''re running out of time.'' Kaito thinks as he waits for a trio of small goblins to leave the tunnel he is in.


    As Kaito walks through the dungeon and approaches the spot where the battle took ce a few minutes ago, his heartbeats and breathing got faster. There was a mixture of hope and fear, after all, Kaito left everyone behind; he would feel guilty if they were all already dead.


    ''Maybe they just runned alway��'' he thought while looking in front of him. But when he arrives at the ce, he is confronted with a frightening, but also hopeful scene.


    The bodies of hispanions are gone. None of them. Instead, there are only pools of blood and tracks leading forward, a gruesome trail, toward the path the party was following before they started the fight.


    The sight of blood sttered everywhere makes Kaito shudder. His eyes roam over every inch, trying to find answers as to why the goblins took their bodies. It was not amon habit of the goblins he knows. On the opposite, the goblins would usually cut them up into several pieces and leave them on disy.


    The air gets heavy and the feeling of uneasiness ovees him, causing the fake awakened to immediately hide behind some of the cave''s pointy rocks. His mind quickly ran through the options.


    "It is not normal for ordinary goblins to work with superior goblins. Normally, they are two different kinds of monsters with different cultures and behaviors. I wonder if there is a shaman here..." He whispers to himself.


    The hypothesis crosses Kaito''s mind, but he shakes his head in the negative.


    "No, that''s not possible. We''re not in the Mortal Tower. This is real life". Kaito insists, but suddenly he looks to his left and sees his reflection in arge pool of blood.


    Seeing the reflection of his face, and the extreme simrity of his current appearance to that of his avatar from Mortal Tower, makes him know that he can no longer ignore the coincidences. First the change of his appearance, then the shop system identical to the one in the game he used to y, and now the goblins and their simrity to the ones in Mortal Tower... There is definitely a connection, if only through the irony of the game''s creators.


    "So, yes, there could be a shaman goblin here. That''s the only creature that can convince two different types of goblins to work together. Kaito defines and then takes a deep breath. "Sheshh! Okay, it looks like the boss here is going to be pretty tough. And if I''m really right, there''s a reason why the goblins took all of them."


    A Goblin Shaman is an extremely rare type of creature in the Mortal Tower, and Kaito has never heard of one existing in real life in all these years.


    The shamans of different races use dposition to extract a kind of mana called World Energy, which can only be extracted from other living beings, but they especially prefer humans because they exist in abundance and carry a lot of manapared to most creatures.


    Of course, all this only applies to the reality of the Mortal Tower, but for Kaito, even the slightest resemnce would be the best news he could receive, because it could mean that all the other Awakened Ones brought to the shaman by the superior goblins are still alive.


    Determined to move on and try to find out where his colleagues have gone, Kaito follows the blood trails with his eyes, thinking that this might be the only clue for him.


    Then, just as Kaito is about to get up and leave the rock he is hiding behind, he notices movement in the corridor he is about to follow. His body stiffens and he slows down, carefully watching the corridor where the blood trails lead.


    A small goblin emerges from the darkness. Its bright eyes are alert and it holds a small torch in its right hand.


    Immediately, Kaito considers his options. He knows that if he confronts the goblin face to face, he might draw more enemies to his position if he yells. Kaito must do this quietly, but how?


    ''This might be a good time to finally use this thing.'' Kaito thinks.


    A few minutes ago, after getting the items from the merchant''s shop, Kaito also took a few seconds to look up his skills in the Skill Usage Guide.


    Since he is level 1, he only has two skills. However, none of them look like the ones he had in Mortal Tower.


    His main skill seems to be called <Evil Point Maniption> and the second one is called <Life Drain>. Despite his best efforts, Kaito didn''t have time to read all about his main skill since time was against him, but the second one was simpler, so it was easier to use at a time like this.


    ''I can do this. How should I do it? Oh, right, take a deep breath and smell the blood. Well, that won''t be too hard here.'' Kaito concludes, looking at the puddle of blood that almost touches his left foot.


    Then Kaito draws in the air with his nostrils and at that moment, his pupils change color. From a beautiful emerald green, his pupils turn an intense shade of red. At the same time, the four fangs in his mouth grow exponentially. Kaito also feels that everything around him bes more sensitive, such as smells, sounds, and even his vision. He can hear every movement of the goblin near him in detail.


    In addition, Kaito sees everything around him in variations of the red color spectrum, and for some reason this almost makes himugh, but he restrains himself and jumps from behind the stone he was standing on, running towards the little goblin, who doesn''t even have time to react, because Kaito surprises him from behind and cuts his neck, but not with a dagger, but with his mouth.


    The goblin makes a muffled sound of surprise and pain as Kaito pins him down with his sharp fangs. The force of the bitebined with the speed of the attack is overwhelming. Kaito squeezes hard, using his strength to choke the creature with his own blood.


    The goblin struggles desperately to free itself from the Awakened''s grasp. Its glowing eyes fill with fear as its weak hands il desperately at Kaito''s face, but its attempts are in vain. The goblin''s strength begins to fade, and its stamina quickly dwindles.


    The goblin''s life energy flows into Kaito, nourishing and strengthening him. He feels aforting warmth coursing through his body, and the goblin grows weaker and weaker.


    When the goblin finally falls to the ground,pletely exhausted, Kaito releases the inert body and takes a few steps back, returning to his normal state. His fangs return to their original size and his pupils turn emerald green.


    [You have restored 300 health to the Common Goblin.]


    [You have killed amon goblin. You have gained +200 XP.]


    Kaito looks at the defeated goblin on the ground, breathing heavily, and cannot believe that he was the one who killed this creature.

 Chapter 15 - 14 - Blood on Hands

    <h4>Chapter 15: Chapter 14 - Blood on Hands</h4>


    As Kaito watches the goblin''s corpse lying on the ground and listens to his own gasping for breath, a whirlwind of thoughts and worries swirl in his mind.


    ''Is it, dead?'' He thought, with his eyes focused on the blood on his hands and the corpse at his feet. The goblin''s vivid and strong, fierce gaze was gone, giving way to a nk expression.


    "I really killed that thing." He said aloud, barely believing it.


    But all these sudden thoughts are also suddenly interrupted by an agonizing pain Kaito feels in his right shoulder. This pain is different from when he lost his arm. His skin was not rearing, it was like his shoulder was being pulled and twisted. So when Kaito looks at his right arm while feeling this pain that almost makes him howl again, he sees his limb regenerate quickly after a short and quick burst of blood sshing across the floor and ceiling, Kaito sees his right armplete again, with fingers, fingernails, and even the same wrinkles in the joints.


    Looking to the blood, his mind was stunned by the pain and his regeneration, without understanding what was happening, he raised his eyebrows and automatically tried to move his arm seeding with normality. Moving each of his fingers and closing his right hand without any problems.


    Unconsciously, Kaito almostughs and pauses with a smile on his face, still confused.


    "Life Restoration really works". Kaito says and opens his status window with just that thought, as is usual for any web link.


    When the status window opens in front of him, Kaito sees that his life points have returned to 100.


    "So the points that appear here actually represent my physical condition..." He mumbles and puts a hand to his chin.


    His eyesnd on the bottom of the status window, which shows his remaining skill points, the points he has left to distribute among his attributes. He has three skill points to use, the reward for his daily mission to feed himself. So, his hands shaking with excitement, Kaito clicks on the + symbol next to the Intelligence attribute and increases it from 10 to 13, spending his only three points.


    He knows that he cannot physically defeat a shaman goblin yet, but he has to try. Even if he had 13 Speed, 13 Strength, or 13 Endurance, none of those would be enough, so increasing his standard Intelligence might be the only usible option, because then he might notice something he wouldn''t normally notice, ore up with some great idea.


    So with a spark of hope, Kaito begins to follow the trail of blood down the corridor where the patrolling goblin came from.


    Every step he takes echoes softly, and the dungeon seems to grow darker and darker, with a thinyer of fog filling the odd gaps.


    The silence is asionally broken by the distant whisper of the wind and the goblins on patrol, following the various corridors and tunnels of the dungeon.


    During one of these chance encounters, Kaito decides to test the potential of the Southern Dagger and slowly approaches a goblin from behind.


    However, Kaito has little or no experience in sneak attacks, so when he is only a few centimeters away from the goblin, the small creature''s pointed ears move, picking up a new sound, and it suddenly turns around. Immediately, the goblin prepares to let out a scream of territorial rage, both to alert all the other goblins in the area and to intimidate his enemy, but Kaito acts quickly and without a second thought, shes with the dagger, hitting the monster right in the throat.


    Thus, instead of the goblin''s agonizing scream, only the sound of it choking on blood is heard.


    Kaito doesn''t hear the goblin''s death warning in his ears, so he jumps at it, dagger in hand. After several blows to the goblin''s chest, causing the creature to spit blood, Kaito finally hears the long-awaited message.


    [You have killed a normal goblin, you have gained +200 XP].


    Kaito slowly stands up and looks at the monster''s corpse.


    ''This thing doesn''t die easily either.'' He thinks.


    [You have gained 1 Evil forck of mercy.]


    Kaito looks in surprise at the strange new window that has appeared before him. "This must be a warning from my main skill, but... what is this, Lack of Mercy?"


    Wondering, Kaito realizes in a few moments that instead of hitting the goblin with more than one of a dozen blows to the chest, he could have just hit the head or waited for it to die after the throat cut.


    In any case, the mistake was gone, or rather, maybe it wasn''t a mistake at all, after all, he earned a point for evil.


    - A few minutes ago -


    After getting the items he needed from selling the bag full of items, Kaito took some time to learn a bit about his skills.


    Sitting on the rocky floor of the dungeon, he opened the small book he had in his hand, and immediately a loud voice rang out.


    "As you saw in the manual..."


    Kaito immediately closed the book, for the sound of the voice it produced echoed throughout the chamber he was in. He looked to the sides and stood in silence for some time to make sure that nothing and no one heard him. Finally, after a few seconds, he decided to open the book again, but this time he opened it quietly and left it open just a little, which was enough to hear the narrator''s low voice, almost like a whisper.


    "... for Beginners. Each Awakened has unique abilities. By the way, Kaito, your main skill is called Evil Point Maniption."


    "Evil Point Maniption? That''s... strange. I''ve never heard of such an ability before..."


    "Shut up and listen to me." The book said and then continued normally. "The Evil Point Maniption skill is the main skill of your ss, Viin, and it cannot be developed by training, constancy of use, or any other means. As such, this skill will only serve as a support and stepping stone for your evolution. When youmit evil deeds, you will receive evil points, which are obviously different from the attribute points you receive forpleting quests, leveling up, and so on. Evil points are points you use to copy and create abilities. For a viin, bing powerful is not a matter of fate or an option, but an obligation.

 Chapter 16 - 15 - Skill Points

    <h4>Chapter 16: Chapter 15 - Skill Points</h4>


    "... For a viin, bing powerful is not a fate or an option, but a duty."


    Kaito thinks about this sentence from the moment he hears the voice of the Skill Use Guide utter it. And when he kills the second goblin, he finally understands it.


    This sentence is absolutely correct, and Kaito knows that because he has the viin ss, he has no choice but to be better and stronger than everyone else, or one day the hero will surely kill him. Besides, now that Kaito has the opportunity to almost live a new life, dying is thest thing he wants.


    As he makes his way through the dungeon, the ustrophobic atmosphere bes more and more suffocating and his heart begins to beat faster. This is how he knows that danger is near. This is a feeling of almost agonizing fear, and a chill that he feels grows more and more intense. And when he finallyes to the entrance of a corridor that ispletely different from the others, covered with bricks, he knows that he ising to the right ce.


    The blood trails have brought him to this ce, so there is no doubt that his group mates have been brought here.


    Kaito''s heart was already racing, but it quickened even more when he noticed the figure of an upper goblin near the entrance to this corridor.


    Immediately, Kaito hides behind one of the pirs right behind it.


    Cold sweat runs down his forehead as he spies this transcendent, but it does not move like the other smaller, patrolling goblins. On the contrary, this superior goblin is standing still, guarding this entrance. This must be the path that leads to the shaman goblin.


    ''If I want to get into the hall, I''ll have to get past this guy, and I''ll have to do it quietly so as not to attract more enemies.''


    Trying to keep his breathing in control and with tense muscles, Kaito thinks about what he can do. He knows that his fate depends on his skills and especially on his courage.


    There are few options left, but as a vampire, he can afford to risk a little more than a normal human. The big problem is that Kaito has to shoot down the enemy without them screaming for help, and that is a huge obstacle. So, knowing how to deal with the situation, an ideaes to him.


    Looking around for a rock that is big enough to make a considerable noise, but not so big that it won''t make a bang. Fortunately, he finds one easily under his left foot, so he slowly bends down and carefully holds it. It is perfect. The next step is to analyze his surroundings to find a strategic point from which to throw it. His goal is to make a noise loud enough to attract the attention of the upper goblin, distract it from its current position, and draw it closer.


    Kaito then throws the stone in the opposite direction from his position in the corridor, causing it to hit a wall some distance away with a distinctive sound.


    The goblin turns his head, rmed by the sound, and begins to approach where the sound came from to see what or who it is. Even though he is sure it is just an ordinary, small, stupid, insignificant goblin, he needs to be sure.


    Taking advantage of the distraction as the top goblin passes by his side, Kaito moves quickly through the shadows.


    As he learned from hisst attempt at stealth ughter, this time he moves quickly and with doubled caution. His sharp fangs ready for action, he leaps onto the upper goblin''s back, wraps his arms around him, and seals his lips around his enemy''s neck.


    Confused, the top goblin instinctively tries to pull back the one grabbing him, and when he feels the bite, he screams. But his voice does note out. As warned, Kaito is someone who learns from his mistakes as well as his sesses. When he jumped up and grabbed the top goblin from behind, he made sure to cut its throat and thus its vocal cords.


    The attack was perfect, and it doesn''t take long for the goblin''s life force to slowly drain away while the vampire remains hidden from the eyes of the one he is killing.


    The goblin struggles for a moment but soon sumbs to the weakness caused by the vampire''s attack. His body falls limply to the ground.


    [You have killed a Superior Goblin, you have gained +1000 XP].


    [You have leveled up!]


    [You gained Skill Points (+10).]


    Kaito would like to have time to be surprised that he has finally gained a level, but just as he jumps off the upper goblin''s back and hears the thud of the corpse falling to the ground, he also hears the sound of a heavy stomp on the door of the brick hallway. Kaito''s head slowly turns to the right and he sees an upper goblining out of the passageway ahead of him.


    The goblin is scratching its belly awkwardly. "Yaaaw!" The transcendent yawns loudly and then looks at Kaito.


    For the first few moments, the second upper goblin looks confused, a little sleepy to say the least. Finally, he looks at his brother lying on the ground, dead, and then his eyes fall on Kaito''s fangs, dripping blood. It takes him a few more moments to process the situation with his pea brain, and Kaito doesn''t react either, because he doesn''t know what mistake he made.


    ''I did everything right. I acted cautiously and shot the goblin perfectly. So where did this other gobline from?'' Kaito thinks as he watches the new enemy''s expression change.


    The answer to the questions going through Kaito''s mind at that moment is simple: he just wasn''t lucky enough.


    ''Quick! I have to act quickly! I can''t just stand here,'' Kaito shouts to himself.


    Kaito''s fingers move quickly, not to wield his dagger, but to quickly use the skill points he gained a few seconds ago. He knows that he cannot afford to wait to use themter, after all, there might not be an after if he has to face a superior goblin.


    Unfortunately, Kaito doesn''t have much time to think about how to distribute the points this time.


    Then the superior goblin starts running towards him, gnashing its teeth in anger.


    The creature reaches Kaito in the blink of an eye and tries to grab him.


    This causes the boy to have shbacks of when he lost his arm. So he dodges it without hesitation and throws his body backwards with one hand in a not very elegant somersault. Still, he falls upside down, hitting his back on the same pir he was hiding on, and manages to escape the onught of the Transcendent.


    Then, at that moment, the following conclusion crosses his mind:


    ''My body is much... much lighter!''


    +


    Discord: https://discord.gg/ kQQqYmMNkz

 Chapter 17 - 16 - Superior Goblin

    <h4>Chapter 17: Chapter 16 - Superior Goblin</h4>


    In the midst of his desperation, Kaito''s hands quickly slid down his attribute window, and in a single second, he clicked as fast as he could to spend all ten points he received for a random attribute, thus increasing it.


    He didn''t have time to choose or think about it, and theoretically, there wasn''t a bad option, everything would help him against the superior goblin.


    And it didn''t take more than a few moments for Kaito to notice the difference in his physical abilities.


    ''My body is... much lighter!'' He thought as he stands on his head and gets up with an agile twist of his body.


    The hood of his jacket covers his head during this movement and Kaito smiles involuntarily. His eyes turn to the left for a second and he sees that he has increased his Agility attribute from 10 to 20 points.


    "That exins a lot... Oops!!!" He says, seeing a punching toward his face. ''Now that I''ve been given a second chance, I''m definitely not going to die!''


    With the sudden improvement in his agility, Kaito reacts surprisingly quickly to the upper goblin''s blow. He spins the Southern Dagger in his right hand as he leaps over the enemy, leaving him momentarily disoriented. Seizing the advantage, Kaito delivers a mid-air blow to the back of the upper goblin''s head.


    The southern dagger slices through the air with a faint sound, and suddenly blood spurts from the cut. The upper goblin quickly puts his hand to the back of his head, feeling the shallow blow and grunting slightly in pain.


    Kaito raises his eyebrows in surprise, then closes his eyes. ''I just developed my agility, so as I imagined, my strength remains the same. He''s still stronger and tougher than me.'' He thinks.


    The top goblin suddenly smiles, showing off his thick, bulky fangs as well as his confidence.


    Despite feeling a chill, Kaito is not intimidated. He has nowhere to run if the path to hispanions is right in front of him, and he knows he needs to take advantage of it while his enemy is underestimating him.


    ''But how am I going to defeat this thing alone?'' he wonders, looking at the goblin that is easily almost two meters of pure muscle and savagery.


    Since the monster doesn''t have the same concerns as Kaito about thinking of a n, he moves forward without hesitation.


    However, this time the awakened man decides to adopt a not-so-defensive stance and punches the goblin in the face with his left hand to surprise it. But instead of the blow shuddering the monster''s body, it shudders Kaito''s whole body, who feels the firmness of the monster''s skin and muscles. Maybe if a punch like this had hit an ordinary goblin it would be enough to knock it out, only of course this doesn''t work with a type of goblin that is on a higher level.


    The upper goblin barely moves at Kaito''s punch, which makes him think:


    ''It won''t work! You certainly can''t beat that!''


    In the next second, Kaito is hit with a powerful punch that the moment it hits him in the stomach makes him spit up blood.


    As the blow twists Kaito''s stomach, a series of shbacks pass through his head, making him remember the old nights when he spent hours and hours farming experience and items by ughtering viges and viges of superior goblins on floor eleven of the Mortal Tower.


    These memories alling to the surface right when he is being beaten by a superior goblin makes him instantly conclude that this is all a joke of fate.


    To make him hope to live a different life and then end it all by dying to a weak creature he has killed hundreds of times before is cruel and sadistic on God''s part, to say the least.


    The goblin''s blow throws him several meters forward, causing him to be dragged with his back on the floor of the brick corridor that was supposed to be his hope of finding his group mates.


    Kaito knows that he could have run away, but he also feels that he needed to fight the Shaman Goblin and defeat him to change his life once and for all.


    Fallen, Kaito tries to look down the sinister corridor and sees that at the end of this long path there is an intensely red light. He can hear the drumming for a second, only for the music to be quickly interrupted by heavy footsteps approaching him. At this moment Kaito''s eyes no longer harbor hope, they are almost empty. His eyelids are so, so heavy. He is tired, maybe it is time to rest...


    However, just as Kaito is about to give up his new chance, everything goes silent and a distant voice resounds in his mind. It is the voice of his father.


    "... No matter how hard it seems, you must find a way to ovee..."


    Those words echo over and over again and his father''s face pops into his memory, as does his exhausted and sickly, but still gentle smile.


    At the same time, Kaito is slowly lifted by the cor of his shirt by the top goblin, who is thirsty to kill him to the point that he is salivating.


    The goblin prepares to throw a punch hard enough to break the boy''s skull into several pieces, but when the monster raises his left hand, the glow returns to Kaito''s eyes. Seeing Kaito''s eyes glowing, one in ruby red and the other in emerald green, the monster for some reason hesitates, either out of fear, uncertainty, or strangeness, and during this moment of hesitation, a sound of tearing flesh echoes loudly throughout the ce. Then, from the corners of the upper goblin''s mouth begins to ooze blood, lots of blood.


    The goblin looks down, feeling suddenly weak, and sees the Southern Dagger stuck in the left side of his chest. His heart has been broken in half by a surprise attack from Kaito.


    This time it is the goblin''s eyes that go gray, and he falls on Kaito.


    [You killed a Superior Goblin. You gained +1000 XP].


    Kaito takes a few seconds to breathe, to rest, even as the stinking, heavy body of the superior goblin falls on him. Kaito is extremely tired both physically and psychologically, no wonder he has almost given up everything. However, he doesn''t have much time to rest either, so he soon stands up, extends his right palm towards the upper goblin and utters:


    "Sell."

 Chapter 18 - 17 - The Boss Room

    <h4>Chapter 18: Chapter 17 - The Boss Room</h4>


    [Do you want to sell ''Upper Goblin Remains'' to the Merchant?]


    "As I figured. Selling items together, like the entire upper goblin and the item bag, is counted only as one sale.... That''s useful and convenient, but I should get a lot more money if I sell each item separately." Kaito thinks aloud and looks at the corpse before him. "Anyway, I wouldn''t have the courage to gut and sell the monster organs separately. I''ll stick to the easier method at least for this kind of case."


    Without further dy, Kaito sold the two corpses of the upper goblins he killed.


    [You received 25 bronze coins from the Merchant].


    [You received 25 bronze coins from the Merchant.]


    By selling the corpses of the upper goblins to the Merchant, Kaito receives a few bronze coins for each one. Although it is not a significant amount, it is better than selling the things he has at home to get food. With fatigue weighing on him, Kaito decides it''s better not to risk staying where he is any longer with the chance of encountering patrolling goblins. So he makes his way down the brick corridor, heading toward the mysterious light at the end of it.


    The path is dark and surprisingly empty. However, all this quickly bes irrelevant, because the sound of echoing drums are certainly more eye-catching and intimidating than the darkness surrounding Kaito.


    Kaito continues to walk down the brick corridor toward the end, and his heart gets faster and faster and tension pulses in every fiber of his being.


    Each step seems heavier and slower as if his own subconscious is trying to stop him. As he advances, Kaito keeps his hearing sharp and his senses on alert.


    Reaching the end of the corridor, Kaito peers into the chamber that is revealed before him. His eyes scan the room quickly, taking in the details as he tries to analyze the situation.


    The chamber isrge and lit by the intense glow of mes. In the center of the ce, the Shaman Goblin stands out with his sinister appearance. His scaly green skin glows in the light of the mes, and his eyes also emit a menacing red glow, with no pupils, sclera or any part that resembles an ordinary eye, just glowing like two light bulbs. In addition, he wears a hood, which covers part of his head, and he is muchrger physically even than the upper goblins, who be small next to him.


    Around the Shaman, several other goblins are present, each with its own peculiar appearance. Some have less greenish skin, have sharp fangs and other ordinary goblins carry improvised spears and shields. All are dancing near the center, for some reason.


    Kaito''s eyes meet his group mates as he scans the room with a nce.


    Lord Ishikawa looks exhausted and has a lot of blood running down his head. Yet he still seems conscious as he is tied to a stake, protected by some superior goblins.


    Maya, Ayumi, and Borja are a little to the side, all with gags over their mouths and ropes binding their limbs. They are inside a reinforced wooden cage and seem to be just waiting for the Shaman to finish preparing whatever it is he is preparing in therge metal cauldron in the center of the chamber.


    As Kaito contemtes this whole situation, he feels more than a simple shiver as he felt before, he feels a mixture of fear, anger, concern and determination. The hope that everyone can still get out of this awakens an inner fire in Kaito.


    The tension in the air is palpable, the drums echo louder and louder, increasing Kaito''s anxiety, as well as causing sound pollution that contrasts with the chaotic visuals. He knows he must act quickly and carefully if he is to have any chance of saving hispanions and facing the powerful Shaman Goblin, but all this noise gets in the way of his thoughts.


    Suddenly, his eyes are fixed on a nearby shelf farther away from the cauldron. This shelf seems to be full of jars and unknown objects. There may be something useful there.


    With dagger in hand, Kaito assesses his position in the room. He watches the movements of the goblins around the Shaman and realizes that there is a gap in their vision, although they are always moving, a small opening where he can slip in unnoticed. So Kaito looks both ways and enters the chamber, stepping cautiously on tiptoe, trying to avoid being detected by the goblins and using the pirs to hide from the goblins who seem to be more on the lookout. He knows that his every move must be precise and silent, and his luck is that the goblins are not smart enough to suspect that he may have made it this far.


    Getting close to the shelf, Kaito sees that the jars are muchrger up close. These jars are almost the size of entire gallons of water, but Kaito examines them carefully, looking for something he can use in his strategy. However, all thebels are in thenguage of the goblins, and he is unable to understand. His fingers run across the cold surfaces of the different colored containers, until he finds a jar containing a shiny substance that he thinks he recognizes, and then he has an idea to check whether it is right or not.


    ''Sell.'' He thinks, touching the vial with the silver, shiny substance.


    [Sale of ''Sleep Potion'' blocked. You do not own this item, so you cannot sell it].


    A subtle smile forms on his lips. Kaito knows that this potion could be the key to creating a rescue opportunity for his friends, even more so in arge quantity like this. In Death Tower, this potion was the key to defeat the boss on the thirty-third floor, maybe it will also be the key to defeat this Shaman Goblin.


    The only problem is that this bottle is too big and heavy to carry anywhere near the Shaman, so Kaito has to think of another solution.


    After a few seconds, hees to a conclusion. ''Maybe it is not possible to use this to finish off the Goblin Shaman, but I can use it to decrease the number of goblins and create chaos.'' Kaito thinks and touches the wood of the bookcase to test something. Soon he hears the wood creak.


    The creaking of the wood makes Kaito stop for a moment, fearing that the sound might alert the goblins to his presence. He stands still, waiting to see if any of the goblins react to the noise. Luckily for him, it seems that the sound has gone unnoticed by his enemies thanks to the incessant drumming.


    Feeling a momentary relief, Kaito gets another idea thanks to the creaking of the bookcase, which demonstrates how weak this structure is.


    ''If I knock that bookcase down, it will cause a big fuss and even if I don''t physically hit any goblin, they wille closer to check what''s going on and if I''m right, at that amount the scent of that potion will be enough for them to have the best sleep of their lives.''

 Chapter 19 - 18 - Caged

    <h4>Chapter 19: Chapter 18 - Caged</h4>


    After some quick thinking, Kaito precisely pushed the weak structure of the potion rack, making it shake and give way. The first ss jars begin to fall rapidly, creating a strong, harsh sound that echoes through the room. Other ss vials crash into each other just before falling to the floor, producing loud bangs and making the sound reverberate through the chamber. With each falling vial, a sharp, piercing noise fills the room.


    The goblins were immediately alerted by the sudden noises, and after a single moment, they got to a state of alert, as they stopped the drumming music, leaving a deep silence.


    And when finally the entire bookcase finishes falling, a loud bang resounds and echoes throughout the dungeon.


    Kaito took advantage of the confusion and chaos caused by all this to move as fast as he could through the shadows. Hiding behind one of therge pirs, taking advantage of the distraction of the goblins while they try to understand what was happening.


    The goblins, still uncertain and suspicious, first begin to investigate with nces, moving toward the copsed potions rack to investigate.


    But the Shaman Goblin''s attention was caught only for a few moments, and he soon refocuses on the cauldron before him.


    ''Possibly, he thought it was just some dumb goblin making all this mess. That''s great.'' Kaito thinks, and with a hopeful smile, he raises his head.


    As the goblins crowd around the fallen bookcase, Kaito waits anxiously and watches with his own eyes as the glowing particles of the sleeping potion scatter in the dense smoke, which was a product of the mixing of the various types of essences, potions, and chemicals and the falling bookcase. The smoke is dense, and the goblins, as they are not really what you can call smart, go inside the smoke without realizing it and soon begin to feel the sedative effect. Not only can they not see anything around them, but their eyelids be heavy as they lose control of their bodies.


    A few secondster, the thudding sounds of the goblins falling to the ground are heard by the other monsters, who have not taken any chances, and by the Shaman Goblin, who looks over his left shoulder, as if it finally caught his interest.


    One by one, several goblins fall into a deep sleep, and Kaito watches the effect of the potion with a d smile on his face.


    There is now arge portion of the goblins neutralized, leaving significantly fewer enemies to contend with.


    Taking advantage of the gap in surveince, Kaito silently moves towards Ishikawa, as the superior goblins that were near him were also attracted by the crash of the fallen bookcase. Lord Ishikawa is tied to a stake and upon seeing his approach, he stares at him with a mixture of disbelief and hope.


    "Kaito... Are you... are you alive?" whispers Ishikawa, but his voice barely left his dry lips.


    Kaito makes a sing with one of his fingers, asking Mr. Ishikawa for silence. He doesn''t want to run the risk of getting discovered after everything he did.


    Nodding silently, Ishiwaka understands the message and keeps his mouth shut.


    With careful movements, Kaito removes the dagger from his belt and begins to cut the ropes that bind Ishikawa''s hands to the stake. The tight knots quickly loosen, and after regaining the mobility of his arms, it was still tingling in his extremities after so much time with the rope. There was a strong red mark on his wrists, with even some blood.


    Ishikawa looks at Kaito with gratitude in his eyes. Although he feels his words are needed, the emotion in his gaze says it all. He is so happy that he could hug Kaito. However, they both know that there is still much to be done to get out of this ce alive.


    Kaito prepares to sneak over to the railing where Maya, Ayumi and the others are, but suddenly a warmth fills the room. Ishikawa and Kaito look toward the Shaman Goblin and see that he is raising one of his hands and forming a sphere of fire in the palm of his hand. His red eyes glow with mischief as he looks directly at Kaito and Ishikawa with an evil grin that shows off all his fangs.


    "Quick, kid, we need to find cover!" Ishikawa shouts and tries to pull Kaito behind a nearby pster.


    However, Kaito knows that hiding is no longer an option now. He has enough experience fighting Mortal Tower bosses to say that it is impossible to hide from a boss inside your own room.


    As the fireball forms in the Shaman Goblin''s hands, glowing with a frightening intensity, Kaito''s heart races and adrenaline courses through his veins. He knows he needs to act quickly, so he shouts to the leader of the group:


    "I will distract the Shaman Goblin and meanwhile you will help the others! We''re going to need as much help as possible if we really want to beat this monster!"


    For the first few moments, Ishikawa is hesitant, only when he sees how Kaito starts to run, the fright about how agile this boy is overrides his fear of seeing him die.


    The room around Kaito bes a blur to him, and he focuses exclusively on the Shaman Goblin and his fireball. Kaito''s muscles twitch and, with a fluid motion, he quickly ducks, narrowly avoiding the first sh of me thrown in his direction.


    The impact of the fireball against the ground shatters everything, and the Shaman Goblin exims as he points at it:


    "Uhdagra anak!!!"


    The attention of all the remaining goblins, superior andmon, immediately turns to Kaito, who is running towards the Shaman Goblin.


    At that moment, the young man''s body seems to unfold in a choreography of movements, as if following an invisible score, because he bes even faster because of fear, and with one agile leap heunches himself to the side, dodging the Shaman Goblin''s second fireball. His movements are precise, demonstrating years of training and experience that don''t actually exist. In his time perspective, just a few days ago Kaito was just a fat, sedentary boy.


    With impressive speed, Kaito moves toward the Shaman Goblin. His feet barely touch the ground as he moves with dexterity. He uses his agility to avoid the burning mes dancing in the air, passing close to them with supernatural grace.


    ''I''m doing it! I can''t believe I''m actually doing it!''


    In a moment of pure elegance, Kaito leaps once more, spinning in the air with tremendous ease.


    The goblins, in their frustration, try to keep up with Kaito, but they fumble, collide with each other, and end up bing an obstacle to themselves.


    ''I can do this.'' he thinks, looking back and watching this scene.

 Chapter 20 - 19 - Fireballs

    <h4>Chapter 20: Chapter 19 - Fireballs</h4>


    The fireballs thrown by the Shaman Goblin quickly begin to overrun the hall, the monster was so annoyed by Kaito''s agile movements that he couldn''t stop throwing fireballs, one after another. The attacks were hitting the floor, the walls, the pirs, and even some of the smaller goblins, but in no way it was able to hit Kaito, although they were always passing close to him, illuminating the determined eyes and concentrated expression on the awakened man''s face.


    Luckily, Kaito''s body moves in perfect harmony against the impending threat, defying even his own expectations.


    The truth is that Kaito is much more agile than any ordinary human being and surprisingly faster than Rank E awakened ones usually are. Every movement is precise, giving the feeling to others that he is having fun in this dance with death while Kaito was only thinking about how he really wanted to keep exploring this world.


    ''I can''t die! Or rather... I don''t want to die! I have so many things to do yet, I''m so young!''


    As Kaito inevitably approaches the Shaman Goblin, he carefully watches every detail of his enemy. The boss''srge, exposed fangs glow with the promise of destruction, showing how sharp they are, and his fiery red eyes seem to contain evil darkness. Kaito knows that he needs to get rid of the horde of goblins that is chasing him closely before he has to deal with this Shaman.


    Leaping deftly into the air and doing a pirouette that even he cannot exin how he did, Kaito avoids another fireball, feeling the intense heat on his skin as it passes close to him. His feet barely touch the ground again, and he already has to act again. He slides across the ground like a shadow and passes between the legs of a superior goblin who was trying to surround him, and then the monster he just dodged is run over by the flood of goblins who are chasing Kaito.


    The other awakened people watch Kaito in awe and amazement as he struggles to stay unharmed.


    Ayumi looks at Kaito and asks aloud to the others:


    "Hadn''t that boy lost his right arm?"


    "It must have been your impression because of the adrenaline. Nobody gets an arm back like that out of nowhere." Borja states, getting up with difficulty from the frozen ground.


    "Yeah, I think so..." Ayumi says.


    ''Hang in there a little longer, Kaito. I''m almost getting it.'' Ishikawa thinks as he cuts the bars of the reinforced wooden cage with his water de.


    While the awakened ones look forward to their freedom, Kaito continues on his fierce fight against the goblins. His agile movements show impressive dexterity, surpassing many of his previous skills, and he was feeling like his stamina was almost infinite, perhaps the reason was his new form as a vampire. Dodging the goblin attacks was extremely ease, and with his new speed, he could take every single opportunity to counterattack. But even with this strange advantage, he was still getting pressed as the goblins get closer and closer to being able to grab him.


    Amidst the chaos of the battle, Kaito spots a group of smaller goblins preparing to take their bows. This could be a problem because if besides themon goblins and the fireballs, Kaito has to worry about arrows, he will really be in trouble. Without wasting any time, heunches himself toward them, using his amazing speed to reach them in seconds.


    However, just as Kaito is about to attack them with the Southern Dagger, suddenly the goblins are enveloped by a purple aura and are lifted into the air. The goblins themselves look surprised, but Kaito is not. The boy looks back over his shoulder, already knowing what to expect, and sees the Shaman Goblin with his right hand extended forward.


    "Using psychokinesis sure isn''t fair!" Kaito shouts. "That''s ck magic!"


    The Shaman Goblin, frustrated that his fireballs are having no effect, begins to hurl ordinary goblins toward Kaito with psychokinesis


    The goblins fly, trying to grab the awakened young man. At first, they crash to the ground, failing miserably in their aim, but the Shaman continues to hurl them relentlessly.


    Kaito continues to dodge the falling goblins, deviating from the trajectory pointed out by the boss. However, amidst the chaos, a goblin manages to cling to Kaito''s back, desperately holding on and trying to bite his skin. The grip surprises Kaito, but he quickly reacts, grabbing the goblin by the neck and throwing him away.


    "Bastard!" Kaito growls, annoyed at the boss''s audacity.


    As he fights off the falling goblins, Kaito realizes that there is no longer any way to put off the inevitable. He needs to put an end to all of this, and if the Shaman Goblin has not gone to attack him directly so far, there is a reason for that.


    So Kaito dodges the goblin''s ws and speeds up his steps to get to the Shaman Goblin faster. His quick movements allow him to advance even among several enemies who try to surround him. In addition, he swings the Southern Dagger without a second thought and listens as he does so:


    [You killed a Common Goblin. You gained +200 XP].


    [You killed a Superior Goblin. You gained +1000 XP.]


    [You have leveled up!]


    [You killed a Common Goblin. You gained +200 XP].


    [You killed a Superior Goblin. You gained +1000 XP.]


    Moving closer and closer to the Shaman, Kaito looks for some kind of breach. He knows that defeating the leader will weaken the goblin horde and also finish this portal and thus put an end to all this. So this is all he needs. Adrenaline rushes through his veins as Kaito concentrates on his goal. He ignores the pain of minor scrapes and burns, determined to kill the Shaman Goblin and put an end to that infernal confrontation.


    The Shaman Goblin is almost four meters tall and is genuinely intimidating to any low-level awakened, but Kaito no longer fears it. In fact, he is eager to kill him, so he smiles. And when the other awakened ones in the group see Kaito smiling even with a horde of goblins behind him, they feel a unique chill that makes their jaws drop.


    "Who the hell is this kid...?" They wonder in unison.

 Chapter 21 - 20 - Grow

    <h4>Chapter 21: Chapter 20 - Grow</h4>


    Thest few hours definitely made Kaito grow, both as a person and as a warrior. And all the fear he felt a few minutes ago simply vanished for the excitement of facing death head-on.


    Moreover, Kaito also noticed that his agility was far above any of the goblins. Evenpared to the superior goblins and their stringy defined muscles, he was faster, more agile, and able to react in the split of a second. This realization brings him a glimmer of hope, as it means that in any fight, as long as he doesn''t let himself be exhausted, he still has the chance to win. With this awareness in mind, heunches himself into a fric race, driven by the force of his will.


    Every fiber of his body strives to outrun the pursuing goblins, his muscles moving in perfect synchrony, his feet touching the ground with the lightness of a dancer. He dodges the attacks, dodges the onughts, leaping and spinning with dexterity, ever more determined to remain tireless. A sense of speed and freedom envelops Kaito, and he feels that what was once impossible is now no longer.


    ''I can win.'' As he flees from the goblins, Kaito faces the Shaman Goblin and lunges toward him.


    For his part, the Shaman Goblin grits his teeth, furious at the audacity of this little being.


    "Ati garmalee xiqqa!" The boss shouts, and hisnguage remains iprehensible to everyone but the goblins, who immediately stop running for that reason.


    At that moment, the other awakened ones who are in Kaito''s group start to leave the wooden cage, finally freed by Ishikawa, but the next thing they know, the horde of goblins is running toward them. They are all startled and prepare to run as well, only to soon realize that there is something wrong in the goblins'' countenances.


    "Why do they look so scared?" Ishikawa asks as he helps one boy in the group to his feet.


    "Scared? No, they look terrified of something." Ayumi states and breaks a part of the cage with her foot to grab a board.


    "Look!" Maya points to the Shaman Goblin.


    The boss is standing with his right hand inside his long ck cloak, removing something from his waist. The Shaman Goblin still had a card up his sleeve this whole time, or rather, he was just toying with Kaito until now...


    The monster suddenly takes from the inside of his cloak a crystal orb, which shines in his left hand.


    Kaito doesn''t hesitate to keep running towards the Shaman Goblin at first, but soon a distant memoryes to his mind, this memory is of the silhouette of a very respected wizard from Mortal Tower, who not coincidentally was wearing an orb identical to that of the Shaman Goblin. Remembering this makes Kaito''s eyes widen.


    ''An Orb of Avarice?! What the hell does such a rare item do to goblin shit?!'' Kaito wonders and stops abruptly in mid-stride, his feet sliding on the smooth stone floor and kicking up some dust, but unfortunately it''s toote to avoid the consequences.


    The crystal orb begins to emit an eerie energy, and a blinding glow fills the ce. The Shaman Goblin smiles mischievously, relishing Kaito''s vulnerability. In an instant, Kaito feels his body being enveloped by an invisible force and his red hair begins to rise, and then thunder crashes down on him, rushing through the hall with its thunderous sound.


    The thunder spreads through the hall, filling the air with electricity and causing the ground to shake.


    Kaito was still unable to move as he feels the electrical discharge go through his body. The power of the lightning travels through his veins, causing the greatest pain he has ever felt in his life and weakening his endurance. An ordinary human would certainly not survive such a blow.


    Despite the agony, Kaito does not allow his consciousness to fade. With all his strength, he fights against the pain while biting his own lips.


    With the strong impact of the thunder, the entire environment was submerged by momentary smoke and dust. And Kaito is inside all this smoke, still standing somehow, but totally static and with even his fingertips trembling. As the smoke dissipates, revealing the result of the Shaman Goblin''s attack, Kaito is revealed, standing with great difficulty and totally bewildered.


    Even with such a start, his eyes were shining with fury and resilience.


    ''This enemy will not defeat me'' Even with a greater power, Kaito''s mind waspletely focused on destroying his opponent. With a firm step, he advances toward the Shaman Goblin, ignoring the pain and weakness that still afflicts him. Everyone was looking at Kaito with surprise and fright. How can he be standing after such a blow? His body is pulsing with electricity from the lightning, and yet he intends to continue?


    The Shaman Goblin is furious and frustrated with Kaito''s resistance, so he prepares tounch another thunder attack with the orb in his hand. This time, Kaito will definitely not be able to resist.


    The boss''s eyes gleam and his sinister smile shows pleasure in causing the boy pain, only to hear him grunt again.


    Kaito, however, doesn''t look worried. He stares at the Shaman Goblin with his eyes reflecting resilience.


    "I bet you underestimated my power and my will to win and now that you''re afraid of losing, that''s why you''re using everything you have," he says in a teasing tone. "No matter what you do, I will still be right here. So you cane, send everything you have there."


    The boss doesn''t understand what Kaito is saying, only that he doesn''t like his expression one bit. That being the case, he holds the Orb of Avarice tightly in his left hand as it prepares tounch another thunderbolt. The orb glows as before, and Kaito''s hair stands up as it did just before thest thunderstruck him.


    However, just as the thunder is about to fall, suddenly a water knife cuts through the air, across the room, and hits the orb right in the center, making it crack and stopping the magic that is in progress.


    The Shaman Goblin is momentarily paralyzed. His expression of surprise reces his earlier malice.


    "Drokk...?" he mutters, unable toprehend what has just happened.


    At that moment, a cry of enchantment echoes through the hall:


    "By the power granted to me by Gaia, I heal any harm done to this poor mundane body!"


    A bright aura envelops Kaito''s body, and he feels a sense of warmth and healing, as if he is being embraced by an angel. He also smells spring lightly, then he lifts his head, looks back, and sees Maya running towards him with her eyes full of determination.


    "I got it right...? That''s it! Hang in there, Kaito." says Maya in a voice of surprise at first, but full of excitement. "I''m here to help!"


    In the same field of vision as Kaito is Ishikawa, with a determined look and a smile on his face, holding a water sword in his hand. "I think we''re even now, kid!" he says as he cuts off the head of a small goblin. "Nevertheless, we''re a little busy here. Make an effort to face the boss while we will take care of the others, please."


    Kaito smiles, a little incredulous and d that everyone managed to get out of the cage. He then thinks as he turns forward and faces the Shaman Goblin again:


    ''Humph. The more experienced ones will stay with the minions while I will stay with the boss. That doesn''t seem like a fair deal to me.''


    +


    Discord: https://discord.gg/ kQQqYmMNkz

 Chapter 22 - 21 - Orb of Avarice

    <h4>Chapter 22: Chapter 21 - Orb of Avarice</h4>


    The energy of Maya''s incantation envelops Kaito, closing the scratches that spread across his body and face and dissipating the pain that previously afflicted him. The bright aura pulsing around him creates an invigorating feeling in him.


    Maya gets herself next to Kaito, and her gaze reflects her courage. "Are you okay?" She asks Kaito, but looking back at the Shaman Goblin.


    "Yes, thank you for healing me. By the way, are they staying?" Kaito asks a question while pointing to the rest of the group.


    "I was able to heal the ones who were most injured, it''s just that everyone is exhausted. We''re going to have to be as fast as we can." She replies, closing her right hand to grip her staff tightly.


    "This way won''t be easy either..."


    The Shaman Goblin regains herposure after the initial shock and casts a fierce re toward Kaito and Maya. His expression bes a mixture of anger and despair at the obstinacy of the awakened youths. The boss holds the Orb of Avarice, which shatters in his hand, and suddenly lets out a deafening roar.


    "This is our chance! I''m going, so cover me, Maya!" shouts Kaito and starts running towards the Shaman Goblin.


    "You can leave it to me!"


    As Kaito moves quickly toward the Shaman Goblin, his feet touch the ground a dozen times per second and his eleration speed gradually increases. He holds the Southern Dagger tightly in his right hand, making sure that he will not let go of it.


    The boss, blinded by rage, begins to cast spells wildly, throwing lightning bolts and fireballs around the room, but none of these spells have the same intensity as when he used the Orb of Avarice and they don''t evene close to hitting Kaito. He is so fast that he moves deftly, dodging the attacks and ruthlessly advancing toward the enemy.


    Suddenly, a Superior Goblin appears out of nowhere and tries to get in Kaito''s way, but Maya warns him first, shouting she said: "On your left, Kaito!"


    His eyes slide across his field of vision and he spots the enemy. At the same time, a sphere of blue energy isunched by the Shaman Goblin.


    Kaito is forced to make a decision in a split second, between trying to dodge the energy sphere or the superior goblin. However, he chooses neither of these two options, but instead moves towards the superior goblin. This time, something is different, and the top goblin himself can sense it. Kaito''s look has changed, he seems more confident, but that''s not all.


    The top goblin doesn''t even have time to think about running away, because Kaito rushes right through him, giving him no time to react. A momentter, the top goblin''s head flies off and his blood squirts out.


    ''Apparently I did right by investing in Strength all the skill points I had.'' Kaito thinks.


    As he approaches the Shaman Goblin, Kaito deftly dodges another weaker bolt of lightninging his way and leaps into the air to avoid spreading the electricity on the ground.


    However, this is the Shaman Goblin''s exact n, because in the air Kaito cannot dodge.


    The Shaman Goblin then gives a malevolentugh and shouts in his strangenguage:


    "Faarfannaa Aarii, Faarfannaa Aangessuu, Faarfannaa Gibxii, Faarfannaa Gubaa!"


    In front of the Shaman Goblin''s palm, four circles with strange signs appear, emanating an eerie energy. The surrounding air begins to tremble and a burst of red energy suddenly erupts with fury, enveloping the entire chamber. Kaito is instantly thrown backwards with overwhelming force, rolling across the floor, struggling desperately to find some point of support. With a Herculean effort, he stabs his dagger into the ground, steadying himself and avoiding being swept away by the overwhelming wave of impact.


    At the same time, Maya clings to a nearby pir with her fingers white with tension.


    For their part, the goblins and the other awakened people are too far away to be hit by the power of the explosion, but they feel a gale.


    The chamber bes shrouded in a cloud of thick smoke and debris, obscuring the view of what is toe. When the dust finally begins to subside, Kaito, Maya and the others behold a terrifying sight. The Shaman Goblin emerges from the smoke with his imposing and frightening figure evenrger than before. Now he possesses a gigantic size. On his oblique face, veins bulge with avarice and his fangs seem muchrger than before, more intimidating.


    A deafening roar escapes his lips, echoing through the chamber, and a dark, menacing aura envelops him.


    "GROAAAAAAARRR!!!"


    His eyes glow with malevolent intent, heralding the end of what little awareness he had and the increase in his voracity for destruction. His presence is overwhelming, filling the room with a distressing smell.


    Now kneeling, Kaito stares at the colossal creature with a mixture of contemtion and determination. Despite the powerful blow he has suffered, his will is not shaken. The burning me of courage still burns in his heart, fueling his resolve.


    Slowly, Kaito stands up once more, his resolve unshakable.


    However, the Shaman Goblin is not oblivious to the fury that consumes him, even with his erged form. Moving with a heavy stride, he approaches Kaito, causing another deafening crash. With agile reflexes, Kaito leaps backwards, narrowly escaping the monster''s foot.


    "You are the first giant monster I have faced. Could you please be a little faster?" teases Kaito, with a hint of sarcasm.


    The Shaman Goblin, enraged by the insolence of the young warrior, begins to conjure up a new attack. He gathers all the air in his lungs, holding it with both hands while forming a huge fireball.


    "Erut at niw agnah!" roars the boss, channeling his evil power.


    Kaito watches with surprising calm as the fireball takes shape before the Shaman Goblin. The intense heat emanating from the incandescent projectile, radiating toward his face, is like a sun. He can''t help an exasperated sigh.


    "Why do you insist on using these things against me?" Kaito sighs and mutters Kaito as he faces the heat of the impending attack. "I''ve already memorized your pattern."


    Literally at thest instant, Kaito leaps with all the strength he has in his legs, avoiding the sea of fire that suddenly covers much of the area around them.


    Maya protects herself on the same pir where she protected herself from my explosion, while the other awakened people started running as soon as they saw the fireball start.


    In contrast, Kaito resurfaces from the side of the left eye Goblin Shaman after his powerful leap and attacks with the Southern Dagger, causing blood to ssh on his face.

 Chapter 23 - 22 - You鈥檝e leveled up!

    <h4>Chapter 23: Chapter 22 - You''ve leveled up!</h4>


    With amazing agility, Kaito propels his body upward, narrowly avoiding the Shaman Goblin''s colossal fireball. His daring acrobatics bring him up next to the Shaman Goblin''s face, revealing an unparalleled opportunity. Kaito is right next to the boss''s right eye, and without hesitating for a second, Kaito brandishes the Southern Dagger with impable dexterity, directing a sharp blow into the monster''s eye.


    The sharp metal prates deep into the scleral flesh of the Shaman Goblin, ripping out a scream of agony that echoes throughout the chamber.


    "AARRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"


    The monster''s deafening roar resounds as it is seized by a strong and intense pain. His limbs twitch in spasms, and his left eye is filled with a mixture of fury and suffering.


    The Shaman Goblin opens his right hand and ps Kaito, who is instantly thrown to the ground like a meteor.


    The awakened young man crashes to the ground with a tremendous impact, feeling the pain spread throughout his body immediately. He spits blood and bounces to the ground like a smooth stone would on arge, calmke. His vision gets blurry and he almost loses consciousness.


    Meanwhile, the Shaman Goblin, still ovee with pain from his wounded eye, plucks the small dagger from his right eye and throws it away, causing it to be stuck in one of the high points of the chamber ceiling. Then he looks at Kaito and approaches quickly, his heavy footsteps echoing through the chamber, getting closer and closer to crushing the young warrior with his immense weight.


    Maya and the other awakened were watching this scene in horror, feeling despair in their hearts, and with a strong sense of responsibility, she stepped forward to try to heal his bruises and cuts, and suddenly she hears a low whistle. She looks to her left and sees Ayumi fighting three ordinary goblins at the same time.


    Ayumi makes a sign of denial with her head, indicating for Maya not to do what she is thinking of doing. Everyone knows that the battle ising to an end and that their chance of victory is getting smaller with each passing second. Spending more mana on someone on the brink of death would be a waste.


    Worried and hopeful, Maya looks at Kaito once more.


    As he struggles to get up, Kaito feels the pain throbbing in every fiber of his being, but he refuses to give up, to allow the Shaman Goblin to triumph. With renewed inner strength, Kaito pushes his body up and stands, leaning on his trembling limbs. Looking at the giant monster with a steady gaze, he tries to take a step forward, but his left leg fails him.


    At that moment, the monster raises his left hand to crush Kaito with the palm of his hand.


    With her heart filled with thoughts, Maya for the first time abandons the advice of her elders and focuses on what her instincts were telling her to do. She concentrates intensely on her healing magic so as not to make a mistake, closes her eyes, and extends her hands towards Kaito, channeling all her remaining mana.


    "Ancestral power, love emanates, heal my ally, renew your me!" Maya shouts with all the air stored in her lungs.


    A soft, glowing aura travels in milliseconds the space between them and envelops Kaito, who feels on the spot Maya''s healing magic flow through him. The pain that had previously consumed him slowly begins to dissipate, reced by aforting sense of relief. Kaito feels the power restoring his vitality and strengthening his muscles. His wounds begin to close up once more, healing quickly. The weakness that had overwhelmed him turned into motivation, allowing him to stand up.


    ''Thank you, Maya.'' Kaito thanks in thought, because words are not even necessary at this moment, after all the smile that appears on his face is clear.


    When the Shaman Goblin finally hits the ground with his right hand, trying to crush Kaito, the young warrior deftly sidesteps, taking the opportunity to grab onto the monster''s arm, using it as a temporary tform as he scales with agility.


    The monster, surprised by Kaito''s audacity, tries to swing his arm furiously, but because of all the smoke that had formed from thest fireball he couldn''t see when Kaito switched positions.


    ''Without a weapon there''s certainly no point in trying to slice him or apply small amounts of damage, and using Life Drain on such arge enemy would also be practically useless...'' Kaito thinks after jumping towards the boss''s head. "So, I''m left with only onest option to try..."


    Since the Shaman Goblin is a boss with many minions, Kaito knew from the start that its natural resistance was not great. Therefore, with one agile move, Kaito appears next to the Shaman Goblin''s face in surprise, just like when he hit its eye, only this time hends a powerful punch directly in the monster''s face. As expected, the impact of the punch is devastating. The Shaman Goblin feels his body being propelled backwards with the force and he falls to the ground, dropping to his knees.


    A tense silence fills the chamber, as everyone present watches the result impressed by Kaito''s blow.


    "Wasn''t that kid supposed to be a Rank E rookie...?" Ishikawa inquires with wide eyes.


    Kaitonds on the ground gracefully and stares at the indignant expression of the Shaman Goblin, who''s eyes are no longer glowing, indicating that his mana is almost depleted. Still, the boss grits his teeth, irritated and frustrated.


    "The moment a monster like you can''t get your minions in order to protect you, you are doomed to lose." Kaito says, looking at the monster with his chin held high.


    The Shaman Goblin''s eyes widen and he shouts in fury:


    "Uttukur nih na!!!"


    Kaito closes his eyes and uses Life Drain, only this time not to suck the boss''s blood with his fangs, but to make the ws on his hands grow and exactly with those ws he cuts the Shaman Goblin''s neck with a sharp blow, decreeing the end of the battle.


    [The dungeon boss has been eliminated].


    [You''ve leveled up!]


    [You''ve leveled up!]


    [You''ve leveled up!]

 Chapter 24 - 23 - Exit

    <h4>Chapter 24: Chapter 23 - Exit</h4>


    As the Shaman Goblin''s head falls heavily to the ground, lifeless. All the corners of the chamber echoes, followed by a tense silence from the goblins, who are extremely frightened.


    As everyone processes the oue of the battle, it is impossible for the group of awakened people to contain the explosive feeling of victory. They scream with excitement and relief.


    For his part, Kaito stands in front of the Shaman Goblin''s giant body and sees some item notifications popping up in front of his eyes. Still, he is more interested in something else for the moment.


    "I wonder if I can sell this giant corpse. No, it''s better not to do that. Everyone would be rmed at such a big thing suddenly disappearing. Besides, they''ll probably want the rewards to be split and I shouldn''t be so greedy." Kaito states with his hand on his chin, looking at the headless body of the boss.


    As Kaito thinks, Maya rushes up to him as she drops her staff on the way and hugs his back tightly.


    "We did it! We really did win, Kaito!" She says, almost lifting him up with such excitement.


    At that moment, Kaito was feeling something he had never experienced before. There are a couple of very soft things being pressed against his back, and he can feel it clearly. Nevertheless, Kaito is someone who is very inexperienced in almost every aspect of socializing, but especially on the topic of women. Without knowing how to handle it he blushes and shy away.


    *


    The group of awakened still had to deal with all the remaining goblins, however, since they were without their leader, they were disoriented and confused, and the upper goblins lost the physical strength boost generated by the Shaman Goblin''s mana. Thus, despite the difficulties, they managed to kill all the goblins.


    With the enemies neutralized, the group scoured a few ces in the boss chamber for treasure and resources. They also splitted up the items obtained fairly and strategically, and didn''t even ask Kaito about what happened to the bag he was carrying before, because they were too busy thanking him dozens of times for not giving up on them and asking him dozens of questions about how he managed to reach the boss''s hall alone.


    Meanwhile Maya used her healing magic to treat the group''s wounds, while Ayumi, with her tracking ability, identified the fastest way back to the portal.


    And when they finally went through the portal back to Earth, they were greeted by a crowd of people, both support members who were already on standby for their return, as well as ordinary people and police officers from the security area.


    Apuse echoed throughout the room as the awakened ones emerged from the portal. At first they were surprised, but then they were happy for all the attention, after all they were Rank E, not used to all of this. However, suddenly a team of officials in suits came through the crowd and approached the group. They asked who was the leader of the expedition and addressed Ishikawa withpliments and congrattions on the victory in the dungeon. Then they began to ask a series of questions to get detailed information about the raid.


    At that moment is when Maya looks to the right and realizes that Kaito is no longer beside her. She looks around, searching for him, and scans the surroundings with her eyes, even asking the other members of the group if anyone has seen him, but by now Kaito is more than invisible at the crowd.


    While everyone is celebrating the triumphant return of the awakened ones and his friends are giving interviews, because apparently the portal has taken on a different shade of blue than the standard blue, Kaito distances himself, like it or not he was just an infiltrator and he could be in trouble if they found out about him.


    As Kaito turns the corner and enters a busy boulevard, he takes onest look back. Everyone seems happy and he is for sure was too, after all he has managed to be much stronger than if he had simply stayed at home. Then he looks forward and takes a deep breath. It is a pleasure and a relief for him to be back.


    *sigh*


    ''Time to get some rest��'' he thinks with a smile on his face.


    Kaito prepares to go home, but when he looks to his left, he sees a man in a suit like the others. This man has an elegant appearance, his hair is blond and short, and his eyes reflect an intriguing intensity. Kaito is wearing a hood and was about to go the opposite way from his house just to avoid this man, but the well-dressed man extends his hand to Kaito, holding a white envelope.


    "I know what you did." says the man in a soft but firm voice.


    Startled, Kaito looks at him with fear and doubt, as he is pretty sure he got out of the awakened group fast enough that no one noticed.


    "What''s that? Who are you?" Kaito asks, looking at the man suspiciously and with even more uncertainty at the white envelope.


    "Do you really want me to exin it here in front of everyone? Or would you rather take the envelope?" the mysterious man replies."


    "Can I just take it and go?" Kaito inquires.


    The man shrugs his shoulders, practically answering in the affirmative.


    Kaito looks at the mysterious man suspiciously, but a sense of urgency pushes him to make a quick decision. He decides to simply take the envelope and walk as far away from the mysterious man as he can, without seeking further exnations at this point. Without looking back, Kaito still goes in the opposite direction to where his house is, just in case, and holds the white envelope firmly in his hands.


    The man continues to watch him for a few meters, but when Kaito looks back for thest time, the man disappears.


    The young man''s heart beats fast as he searches for a safe and quiet ce. Finding a dingy, cramped alley nearby, Kaito looks around and enters the isted space. He leans against a wall and takes a deep breath, feeling the adrenaline rush through his veins. With trembling hands, he looks at the envelope and remembers the blond man.


    "Surely he was someone from the Alliance, an official probably, like those who were already waiting at the portal exit..."


    Kaito briefly reflects on whether or not he should open an envelope delivered by someone from the Alliance, because not long ago they rejected Kaito''s formal request for his father to receive medical aid. Thanks to this, Kaito repudiates the Alliance more than anything else.


    Still, he can''t stop thinking about what happened. Curious and a little nervous, Kaito decides that he cannot have any more fears, after all it is his fears that have kept him from living until today. Carefully, he slides his finger under the seal and opens the envelope.

 Chapter 25 - 24 - Amount

    <h4>Chapter 25: Chapter 24 - Amount</h4>


    "I get weaker when I''m exposed to the sun. Yeah, I''ll write this down..." Kaito says with his right hand out of his window.


    There is a small cut on the palm of his hand, created by himself, which heals more slowly. Then, when he turns his hand back inside the apartment, the cut closes almost instantly.


    "Sheshh... Lucky the portal I entered didn''t take me into a desert or something, otherwise I''d surely be dead right now." He says, throwing himself onto his bed.


    As his head touches the pillow, he slowly turns to his left and his eyes coincidentally rest on the white envelope on his dresser. This effortlessly reminds him ofst night, when he stopped in the alley to look at the contents of this envelope he received from a stranger.


    - 10:46 PM on 6/20/2070, aka the night before. -


    Kaito felt mixed emotions as he stared at the envelope in his hands, but his curiosity overcame his distrust of the Alliance. So he opened the envelope and turned it upside down so the letter would fall out. However, to his surprise, it was not a letter that fell into his left palm, but a circr object, made of metal and with an inner circle made of ss. Kaito recognized this, after all, he had seen some of these before during his troubled time in Compulsory Education.


    "A holographic disk?" He asked, surprised, and ced the disc on top of a trashcan near him, which caused the video recorded on the device to start ying.


    The lighting out of the ss circle came to life and a man with gray hair and ck skin appeared before Kaito. His voice proved deep and full of authority as he began to speak:


    "Recently, highly elevated gamma waves of unknown origin have been detected in Safe Area Z4. The intensity of the gamma waves is an indication of great risk, so more dangerous and unstable portals will appear in theing days. However, in addition to these waves also posing a potential risk to citizens, with the possibility of increasing the number of cases of Lethargic Encephalitis, if not properly regted and controlled, they will be a risk to all awakened people, who may feel their powers more unstable as well." continued the man in the video.


    Kaito''s eyes widened and he was also certainly relieved because that seemed to be more of a general warning than a specific message for him.


    "Thus, awakened ones who do not register with a local association or government office and do not follow the guidelines set by the Alliance could be a threat, both to themselves and to society. We are here to offer guidance, and support, and to ensure that your skills are used in a responsible and beneficial way. We strongly rmend that if you are an unregistered awakened, you register as soon as possible to receive the proper training, ensure everyone''s safety, and fight for your world. Together we are stronger."


    At the end of the message, the Alliance representative emphasized that Safe Area Z4 had been identified as an area of special interest and that they will be closely monitoring any activity rted to the awakened in that region for the next few weeks, including monitoring the awakened as well.


    Kaito was silent at the end of the message, processing the information he had just received. He felt a mixture of concern and curiosity. On the one hand, he understood the importance of regting his condition, especially if it posed a danger, but on the other, he wondered about the Alliance''s real intentions and how this would affect his freedom.


    The hologram concluded its message with a final warning. "The decision to register is free, but remember that we are here to help you ensure that your potential is used safely and effectively. We await your cooperation or your surrender."


    Finally, the hologram disappeared, leaving Kaito with a whirlwind of thoughts and decisions to make. Thus, throughout the night he pondered the Alliance''s words, about the risks and benefits of registering.


    *


    Returning to present times, Kaito stands up after staring at the white envelope for a few seconds.


    "Like it or not, they''re right... And until I have a record, I won''t be able to go to Celestial Abode or rise in Rank officially." Kaito says, and then looks at his weblink, which is next to the white envelope. "But first I need some money for registration and for equipment. Time to test that option..."


    Kaito takes the weblink and fits it to his left wrist, which makes a window appear before his eyes.


    [Connecting...]


    [Connecting.]


    "Open Merchant Shop." Kaito professes as he walks through his small apartment.


    Arge system window opens before Kaito, disying two different parts of the store at the same time. However, Kaito is not interested in the items this time, but rather how much money he has.


    [Current amount: 700 bronze coins].


    This amount was how much Kaito got after selling some items obtained from the portal that he judged would not be useful, such as monster remains, normally used only by smiths and alchemists, as well as other found resources that he had no use for. Obviously, none of these items were the rare items he obtained after defeating the Shaman Goblin.


    "Open Inventory."


    [Opening Inventory...]


    [Kaito''s Inventory:


    - Shaman Goblin Prey (2x);


    - Scroll of Magic Detection (1x);


    - Amulet of Magic Resistance (1x);


    - Lucky Stone (1x);


    - Map of the Safe Area Z4 (1x);


    - Magic Crystal Fragment (1x).]


    Kaito carefully examines his inventory and bitterly remembers that he lost the Meridional Dagger after stabbing it into the eye of the Shaman Goblin.


    "That reminds me that I''m going to have to buy another weapon. That''s bad, I practically lost money... Anyway, this is a handy passive skill." ims Kaito over his inventory as he pulls the Magic Crystal Fragment out of what appears to be a portal. "Sell."


    [Do you wish to sell the item ''Magic Crystal Fragment'' to the Merchant?]


    Kaito immediately clicks YES.


    [You received 300 bronze coins from the Merchant].


    "Now I have enough money to test that other function that was mentioned in the beginner''s manual." Kaito opens the Merchant''s Store again, but this time he clicks on his amount.


    Opening the new window, Kaito examines the options that appear.


    [1 - Exchange bronze coins for silver coins.


    2 - Convert coins to credits.


    3 - Send feedback on the Merchant Shop.]


    Kaito hesitates for a moment, but even after thinking a bit about how he could spend this money, he knows that he needs to convert his coins to credits, so he will be able to buy other things in ordinary stores, not to mention that the Merchant has almost abusive prices for the ordinary things he offers. Also, if he wants to go to the Celestial Abode, he can''t go with just a simple dagger as he did to enter the dungeon, he will need basic things that are not offered at the Merchant''s Store.


    However, while Kaito lives his life normally, even after infiltrating a dungeon posing as someone else, the consequencese for someone else.


    Many blocks away from Kaito''s building, on the rooftop of a high-rise and security building in the center of Safe Area Z4, a fat, balding man looks very angry.


    "What do you think you''ve done, Ishikawa!? I paid you enough for you to take my son on your first foray and yet you betrayed my trust!!!" The man hits the iron table hard, causing a loud bang.


    "Calm down, Mister Willian. I am sure your son was there. In fact, he saved all of us."


    "What are you talking about?" The man asks, closing his eyes angrily. "Ooh! Do you think you can fool me using cheap psychology? No, Ishikawa, not today. We''ve been buying the items from your groups'' raids for a few months now and I thought we could trust you, but it seems we were wrong. Guards! Guards! Take this man out of here and throw him among the rats in the basement."


    "Wait, sir! What have I done!?"


    "Don''t give me that clueless talk. While you''re eating rat shit, give some thought to what words you will use at our next meeting!"


    "No, Mr. Hammond, please!"


    *


    [You have earned 5 evil points for nder].


    "Huh?! What''s that?" Kaito wonders.

 Chapter 26 - 25 - Streets of Safe Area Z4

    <h4>Chapter 26: Chapter 25 - Streets of Safe Area Z4</h4>


    The Alliance is the closest to a world government that humanity currently has, it is this organization that coordinates the associations that run the security areas, the major guilds, and also the awakened ones. In other words, the Alliance has influence, so it automatically has power, and with such, it also has an almost almighty influence in every single field of society.


    However, it is clear that the Alliance didn''t gain influence from anything. Behind it, besides great political figures from the past and present, there are also several very generous sponsors, who with the help of the influence of the alliance itself get even more money.


    Among the sponsors of the Alliance are miningpanies, technologypanies, entertainment celebrities, oligarchs in the energy production business, and others.


    Behind this whole organization is a lot of dirty business, and everyone knows it, especially the most at-risk and the poorest.


    Kaito was always poorpared to even the middle-ss people who were lucky enough to work as employees in industry, politics, or in a guild. Unlike many, he usually had something to eat, but his neighborhood has always been the worst of the worst in Safe Area Z4. The alleys are dirty, permeated with a disgusting smell, and cars squeeze into the narrow streets between the overpasses whose trucks and trains pass by, carrying goods to the more well-to-do neighborhoods.


    And even though he is poor, Kaito never even dreamed of being able to get a lot of money. The closest he came to having a luxurious life was in the game Death Tower, yet since with each floor he climbed he needed better items, he could never umte much capital even in the game.


    In this way, Kaito was indoctrinated from a young age into the idea that he was destined to be poor, perhaps because of the extremely nepotistic system of the world, or because he used to be too ipetent to fit into the minority that could manage to live a good life built on merit. However, he could hardly imagine that his expectations were about to change when he chose to convert his bronze coins to credits, i.e. real money.


    [You chose option 2 - Convert coins to credits].


    [The minimum amount needed to perform this operation is 1000 bronze coins.]


    [You have... 1000 bronze coins.]


    [Converting amount to credits.]


    [You have received 10000 credits.]


    When the amount of credits resonates in Kaito''s ears, he almost falls backward. His eyes widen and his mouth drops open in a mixture of surprise and admiration. He feels a whirlwind of emotions runs through his body in a single instant as he tries to assimte the magnitude of this amount.


    With his eyes fixed on the window disying the number of credits he has received, Kaito slowly sits up in his bed so as not to fall on the floor.


    His trembling fingers press against the edge of the mattress, seeking some support for his dazed mind. He needs a few seconds to process the reality of this situation.


    "Is that... is that true?" whispers Kaito to himself, unable to contain his disbelief. He rubs his eyes, fearing that it is only a passing illusion. However, the window persists, disying the amount that now represents to him a new reality. "It can''t be..." He asserts and stands up, awestruck.


    Still somewhat bewildered, Kaito shakes his head, as if trying to shake off the feeling of unreality that envelops him. He examines the numbers again, checking to see if there is a mistake. But no, this amount is real and has already been added to his bank bnce.


    "Ten thousand credits..." mutters Kaito, letting out a sigh of surprise. "That''s far more than the triple my father left for me. A middle-ss family of four could easily live for a few months on all that, and now this is mine...?"


    While processing the magnitude of the amount, Kaito begins to imagine the possibilities that have opened up before him. He thinks of all the things he could do, and the thought of escaping the dirty, inequality-filled environment that is Safe Area Z4 gains momentum in his mind. Nevertheless, Kaito takes a deep breath and thinks further about how he should use this money.


    "No, I can''t spend it on bullshit." Kaito talks to himself as he stands up and puts on his shirt. "I don''t know how much it costs to apply for the Duelist license, so first of all I need to figure this out."


    Duelist is what the Awakened are called who choose to venture through the portals and also into the Celestial Abode. Not all Awakened Ones decide to risk their lives, and although it is the minority, some choose to live an ordinary life even after waking up from a sleep that is nearly impossible to wake up from.


    "I''d better run if I want to find an open association office that isn''t full."


    *


    The streets of Safe Area Z4 stretch like an intricate maze of concrete and neon, immersed in a chaotic and ruinous atmosphere. Time has not been kind to this city of a few hundred thousand inhabitants, not even the local association administration.


    The tall buildings rise in droves, disying holographic advertisements that sh and flicker like lures for different products, which are being robotically advertised by human faces that may not even exist, created by artificial intelligence.


    "Buy Allwater''s fluid supplements, the best way to keep your body hydrated and happy!"


    "Augment your body with nano-robots now for only 50,000 credits!"


    "News! The glorious awakened Lucius reaches level 7 of the Celestial Abode. And he says he''ll make a big announcement soon!"


    Kaito emerges from his modest apartment and enters the sea of people hurrying along the sidewalks.


    The shy signs, shing holograms, and loudspeaker advertisementspete for the pedestrians'' attention, and the distorted beats of electronic nightclub music permeate the air, mingling with the shrill sirens of emergency rooms and the constant roar of engines, but none of this is able to break Kaito''s concentration.


    Determined, Kaito puts on his hood as he is ustomed to doing. Then he puts his hands in his pockets and makes his way towards the Commercial Zone, where the nearest association offices are.


    +


    Discord: https://discord.gg/ kQQqYmMNkz

 Chapter 27 - 26 - Regions

    <h4>Chapter 27: Chapter 26 - Regions</h4>


    Safe Area Z4 is divided into three regions, and this division is as clear as the different lines separating a chess board. The first region is the poorest and most miserable, and with reason, the closest to the great walls. This district is called the Forgotten Zone, where decay and poverty spread like a gue. Narrow, dark streets are filled with deteriorated buildings with faded facades and broken windows. The streets are lined with makeshift stalls, where street vendors try to sell low-quality goods to survive. The residents struggle daily to get work, food, and even water.


    The Cruel and fatal crimes are one of the biggest issues in the Forgotten Zone. Some gangs and criminal groups of smugglers operate in the shadows, taking advantage of the weaken state of the residents. For this reason, this is theyer of least importance to the Alliance.


    The secondyer, more central than the previous one, is where the Commercial Zone is located. This region is the beating heart of Safe Area Z4, wheremerce thrives and economic activity is most intense. The streets are wider and busier, full of stores, restaurants, and bustling parallel markets. There are many people from different social sses that frequent this zone, and for this reason there are well-divided districts in this area to separate the poor markets from the risks.


    Towering skyscrapers rise up all over the Commercial Zone, disying bright holographic advertisements and modern facades. The lighting is even more intense in this area, with colorful neon lights that illuminate the nights and draw the attention of the citizens.


    On the busy sidewalks, people hurry back and forth carrying shopping bags, distracted by weblinks, all the time. There is a vibrant energy in the air, a sense of opportunity.


    Commercial establishmentspete for customers'' attention, disying high-tech products, trendy clothes, and exotic foods. Yes, even after so many years, the marketing tactics have not evolved much. The sounds of ambient music and lively conversations mingle in a constant buzz.


    However, even in this most prosperous region, social inequalities are still evident to the most attentive people. There is a clear division in people''s expressions between those who have ess to luxury goods and technological advances and those who struggle to survive. While the people who enjoy these benefits always look radiant, the poorer ones have to work seriously, with almost sad countenances.


    Kaito moves on, crossing the Commercial Zone with his head down, while thinking that he will have to make careful choices about how to spend his money.


    However, the hood and the fact that Kaito is distracted in his own thoughts cause him to suddenly bump into someone, a beautiful woman standing next to a middle-aged man. She drops some papers she was holding and looks angrily at Kaito.


    The woman has ck hair and wears gray social clothes that seem to have been made for her slender body, but she quickly loses her politeposure when she sees the boy''s clothes.


    "Can''t you pay attention to where you''re walking!?" She says in an angry tone as she bends down to collect the papers.


    Kaito immediately apologizes, getting down on his knees and trying to help the woman collect the papers. "I''m sorry, I wasn''t paying attention. Allow me to help."


    "No, don''t touch me-" She was about to say something, already judging Kaito, however, the moment she looks at his face, her voice breaks to silence.


    Nevertheless, the middle-aged man, who was earlier walking beside her and seems to be the woman''spanion, approaches Kaito with a threatening face. He ces a hand on Kaito''s chest, pushing him back.


    "You think you can just bump into my wife and get away with it?" He questions with a defiant tone. "I don''t tolerate disrespect."


    "It was an ident. I didn''t mean to." Kaito asserts, standing up and dusting off his pants.


    Kaito''s words only make the man even more angry, because not only does Kaito dare to exchange words with him, but he doesn''t seem to be afraid either.


    And to make matters worse the surrounding crowd begins to crowd together, forming a circle around the two, which leaves the man with the pressure to protect hispanion.


    Faced with the mounting tension, Kaito realizes that he will need to decide how to handle the situation. He can try to calm the man with words - which would be unlikely, seek the help of the people around - perhaps impossible, or even opt for a more defensive approach to protect himself.


    Kaito quickly decides to act calmly and shrewdly to avoid an unnecessary physical confrontation. Even though he is now an awakened one, he knows that he can get into a lot of trouble just for touching someone in thest zone, the Noble Zone, with bad intentions. Therefore, Kaito takes a step back, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender.


    "I''m sorry, it was an ident. I didn''t mean to cause trouble." says Kaito, trying to calm the situation.


    The man, however, seems unwilling to listen to apologize and begins to raise the sleeves of his jacket, showing optimized iron fingers. He raises his clenched fist, about to deliver a punch towards Kaito''s face.


    At thest moment before being hit by the punch, Kaito instinctively reacts in self-defense. He ducks quickly, avoiding the punch, and his outstretched right leg knocks the man down with enormous ease.


    Everyone around them lets out a surprised gasp, and Kaito, seeing everyone''s shocked reaction, doesn''t think twice and takes the opportunity to run, pushing the crowd away.


    Kaito runs as far away from this ce as he can, he runs without looking back.


    His heart is racing, mingling with the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He knows that his reaction was instinctive, driven by the need to protect himself in the face of the imminent threat, but he is still worried, and this makes him realize that even though he has be an Awakened, inside he has not changed, nor does society see him in a different way because of this. So Kaito discovers that his journey is just beginning, in every respect.

 Chapter 28 - 27 - Association

    <h4>Chapter 28: Chapter 27 - Association</h4>


    When Kaito finally spots the illuminated sign for an association office, hanging from a weathered facade, he is relieved, though breathless.


    Before entering, he looks everywhere to make sure he hasn''t been followed, and his heart races with anticipation as he approaches the entrance. He pushes open the door and enters, being greeted by a hushed environment full of people, who are solving all sorts of problems.


    Inside, people of all shapes and sizes are lined up, waiting their turn to speak to the attendants. Voices ovep each other, creating a constant buzzing sound.


    A few hologram screens disy information about the services offered, and the costs associated with them, but nothing tells about the cost of the Duelist license.


    He enters the service queue and, while he waits, Kaito observes the people around him. Some are imposing looking, wearing shy and exuberant costumes, while others are more discreet, wearing ordinary clothes.


    Kaito''s turn finallyes after a few minutes of waiting. He steps forward and enters the view of the receptionist, an elderly woman with round sses, gray hair, and a forward leaning spine.


    "Good morning, kid. What can I do for you?"


    "Hello, I would like to apply for a Duelist''s license." says Kaito, nervously, in a low tone.


    The receptionist looks him up and down, assessing him with a suspicious look. However, after so many years in this profession, she no longer even cares about the strange things that happen, after all she has witnessed millions of situations considered unusual. So she takes a form on yellowed and worn paper and hands it to Kaito.


    "Fill this out and only bring it back when literally all the required fields are filled out. The application fee is 5000 credits." She says, without emotion. "Also, I already warn you that here you pay the fee first and then go through the test. If you don''t pass the test, you won''t get a refund."


    Kaito raises his eyebrows. "Test?"


    "Yes, of course there is a test to check if you are an Awakened and which rank you fit into. That test can only be reced by a medical report from an Alliance licensed hospital. Do you have one?"


    Immediately Kaito denies with his head.


    "That being the case, take this form and fill it out outside the queue. There are other people who also need to solve problems and you are getting in the way." The woman replies rudely. "Next!" she calls out, without offering any more information about the test.


    Kaito takes the form and moves away from the line, looking for a quieter corner to fill it out. He finds a vacant bench near a dusty window and sits down, concentrating on the questions on the form, which are basic and simple questions, such as the names of his parents, where he went to school, etc.


    As Kaito writes down his personal information, he can''t help but wonder about the test the receptionist mentioned. Although he is a fan of the Awakened, as everyone is these days, Kaito is more used to reading stories about their achievements, not the bureaucracies of the profession.


    With the form filled out, Kaito returns to the line, holding it carefully in his hands.


    "Ah... You''re back already, kid..." The receptionist says as she sees him after a few minutes and sighs


    "Yes, I''m ready to take the test too. By the way, about the test-"


    "No, remember, you''ll have to pay the registration fee first." The woman then drags across her desk a small circr machine and continues, "Approach the weblink on your wrist so I can make the debit."


    Kaito nods and extends his right arm forward.


    The woman holds the weblink from Kaito''s wrist close to the circr machine and as the machine scans Kaito''s bank ount, she looks at him and thinks:


    ''He has a nice face, but 5,000 credits is a lot of money. If he had that amount in his ount, he definitely wouldn''t be dressed like that.''


    However, contrary to the receptionist''s thoughts, the system performed the transaction. A short beep indicates that the payment has been sessfullypleted.


    "Okay, the payment has been made, right? So, where do I take this test?" Kaito promptly asks.


    The receptionist is in shock for a moment, but then she thinks that there is no way that this boy whose file says he is from the Forgotten Zone is an Awakened, after all it has been more than five years since anyone from this cest became one. So she concludes that he must just be a son with rich parents who wants to attract attention, at least this wouldn''t be the first time something like this happened.


    "I will... call the manager. Please hold on a second." She says and stands up.


    Kaito watches the receptionist walk away and back to a room backstage. As he waits, he feels a mixture of nervousness and curiosity.


    After a few minutes of waiting, the receptionist returns apanied by a middle-aged man wearing an elegant suit. He has ck hair and a serious expression on his face. It is evident that he upies a position of authority in the association, and therefore looks at Kaito from head to toe, and not because he looks poor, but because he is very young.


    "Hello, young man." says the manager, looking at Kaito with a prating gaze. "My name is Mr. Fisher. My colleague informed me that you would like to take the test for the Duelist''s license. Is that correct?"


    "Yes, sir." replies Kaito, trying to maintain hisposure in the face of the manager''s imposing presence.


    Mr. Fisher nods, seeming intrigued by Kaito''s determination. He looks at the formpleted by Kaito a moment before proceeding.


    "Interesting... Come with me, please."


    Kaito then follows Mr. Fisher into a small room for meetings and customer service. The room is simple, with one table and two couches, but sophisticated enough to impress Kaito.


    On the coffee table, there is a shiny crystal positioned on a stand.


    "Please take a seat," Mr. Fisher asks, pointing to one of the sofas. "I don''t know if you know it, but the test consists of measuring your power by means of this crystal. When you rest your hand on it, if you are truly an Awakened, the crystal will glow and the color emitted from it will tell us which rank you fall into."

 Chapter 29 - 28 - Luminite Crystal

    <h4>Chapter 29: Chapter 28 - Luminite Crystal</h4>


    Luminite crystals have be famous since the days when the first awakened ones started making inroads into the interdimensional portals.


    This unusual ore can somehow not only create electricity, but can sense and absorb it. The Luminite crystals are the result of Luminite that has been exposed to energy for a long time. For this reason, these crystals are very rarepared to more ordinary.


    Furthermore, Luminite crystals, for some reason, react to the touch of the Awakened Ones. There are theories that Awakened Ones emit different gravitational or energetic vibrations than ordinary humans, but this has not been proven to date.


    Like anyone born after the Red Night, Kaito is already familiar with this famous and coveted ore thanks to the Mandatory Teaching Academy, but this is the first time he has seen one personally. So as he follows Mr. Fisher''s instructions and sits down on one of the couches, he stares at the crystal with anticipation.


    Knowing which rank it fits into is not something that bothers him. In fact, he is looking forward to it.


    Mr. Fisher watches Kaito intently, noticing his anxiety. "I am aware that being an Awakened is the dream of many young people, but don''t get too excited, young man." says the manager with a calm tone of voice.


    "What do you mean?" Kaito asks, confused.


    "You are not the first and nor will you be thest boy who gathers money toe here to take this test. However, believe me when I say that you would already know if you really were an Awakened." He states, taking a seat on the couch across the table.


    Kaito looks at him intently and doesn''t say a word. There is no reason to reveal more about himself than Mr. Fisher needs to know, no reason for Kaito to say what his powers are, nor what made him believe he should take this test. He just nods and extends his hand towards the crystal. Immediately, Kaito feels a slight vibration of energy as his hand gradually approaches the crystal surface, and when he finally touches the Luminita crystal, a warm sensation runs through Kaito''s right hand. Then the unexpected happens. The crystal begins to glow intensely, emitting a dazzling, shimmering luminosity.


    Mr. Fisher ispletely stunned. His eyes widen and his serious expression gives way to one of pure amazement.


    The glow is so strong that it illuminates the entire meeting room, leaving Mr. Fisher and even Kaito momentarily dazzled. Such an intense reaction from a Luminite crystal is very rare and therefore so unexpected.


    When the light dims, they both open their eyes, stunned by the spectacle they have witnessed. The crystal continues to glow a little, emitting a resplendent golden hue, as if pulsating with a powerful energy.


    For his part, Mr. Fisher is visibly shocked and unable to hide his surprise. He stares at the crystal and then at Kaito with his eyes revealing a mixture of admiration and bewilderment.


    "That... that''s amazing..." Mr. Fisher, still stunned by the crystal''s intense reaction, says with his voice trembling with amazement.


    Kaito is equally surprised by the crystal''s reaction. Since he is only at level 6, he was expecting something more normal, but it seems that the crystal doesn''t measure the current strength, but rather thetent potential of the awakened one. In any case, this whole reaction was contrary to what Kaito expected, so his heart soars with excitement.


    The manager abruptly stands up and walks around the table, observing Luminita''s crystal with admiration. "I have never seen such an intense reaction before. Kaito Zhao, you are an awakened of exceptional level! I... I''ve never seen that color in the patterns! My supervisors will go crazy when they hear about that! Wait here for a second, I will call a witness so we can conduct the test one more time!" He states, excitedly, and immediately leaves the meeting room.


    Upon hearing Mr. Fisher''s words, the smile that was slowly emerging on Kaito''s face disappearspletely, as he begins to think of all the heightened attention he will now receive if his powers be public.


    With his mind agitated, Kaito looks at the glowing Luminite crystal in front of him. As he stares at the item, he thinks that he doesn''t want to have his life invaded by the unwanted attention of others, nor to be a guinea pig for scientific experiments. He has already recovered an arm from scratch, so if scientists discover that he has such an ability, they will surely want to study him.


    In addition, Kaito remembers the stories of other exceptional awakened ones who had their lives changed dramatically after being discovered. Many received fame and recognition, but others were persecuted and feared. He does not know how his story will unfold and the uncertainty


    "I don''t want to be ab rat." Kaito says to himself and extends his hand again in the direction of the crystal. "There must be a way for me to forge a result, or try to control this ''energy''."


    However, before Kaito can even make a test, as he ponders how he will forge the test, Mr. Fisher returns to the room, apanied by a witness, the same receptionist as before.


    The manager is overjoyed and excited, but Kaito notices that the witness seems more analytical and skeptical.


    "Kaito, we are going to conduct the test one more time with a witness present. I want to make sure the results are urate and unquestionable." says Mr. Fisher, encouraging Kaito to repeat touching the crystal.


    Kaito feels his heart race and reaches out for the crystal again. As his hand approaches the shiny surface, Kaito closes his eyes and concentrates on controlling the energy it emits. He tries to focus his mind on a single thought: to remain inconspicuous, like a tree in the middle of a forest full of other trees.


    Surprisingly, when Kaito touches the crystal this time, the reaction is more subtle. The glow emitted is less intense, and the resplendent golden hue is reced by an unmorous light green.


    The witness, who is watching, almostughs at Mr. Fisher''s frustrated reaction, who seems confused and disappointed by the result. Kaito, on the other hand, feels a mixture of relief and happiness.


    The receptionist, with a discreet smile on her face, this time is much more polite and says:


    "Kaito, don''t worry about Mr. Fisher''s reaction. Mistakes are absolutely normal, and since the detection system is visual, it happens that we confuse the references. Still, congrattions, you have been evaluated as an awakened rank D. You are the first awakened from the Forgotten Zone in some time and can officially be a Duelist. Come with me, please, I will confirm your data and guide you through the rest."


    Kaito nods, takes onest look at the look of shock on the manager''s face, and follows the receptionist out of the room.

 Chapter 30 - 29 - Duelist

    <h4>Chapter 30: Chapter 29 - Duelist</h4>


    The differences between a Duelist of rank A or above to a Duelist of the lower ranks is astronomical, and anyone who has ever lived in conditions simr to Kaito''s would not be bothered by the possibility of ascending socially so quickly, even more so by receiving such an exclusive title.


    However, Kaito is no idiot and knows better than most how rotten society is.


    If someone like him, a nobody from the Forgotten Zone of Safe Area Z4 were to suddenly be such an acimed Duelist, making noise all over the Alliance, two very likely and very bad scenarios would be practically inevitable for him.


    The first scenario would be that he would immediately gain a lot of fame and notoriety, meaning a lot of money and consequently everything he wanted, but also all these luxuries woulde with the various responsibilities of a high rank Duelist, which would go beyond entering portals of absurdly higher force levels than he is currently capable of, but he would also have political responsibilities. In other words, one way or another Kaito would end up covered in trouble or, at worst, dead within a short time.


    The second case, and the most likely to happen to him, would be that the rich would not like someone like Kaito at all growing up in life, regardless of how beneficial he could be to humanity in the fight against the portals. So Kaito would end up in some Allianceboratory, or worse, his corpse would end up in some ditch in the Celestial Abode or inside a rank S portal


    Thinking about these possible scenarios, Kaito is extremely happy with the final result of the test. Surely he will have a longer journey to get where he wants to go, but when the dayes that the great ones notice him, Kaito believes that he will already be strong enough to take care of himself.


    So, after leaving Mr. Fisher''s meeting room, Kaito follows the receptionist through the halls of the association''s office headquarters while almost bouncing with happiness.


    As they walk, the receptionist, who is now acting much more friendly, begins to exin what it means to be a Duelist and the responsibilities that this position entails. She mentions that Duelists are recognized by the Alliance and are allowed to use their powers for the sake of protection and justice, meaning that they are the only Awakened who have official permission to use their powers, in public or not. Furthermore, she states that it is mandatory for all Duelists to go to the Celestial Abode at least once a month or that they ask for prior permission for a month-long sabbatical.


    "Being a Duelist is an honor, but it alsoes with challenges and responsibilities. Never forget that." says the receptionist. "You are now an important member of society, and your power will be a valuable resource in facing threats... However, you will also have to follow the guidelines and rules set for Duelists. So don''t forget to try to get stronger to be able to handle your assignments in the best way possible. Many can''t evolve their powers in intensity, but make up for it in robotic enhancements, martial arts, or control or sharpening techniques."


    Kaito listens intently as they reach another room. The receptionist seems very wise, unlike what she showed herself to be the first time they talked.


    In the room, she takes the form he filled out earlier and confirms his data in the association''s system.


    Seeing that everything is correct, she is a little surprised that Kaito has not lied in any of the fields, but nothing is able to surprise her more than her manager interrupting her lunch break to let her know that the boy she attended to was tremendously special, a Rank A or S.


    "There you go, Kaito. You are now officially recognized as a Rank D Duelist." she says, smiling and handing him a card. "Congrattions, once again! Your next steps involve integration with other Duelists and to the Celestial Abode, only before that you will need to return to your Mandatory Teaching Academy."


    Upon hearing thest condition of his integration, Kaito arches his eyebrows, surprised. "Come back? Wait, is that serious?"


    The receptionist nods. Understanding Kaito''s surprise, she exins:


    "Yes, it is one of the Alliance''s guidelines for all of us, and even stricter when ites to Awakened Ones. All Awakened Ones, regardless of whether they will be Duelists or not, are required to continue their formal education and mandatory training at a licensed academy. This measure is to ensure that the Awakened Ones also develop academically and have a solid foundation of knowledge in martial arts."


    Kaito is a bit disheartened at the thought of returning to his old school. After all, it has been a year and a half since he left it and he definitely doesn''t miss it.


    However, that decision is out of his hands, as it is a requirement for all Awakened Ones.


    "I know it can be a little disappointing to have to return to your old school even though you have be an Awakened..." says the receptionist, noticing Kaito''s expression. "But believe me, this is an opportunity for you to excel even more. Your experience as a Duelist will give you a unique perspective. Besides, if you follow a simple schedule of sses, it won''t get in the way of your trips to the Celestial Abode or forays into the portals at all."


    Kaito ponders over the receptionist''s words and realizes that she is right, although she hasn''t realized that the reason for his fear of returning to the Mandatory Teaching Academy is not about having a double life, but about reliving past traumas.


    Anyway, Kaito thinks that maybe returning to his school could be a chance to show himself that he has grown up and thus face his own fears.


    "All right," says Kaito, resignedly. "If that''s one of the rules, then I''ll go back to my old school."


    The receptionist smiles, satisfied with Kaito''s positive attitude. Finally, she gives him some final guidelines about the process of returning to school and warns him that the Association has an obligation to keep his Awakened status secret, except to the Alliance, because there is a trustworthiness agreement between citizen and government. This sounds like advice to Kaito to keep his identity as a Duelist a secret and not to get into trouble.


    As Kaito says goodbye to the receptionist and leaves the room, he feels a mixture of emotions. He is relieved that his being an Awakened from the Forgotten Zone will not get out in the media, excited for his first trip to the Celestial Abode, but also aware of the challenges he will face when he returns to school.

 Chapter 31 - 30 - Return

    <h4>Chapter 31: Chapter 30 - Return</h4>


    The Mandatory Teaching Academies are advanced educational institutions that are specifically designed to train children and young people to survive the world after the Red Night. However, they are also institutions of intense preparation for those who may or may not be Awakened in the future, creating opportunities for universities and other branches, including internships in associations or in some department of the greater Alliance.


    These academies are a fundamental part of the educational system established by the Alliance, and aim to provide aplete and bnced education for young people.


    In these academies, young people have the opportunity tobine their regr academic studies with specialized training and sses aimed at improving their fighting and battle skills. In fact, thisst characteristic is the reason why even someone like Kaito, a sedentary ex-obese man, knows only a minimum of how to use a dagger or a sword, since in the Celestial Abode and the portals advanced technology does not work.


    In other words, the globalpulsory education curriculum is tailored to meet the unique demands of today''s world, covering both standard academic subjects such as mathematics, history, but also specific subjects rted to the theory and practice of how to kill monsters. Obviously, this spread of information on how to kill has certainly created a more aggressive society in some respects, which Kaito has suffered in his own skin.


    In any case, in addition to the Mandatory Learning Academies also providing an environment for bullies to excel not only socially but also academically, students are encouraged to form bonds of cooperation and discipline to the practice of martial arts, which made Kaito even more excluded because he didn''t care much for it.


    The academies are supervised by people directly connected to the local association or government, and have specialized teachers who are able to guide and mentor the students in their development academically and as fighters. These institutions may also offer additional facilities and resources, such as specialized training areas, researchbs, dojos, and so on, but it all depends on the donors of the institution.


    Since there are no Mandatory Teaching Academies in the Forgotten Zone, Kaito will need to walk a few miles to the school district in the middle of the Commercial Zone.


    *


    Thanks to a letter with a stamp from the association, Kaito was able to return to the Mandatory Teaching Academy without much trouble. And since the director of the academy thought he was someone very generous, he granted Kaito the perk of being able to study in the same ss he was in before, thus ignoring the one and a half years of teaching Kaito had missed, after all until six months ago, at the turn of the school year, they hadn''t even noticed his absence.


    So, two days after his visit to the office of the Z4 Safe Area association, Kaito is already walking towards the district where his old school is located.


    As he approaches, his steps gradually slow down and a mixed feeling of nostalgia and apprehension takes over him. It is as if the memories of his past and the uncertainties of the present are mixed together, creating a dense atmosphere around him, like a stormy cloud over his head.


    Incredibly, returning to his studies was causing Kaito more fear than fighting the Shaman Goblin.


    Finally, as Kaito approaches the front of the school, he notices the imposing building. The building is made of weathered metal, with tall, narrow windows that seem to peek out at the students who pass by. The main entrance is marked by ssic ss doors, and in the entrance hall are the lockers where they must change their shoes.


    As Kaito stares at the facade of the school, his mind begins to be invaded by memories. His eyes unwittingly fall to the left side of the main building, where there is a separate shed where they usually keep the sports balls. Behind this shed Kaito has already had to involuntarily fight against other people who were also suffering at the hands of the bullies, only to make themugh at hisme techniques. Then the bullies would make a point of showing them how a fist twist should be done or how the most effective way to kick balls was.


    Kaito remembers all this perfectly.


    Anxiety begins to take over him as he faces this ce once more, and his heart races.


    As Kaito stares at the facade of the school with a fearful countenance, he wonders if he will be able to fit into this environment, if he will be able to ovee the traumas of the past.


    At the same time that Kaito is upied with his internal conflicts, he sees the other students arriving at the Academy looking at him. In fact, most people who pass by him easily notice his presence and continue to stare at him for some reason.


    ''Did I not adjust the uniform right for my new size?'' Kaito mentally asks himself.


    People stare at him and then whisper among themselves, which only makes him even more afraid.


    However, contrary to what Kaito is thinking, people are not looking at him because they think he is strange or ugly like they used to in the past, but rather the opposite.


    "Who is that boy?" A girl inquires to her friend next to her and continues to stare at Kaito as she passes by his side, to the point where she bends her neck to stare at him some more.


    "He must be a new boy, a transfer." Her friend replies, a little shyly.


    Deep down, Kaito still doesn''t understand how much he has really changed. Not only has he gotten taller and thinner, his hair is much silkier and shinier, as well as his eyes, which now stand out very much with a vivid glow on his thin face and smooth skin.


    Taking a deep breath, Kaito takes the first step toward the entrance of the school, and as he strides with cautious steps toward the entrance, he feels the stares of the other students upon him.


    As he enters the building, Kaito notices that the conversations around him abruptly cease and everyone seems puzzled by his presence. He says nothing, but sweat begins to drip down his forehead.


    ''Easy, they are not looking at me. They are looking at someone behind me.... That''s it.'' Kaito tries to think rationally.


    As Kaito changes shoes, three girls passing behind him exchange curious nces and only a few momentster begin toment in whispers about him.


    "Have you guys seen the new student?"


    "He''s really impressive."


    "Gyahh! That redheaded bangs of his..."


    "I wonder if he has a girlfriend?"


    "Ow! Are you already interested at that point, Amy?"


    Unfortunately, Kaito doesn''t hear that. Although he has enhanced basic senses, he is too busy with his internal war. Nevertheless, Kaito can hardly imagine what lies ahead for the rest of the day.


    +


    Discord: https://discord.gg/ kQQqYmMNkz

 Chapter 32 - 31 - Traumas

    <h4>Chapter 32: Chapter 31 - Traumas</h4>


    The Compulsory Teaching Academies follow a military education system, so besides wearing standard military uniforms, good behavior in the ssroom is also highly appreciated. So when Professor Richard arrives in the ssroom, closely followed by that new student everyone is talking about, everyone rushes to their desks.


    Mr. Richard is a middle-aged man with thick-framed sses. With a serious face he was standing in front of the ssroom, looking at the students with his sharp neutral eyes, and then he says as he ces a stack of papers on the table:


    "Good morning, ss."


    Immediately, everyone responds to him in unison, but with a tone of dismay.


    "Good morning, professor..."


    The discouragement does not surprise Richard. He has gotten used to it, for that reason, after clearing the hup in his throat, he just continues:


    "Today we have a student returning to your ssroom. Please, kid,e into the ssroom."


    As he enters the ssroom, Kaito holds his head high.


    The eyes of the ss turn to the red haired young man who walks through the door frame almost touching it. Kaito is slender and has a good amount of muscle for his age, as well as having skin so beautiful that it could make girls jealous if most of them weren''t too busy enjoying their eyes.


    As he stands in front of the room, Kaito offers a shy smile.


    The room fills with murmurs and whispers as the students look at Kaito, who is standing next to the teacher.


    "Oh! The new guy is in our ss..."


    "Today must be our lucky day."


    "My god... Gyah! I would have put on better makeup if I had imagined something like this would happen!"


    The girls are flustered by Kaito''s presence, while the boys emanate a bit of anger, confusion, and disinterest. No one seems to recognize him, but what really impresses Kaito is that even the bully who bothered him the most looks at him with a frown, not discerning or even remembering him.


    "Who is this guy? And why are they like this?" The bully, whose name is Victor, inquires to his surrounding ssmates at the back of the room.


    Victor, a tall boy with a nearly shaved hair, always stands out for his imposing appearance. His white skin contrasts with his dark eyes, giving him an air of respect for the dress code, but in fact he is justzy about fixing his hair and has shaved it off since he was little. However, what really impresses about Victor are his muscr biceps, which stand out under the tight dress code.


    The colleague next to Victor shrugs his shoulders and answers his question:


    "I have no idea who he is, but he''s been making the girls go crazy since he came through the gate."


    Even in the midst of all this confusion, as Kaito is having his instincts pushed to the max because his heart is racing, he listens to Victor and the other boy''s conversation.


    "Silence, please! I want everyone to wee you warmly, but you don''t need so much noise." The teacher says after mming his hands on the table to get the attention of the room.


    The murmurs gradually subside as the students turn their attention to the front of the room.


    The teacher gestures for Kaito to approach and introduce himself. "Can you introduce yourself so they don''t know you, please."


    The redheaded young man steps forward, feeling the strange mood in the air. He stands in front of his colleagues, feeling everyone''s gaze on him. "My name is Kaito, and it will be a pleasure to study with you."


    The wordse out of his mouth with a slight hesitation, but he does his best to maintain a confident posture. His name echoes through the silence of the room, and yet there is no reaction of recognition from the others.


    Victor''s face remains impassive, without a glimmer of remembrance. The bully''s indifference strikes Kaito as a mixture of relief and disappointment. On the one hand, it is a relief not to be recognized as the boy who suffered bullying in the past, but on the other hand, it is painful to realize that no one remembers him, and it is shocking how a year and only a few months can simply erase someone from people''s memory.


    ''So�� they just forgot me, or it''s just the appearance? But my name is the same��''


    "Okay, Kaito is your ssmate. Let''s treat him with respect and help him reintegrate into our group." The teacher nods in approval and says, "Kaito, please find a vacant seat and settle in."


    He nods and walks down a hallway of the ssroom, feeling the curious looks of his new ssmates. He sits in a chair at the back of the room, next to the window, as he tries to disguise his internal pride at not being recognized.


    Victor is sitting a few desks away from Kaito and maintains his usual disinterested expression, his eyes wandering around the room as if everything there were irrelevant.


    Kaito observes Victor briefly, but in fact there is no spark of recognition in his gaze, so he decides to conform. However, when Kaitoes to terms with the fact that he will not be recognized and looks to the window to his left, he misses the moment that Victor''s eyes are aiming at him.


    Throughout the ss, Kaito remains silent, absorbing the information passed on by the teacher. He wants to take this new chance to start over and be recognized for his skills as a Duelist, so he needs to be much more studious and focused than he was before.


    As the minutes tick by, he realizes that the change from Awakening has happened not only in his body, but also in his intellect. He doesn''t have to try as hard as before to remember some things, nor does he have to struggle to stay focused on a boring subject,


    ''Looks like it was worth investing a few points in Intelligence.'' Kaito concludes, satisfied, at the end of the first ss time.


    And it is in this interval between times, when Professor Richard leaves the room so that another can take his ce, that Victor and his friends approach Kaito.


    Kaito appears to be busy looking at the window while he is actually checking out the day''s items that are in the Merchant''s Store.


    "Hey!" Someone behind Kaito says in an angry voice. "I''ve never seen you around here before! What did the teacher mean by ''reinstatement''? Have you ever studied here? Who are you?"


    At that moment, Kaito looks back and sees Victor and the others looking at him from below.


    Besides them, everyone in the room is looking at the scene as well, interested. Not to mention that there is also a crowd of people from other rooms gathering at the door of the room, which makes Kaito swallow saliva dryly.

 Chapter 33 - 32 - Crowd

    <h4>Chapter 33: Chapter 32 - Crowd</h4>


    When Kaito suddenly hears an angry voice behind him, he shivers.


    "Hey! I''ve never seen you around here before! What did the teacher mean by ''reinstatement''? Have you ever studied here? Who are you?"


    Kaito turns around and sees Victor and the rest of his ssmates, who analyze him from top to bottom, mixing curiosity and contempt.


    However, it would be nice if it was just them. Kaito''s entire ss is looking at them, as well as a crowd of people outside the room, increasing the pressure on Kaito.


    Kaito takes a deep breath, determined to face the situation head-on. He stands up from his chair, dragging it back and faces Victor seriously. "I am Kaito Zhao."


    The moment Kaito''sst name echoes throughout the quiet room, most of them either widen their eyes or open their mouths.


    Everyone seems to freeze for an instant, with their faces expressing shock and disbelief. Kaito Zhao''s name resounds like an echo, filling the empty space between them. Next, a loud bang happens.


    "What?!" Many in the crowd shout, shocked.


    Victor, the bully who once tormented Kaito, still remains stunned for a few moments. His eyes are wide, and his jaw has dropped like a rock. He is unable to articte any words because the boy who was the biggest target of his taunts and aggression has turned into somethingpletely different from what he imagined possible, no wonder he didn''t recognize him.


    The other ssmates are also perplexed, analyzing the difference between their memories of Kaito and how he is now. His metamorphosis is so extraordinary that it is difficult topare the image of the fat, ugly boy they remember to the young man before them, who looks like something from a fashion magazine.


    Some people in the crowd outside the room are also in total surprise, while others are trying to understand the reaction of the room, wondering who exactly Kaito Zhao is. Some recognize him because in the past he has embarrassed himself in front of everyone several times, but even with a name, it is difficult to remember, after all, it is almost impossible to assimte that the two are the same person.


    As anxious murmurs begin to spread, Victor takes a step backward with sweat dripping down his face. "No, it can''t be! That doesn''t make the slightest sense!" He exims.


    "Exactly! There''s no way you can be that piglet!" Another bully agrees.


    "The other one was much smaller and was, I don''t know, forty pounds heavier!"


    "But I am, this piglet," Kaito says, looking into Victor''s eyes.


    Silence settles again in the room, but this time it is different. There is a moment of reflection among those present, and Kaito''s words begin to resonate in their minds. The look in Kaito''s eyes conveys a mixture of vulnerability and strength, making it evident that he is not seeking approval.


    Among his ssmates, some are again murmuring among themselves. The crowd outside the room also reacts, and thements spread like waves.


    "It''s true, he really looks different now..."


    "Did you see the look in his eyes? He seems determined to prove he''s changed..."


    "I wonder where he was all this time?"


    As the debate continues, Victor is still reluctant to ept what he sees and hears. Difort overwhelms him and he clenches his fists, but as he raises his head again, he looks into Kaito''s eyes and realizes that there is no hatred, quite the contrary, Kaito is incredibly calm. Thus, Victor realizes that this is the first time he has looked directly into Kaito''s eyes, as he has always avoided them in the past.


    Victor finally sighs, and adopts an expression mixed with disappointment on his face. He lowers his head and mutters:


    "I... I want to ask..."


    Before Victor can finish his sentence, the crowd outside begins to make a lot of noise, interrupting the conversation, and then a tall, strong man steps out of the crowd, entering the room. He is Instructor Cooper, who writes the martial arts sses.


    Instructor Cooper enters the room with a serious, watchful, confused look on his face. He has gray hair, an eye patch over his left eye, and a muscr body despite being over 60 years old. Known for his wisdom and martial arts skills, the students respect and fear him at the same time. His gaze sweeps the room with strangeness, observing the whole situation and feeling the tension in the air.


    The murmurs subside, and all eyes turn to him.


    "What''s going on here?" asks Instructor Cooper. His deep voice echoes through the room, causing all the students in the other rooms to immediately leave the hallway and return to their rooms.


    Victor, still shaken by the revtion about Kaito, cannot find the words to answer.


    Kaito takes the initiative and speaks truthfully, "Instructor Cooper, my ssmates were just asking me why I was gone for so long. It''s no big deal."


    "And who are you?"


    "Kaito Zhao."


    Instructor Cooper narrows his eyes, staring at Kaito as if assessing him entirely. He remembers thatst name, after all he was always among thest in the rankings of his sses and that''s why Kaito was nicknamed by some teachers as ''The Weakest''. Then in a few moments he seems to notice the difference in Kaito, both physically and in his attitude and lets out a diplomatic smile.


    "Kaito Zhao... I see that you have changed, not only in appearance but in posture. I have always seen potential in your intelligence, maybe now your body can keep up with you. In any case, I want everyone seated." Instructor Victor states loudly.


    Everyone immediately returns to their seats, and Kaito also takes a seat as Cooper approaches his desk and whispers:


    "Are you okay?"


    Kaito see''s the question as unusual, but still, he promptly replies. "Better than ever, sir. Thank you for asking."


    Cooper smiles from one corner of his mouth. "That''s good to hear, young man..." He says and then turns to speak to the entire room. "I hope you guys aren''t feeling cold, because we will be training outside today. So, go to the changing rooms and put on your training clothes. I''ll meet you in 15 minutes on the terrace."


    Kaito is still a little shocked that Instructor Cooper has treated him well for the first time in his life and that he seems guilty in a way, after all Cooper has seen his bruises so many times in the locker room in the past and never asked a single question about it.


    ''It seems that thinner and taller people really are treated better.'' Kaito thinks, getting up.


    ''Come on, what are you waiting for! Hurry up! Whoever iste will have to do 200 push-ups!" Cooper says with a smile on his face, evidencing that he is serious, which makes everyone feel a shiver down their spine.

 Chapter 34 - 33 - Defiant

    <h4>Chapter 34: Chapter 33 - Defiant</h4>


    Kaito follows the flow of the other students, heading to the locker room to change clothes. His mind is still full of questions, but he feels some relief.


    The changing room is fraught with tension for an obvious reason, and the uneasy silence is interrupted only by the muffled sounds of clothes being removed and shoes being adjusted.


    There was a strange feeling of uneasiness in the air, a mixture of curiosity and distrust hovering among the students. Victor doesn''t look at him and is quieter than usual, which all the students are finding strange.


    While changing, Kaito looks into the mirror and stares at his reflection. He has indeed changed a lot, he literally looks like a different person.


    The other boys around him look at Kaito as he takes off his shirt and shows an athletic body, but, although Kaito has evolved, there are several scars on his back that have not disappeared, even with the regenerative power of a vampire. Perhaps these marks are to show him that he has not simply changed his body, or perhaps they serve as an eternal reminder that he will never forget his past.


    Kaito notices the looks from the other boys around him and quickly puts on his training shirt.


    Just then, a short young man with spiky ck hair approaches Kaito. His brown eyes disy a mixture of curiosity and friendliness.


    "Hey, you''re Kaito, aren''t you?" says the boy, extending his hand to greet him. "My name is Hiroshi. I''m also new here, transferred from an academy in Safe Area Z1."


    Kaito shakes Hiroshi''s hand, feeling confused by the boy''s approach. "Nice to meet you, Hiroshi."


    "Is the mood weird between you and the big strong guy, or is it just my impression?" Hiroshi muttered, leaning in close to Kaito.


    "Ah... It''s nothing you need to worry about. Just things from the past."


    Crossing his arms, Hiroshi nods, seeming to understand. "By the way, Kaito is an oriental name, right? My family came from the east, well, before the world changed so much."


    "That''s interesting... Actually, my father was half-oriental and decided to honor his mother by naming me after my grandfather. You know how it is..."


    As the two continue talking, the mood in the locker room lightens and the other students also prepare for training.


    Upon leaving the locker room, Kaito and Hiroshi join the other students on the terrace, where Instructor Cooper is already waiting.


    The terrace of the Academy building is a little different from normal terraces, because it has been adapted to host practice sses as they do not have space for a gymnasium. Arge open area extends in front of them after the locker rooms, where there are markings on the floor indicating different training areas, such as hand-to-handbat, agility and defense.


    The view from the terrace is stunning. The blue sky is gray as it is on most days, but since the building is tall it feels like you can almost reach the clouds.


    Instructor Cooper is positioned in the center of the terrace, where there are cushioned tatami mats, like those in a ring.


    "Come on, people, form a circle!" says Cooper energetically, raising his arms to get everyone''s attention. "Today we''re going to focus on melee self-defense techniques, which means you''re free to use what you know best. I want to see all of you putting in your best effort. Don''t worry, I''ll be here to guide you."


    The students group together, forming arge circle, and Cooper takes the reins of the ss, eximing in his firm voice that echoes throughout the terrace:


    "Okay, now that everyone has formed the circle, pay attention. As always, I''m going to choose two people to give a demonstration here. There''s no use raising your hand, Hiroshi. I''ll be the one to decide."


    Instructor Cooper''s eyes glide between the three dozen students, as if he is analyzing them, except that everyone somehow already knows which ones will be chosen.


    Suddenly, Cooper points to Victor, who even looks surprised, and then points to Kaito.


    "It was you two who were causing a ruckus in the room, right? So it''s time for you two to settle your differences." Instructor Cooper states out loud, but internally he has another belief. Every group needs a leader, without a leader there is no order. Victor has always been the leader of this room, but Kaito''s return and change has brought emotional instability to Victor and consequently unstable the mood of the room. Therefore, Victor must defeat Kaito and show himself that he is still the leader of this room, so that everything will return to normal. Cooper thought to himself.


    As usually happens, when the two students are chosen, they both start walking to the center of the circr tatami without saying anything.


    The other students seem excited about this, both the athletic bullies, the girls and even the more ordinary students, who are fed up with Victor. Basically, the other students form an audience around to watch the demonstration.


    Victor''s defiant, poignant look contrasts with Kaito''s serene expression.


    Cooper stands in the center of the circle, watching the two opponents intently. "This will be a learning moment for all of us," says Instructor Cooper seriously. "Remember that this is just an exercise, an opportunity to apply the techniques we have learned so far. Maintain mutual respect for each other and use your knowledge responsibly. No breaking of bones is allowed and I will tell you when the confrontation is over."


    The students keep their gaze fixed on Victor and Kaito as Instructor Cooper signals for them to take their positions.


    The twobatants prepare for the sh as they face each other.


    Victor looks Kaito up and down and thinks:


    ''I can''t believe I almost apologized to this guy... He is the same person I have used hundreds of times before as my punching bag. He may be taller and more athletic now, but he''s no different... Get ready, Kaito, you will fall once again by the technique of my fists.''


    However, despite Victor''s determination, when he finishes adopting his fighting stance, he looks down at his own hands and realizes that he is trembling.


    For his part, Kaito has never thought of seeking revenge, or even anything close to it. He doesn''t hate Victor, he just hates the weak person inside himself. However, Kaito is also human and wants more than anyone to finish Victor off in front of everyone, so he smiles with the corner of his mouth when he notices a look of fear on Victor''s face.


    Silence hangs in the air as the tension builds. Only the whispers of the wind and the controlled breathing of the spectators are heard.


    Finally, the confrontation begins when Instructor Cooper uses his whistle.


    Victor, with his brutal strength, lunges toward Kaito, demonstrating aggressiveness and a confidence that does not exist. He intends to impose his technical dominance on Kaito from the start.


    ''He is... slow.'' Kaito thinks as he sees Victor approaching and without any difficulty deflects the first punch attempts by Victor. ''One high punch on the left. Another on the right. Lastly, a low kick aimed at the stomach... I can practically see his movements. Is that the difference between an Awakened and an ordinary person?'' Kaito wonders.


    As Kaito analyzes his opponent''s movements, all the spectators are impressed by his dodges, because almost none of them could dodge a blow from Victor like that.


    Cooper is the one who is most surprised by Kaito''s movements, because ording to his logic, no matter how much the boy has slimmed down and grown a few inches because of puberty, it should be impossible for him to evolve his reflexes that much in just over a year.


    ''Victor is a boy from arge family, owning several warehouses, so he had ess to martial arts education from a young age, which exins his improved reflexes, but nothing exins Kaito''s evolution.'' Cooper concludes, startled.


    And just a few seconds after the fight starts, Kaito takes advantage of a punch from Victor towards his face to grab his opponent''s arm and spin him in the air, throwing him backwards against the tatami. The movement is fluid and fast, like that of a professional, and when Victor hits his back against the ground, he feels his consciousness almost fade from so much pain.


    ''Oops... I think I overdid it.'' Kaito thinks as he gets up and sees Victor all crooked on the ground.


    Some of Kaito''s colleagues burst out in celebration, while others are too shocked to show any reaction.

 Chapter 35 - 34 - Equipment

    <h4>Chapter 35: Chapter 34 - Equipment</h4>


    The discrepant oue of the fight between Kaito and Victor was the only topic of conversation throughout the rest of the day at the Mandatory Teaching Academy, and as if Kaito''s presence hadn''t caught the attention of the entire school since the beginning of his first day, surely in the hallways there would be no more talk about anyone other than him for at least the next few days.


    For his part, Kaito is exhausted as he walks back to the house. Dozens of people have spoken to him during his exhausting day at the Academy, perhaps more than if he counted all the people with whom he has exchanged words during his entire life, but still, he is not in the least bit sorry for what he did with his former abuser. Doing that to Victor bordered on satisfaction. So Kaito makes his way through the crowds that fill the streets of the Commercial Zone with cheer.


    Store windows are everywhere, disying the traditional mannequins with clothes or even holograms of models wearing the trendy clothes of the day, only one particr store window catches Kaito''s attention among so many others. In this window, there is a hologram of a tall, strong, handsome man in full armor with a sword over his shoulder, smiling triumphantly.


    "Ah! I almost forgot THAT!" Kaito suddenly exims and puts his hand in the right pocket of his blouse, pulling out a piece of paper containing a printed list. "I still need to buy the items that the Association demanded."


    So, since he is so close to a store that sells items for Duelists, Kaito ventures inside.


    Like any other store in that area, the ce is filled with people, but most of them are not customers but just people curious about medieval weapons and other things. So when Kaito enters the store wearing his unttering ck military uniform in a ce so close to a school district, he is not even considered a possible customer by the clerks, after all, many students enter the store every hour.


    Kaito doesn''t care about the fact that an attendant doesn''t run to serve him, he is too busy thinking about what kind of gun he will buy.


    ''It is mandatory to have at least one weapon, not to mention basic armor, and it would also be nice to have sturdy boots... Um...''


    After a few seconds, Kaito decides that he wants to do a simr build to the one he had in Mortal Tower, meaning that he would rather abuse his agility and strength than risk using a bow or an axe. With this in mind, the obvious ideal is for him to buy a dagger or one-handed sword to use with his agility. With this in mind, he raises his head and looks around, looking for the sword section of the store, which is easily spotted by him as it is the most crowded section of the store and also where most of the attendants are.


    Kaito takes a deep breath when he sees all those people and chooses not to go where it is too crowded. He then looks for the dagger section and finds a countertop where he has some on disy.


    [Basic Steel Dagger - 3000 credits.


    Fragment of Light Dagger - 10000 credits.


    Silver Dagger - 9999 credits.


    ...]


    There are almost ten options of short des for sale, but Kaito inevitably takes a few steps back when he sees their frightening price.


    "It doesn''t even make sense! What the actual fuck is happening here?! Even if I wanted to, I wouldn''t have the money to buy a simple Silver Dagger." Kaito thinks out loud as he walks out of the store, startled.


    In fact, for someone like Kaito, who has had weapons of the best materials and attributes in Mortal Tower, to have to see these prices for weapons that in the game were basic is nothing more than a rip-off, hyperintion that he can do nothing but ept.


    "I need to make more money and fast," Kaito says loud enough for only himself to hear.


    Since signing up to be a Duelist cost 5,000 credits, there are only 5,000 more left in his bank ount. Although this amount is enough for Kaito to buy a simple weapon, he will possiblyck money for the rest of the equipment.


    Only two ideas arise in Kaito''s mind when he thinks about how he will get more money. The first is to sell some more furniture from his house, maybe his oldputer or his stove, but this must be hisst resort, after all, he is no longer the weakling he used to be, now he can fight.


    So Kaito once again hides in one of the many alleys and opens the Z4 Safe Area Map, the same one that showed him where thest portal was.


    Kaito scans the map with his eyes, looking for the vortex icon he sawst time, or at least something simr, but something strange catches his attention. His gaze fixed on an icon that does not resemble the one he saw, in fact, because it is so different is the reason it caught his attention in the first ce. The icon in question looks like a crack, as if the very fabric of the map were fraying and opening.


    Curious and intrigued, Kaito leans closer to the map, examining the crack closely. The inteced lines seem to pulsate with inexplicable energy as if they are calling to him.


    Kaito looks at the rest of the map once more, only there is no icon, only this one of the crack.


    His heart races and Kaito immediately bes curious about what the hell it is. Kaito''s mind fills with thoughts and spections, however, he doesn''t want to just keep wondering what this must be and there is only one way to find out: he must go see it with his own eyes.


    ''That''s not far from here, but it''s in the White District.'' Kaito thinks.


    The White District is where most of the luxurious stores and casinos of the Commercial Zone are, so Kaito is a bit worried. Still, he moves on, determined to investigate the crack. He walks through the busy streets, cuts his way through a few alleys, and, to be even faster, he crosses the Red Lights District, which is a ce crammed with nightclubs and brothels.


    As Kaito crosses this district, the women in front of the nightclubs try to approach him, calling the innocent man toe in.


    "Hey, pretty boy! Come on in here and I promise you''ll never forget my name!"


    "Hmmm... A student? The younger you are, the more potential there is to work with."


    "Boy, if you were to go to bed with me, I would drive you crazy!"


    "You look lonely, I can fix that!"


    Kaito pays no attention to any of the women''sments, and finally arrives at the White District in no more than ten minutes. Immediately he feels the change in the atmosphere. As always, the White District is bustling and,pared to the Forgotten Zone, feels like an alternate reality. The buildings are more imposing, and more lively, the people around them are elegantly dressed, and the air is permeated with a strange smell of cleanliness.


    Kaito keeps his head up and his gaze focused on the map, ignoring the curious attention he receives for wearing his ck military uniform and for holding a huge sheet of paper in his hands.

 Chapter 36 - 35 - Evil Point Manipulation

    <h4>Chapter 36: Chapter 35 - Evil Point Maniption</h4>


    As Kaito wanders through the busy streets of the White District in search of the mysterious crack marked on his map, he pays no attention to anything that is happening around him, nor to the people staring at him, nor to theirments about him appearing to be lost.


    And when he finally gets close to the ce where the cracks appear on his map, he looks across the street and sees nothing but a busymercial avenue.


    ''I should be right next to it�� But, there''s nothing really different��''''


    There are a few girlsughing and chatting, a man in a suit with bags up to his shoulders as he closely follows a fat man, and a few more luxurious cars crossing the avenue. In other words, it looks like any time in the White District on a weekday.


    Kaito looks again at the map in his hands to check if it is in the right ce and above the crack appear the pair of numbers one and zero. Kaito is confused and frowns. Then the ten turns into a nine and then into an eight.


    ''A countdown!'' Kaito immediately concludes. ''But what for?'' he wonders and begins to look around.


    Finally, as the count reaches zero, Kaito raises his eyes urgently and as he looks towards the building across the street, where the crack should be, he sees a burst of energy that lights up everything, painting thendscape with an incandescent sh. A deafening boom erupts in the sky, shaking the ground beneath Kaito''s feet and the entire district he is in. A shockwave rushes through the air, creating a blindfold that throws Kaito''s hair back and speeds up the novice Duelist''s heart. Kaito puts up his arm to shield his eyes, which are fixed on the source of this chaotic whirlwind, from all the dust and smoke flying toward him.


    Panic spreads quickly throughout the area, like an epidemic through the crowd, which scatters frantically in all directions, seeking safety and shelter inside the stores or simply running as far away as they can.


    The rms of parked cars start beeping, because not only have they been shaken by the gale, but the impact wave has shattered the windows of some of them, as well as some shop windows.


    At the top of the building where the crack should have been, a sinister opening opens before Kaito''s eyes. Part of the building''s facade has ceased to exist thanks to the explosion, and where it was approximately the sixth floor there is arge red portal, whose edges are no longer just part of a vortex, like the first portal he saw, but have literally begun to tear reality apart, like cracks. The cracks seem to widen progressively, and in front of the portal at the top of the building appear creatures that defy human logic.


    "Specters?" Kaito quickly distinguishes which Transcendents are in question.


    Specters are monsters of almost humanoid form. They have two arms and two legs, only his limbs are disproportionatelyrgerpared to their torso. Their skin is also dark gray, and from the inside of their body they emit a bluish light, which fills their mouths and eyes. Basically, they are very tall, thin and gray humans, but they walk on four limbs, like animals.


    Contrary to everything and even his body, for his hands are shaking, Kaito smiles at this situation. "Like it or not, that''s good news for me."


    The Spectres are basic enemies and not very powerful, which makes Kaito excited. However, they can be frighteningly annoying inrge numbers.


    ''Probably the portal appeared in some not-so-used storage room inside the building and therefore could not be noticed until it finally broke...''


    However, unlike what Kaito is used to because of Mortal Tower, not everyone can protect themselves from the Specters and he also doesn''t have all the time in the world to analyze what his next steps will be. While he is still thinking, several Specters start jumping around the building and onto themercial avenue, which has caused widespread panic to grow.


    In the distance, Kaito can already hear the sound of sirens among the many shouts of the crowd, which means that the guards will take a few minutes, but the security forces will arrive.


    This is a fleeting moment of paralysis for Kaito, because he must decide whether to act and reveal that he is an Awakened One to everyone, or to run with the crowd. Kaito knows that it''s not his duty to act like a hero, after all he won''t gain anything from it, but it doesn''t take him more than a second to make this decision, not because he desperately wants to save these people who are in danger, but because he is ted by the feeling of nostalgia for seeing simple Specters and is excited to test his strength on them.


    Courage bursts into his chest like a powerful, indomitable force, propelling him to action. His spirit ignites, fueled by an unshakable conviction. With a fire burning inside him, Kaito charges forward, and with a swing of his legs, he hits a Spectre who is running after a fat man with a funny mustache.


    The Ghost hit by Kaito flies several meters and hits a billboard that was running an advertisement about thetest generation of weblinks. The sign explodes into pieces, raining debris and sparks onto the street.


    Stunned by the fight, the rich man, looks at Kaito with a mixture of gratitude and surprise on his face. "Boy... Thank you...!"


    "Come along, old man. This ce is going to turn into a fierce battlefield when the other Awakened Ones arrive." Kaito says, looking back over his shoulder.


    The Spectres who were near the anxious crowd of civilians begins to pay their attention to the young Awakened One. Their eyes glow with the bluish light emanating from within them, and also with an insatiable desire for violence.


    ''I''m without a weapon, so I''ll have to get creative.'' Kaito thinks and then has an idea, ''Maybe this would be a good time to test that other skill.... Activate <Evil Point Maniption>.''


    As soon as Kaito thinks of the name of the skill, a system window appears before his eyes as he is surrounded by the Spectres.


    [Evil Point Maniption skill activated].


    [You have 4 evil points.]


    [You can create or copy a skill, but the number of points required toplete the action will depend on your natural affinity for the type of skill desired.]


    "Let''s try the obvious..." Kaito says aloud and thinks, ''I want to get the ability to manipte matter!''


    [To obtain the skill ''Ethereal Matter Maniption'' requires 1 billion evil points. You don''t have the required amount of points].


    ''A billion?!!! Humph! why did I freak out, if I had the ability to alter matter it would be like a cheat and a billion points seems fair to me, but to get all that I would have to, I don''t know, destroy a country or...'' Kaito was thinking when he heard the growls of the Spectres again. ''Right, I have to focus. I already understand how this skill works. The more powerful the skill, the more points will be needed. If that''s the case, then I just want to have ws without having to use <Life Drain>."


    [To get the skill ''Poisonous Vampire ws'' requires 100 points of evilness. You don''t have the required amount of points].


    ''It doesn''t have to be poisonous!''


    [To obtain the skill ''Simple Vampire ws'' requires 10 points of evilness. You don''t have the required amount of points].


    Kaito snaps his tongue at seeing the message and realizes that he will need to do something bad to get at least a few more points. At this moment he sees two scenes: a rich old woman is lying on the ground, trying to collect the pearls from her ne even in the chaos, and a few meters away there is a rich young man crying because he has scraped his knee on the ground.


    Kaito is then undecided about which two will have to be his victim. He prefers to choose the least bad, only he also prefers to do it all at once and get a lot of points, so the old one might be more ''rewarding''.


    +


    Discord: https://discord.gg/ kQQqYmMNkz

 Chapter 37 - 36 - Hostility

    37 Chapter 36 - Hostility


    Kaito urgently needs a few more evil points to be able to create an ability to deal with the Specters. However, while he is surrounded by the monsters, the only people in his field of vision are a rich old woman, who is on her knees picking up the pearls from her ne, and a snobbish-looking man who is crying, like a child, because he has had his knee grazed.


    Disappointed, Kaito chooses the one he believes will give him the most points, namely the rich old woman.


    So while the woman with slightly gray hair and wrinkled skin reaches out for one of the pearls, Kaito does his job and steps on the pearl she is reaching for, breaking the pearl into several pieces.


    Looking her up and down, Kaito says with contempt:


    "Don''t you realize what is happening here? Get out, if you don''t want to die."


    The boy''s emerald-colored eyes almost glow in contrast to his disgusted expression, and this causes the woman to feel a unique chill and finally realize what is happening around her. She is startled to see the Spectres approaching like wolves to their prey and says to Kaito as she runs into a store at the same time:


    "I''m sorry!!!"


    Satisfied, Kaito looks toward the Spectres again, this time with a new notification from the system.


    [You have earned 7 Evil Points for Hostility with Civilian].


    Kaito is not proud of what he has done, but he has no regrets either.


    "Now give me the ability I wanted." Kaizen asks, and then another notification appears for him.


    [You have learned the skill ''Simple Vampire ws''].


    A feeling of excitement and curiosity takes over him, but Kaito tries to remain calm. He closes his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to calm his mind, and with a determined expression opens his eyes again, focusing all his attention on the approaching Specters. Without further hesitation, heunches himself against the monsters, who are a little afraid but not stupid. Seeing Kaito running toward them, one of them rushes toward him as well.


    In the middle of his charge, Kaito feels his body begin to change. A feeling of energy runs through his arms, several of his veins swell, bing visible, and his fingers grow at least twice their original size, as does the rest of his hand. And the main part of the ability, his fingernails, get thicker and bigger evenpared to the ws he has when using <Life Drain>.


    As the Spectre runs towards him, the monster notices the changes in the young man''s physique, as well as the difference in Kaito''s gaze, and hesitates.


    However, Kaito does not spare him. With one agile movement, Kaito runs alongside the Spectre, and an instantter, blue blood pours from the monster''s neck like the fountain of a square.


    [You killed a Spectre. You gained +250 XP].


    [You leveled up!]


    Since Spectres are butchering monsters, another one of them tries to take advantage of the fact that Kaito was distracted by the first one to surprise him. Then another monster leaps towards Kaito, trying to grab him with its ws.


    Thanks to his sharp reflexes, the Awakened One dodges at thest moment with a few steps back, letting the monster fall headlong to the ground.


    Taking advantage of the opening, Kaito quickly spins around andunches a powerful kick at this Spectre. The impact is devastating, sending the monster flying away with a scream of pain.


    As blue blood sshes through the air, another Spectre approaches fiercely, this time trying to bite the boy.


    Kaito nimbly moves back again, dodging the sequence of bites.


    Every movement of the young man''s body is masterfully executed, and the people watching the scene from the store windows are very surprised. The way Kaito moves his feet is fast, and yet his dexterity is high enough that he doesn''t fall or trip over himself. Not to mention the young man''s strength, which is more like a whirlwind of destruction.


    Determined to end the threat of the Spectres, Kaito looks around and counts five more Transcendents in total, not including the one he just killed and the one he sent away.


    ''If I consider that only a few have made it out of the portal, they must be ten or so. If seven of them are with me, another three of them have escaped.'' Kaito assumes. ''Shit, that''s not good... They might end up killing someone and the me will fall on me.''


    While Kaito is thinking, he is also on the move, because the Spectres try to sneak up on him, so he needs to move down themercial avenue anticipating their attacks with his keen senses. The nice part about fighting in an urban environment is that there are resources for Kaito to use that the Transcendents don''t know about, such as cars, which make the monsters freak out with their horns when they try to climb into them. However, while the cars can be a help, they are also great obstacles to Kaito''s vision, i.e. good hiding ces for the Specters, who quickly realize this and start using them to hide from him.


    So, to avoid being caught by surprise and also to have a better view to find the three missing Specters, Kaito climbs on top of a car, thus getting a better peripheral view. And as Kaito scans his surroundings with his eyes, a Spectre jumps towards him.


    Luckily, Kaito spins around at thest second, delivering a devastating kick to the monster''s face, sending it flying towards a truck that was parked.


    ''There are only four of them now.''


    The remaining Spectres are a bit intimidated by Kaito''s ferocity and skill, which gives him a few seconds to think, just when he thinks he''ll finally get a break to at least breathe, he spots one of the missing Spectresing down a fire escape between two buildings. This Specter seems to be targeting a girl who, coincidentally, is looking at Kaito at exactly this moment.


    Kaito''s gaze in her direction makes the girl realize that something is wrong, and when she looks up and sees the Transcendent, she starts running and immediately screams at it. However, the Spectre doesn''t give him time to run away and falls down in front of her, almost crushing her and also very close to killing her with fright.


    Kaito hesitates for a second, but runs towards the girl, ignoring the other Spectres, who start running after him. Kaito jumps from car to car, and after the cars are gone, he runs with all his speed down the street, even dropping his backpack to distract the Spectres who are following him.

 Chapter 38 - 37 - Can villains save people?

    38 Chapter 37 - Can viins save people?


    With steps quickened by his will, Kaito strives to reach the girl in danger. His heart is racing as he dodges cars and obstacles, focused only on reaching his goal.


    The Spectres run after him like fervent animals, pushing and bumping into each other. They think that Kaito is actually running away from them, so they are much more confident than when he was facing them.


    Kaito can''t even see the girl, because the other Spectre is blocking his view. That way, all he can see is the monster''s back, which stands up on two legs to intimidate and corner her. As it stands, the Wraiths look more like basketball yers than monsters, because they have a structure that closely resembles a human, except, of course, for the fact that they havepletely gray skin and sharp teeth.


    Without wasting any time, Kaito jumps over a car crossed in the middle of the street, surprising the Spectres chasing him and causing one of them to crash into the car, giving him some more leverage. He then elerates further. The interval for his feet to touch the ground is minimal, and the speed he reaches is impressive even among the Awakened Ones.


    Finally, Kaito reaches the location of the girl and the eighth Transcendent. Just as the monster is about to attack her with his w. Kaito climbs onto its back, holding its neck, and while struggling not to have his right hand swallowed, he rests his left hand on the right side of the monster''s skull.


    The girl, who is lying on the ground and frightened, watches all this with the shadow of the creature covering her.


    The Awakened One keeps his focus and when he finally manages to fit his right hand to the Ghost''s chin, he uses his full strength to turn the monster''s head to the right in a spinning motion, breaking the creature''s neck.


    [You have killed a Spectre. You gained +250 XP].


    The Spectre''s corpse falls to the ground next to the girl, who, startled, immediately tries to move away.


    However, Kaito has no time for that now. With an agile movement, Kaito lifts the girl by the waist and puts her over one shoulder to keep running, because five other Spectres are after him, not to mention the other two he also spotted on top of the buildings.


    The Wraiths crowd together, forming a small, snarling horde.


    Before he starts running Kaito looks around, searching for an escape route. His eyes find the fire escape that the Wraith he just killed came down. That seems to be the only ce Kaito can take the girl to try to get her safe without putting other people in danger.


    "Gulp! Hey, what are you doing?!" The girl screams, then remembers that she is wearing a skirt, "Put me down now, please!"


    "Shut up while I save your life," Kaito says without much thought. Since he has not had any female contact and there have been very few times he has spoken to a woman in real life, he does not understand delicacy in words.


    [You have earned 1 Point of Malice for Asperity.]


    The young man ignores the notification and starts running to the alley where the fire escape is with the girl firmly leaning on his shoulder. His mind is on keeping the girl safe.


    With impressive agility, Kaito deftly dodges the onughts of the desperate Spectres who are struggling to catch up with their precious prey. And when they finally enter the narrow alley, Kaito can hear the girl''s gasping breath, an echo of the terror consuming her. He understands her fear, especially as she is facing backwards and witnesses the Spectres getting closer and closer. However, although Kaito wishes to go faster, to ovee his current limitations, he is at his limit.


    All that can help Kaito now is the adrenaline pulsing through his veins, propelling him beyond the limits of his endurance. His body seems to move by pure instinct, every muscle and fiber contributing to his speed.


    Atst, the fire escape rises before Kaito like an emergency life preserver, the only way out for the girl from this suffocating situation.


    "Thedder is probably locked at the top... I''ll throw you in." Kaito says, a little breathlessly.


    "What? Throw me?" she inquires, surprised.


    "Three, two, one! Now!"


    Kaito uses every muscle in his arms to throw the girl up. His muscles throb with effort, but he blocks out the pain.


    The Spectres, with fury pulsing in their vacant eyes, watch their prey in the air and their eyes re with even more intensity.


    The girl waves her arms, not knowing how to react for sure. All of this has happened very suddenly. Still, she knows she can''t go wrong just now, so at the sight of thedder she stretches as far as she can to reach it. When her fingers finally reach thedder, a metallic noise echoes loudly through the alley.


    "I made it..." She mutters, almost voiceless, as she realizes what she has done. "I did it!"


    The girl''s eyes meet Kaito''s as she looks down, and she has a genuine smile of relief and happiness on her face.


    However, Kaito has no time to be happy for her now. He looks back and sees that the Spectres are less than two meters away from him.


    There is no time for him to try to reach thedder, and no reason, because this could put the girl at risk again.


    Instead, Kaito decides to keep running down the alley, after all there is no reason to fight in such a tight space against so many creatures.


    As he advances relentlessly through the ustrophobic alley, Kaito''s eyes scrutinize every inch of the environment, looking for ways to slow the monsters down. He knocks over a trash can, then picks up a crate and throws it behind him. All this just to buy some time. And then, like a ray of light in the darkness, Kaito spots the small opening at the end of the corridor. As he finally reaches the next street, the emptiness of the air embraces the young man.


    Now atst he is in a wider and more open ce, where he has more room to fight. So he brakes his run, sliding with his shoes on the concrete and staring at the monsters squeezing their way out of the alley.


    However, when the Spectres finally reach the street, before Kaito canunch himself intobat, something unexpected happens. A deafening sound cuts through the air, echoing down the street.


    A speeding car passes in front of Kaito, skidding on the asphalt and creating sparks, as well as a high-pitched sound that almost resembles the music of a violin.


    The Spectres, who were preparing to attack Kaito, are violently run over by the car and their bodies are thrown in different directions, scattering like rag dolls from the force of the impact. The twisted metal and shattered windows of the car make for a chaotic and surreal sight.


    Kaito watches all this practically in slow motion and sees a man with blond hair behind the steering wheel. He recognizes this man, for it is the same man who delivered the Alliance warning letter to him.


    As the dust settles, the man in the suit gets out of the car, looking unperturbed. His cold, determined eyes scan the scene and he wastes no time as he sees some of the Spectres getting up even after the impact. He raises a machine gun from inside the car and fires bursts of bullets at the Transcendents. The shots cut the air with a frightening sound, hitting the monsters full on. The blue blood of the Spectres mixes with the dust raised by the car''s sudden skid and the gunpowder from the gun.

 Chapter 39 - 38 - Spectre

    39 Chapter 38 - Spectre


    Kaito, still stunned by the dizzying events that unfolded before his eyes, watches in amazement at the efficiency and dexterity of the man in the suit. His machine gun fire is urate and the way he seems unfazed is astonishing.


    The man is using the open car door as a support for his arms to contain the violent kick of the gun. His piercing eyes remain fixed on the targets, his aim is relentless and his skilful hands masterfully control the machine gun.


    For Kaito, a whirlwind of emotions fills his heart as he witnesses this scene. Relief overtakes his body, but a series of questions gue his mind.


    However, there is no time to think now. The voice of the man in the suit suddenly breaks through the chaos, catching Kaito''s attention.


    "Hey, kid! You''re an Awakened, right? Give me a hand here!" The man exims to Kaito, because while his shots annoy the Transcendent, they''re not even close to being enough to kill them.


    Kaito is surprised by the trust ced in him and even more so that the man remembers him.


    "I''ll provide cover for you going forward, but you''ll need to be quick on the kills. They can''t get off this street and they can''t even do any more damage than they already have." the man says, looking at Kaito out of the corner of his eye.


    As he approaches, Kaito nods, already visualizing in his mind a strategy to take on the Transcendent.


    The man continues firing until the magazine of his machine gun runs out and when he hears the crack of the gun locking up due to having no weapons, hemands:


    "Now go!"


    Kaito moves in quickly and activates his ws once more. There are still six Spectres left, meaning Kaito will have to fight all of them at the same time and without letting them escape, except they are weakened, so he has the advantage.


    Anyway, the remaining Spectres stare at Kaito with determined eyes. He takes a deep breath, standing in the middle of the street, and his posture bes tense, prepared for imminent action.


    The first Spectre lunges towards Kaito with its sharp teeth salivating, ready to tear into the Awakened''s flesh.


    Kaito waits for the monster to get close enough, and in the nick of time, slides to the side, avoiding the attack. In response, he unleashes a powerful punch, hitting the monster square in the stomach. The impact reverberates through the air, apanied by the sound of bones breaking. Kaito then swings his left hand and cuts off the head of this first enemy.


    [You have killed a Spectre. You have gained +250 XP].


    Another Spectre tries to surprise Kaito, attacking from behind with a downward swipe of its ws.


    Kaito had already heard this monster because he was not careful not to step on the shards of ss on the floor from one of the shop windows that was shattered by the bullets.


    Dodging the attack, Kaito quickly counterattacks,unching a spinning kick that hits the creature''s face. The impact is so strong that the Spectre is thrown backwards, crashing its head into a nearby wall. Kaito''s eyes widen in surprise at his own movement.


    [You have killed a Spectre. You have gained +250 XP].


    Meanwhile, a third Spectre advances fiercely. Its empty eyes reflect an insatiable hunger.


    Kaito leaps backwards, narrowly avoiding the monster''s ws. Hends deftly, spinning in midair and using the momentum tounch a knee to the Spectre''s chin, sending its head flying backwards violently.


    [You have killed a Spectre. You have gained +250 XP].


    Kaito''s movements are faster and he seems to have an incredible mastery of his body. All this mixed with his enhanced reflexes and senses give him a huge advantage over his enemies.


    A fourth Spectre tries to surround Kaito,unching itself in a coordinated assault with the other two remaining monsters. Kaito keeps his cool even in the face of imminent danger. He executes a series of elegant dodges, slipping between the Spectres'' attacks like a shadow, but this time he is pressed.


    Suddenly, the sound of gunfire echoes through the street once more, and a metal bullet hits one of the Spectres in the eye. This is the opening moment Kaito has been waiting for, so he lunges forward with his ws. With one intense swipe, he pierces the chest of one of the Spectres with his left hand, sending his heart flying out of his body.


    The other two Spectres try to regain the bnce of the battle, but Kaito gives no respite. He moves with a deadly grace,unching a string of blows, alternating between punches and kicks.


    Nearing the car, machine gun in hand, the man raises the barrel of the weapon and lowers his sunsses to get a better look. He slowly opens his mouth, impressed, and mutters to himself:


    "Gee, I asked him to just give a hand..."


    The two remaining Spectres remain desperate to outdo Kaito. However, the Awakened demonstrates surprising agility, maintaining a considerable distance while his advances are decisive. His mind is focused on the fight, calcting every move, trying to find an opening for some lethal counterattack. With an acrobatic leap, Kaito lunges at one of the Spectres, delivering a powerful punch to its skull. The impact sends the monster reeling, off bnce and dazed. Wasting no time, the Awakened takes the opportunity to spin in the air and deliver a devastating kick to the second Spectre, hitting it square in the chest.


    Finally, Kaito swings his arms and, without any difficulty, rips off the heads of the two remaining Transcendents, making their bodies fall to the ground simultaneously.


    [You have killed a Spectre. You have gained +250 XP].


    [You have killed a Spectre. You have gained +250 XP].


    Silence hangs over the empty street, interrupted only by the gasping breaths of the young Awakened. He is covered in sweat, with cuts and scrapes on his face, not to mention the blue blood sttered across his clothes, but his expression is content. He has gained much experience.


    The man in the suit slowly approaches Kaito, pping in admiration.


    "Impressive, boy. You are truly formidable." the man says with an approving smile.


    Kaito straightens his posture, looks at the man with trepidation, and asks:


    "Who would you be exactly?"

 Chapter 40 - 39 - Monster Slayer

    40 Chapter 39 - Monster yer


    "I apologize for not introducing myself earlier, but, you know, the urgency of the situation didn''t allow me to. My name is Ethan Williams, Alliance Support Agent." the man with the machine gun replies, pulling a badge from inside his suit and then extending his right hand to greet Kaito.


    Kaito shakes Ethan''s hand, feeling a firm grip like no other person has ever greeted him. "So, you''re a member of the Alliance?" questions Kaito, chuckling.


    Ethan nods. "But you needn''t worry. I don''t have to report your presence in the report I''m going to make if you don''t want me to. However, that way you''ll also be without payment for helping to resolve the situation."


    "Do what you want," Kaito says, not being very friendly exactly because Ethan is someone from the government, and decides to walk away.


    Kaito knows he doesn''t have to exin himself to Ethan now that he''s regrized as a Duelist, not to mention that the agent himself probably already knows who he is. Besides, since Kaito won''t be able to sell the bodies of the Spectres he killed, due to Ethan being around, he just prefers to get out of the spotlight as soon as possible, because there are people in the windows of the buildings watching, there sure are.


    So Kaito walks away from the disaster scene empty-handed, aware that his reward will only be the relief of having done his duty... or is it? Surprising Kaito, as he walks away from Ethan, a system notification pops up before his eyes.


    [You havepleted the achievement of ''Monster yer I''].


    [For defeating 15 monsters, you have received 200 bronze coins].


    Seeing this notification, Kaito smiles from the corner of his mouth and puts his hands in his pockets, walking quietly away from the chaos and crowds of people, press, and officials that will soon be filling these streets with the White District. He can already hear how close the sirens are.


    Ethan, with a slight smile on his lips, respects Kaito''s reserved posture. He doesn''t judge the awakened young man, for he knows how distrust is a constantpanion in this dark world, after all that''s what brought Ethan to where he is. Watching Kaito walk away, Ethan carefully puts his badge away and returns his attention to the disaster area.


    "Now how am I going to exin to the supervisor all these bodies? He wouldn''t believe me if I said I defeated them." Ethan says to himself, a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead and a faint smile on his face.


    *


    The next day, the chaos and destruction caused by the portal breach in the White District became the talk of the town throughout Safe Area Z4 and beyond, even reaching the ears of the inhabitants of Z City.


    The news spread like wildfire, fueling curiosity in the minds of those seeking answers to what happened.


    The detailed ounts of the grotesque creatures emerging from the crack fascinated the poption. Newspapers and media outlets were filled with rming headlines, as citizens discussed the disaster on the inte and also on the streets.


    The breach of a portal in a Safe Area after so many months was a reminder that even in a small ce like this, the risk of portal emergencies is still great, especially in ces that are not closely observed.


    Kaito, the mysterious student Duelist who faced the first horde of Spectres and contained the wave of destruction and the number of victims, also became a subject of people''s conversations. Although no one knew his real name or identity, his deeds were not considered in vain, although an elderly woman''s interview about the way he treated her did not help his image much with the wealthy. In any case, those who witnessed his courage and skill shared their perspectives through interviews, conveying a sense of hope amid adversity and serving once again as propaganda about the Awakened.


    So the next day, as the Z4 Safe Area buzzes with rumors and theories about the topic of the moment, Kaito the hero is back in battle, but this time against some ghosts from his past.


    Behind the main building of the Compulsory Education Academy and near the small parking lot, Kaito stands before Victor and the other bullies.


    Victor''s nose is swollen from the fight the day before, and because of that he has to get a splint on one of his arms and a cast on his neck to help him recover. The mood between Kaito and the boys is tense, and the atmosphere is charged with old memories on both sides. The empty parking lot amplifies the feeling of istion and makes the bullies more at ease than ever.


    Kaito stares at Victor with a calm gaze and is also the one to break the silence. "So, why did you call me here?"


    The other bullies remain silent. Their expressions vary between curiosity, anger and a trace of fear.


    "Looks like life has something special in store for us, doesn''t it, Kaito?"


    Kaito finds the question strange. "What exactly do you mean?"


    Kaito''s response causes Victor to lift his head and look him in the eye. "I meant that a game changer happened and the kind you only see in movies. I-"


    "Victor, I-" Determined to leave everything that happened in the past, Kaito was about to say, but is interrupted back by his tormentor.


    "No, wait for me to finish, please." Victor insists, and Kaito nods, agreeing. "I want to apologize to you. I don''t expect you to forgive me, but that''s it, I want to at least be able to make up for what I caused you. "


    "What?!" One of the red-haired bullies exims, surprised.


    Then another boy, who is chubbier, also expresses his indignation. "But, Victor, you''re the captain of the Muay Thai club! Are you really going to let this guy go without a punishment after what he did to you yesterday?"


    "Boss, we can''t allow that! You are not thinking! "


    "That''s it! We understand that you can''t teach him a lesson because he hurt your neck, so we''ll do it ourselves for you this time!" The red-haired one states, snapping his fingers.


    The four boys apanying Victor are as tall as he is, though not as strong physically or technically. Still, Kaito didn''t even move a finger even with them adopting more threatening stances. He just continued with his calm and poised gaze. Kaito finally realizes that because he is an awakened one he doesn''t need to fear these guys anymore.


    For his part, Victor quickly tries to calm down his colleagues and friends. "Calm down, guys. This is my business."


    "Boss, if we don''t do it now in front of you, we''ll do itter when you''re not or-"


    However, before one of the boys can finish speaking, a delicate and subtle voice cuts in.


    "Um, excuse me, boys. I''m sorry, am I disturbing something?"


    Everyone turns their heads to the right, where the voice came from, and sees a girl so beautiful it freezes them.


    The girl''s hair is long and ck as night, and her eyes shine with a mysterious intensity. Her presence is stunning, making all those present feel drawn to her at the same time as they are speechless. And among all the boys, unlikely as it may seem, Kaito is the only one who recognizes her.


    "You..." Kaito says, a little surprised to meet again the girl he saved from the Spectres the night before.


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