《World Of Heroes》


 The beginning

    In the year 1950, 2 neutron stars collided not far away from our solar system, which caused an explosion that created a gamma-ray burst that unfortunately hit the earth. But instead of producing a great deal of damage, the ray that lasted for minutes emitted gamma rays that changed something in our DNA and made us humans evolve in a way that we never expected.


    We have superpowers, although not everyone in the world has them, more than 60% of the world''s population does. Unfortunately, the maliciousness of the human race stopped us from evolving and becoming civilized. Greed overtook humanity, and everyone from those who had superpowers to those who had none abused the concept of superpower and wanted to benefit from it as much as possible. The world entered another age of darkness that looked dimmer than that of the dark ages, and the innocent people of the world wished for the smallest light of hope to save them.


    That''s when a bunch of righteous, wholesome, and flawless people showed up when the world was in its darkest times and used all they had to save it from its untimely demise. They are known as "Heroes," the ones who brought peace, justice, and safety to the entire world and became a dazzling light of hope to anyone who is in need.


    The story begins in the year 2000:


    My name is Kurayama Ishigami, a 13 years old boy who doesn''t have any superpowers or anything that can make him unique or stand out from the rest, and also a disappointment to my family of super-powered people. I always dreamt of becoming a hero when I grow up, but my parents were very unsupportive of such an idea and didn''t believe that I can accomplish it and always tried to make me forget about such a dream. I am a disappointment, and I am someone with an impossible dream, yet my family always treated me kindly, and I always felt the most happiness when I was with them. I love my family more than anything in the world.


    "Ishigami" a kind and soft voice called out to me. "ISHIGAMI," the voice said again in a scary way that made me fall off my bed. I looked up to see my older sister, Aiko Kurayama, she was in high school precisely the third year of high school. She tends to hide her true emotions towards everyone but she was always treated as the second mother of the family. She is caring, kind, and beautiful, yet she tends to get angry really fast. She was also sick and didn''t go to school today.


    "Ishigamai, If you wake up late every day, you will never have good grades. And you know what that means?"


    "I will never become a hero. That''s the one thousand time you said it in the last two months."


    "Hmph. Anyhow, you better come quickly or brother will leave you nothing again."


    As I heard that, I stood up in a panic and ran towards my closet to start changing to my school uniform. I didn''t have time to change comfortably, so I just started changing my clothes while making my way downstairs.


    As I was running downstairs, I bumped into my older brother, Katsu Kurayama, he graduated high school last year and is now studying in the college of art and design. He loves annoying everyone, but it''s impossible to hate him. He is always regarded as the cheerful heart of the family.


    "Woah, what''s up with the hasty attitude, Ishigami?"


    "Big brother, please for the love of whatever is dear to you, tell me that you didn''t eat my special pudding?"


    "Oh, you mean the one you hid in the back of the fridge, the one that says ''don''t touch''"


    "Oh god no."


    "Don''t worry, I only ate five spatulas worth of pudding."


    "Noooo, why? Why did you do this?"


    "Ishigami, you must know that a true hero must bear tragedies like this one." He said in an evil voice.


    "Trust me, when I become a hero I will be sure to take you down myself."


    "Hahaha, that''s the spirit. Now go and eat breakfast leftovers."


    "I hate you so much."


    As I was coming down the stairs with a depressed look, I heard a voice that lit my heart with joy. "Big brother, big brother." my younger sister, Hina Kurayama, is still in grade school and she''s the youngest of us. She is regarded as the most beautiful in the family and the one that has the second biggest heart amongst us. She is also carrying her signature white fluffy rabbit plushy that is as white as snow.


    "Big brother, I drew you again." She said as she gave me a drawing of me wearing a hero outfit and standing on top of a man wearing a black outfit. She also drew a red arrow that showed which is which.


    "You''re so talented, Hina. You should become a manga artist in the future."


    "What''s a manga artist?"


    "Hahaha, don''t worry about that for now. Hina, I want you to go and annoy the evil-doer know as "Big brother Katsu", are you ready for your mission?"


    "Ay ay, sir." She said as she saluted me and ran off towards Katsu.


    After a long journey, I finally reached the kitchen where a true goddess was standing and waiting for me, my mother, Sumiko Kurayama, a goddess of the family that gives you her blessing just by seeing her or listening to her voice.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Ishigami, you''re late again. Are you serious about being a hero?"


    "But sleep is something that every hero needs."


    "Yes, by sleeping early and waking up early. You stayed up until 3 AM watching anime. I am sure that heroes don''t do that."


    "You''d be surprised, mother," I say while eating my breakfast so fast and eventually almost shocked to death from the food.


    I stood and picked up my school bag and ran towards the front door.


    "Ishigami" x4


    I turned around to see all of my family standing behind me.


    "You forgot your bento."


    "Jeez, and you want to become a hero?" my older sister said.


    "Good, my evil scheme is working perfectly." my brother said.


    "Don''t worry, big brother. I will always support you." my younger sister said as she handed my bento to me and saluted me.


    I took my bento and gave my family a smile before waving them off and dashing towards school.


    And for the last member of the family who is rarely present, Hiroto Kurayama, my father. He rarely comes home, sometimes even once a month. He was a very busy scientist that worked on evolution studies and experiments, he didn''t want to involve us in his work as he always wanted to listen to our accomplishments when he came back that we didn''t have time to ask him anything. We appreciate his hard work for us and we love him even if we don''t see him much.


    My school day was like any other day, boring to the end. Classes, talking with friends, crushing on a girl that is out of my league, and most importantly, being yelled at by teachers while I sleep in the classroom. I wasn''t a good student, but I was a smart one.


    After a boring school day, I walked back home alone. My house was the farthest from school, so I had to walk alone quite a distance on my own. Upon reaching my home that was located in a quiet area of the town where each house was far from the other, I saw a black sedan parked right in front of it. I was happy to see it because it was the car that my dad used to get back home with. I ran towards the house with a happy look on my face.


    As soon as I walked up to the door and placed my hand on the door handle, I was paralyzed. An overwhelming feeling of fear that froze me in my spot. I felt like collapsing to the ground and start vomiting my breakfast and lunch, but I regained my composure before I fell. I took a deep breath just for a strong stench of iron to assault my nose. I have never experienced something like this, what was going on?


    I tried once again to regain my composure and used all of my might to open the front door.


    My older brother, Katsu had his back on the wall, his right arm was torn off and his chest had many bullet holes, he was pinned to the wall with a large knife. My older sister, Aiko was in two pieces, her upper body was lying down on the floor in front of Katsu, while her lower body was lying down on the stairs, she was painted by her blood. My younger sister, Hina was lying down right in front of me in a pool of blood, she was carrying her rabbit plushy that was previously as white as snow while meanwhile, it was as red as blood. Each one of their faces has a look that haunted me, it was a look of pure hopelessness and despair.


    My father was standing in the kitchen, he was drenched in blood from head to toe while carrying a large knife on his left arm. His right arm was mutilated very badly and his guts were spilling out. "I am so sorry, Ishigami. I never wanted this to happen," he said before getting shot in the back of the head and dropping dead to the floor.


    A man wearing a black coat came out from the kitchen, he was carrying my mother''s decapitated head in his right hand. He looked at me and gave me a gut-wrenching grin, "That was an amazing fight. I am sorry you missed such an exciting family feud. I wish it didn''t end that quickly." he said as he threw my mother''s severed head right in front of me.


    With tears coming down like a waterfall, I dashed right to him with all my might and anger just to get shot in my right side. There was a man in the living room, "Calm down kid," he said.


    "Alright, playtime is over. Fix him up, Sasori," the man with the black coat said.


    That''s when I felt someone walk right up to me, and suddenly, I felt my injury healing completely, "He is all fixed up, Katsuri," Sasori said.


    "Alright, let''s get going."


    The man with the black coat picked me up on his shoulders. I saw my family''s last moments, all had a look of despair, rage, disbelief, and most importantly a look of sadness as if they were pitying me who had a worse fate than all of them combined. My life...has been ruined.


    I woke up. I was being dragged by two people that were wearing black tactical uniforms and were also carrying military rifles. They dragged me across a long hallway, and at the end of it was a large metallic door, they threw me out and closed the door. I was in a large room full of people, maybe 200 or 300 hundred people are in here, and they all looked distressed, shocked, terrified, hysteric, all were mentally damaged.


    The large iron wall in front of me rose like a garage door revealing a large platform that had three people in it. I recognized them all. They were the ones that killed my family; the man in the middle was the one called Katsuri with the black coat. He took a few steps closer and said:


    "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen to my fine establishment. I am sorry for the rough welcoming but just bear with me now. I can tell that all of you are now wondering where this place is and how you can get out. Well, we are in the middle of nowhere, so don''t bother with trying to escape or break out.


    I only want one simple thing from you, and after that, you can go back to your daily lives" his grin got more extensive by the second as he said this, "We only want you to try a newly made medical injection, don''t worry it is 100% safe".


    Five large doors opened. "Please enter slowly, and one by one," Katsuri said. The same door I was thrown out from opened, and due to me being the closest to it, I entered first.


    I walked through that long corridor until I reached what looked like a hospital room only way darker, and in it was a man wearing a doctor''s coat. At this point, my body was moving on its own. I was too shocked and traumatized to analyze anything. I just want to get out of here, so I did as they told me. I walked to that room and sat on a patient''s chair as the man instructed me to do. He grabbed my arm and injected me with something that I don''t know.


    After that, he told me to go through a door that was in front of me that leads to an equally large room as the previous one that I was inside in. It was a bit empty, but people started going in one by one until it was full again, "Now everyone, we will play a game of waiting" Katsuri said, "I am sorry to bore you, but it is essential," we kept waiting for a couple of minutes, then it hit.


    My body was dying from the inside and outside. My veins were almost going to explode from whatever was going inside my body. I couldn''t even scream because of how intense the pain was. I was just suffering in silence. Everyone was going through the same thing. Then the bodies started dropping, one by one, everyone dropped to the ground dead. Some are horribly disfigured, some had their skin melt off from their bones, some had their mouths filled with blood and were shocking on their fluids, and some were just dead from the intensity of the pain, the pain kept going until it suddenly stopped and I went back to normal, and so was four other people who looked my age.


    "Perfect, just as expected, now for those who survived, I owe you an explanation. You have been injected with a highly concentrated and a modified blood sample from the hero known as gamma."


    Wait....the hero gamma? The first hero? The first man to have superpowers?


    "And for you who don''t know, gamma was the first human to be evolved and the one who was directly hit by the gamma-ray burst. And with that, he had a power that allowed him to control gamma radiation, which made him very powerful. As you know, 12 years ago, he tried to free the world from superpowers, so he tried to absorb all the radiation that was in the world.


    He did absorb 40% but instantly died, hahaha pathetic. But anyway, we found his body and did some experiments on it so we could profit from him. As you can see, you are the only test subjects that survived this experiment. sorry to say, but you will stay here a little longer" he had a disturbing smile on his face as he said, "Welcome, to Laboratory 5 ".

 Laboratory 5

    I woke up chained to a patient''s chair, unable to move or do anything. "You finally woke up. Well let''s start the test then, shall we," said the man wearing a lab coat and glasses, there were three other men wearing lab coats behind him, and they were holding tablets as if they''re about to write something down, "Because you''re the last one, we''re going to do shock therapy on you. Still, the voltage will be a little higher this time, unlike the others," said the man with glasses.


    "T-the...others?"


    "Yes, the four that survived the selection."


    "w...what...d-do you....want from us?"


    "I probably shouldn''t say this, but...you and the other 4 are subjects of a highly secret weapons program," the man said while he placed a helmet wired to many computers.


    "W-what is....this?"


    "The helmet is for reading your brain waves, while the electrocution is the chair''s job, well then let''s start with 220V," he said while pulling a leaver that was on his right side.


    I felt like I was being burnt alive; my mouth started foaming. I couldn''t handle it at all. It was the worst pain that I ever experienced, "Good results, better immunity to electricity than the others, alright raise the voltage to 300V," the man with glasses said as he instructed one of the three men that were behind him to raise it.


    I want to die, somebody just, please kill me already, I can''t handle it anymore. I started blacking out from the intensity of the pain and thought that I was going to die finally, that''s when I heard:


    "Sir, the heartbeat stopped"


    "Alright then, stop the currency from circulating in the chair, and Sasori, would you please start doing your job?"


    "Yeah, I know just shut up" I heard footsteps coming from behind me, "Full healing," Sasori said. I was conscious again, all the burns and internal damage done to me from the experiment got healed entirely, but all the mental pain was still very much there.


    "What now?" Sasori.


    "Now he will be injected with a serum containing concentrated food extracts to fulfill his food supply for today, and another injection that contains a serum able to dissolving waste from the large intestine and urinary tract."


    "Doesn''t that sound a bit painful," Sasori said sarcastically.


    "It does, but it is completely safe, and it''s not painful at all. And also, these kids survived the gamma injection. I am sure that a normal injection like this won''t do anything."


    "Yeah yeah, I understand, but what after this?"


    "After this, he will be subjected to "the Chinese water torture" for a couple of hours, and after that, he will be brought back to his containment unit, you can go deal with the others now."


    "OK, I will leave you now, doc."


    After the doctor injected me with both injections, I no longer felt hungry or thirsty. I don''t even have the urge to piss anymore. He stood up and walked to a red button that was on the wall and pressed it. "Gentlemen, you can take him now," he said calmly. Two men dressed in tactical suits that look like guards picked me up and took me away from that room, I was too tired and too shocked to try and do anything, it''s as if I was paralyzed.


    The two men picked me up and brought me to a smaller room that had a metallic platform with chains dangling from both sides, and two pieces of wood that stood long holding a bucket of water, they placed me in the platform and chained me up, one of the men turned the water tap on the bucket and both left the room.


    At first, it didn''t feel anything as the water drops were falling on my head, it felt like a commercial break of relaxation after a long non-stop shit show. The water drops started getting a little annoying, but it was nothing compared to everything I have been through up until now. The water drops begun to become seriously frustrating and annoying. After a couple of minutes, it was hellish. Each single water drop pushed me further and further to the edge of insanity. I started grunting and swearing as the minutes went by "FUCK THIS EXPERIMENT," as more time went by I started screaming because of actual mental pain "AAAAHHHHHH, I CAN''T TAKE IT ANYMORE" as I was trying to break out of my chains, the two guards came in the room. They injected my neck with something that made me unable to move. "I guess that''s enough. We should get him to his cell right now," one of the guards said.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    They did precisely that. The two guards unchained me and dragged me out of the room. They kept dragging me until we reached a long hallway; it had five cells¡ªtwo on the right and two on the left. One down the hallway, each cell was vast and massive from the outside with an entire glass wall for an entrance, they went to the 5th cell down the hall, the guard that was dragging me tapped on the control panel of the cell just for the glass wall to rise. They threw me inside and closed the cell. It was a one-way glass wall which meant that I couldn''t see the outside only a reflection of the cell that I was in, it had one bed, and that''s it, I was too tired to make my way to that bed, so I laid on the floor and closed my eyes hoping that all of this is just a nightmare "Please.....let this.....be...a dream".


    "Good morning Kurayama," I woke up to see that the glass wall is not one-way anymore, and in front of it was Sasori, Katsuri, and two scientists, and two guards. I stood up and clenched my fist so hard that my nails were dug deep in my palm and punched the glass wall so hard that my arm broke completely. I let out a quick scream of pain "HAHAHAHA. I didn''t think you''d still be mentally alive after everything that has happened to you. You seriously surprised all of us, but please don''t bother with trying to break the glass because it''s made of reinforced metallic glass, and trying to break it will only break you, even if you have superpowers."


    "Should I heal him?"


    "Not yet, Sasori. I want him to stay like this for the whole day, heal him when he is done from the experiments", he said with a disgusting grin on his face.


    "Sir, should I activate the sleeping gas?" One of the scientists said.


    "Yes, but don''t KO him; he needs to be awake for the next experiment."


    "Understood," the man said while he started messing with the control panel until a pink gas came out from the walls. I felt very sleepy and tired that I couldn''t even stand up and dropped to the ground, one of the guards entered the room with a stretcher as the other picked me up and placed me on it. They tied me up to the stretcher so that I couldn''t move. Sasori, the guards, and the scientists were taking me to the experiment room while Katsuri stood behind looking at me with a disgusting smile screaming out evil intents, it''s as if he was waiting to see the results of this one.


    They arrived at the experiment room, as they were untying me I heard some alarming screams of pain and horror coming for that very room, the large metal door leading to it was opened from inside. Two guards and a scientist came out from it while carrying a kid that looked one year younger than me in a stretcher, he had a bright yellow-orange hair, he was screaming and crying, and his situation was heartbreaking, but I was next, what the hell is in that room? What happened to him?


    I was placed on an iron chair with straps dangling from it, and in front of it was a large screen. As I was being strapped on the chair by the two guards, a man placed a helmet just like the one from the past experiment on my head. In contrast, another man came up in front of me and sprayed my eyes with a chemical like substances, "Now you can''t close your eyes even if you try, alright 30 seconds until the show starts let''s get out of here" the man said, they all made they''re way out of the room and closed the door on me. A movie timer came up on the screen, indicating the time left until this so-called "show" will start. 10.....9.....8.....7.....6.....5.....4.....3.....2.....1.....0.


    A compilation of videos and photos of brutal crime scenes, snuff movies, red rooms, murders, etc..., I saw things that no living human being must-see. I can''t close my eyes. I actually can''t close my eyes. They are stuck open just like that man said. The show is just starting to get worst and worst by the minutes. It is so utterly disgusting and horrifying that I puked while watching. Tears were coming down uncontrollably. I was mentally breaking to pieces and felt my humanity disappearing by the minutes.


    "It''s been 2 hours. The show has stopped, you can go ahead and enter."


    "Understood"


    Young Kurayama has finally gone insane. His soul, his mind, his will to live, all were broken. He became a mindless puppet who has no hope for life anymore. His life has practically ended.


    The guard opened the door to see young Kurayama with his head bowed. Mouth foaming. He signaled one of the researchers to come in the room and injected Kurayama with those daily injections and then proceeded to take the helmet and straps off him, the guards put him back on the stretcher without tying him up and made their way back to his containment unit.


    "Good morning Kurayama, it''s Wednesday," Katsuri said while grinning, Kurayama stood up from his bed and walked up to the glass wall looking directly at Katsuri. "I...will...kill....you", he barely formed these words from his mentally dead brain.


    "Wow, I am amazed that you''re still putting up a fight, even though you went through the dehumanization experiment," he said while grinning.


    "But trust me, this one will truly break you," Katsuri pressed the button on the control panel that released the sleeping gas. Still, he did not seem to drop down, that''s when two guards came inside the cell and pinned him down and chained him up, but he broke out from those typical chains and sent one of the guards flying out of the cell. At the same time, the other tried to chain him up with a titanium chain that worked. The guards made their way out of the cell and into the experiment room.


    One of the guards came up to what looked like a vault door and struggled with turning its valve to open it. When it opened, it revealed a very narrow white room with nothing but a white light in it, Kurayama was thrown into the vault as the door closed behind him, making him stay in a very lonely and quiet room that felt peaceful.


    After three days:


    "do you think he is still alive, Sasori?"


    "Yes, that researcher told me that his last injection would last four days, I hope Katsuri is right and that this kid is finally stabilized."


    "Did he put up a fight?"


    "Yeah, he was the only one to put up a fight after that dehumanization experiment."


    "Really?"


    "Yeah and he also was going berserk in that vault for a day and a half, he is mentally strong, but I don''t think anyone would stay sane after three and a half days of isolation with no food and water in a very narrow room."


    The guard opened the vault door just to see Kurayama sitting in the corner with his eyes wide open and bags under his eyes, not saying a single word or moving at all.


    "Sorry for not healing your arm three days ago, Full healing," Sasori said as the boy''s broken arm healed completely, "Take him back to his cell." The guard unchained Kurayama and took him back to his cell.


    Kurayama sat in his dead quiet room, in the corner, and gazed at the one-way mirror, completely dead inside with no emotion, just sitting waiting for what''s coming next.


    "Good morning Kurayama, it''s Saturday."

 Evolve

    "Good morning Kurayama, it''s Saturday," Katsuri said as he was staring at poor Kurayama from outside, "I came here a little early so that I could talk to you," he said while smiling. Kurayama was just sitting in the corner, eyes wide with bags under them, "Poor little boy. You''re finally broken, even though you put up a fight for soo long, but I know that you''re not completely broken, you can still hear me, but you just can''t talk back. It''s this simple", the boy said nothing as he was just staring into nothing, "Well, the least I can do for you know is tell you the real reason all this happened, just because I like you," Kurayama flinched a little, but he was still sitting in place, eyes wide.


    "You should know that your father was a researcher working for us. He is the one that helped create the gamma serum when he started working on it 12 years ago so that he could aid his family financially. He helped us very much, but he was against the idea of using it on humans and don''t even get me started about his reaction to the weapons program. He was so stubborn and rebellious just like you, and somehow he managed to convince other researchers that this program is "bad." Still, he was very.....interesting, so I gave him two choices: to work for us and save his family or rebel and cause their untimely death. Unfortunately, he chose the second one, and he didn''t stop at just that, he ran away with the serum and called your mother to tell her to run away and take the kids with her" Kurayama flinched as if he remembered his mother talking on the phone that very day.


    "He wasn''t just annoying me now, he was even breaking the rules of my game, and you know that those who break the rules must be punished. His punishment was simple. He just had to kill his family, but he refused, so we forced him to do it with just a little injection" his smile was very wide. "Well, he was very lively that he ended up brutally killing everyone. Hahaha man, that was fun", Kurayama curled up in his corner and cried softly and silently. Even when he was dehumanized, the pain of losing his family was too great to bear.


    "Katsuri?"


    "Oh, hey, Sasori."


    "What are you doing here soo early?"


    "Having fun."


    "You and your sick games again."


    "Where are the others?"


    "They''re coming right now, how should we move him out?"


    "Stretcher, as per usual."


    "By the way, aren''t the tests done?"


    "We haven''t even started my friend. The previous tests are for making them obedient. The real fun starts now"


    "What are we going to do to them?"


    "Evolve them."


    Two guards and a researcher enter the hallway with a stretcher and walk up to Katsuri, "Hello Sir. The experiment room is ready now," the researcher said. Katsuri smiled and nodded, "Should we use the sleeping gas?" one of the guards said.


    "No, there''s no need for it now. He is finally obedient," Katsuri said, "Understood," the guard replied as he opened the containment unit and signaled the other guard to enter with the stretcher. The two guards picked up Kurayama and placed him on the stretcher and strapped him on it. The two guards exited the cell and made their way to the test room with the researcher and Sasori.


    The test room had a titanium chair with straps on both sides and a large table that had a lot of needles and chemical products on it.


    "Jeez, is the chair necessary?" Sasori said.


    "Yes, Sir, the subject is powerful. Even if he is obedient, we can''t be sure that he won''t react on impulse," the researcher replied.


    "Got it, but what about the straps?"


    "The straps are made of Dyneema, so it''s unlikely that he will break out of them."


    The guards strapped in Kurayama and put the helmet, while the researcher grabbed a needle full of a blue chemical.


    "That again?" Sasori said.


    "Its obligatory sir, he needs to be injected by the gamma serum, so when we inject him with the poison, the serum then tries to evolve the body and create a powerful immune system to help stop and counter the poison."Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Which poison are we starting with?"


    "The Tetrodotoxin neurotoxin, but first he must be injected with the gamma serum", the researcher said as he walked up to Kurayama and injected him, he jumped and his veins were light blue as he struggled with the serum for a few seconds, "Great response, he improved way beyond our expectations, now for the neurotoxin" the researcher grabbed the needle that had a very high amount of poison in it and injected the boy with it, Kurayama gasped as he looked like he was struggling and grunting from the pain, the researcher backed up and walked to a monitor wired to the helmet, "Hmm, his body is reacting violently to the poison but I don''t expect him to beat it in the first try", Kurayama struggled with the poison, but he stopped grunting and jumping up and down in his chair "I see he has lost sensation", Kurayama stopped moving and looked like he was dead, "I see he finally reached paralysis of muscles, I have to admit he held up pretty well, Sasori sir would you please", the researcher said, "Full healing" Kurayama is breathing again but slowly this time as he is still suffering from the aftermath of the neurotoxin.


    The researcher walked up to Kurayama while holding two needles, the ones that he needs daily, and injected him with it.


    "Alright, we should move him now to the gas chamber," the researcher said as he signed the two guards to move him out.


    "Sir, I''m sorry, but you need to be inside with him, so he doesn''t die. Here take this gas mask. It''s made to withstand any type of toxic gas."


    "Jeez, ok, fine," Sasori said as he wore the gas mask.


    The two guards placed Kurayama in another chair while strapping him in and putting a wireless brain-wave reading helmet on his head. Sasori walks into the chamber while the two guards walk out and close the door. The researcher is standing in front of a large control panel.


    "Now we will proceed the test with the hydrogen cyanide," said the researcher while flickering a switch that was in the control panel, a barely audible sound came out from the walls of the chamber.


    "It''s been a few minutes, and he only has Dizziness, Headache, Weakness, and Fatigue, he should have more serious symptoms by now, he is doing pretty well."


    45 minutes later:


    Kurayama is violently moving in his chair as he is puking blood now, and then he suddenly stops moving.


    "Low blood pressure, slow heart rate, convulsions, lung damage, and unconsciousness, he did pretty well for his first time," the researcher stopped the flow of the gas, "Sasori sir, you can heal him now." Sasori nodded, "Full healing," he said. Kurayama woke up, but he is still suffering from the effects of the gas, and he is visibly confused. The researcher ordered the guards to pick up Kurayama and get him back to the previous test room.


    The researcher enters the test room with Sasori and picks up what looks like an empty needle as he makes his way to Kurayama.


    "Are you going to inject him with air?" Sasori said.


    "It may seem like there is nothing in this needle, but it has a meager amount of Polonium," the man said.


    "Polonium?"


    "Polonium is the deadliest poison out there. It is said to be 250,000 times more toxic than hydrogen cyanide. Just seven trillionth of a gram of Polonium is enough to kill any adult. A single gram of Polonium could kill 10 million people. The element''s toxicity coupled with radioactivity makes it impossible for the victim to survive when exposed to even the tiniest dose, Kurayama here will be injected with ten-thousandths of a gram of Polonium."


    "That will kill him instantly!"


    "It would have, but he was injected with the gamma serum, and he also withstood the gas chamber for 45 minutes, it would take a couple of minutes to kill him", the researcher said as he injected Kurayama with the toxin.


    Thirty seconds after his injection, Kurayama struggled to breathe, move, scream or do anything, as he pucked blood while all of his veins busted, "in 20 seconds, he will die from total organ failure Sasori". Sasori got close to Kurayam and touched his shoulder. "Full healing," Sasori used his power of full healing for 5 minutes straight. Kurayama is alive but unconscious.


    "What now?" Sasori said.


    "He will be injected with various microbes, viruses, and nano viruses."


    "Isn''t that going to kill him?"


    "He survived Polonium for 2 minutes. I don''t think any other disease or virus in the entire world could kill him now."


    "Do I need to stand by to heal him?"


    "No, that won''t be necessary. After he gets injected, he will be transported back to his cell. Think of it as a vaccination."


    "So, is he now fully immune to all poisons, toxins, and diseases?"


    "No, he is now a little durable, but full immunity can only be developed after a year or two...or maybe three."


    The researcher injects Kurayama with various viruses and diseases as he is still unconscious. He orders the guards to get him back to his cell. The guards get Kurayama back to his cell and close it.


    Kurayama is lying down on the metal floor, as he is coughing loudly and badly and is suffering from the various viruses injected in him.


    Suddenly a *Klaxon Alarm* is heard throughout the entire facility, a voice is talking through the loudspeakers of the whole facility:


    "Subject number 5 has broken out of the experiment room, killing multiple guards and badly injuring Sasori. I repeat, Subject number 5 has broken out of the experiment room, killing multiple guards. I want all available guards to capture and stabilize subject number 5 immediately."


    The sounds of heavy footsteps dashing through the corridors and hallways of the entire facility can be heard from afar, the alarm continued to play through the loudspeakers muffling the sound of guns and screams coming from somewhere around the facility.


    It has been half an hour, "Subject number 5 has been successfully captured and stabilized, he will now be brought back to his containment unit. All injured staff must make their way to the infirmary as soon as possible."


    Even with all of this going down, Kurayama hasn''t moved from his spot while he was still struggling and suffering from the virus injection. The pain eases after a couple of hours, and Kurayama is finally able to sleep.


    "Hey, wake up, you piece of shit," Kurayama wakes up confused after being hit in his shoulder while trying to analyze what just happened to him. He sees Sasori standing right beside him. "I thought that all subjects are stabilized and obedient, but it seems like you fuckers love resisting, that''s why from now on every single Sunday will be my day to have my way with you all." Sasori delivers a powerful kick to Kurayama''s face, knocking multiple teeth out of his mouth. "Oh, by the way, today''s experiment will be in your cell," Sasori stomps on Kurayama''s chest as he pulls out a phone. "Send me a titanium chair with a large table and multiple torture devices to containment cell #1".


    Three guards enter the cell with one carrying a titanium chair, the other carrying a large foldable metal table, and the last carrying a big duffle bag, the first guard is strapping Kurayama to the chair. In contrast, the second one has set the table, and the third one is placing torture equipment on the table like knives, saws, scissors, tasers, etc...


    "Let''s start with something simple," Sasori picks up a very sharp bowie knife and proceeds to cut Kurayama''s chest, he grunts as blood is coming out of the wound, "Oh did that hurt? Well then, sorry. I will be more careful next time", Sasori stabs Kurayama''s right shoulder and left leg, he let''s out a quick shout of pain, "Oh, sorry. I did it again", Sasori puts down the knife and picks up a bottle of acid from the table. He splashed it on Kurayama''s eyes, burning his eyes and his face. Sasori picks up the knife again and stabs Kurayama in his chest. He let out a shout of pain while he was spitting blood. Sasori gets closer to Kurayama, their faces are only inches apart, "I feel much better right now, do you too?"


    "Sasori, we need you at experiment room number 10, please be there immediately."


    "Well, I guess the fun has ended for today, Full healing" Kurayama is fully healed as if nothing happened, "Next week will be better. You have my word." Sasori walks out of the cell, leaving Kurayama completely traumatized, sitting in a chair drenched with his blood.

 RAGE

    The tests and experiments that Kurayama has been subjected to have killed him mentally and morally, but made him stronger physically. As with each test and experiment, he becomes stronger and more durable. But he becomes like a lifeless puppet more and more as time goes by. He has been subjected to all kinds of toxins, gasses, diseases, tortures, and even sometimes mutilation and dismemberment by Sasori. Every single time he endures unimaginably painful things that drives him near the point of death and even sometimes death itself, just to be brought to life and be completely healed by the man called "The Angel Of Death" Sasori.


    He was the worst thing about this entire facility. No experiments were as bad as his; no man was as cruel as him; no day was as ominous as his day. The only man worse than him was the mastermind of this living hell, the laughing man in darkness, the one who rarely shows up, but when he does, you can feel pure evil in him. Even evil is kinder than him. These two men made Kurayama''s life a living hell as they liked torturing him mentally and physically more than all the other experiments in all the laboratories, especially when it turned out that he wasn''t an evolved human like the others. They only knew this after three years of unbelievable hell that Kurayama went through.


    "This kid is one of the most utterly useless broken pieces of shit in the entire organization, and I can''t believe that we just recently knew this after three years," Sasori said in an angry tone while looking at a 16-year-old Kurayama sitting in his containment unit.


    "Now, don''t be angry, Sasori. He doesn''t have powers, but he can still be useful to us. He''s the most useful one by far", Katsuri said while looking at Kurayama with a grin plastered on his face.


    "Useful? are you being delusional? lab 5 has the weakest test subjects out of all other laboratories in the organization, and they are still lightyears ahead of this useless shit."


    "Like what?"


    "Subject #2 has a flame power unbelievably hot that he melted a steel door like butter.


    Subject#3 has wind powers that created a miniature tornado.


    Subject#4 has powers of ice and lightning. It''s a weird combination, but it''s convenient and tactical.


    And that bastard, Subject#5, is the strongest of them all. He tried to break out 85 times, leaving a total of 436 guards and researchers dead.


    My point is that this little shit is nothing compared to the weakest test subjects." Sasori said.


    "He has physical and mental endurance more than any other laboratory subject, and I also don''t want to get rid of my favorite toy. I guess you also don''t want to dispose of your favorite punching bag, right?" Katsuri said. He was trying to hide something, the real reason he chose Kurayama and not anyone else.


    *sigh*"Ok, you''re the boss, what do you suggest we do with him?"


    "He will also be subjected to power tests. He might develop one over time."


    "But he doesn''t have a power that we can evolve like the others. We can''t give him a special test."


    "Give him all the special tests that the others are subjected to, his special test will be torture," Katsuri said as his grin got wider.


    "Ok, but remember, he is only a waste of budget and resources."


    "That isn''t a problem," Katsuri turns to look at Kurayama directly, "I am sure we are going to have a lot of fun...my miserable friend," Katsuri said as he slowly walked away while laughing.


    Seven years later:


    "Katsuri, do you seriously have to be here every morning?" Sasori said.


    "You don''t know the enjoyment I get from this. Seeing him so miserable, broken, and in a complete state of despair makes me very happy. Even after ten years since he came here, he still makes me happy to this day." Katsuri said as he looked at a 23-year-old Kurayama that has the facial features of a 17-year-old teenager. "But it''s a little unfortunate that he didn''t develop any powers."


    "I told you that he was a waste of resources."


    "Not a waste, but a little bit of a disappointment."


    "By the way, why will he be sent first?"


    "Because we don''t want to damage any of our goods. That mind-control chip might fry his brain, and we don''t want that with our expensive toys. I have to say it has been a fun ten years." Katsuri says as he looks at Kurayama, "Goodbye, miserable friend. If you survive, we will meet at lab 4."This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Where are you going?"


    "I''m going to check on lab 1. You stay in lab 5." Katsuri waves goodbye to Kurayama as he is making his way out.


    Sasori pulls out a handheld radio, "I need 20 guards to transport Subject#1 to lab 4."


    Sasori walks away as 20 guards open the cell and put tungsten enforced handcuffs on Kurayama. They exit the cell and take five helicopters to lab 4. Lab 4 is 400 kilometers away from lab 5, while the other labs are out of the country.


    After an hour and 15 minutes, the guards reach lab 4, which is underground, right under an abandoned hospital. The guards entered the lab and took a long walk before reaching a vast hall with a lot of guards and researchers, "Took you long enough." a man said as the guards handed Kurayama over to him.


    "Did you find Biohazard?" one of the guards asked.


    "Not yet, but I guarantee you that we will capture him and bring him back." the researcher replied.


    "Well. We will be heading out now."


    "Do as you please."


    The guards headed out and left Kurayama with the researcher, "Gentlemen, we will now start the experiment." He said as he was looking at all the other researchers with him. He walked towards a briefcase and opened it, grabbing what looked like a nail gun and loaded it with something. He walked to Kurayama.


    "What do you think you''re doing?" everyone was confused and a little scared after they heard Kurayama talk.


    "Wha-...how can he talk?"


    Kurayama broke out from the handcuffs and grabbed the man by his neck. Everyone was shocked and startled by this sudden action. "GUARDS, GUARDS, WE HAVE A ROUGE SUBJECT HERE." all the researchers ran away and called for help.


    "Your friends at lab 5 broke me mentally and made me their puppet, but there is one thing all of you forgot and completely underestimated. Something that I was charging up for ten years and only got the chance to use it this instant."


    "And.....what....is that", the man said as he struggled"


    "MY RAGE," Kurayama broke the man''s neck and stomped on his head and broke it like an egg.


    A black mist came out of Kurayama''s body and covered him entirely, while a dark and terrifying aura enveloped him. Fifty guards reach the hall, and their guns aimed at him.


    "STOP RIGHT THERE," Kurayama turns and looks at them. The black mist was covering his entire body, making it impossible to see his features, and his eyes were a pure, dazzling white color. Some guards fainted instantly because of the pressure while the others were paralyzed with fear, "You will all suffer, AS I DID."


    A dark energy blast similar to a nuclear bomb destroyed everything in a diameter of 180 kilometers, all life except for nature itself has been wiped out in that diameter.


    One day later:


    "WHAT IN THE FUCK HAS HAPPENED?" Sasori said.


    "I-I-I don''t know what could have caused that, sir. The United States says it must have been a North Korean missile, but the Japanese government insisted that it was a meteor that hit", a terrified researcher said.


    "FORGET ABOUT THIS SHIT, did you contact Katsuri or lab 1?"


    "We tried to, but it seems like all communication systems in the entire world have been down since that blast, we can''t get hold of any other lab."


    "Fuck, I have a bad feeling about this"


    "Why, sir?"


    "Lab 4 is 100% destroyed because of that blast, and I have a feeling that someone was behind it."


    "Who?"


    "No time to explain. Contact all guards and tell them to evacuate the researchers immediately. After that, the test subjects must also be evacuated, but only after all researchers are out. All guards must be on very high alert starting from now, and send a survey team to scout the surroundings of the facility, tell them to shoot anything that moves. Broadcast the message."


    "YES, SIR," the researcher said as he ran to the broadcasting room.


    "Attention all guards. You have to evacuate the researchers out of the facility immediately. All the test subjects must be evacuated after taking the researchers to safety. All guards must be on very high alert starting from this moment. Survey team Alpha must scout the surroundings of the facility. Fire at anything that moves"


    The survey team alpha took an elevator out of the facility. The elevator door opened, and the survey team exits the facility that is located under a hill. The group starts to scout for anything around the facility.


    A dark figure is spotted by one of the guards.


    A couple of minutes passes by, suddenly Sasori''s phone rings, and he picks up immediately.


    "Did you find anything?"


    "DO NOT LEAVE THE FACILITY. DO NOT EVACUATE AT ALL COSTS. SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A VAULT NOW". The call cuts out. Sasori is terrified.


    "KAGURU," Sasori said.


    "Yes, sir."


    "All researchers must seek shelter inside a vault immediately. The subjects are not a priority. All guards must be ready to engage now. Broadcast the message."


    "Yes, sir."


    "ATTENTION EVERYONE. ALL RESEARCHERS MUST SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A VAULT IMMEDIATELY. THE EXPERIMENTS ARE NO LONGER A PRIORITY. ALL GUARDS MUST BE READY TO ENGAGE NOW"


    As soon as the broadcast ends, a big explosion was heard throughout the facility. All the researchers were trying to evacuate to a vault while the guards are running towards the blast with their guns aimed.


    The researchers entered a large chamber, the one from the selection ten years ago, and closed the large metallic door. At the same time, Sasori and Kaguru sprinted towards Kurayama''s containment cell to seek shelter in there.


    Only a minute has passed. The sounds of gunshots and screams can be heard very clearly throughout the entire facility as the researchers are sitting in horror waiting for what''s going to happen. A guard opens the small door that is part of the large metallic door. He was severely injured and lost his left arm, he tried to get in and close the door behind him, but he got impaled by a dark tentacle that sent him flying. The limb retracted and standing in the doorway is a mysterious shadowy figure with a black mist coming out of his body and a terrifying aura surrounding him with tentacles for arms, he takes a few steps forward. He stands still for a couple of seconds. Then he continues to rampage, impaling people left and right and even splitting them to 2 pieces by his tentacles, he also bit a researcher in the head and took a small chunk of his head and spat it out, he is brutal, relentless, ruthless.


    Sasori and Kaguru are sitting in Kurayama''s cell, which is made of the most durable material in the entire facility; it is the safest place for them. All the screams of the researchers and guards have stopped just a few seconds from now.


    "Sir, do you think we are safe here?"


    "No, just shut up and sit down."


    Suddenly an explosion came from behind, killing Kaguru and dismembering Sasori''s Right arm and right leg while sending him flying out of the cell. Sasori is screaming because of the intense pain, "Full healing" he has fully recovered, and his arm and leg regrew.


    "So, you can recover immediately. I will enjoy this," The dark shadowy figure said as he looked Sasori dead in the eye.


    "I KNEW IT. IT WAS YOU", Sasori said.


    Kurayama used his left arm tentacle to jump right on top of Sasori. He pinned him down as his arms went back to normal while six tentacles grew from his back with 4 of them holding Sasori''s arms and legs, Kurayama grabbed Sasori''s shoulder with his left hand and used his right arm to punch a hole through Sasori''s torso. "Full healing," Kurayama said as Sasori has fully healed. In a repeated motion, Kurayama used 2 of his back tentacles and his right arms to stab and to punch multiple holes through Sasori''s body as he is healing him consistently and non-stop.


    Kurayama continued killing and healing Sasori for 5 hours until he stopped for a second as a ball of dark energy was forming on his hand, "DIE," Kurayama delivered one last attack full with his anger, killing Sasori and blowing him to oblivion.


    Kurayama stood up and tried to make his way out of the facility, that''s when he turned to look at one of the containment units and saw that boy again, the one with the bright yellow-orange hair and golden eyes. Kurayama looked at the boy crying intensely, the black mist surrounding Kurayama''s face cleared up, and his face is now visible. However, the mist is still covering the rest of the body, he walked up to the glass wall and broke through it with a punch, he walked up to that boy and placed his hand on the boy''s head, "Pain share: Full recovery," the boy fainted as soon as Kurayama pulled his hand from him. He proceeded to do the same with all the other subjects that were there.


    It''s early dawn. After Kurayama finished rampaging throughout the facility and killing everyone in it, he made his way out and walked away. He has nothing, no family, no friends, no purpose, no emotions, nothing. He is all alone.


    His life has finally progressed, and he finally has claimed his revenge. But for what reason? Is it to live a pointless life yet again?


    Regardless, he is finally alive again. Kurayama is finally...human again.

 Moving on

    Three months after Kurayama''s rampage:


    Kurayama is in a grocery store shopping in the evening, he is confused about whether to buy two small milk cartons or buy one big one, it looks like the big one is cheaper than the two small ones, but the two small ones look better in quality. He doesn''t have enough money to buy the big and small ones, "Hmm, what should I do?". He bought the big one because it''s cheaper, he is walking to the cashier.


    A masked man walked into the store and headed towards the cashier. He pulled his gun and aimed it at him.


    "What-"


    "Shut up, old man, you know what to do?" the robber said as he pointed at the cashing machine.


    "Please, I am saving money for my daughter''s birthday present," the cashier begged the robber.


    "Give me the money, or you won''t live until you see her birthday," the cashier opened up the cashing machine and grabbed a plastic bag and started filling it with money.


    "Umm, excuse me, can I pass through? I only bought one milk carton," Kurayama said as he was walking towards them.


    "Oi, you better walk away if you don''t want to die," the robber said as he was startled by Kurayama and aimed his gun towards him.


    "Hey, old man, are you okay with this?" the cashier didn''t say anything.


    "Okay, I''m heading out," he said as he was walking away.


    "NO, please help me," the robber pressed his gun against the man''s head, "SHUT UP, do you want to die? old man"


    "Alright, you heard the man, drop your gun and walk out if you don''t want to die."


    "Are you threatening me?" the robber said as he walked closer to Kurayama and fired a warning shot.


    Black mist was partially covering Kurayama''s body while his eyes were bloody red from his extreme anger, "Well then, prepare to die."


    He ran towards the robber very fast and punched him hard, knocking him out and making him fly towards the back of the store. The mist started fading from Kurayama as he said: "Old man, are you okay?" the old man was startled but relieved, "Thank you, young man." "Call the police. I will stay here until they come, in case that guy decided to wake up again", the cashier pulled out his phone and called the police while Kurayama was drinking from his milk carton.


    Kurayama handed the battered criminal to the police, "Thank you, young man, what''s your name?" the policeman said.


    "I''m sorry, sir, I don''t feel comfortable with telling strangers my name."


    "It''s okay. I just wanted to write your name on the report so you can receive your reward later."


    "Reward?" Kurayama said as he turned to the policeman


    "You don''t know?"


    "Not really."


    "Well, it''s called a part-time hero. If you solve a crime or defuse a dangerous situation, your name will be written on the police report, and you can receive your award at the nearest heroes government agency."Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "That sounds very nice, but why do you ask my name? Can''t you just use your cameras to Identify me or some weird police tech?"


    "We can, but a normal police report is different than that of a reward report. The person will be identified, and his name will be written in the normal report because it will stay private while the reward report is something that can be found on the Heroes Government website. Police officers have to ask for the person''s name to ensure his privacy because other criminals might have a grudge on him and might be followed. It''s essential to ask for your name."


    "Well then, my name is Kurayama Ishigami."


    The policeman chuckled a little, "Well, Kurayama, nice to meet you. By the way, considering your strength, I would recommend you to take the hero test. Have a good day."


    "Hero test?" Kurayama thought to himself.


    "Young man, you can have that milk for free," the cashier said.


    "No, it''s okay I''d rather pay for it," He looked at his watch to see that it''s 10:30 PM, "Fuck, I''m late for my favorite show," Kurayama paid the cashier and walked back home.


    He reached a small Japanese apartment complex and took out his key to open the door to the apartment. It was an average-sized apartment with a somewhat big living room, toilet, kitchen, and two rooms with one for sleeping and the other one empty. He bought this apartment with money that he won in the lottery, but that money has been completely drained on the apartment.


    Kurayama sat on the sofa and watched the T.V while eating a bowl of cereal and milk for dinner. The time went by, and his phone alarm was going off, showing that it was 1:30 AM, "Alright, it''s time for work" he stood up and walked to his closet, opening it and taking out his work outfit. His work outfit consisted of a black hooded leather jacket, black shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black cotton mask.


    His work was night hunting; it wasn''t a job but rather a stress relief. He wore his outfit and walked out of his apartment. He kept walking until he reached a 12-story building and used his superpowers to turn his right arm into a black tentacle and used it to grapple the roof, he used it to pull himself upwards towards it.


    He stood there, looking at all different directions as if he was anticipating something. Then after a couple of hours, he saw a man pulling out a knife on a woman and pulling her to a dark alleyway, he looked at them from the roof of the building as his eyes were slowly turning to a bloodshot.


    "Aren''t you a beautiful one."


    "Please let me go. I don''t have-"


    "I dare you to say another word," the man said as he pushed the knife closer towards the woman''s face, "I know you don''t have anything, but there''s always something you can give."


    "No, please-"


    The man stabbed her in the shoulder, "I told you to shut up. Now turn around if you don''t want to die."


    The woman was left with no choice and turned around while her tears were coming down uncontrollably.


    "Hello?" Kurayama said.


    "What-...WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?" the man said as he grabbed the woman and placed the knife on her throat.


    "Whoah! You can calm down. I just want to ask you if you know a nearby store?"


    "I DON''T FUCKING CARE"


    "Okay, how about you, lady?"


    "GET THE FUCK BACK, OR I''M GONNA KILL YOU," the man said as he pointed his knife at Kurayama.


    "Okay, fine, I''m going to ask someone else," he said as he walked away.


    "DON''T GO, PLEASE SAVE ME"


    "Don''t even dare to fucking move," the man said as he placed his knife on her throat again.


    He tried to take the woman behind a trash container. "What are you doing?" someone behind him said. He turned around, and suddenly a black misty arm penetrated his chest, knocking the knife out of his hand and making him spit blood. He looked in front of him to see a man covered in dark mist with bloodshot eyes glaring at him.


    "Who..are you?" the man said as he was choking on his blood.


    "The man in the dark," Kurayama said as he pulled his arm out of the man''s chest as the man dropped dead right in front of him. The mist has cleared from Kurayama''s body, and his eyes went back to normal.


    "Are you okay, miss?" He said as he looked at the woman.


    "T-..... Thank you so much," the woman said as she cried intensely.


    "It''s okay, stay safe as you''re making your way home."


    "I will. Thank you"


    Kurayama nodded at the woman and walked out of the alleyway. There were no more crimes for the rest of the night as Kurayama watched from up the roof of that building. His watch was marking 4:30 AM, "Work is over," He said as he dropped down of the building and walked back to his home.


    The time is 11:20 AM, Kurayama just woke up, he headed towards the fridge to eat breakfast. Then, he remembered, "Fuck, I don''t have money, and I ate my last cereal yesterday," he opened the fridge to find a half-full carton of milk, "*Sigh*, the milk is enough for now," he grabbed the milk and gulped it down in one go. He sat on the sofa, "What should I do?" he thought to himself, then he remembered what that officer said yesterday, "Right? He mentioned something about a reward". He wore his casual clothes, which consisted of a black zipped up hoodie, black jeans, and black sneakers and headed towards a nearby heroes government agency.


    It took 15 minutes of walking until he reached the agency, it was reasonably significant with five different sections, the one he was headed to was the reward section and the one operating in it was the woman he saved yesterday.


    "Welcome to the rewards section, how may I help you, Sir-," the women gasped as she saw Kurayama standing in front of her, Kurayama was startled.


    "Um, are you okay?" Kurayama said as he was trying to act unknowledgeable.


    "You''re the one who saved me yesterday," her eyes teary, "Thank  you, so much."


    Kurayama placed a finger on his mouth, signaling her to keep quiet as he winked at her.


    The woman nodded, "How may I help you, sir?"


    "I would like to receive my reward."


    "What''s your name?"


    "Kurayama Ishigami"


    "Okay," the woman is typing something on her computer.


    "You defused an armed robber yesterday. Is that correct?"


    "Yes"


    "Well then, sir, if you go to your bank account, you will find 55000.00 yen deposited in there."


    Kurayama was shocked, "Wow, well, thank you so much," he turned to walk away.


    "By the way," the women said, which made kurayama turn.


    "My name is Kiode Chiyori"


    Kurayama smiled and nodded, "I will remember that," he walked out of the agency and walked to the nearest ATM.


    "Holy shit, I have 55000 yen, nice" Kurayama walked to the nearest supermarket and spent half of his money on just food and toilet paper and battery for the T.V remote.


    He walked to a cashier who looked a bit familiar, but his head was looking down on the cashing machine calculating the total of groceries Kurayama bought.


    "Alright, sir, that will be 27000 yen, would you rather pay with cash or with your credit card-".


    Kurayama and the cashier both looked at each other in absolute shock, because the cashier was Subject#2 from lab 5, the one with bright yellow-orange hair and golden eyes.

 Unwanted encounter

    Kurayama was shocked, confused, and unable to mutter a word, and so was the golden-eyed boy. They stared at each other, trying to realize and analyze the situation that they were in.


    Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. Out of all the places in the world I could have met this guy in, I had to meet him in a supermarket? Alright, I just need to relax, play relaxed and play dumb, he might forget about the situation if I act as I''ve never met him before. Okay, here I go.


    "Um, have we met before?"


    "You''re Kurayama, from lab 5"


    Fuck, I blew it, how can I escape the situation now? Okay, you just have to act stupid, and then he will feel awkward and forget about this situation as a whole.


    "Sorry, but I don''t think that I have met you before?"


    "You did, you saved me and the others from the lab, you killed Sasori, and you''re the one who erased my mental pain."


    ...shit.


    "Um, okay, I will pay with my credit card," Kurayama said as he slid his credit card through the pos machine and tried to take his groceries and go away.


    "Please wait," the boy grabbed Kurayama''s arm and stopped him from going, "I need to talk with you, please."


    Okay, there''s no pulling out from this situation, it''s either fight or flight.


    "Can you please let go of my arm," Kurayama said as he was ready to fight with his eyes slowly turning red.


    "No, please don''t misunderstand me, I don''t want to fight you," he said as a sad look was forming on his face, "I sincerely want to talk, just talk."


    Kurayama looked at him for a few seconds, "Do you have a phone?"


    "Yes, I have."


    "Give me that," Kurayama took the phone and started typing his phone number in it. He gave the phone back to him, "Here, call me when you want to talk, just don''t call after midnight, okay". The boy nodded and looked a little happier. Kurayama took his groceries and walked back home.


    Kurayama entered his apartment and put the groceries down; he was trying to eat something for lunch. Still, due to him being a lousy cook, he settled with instant noodles, he sat on his sofa and ate the noodles while watching T.V with a bored, depressed look on his face. He finished eating the noodles and went back to his room to continue sleeping until the night.


    9:30 PM:


    Kurayama woke up with an irritated look on his face. His phone was ringing. He grabbed the phone, almost ready to start an argument.


    "Hello?"


    "Oh, thank god you answered, I thought you gave me a fake number," Kurayama recognized the voice that sounded like someone having a panic attack.


    "Oh, it''s you, did you decide to talk?"


    "Yes, where can we meet?"


    "Meet? I didn''t say I was going to meet you."


    "Wh-..."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    "Okay, I was just joking, where do you want us to meet?"


    Kurayama and the guy were sitting in a jazz cafe.


    "Do you like the place?"


    "Far luxurious than any place I have been to, which is none," Kurayama said.


    "Why? Do you have financial problems?"


    Wow, that one hit deep in the feels, I guess I look that poor.


    "Do I look that poor?"


    "No, it''s just that I noticed that your groceries are mainly instant made foods."


    "Well, yeah, I do have financial problems, I guess that''s expected from someone who doesn''t have a job."


    "Why?"


    "I never fitted into any job, I only lived these past three months with just money that I won from the lottery, but it mainly went into buying an apartment."


    "You bought an apartment?" the guy said as he was startled.


    "Yeah, let me guess, you live in a rental?"


    "Yeah, but it looks like I will be kicked out next week, my job isn''t covering enough money."


    Awkward silence grew for a few seconds.


    "What''s your name? You never told me."


    "Oh, yes, that''s rude of me, my name is Hinotori Hisaki."


    "Nice to meet you, Hinotori."


    A waitress approaches the two and places their drinks on the table, Kurayama is drinking a cup of regular coffee while Hinotori is drinking a big glass of orange juice.


    "So, what did you want to talk about?"


    "Honestly, I don''t have anything to talk about. I just wanted to talk to someone that I knew."


    "What? That''s it?"


    "Y-...Yes"


    "People talk to people who they knew from normal places, like school or work, but not people who they knew from a life-ruining secret weapons program," Kurayma said as he looked irritated.


    "Yes, I understand, but please could we just keep talking for a little bit."


    "If you have nothing to talk about, then I am leaving," Kurayama said as he stood up and went to pay for the drinks.


    "Wait, please don''t go."


    "The drinks are on me, so just calm down, at least I am that generous," Kurayama said as he paid for the drinks and walked out of the cafe. Hinotori shortly followed after him, Kurayama kept walking towards his home while Hinototri was following him.


    "Please, can you just wait? I can explain it."


    "I don''t need you to explain anything. I have places to go to."


    "I know about your night hunting."


    Kurayama froze and turned to Hinototri, "How did you know?" he said while looking irritated.


    "2 weeks ago, when I was returning home from a ramen shop that I used to go to, a bunch of armed gang members tried to kidnap me. I still vividly remember a man who was covered by a dark mist, killing every single one of them brutally, it was horrible, and I do not approve of such ways of justice. Still, you saved me, and you saved many more people, do you realize that people are talking about you? That you became a living legend to people in the streets? You alone decreased the crime rate of this area".


    Wow, did I impact people this much? I am just doing this to satisfy my disgusting self.


    "Well, I''m just doing that to satisfy myself self, and that''s it. If you don''t have anything else to say, then let me go home," Kurayama walked away. Hinotori tried to follow him but tripped and fell on his knees.


    "I wanted to talk to you because I can''t talk to anyone else," Kurayama stopped and turned to look at him.


    "I lived hell for three months, I barely talked to anyone except my employer and landlord, I couldn''t even talk to my colleagues, I always felt alone and couldn''t talk to anyone else because I always feared that they were going to betray me, just like my parents did"


    Kurayama was startled.


    "My family was wealthy, and we lived in a massive mansion, but my parent''s company went bankrupt when I was 11 years old. We were so poor that my family agreed on selling me to Katsuri and the laboratories as a lab rat. But when you saved me three months ago from lab 5, I felt that all my mental pain just faded away like it never existed, but soon enough my anxiety came back to me, and I couldn''t trust anyone or talk to them, that''s until I saw you this morning. I felt a bright dazzling light shine on my life again. You''re the only one I can talk to in the whole world, you''re my hero, and I want to be a hero like you", Hinotori said as he was crying a little.


    "Your mental pain was gone because I absorbed it, I absorbed your mental pain and added it to mine, but I still understand what you''re living through. No family, no friends, no one to talk to, and always living in the constant fear of something". Kurayama walked up to Hinotori and patted him on the back, "If you want to be a hero, you need to face your fears, no matter how bad they are," Kurayama stood up and continued to walk back to his home.


    "You know, I would like someone to talk to from time to time," Hinotori looked at Kurayama in confusion.


    "You said something about your landlord kicking you out, right? If you want, I can share my apartment with you, but you still need to pay rent," Kurayama said as he smiled.


    Hinotori wiped his eyes and smiled for the first time in 10 years.


    "Come whenever you''re done packing up."


    The night went by as Kurayama went night hunting again, it was a night with no crime, which made Kurayama bored and gloomy.


    Knocking was heard at Kurayama''s apartment, he woke up irritated and checked his phone to see that it''s 9:00 AM, "Who the fuck comes this early?", he opened the door to see Hinotori carrying a backpack with him and a black duffle bag.


    "Are you seriously done packing up?"


    "Yes, these are my only belongings."


    "You look like a drug dealer."


    Hinotori laughed, which made Kurayama confused as if Hinotori has completely changed from a depressed teenager to a happy toddler, but it also made him a little relieved.


    "Alright then, you can come in," Hinotori entered the apartment.


    "Wow, this is two times bigger than the one I was living in."


    "Well, I''m glad you liked it."


    Hinotori unpacked in the empty room that Kurayama had while Kurayama went back to his room and continued his sleep.


    12:30 PM:


    Kurayama woke up to the smell of something being cooked. He walked to the kitchen to see Hinotori wearing an apron and being a master chef while cooking rice and chicken. Kurayama was utterly shocked.


    "Good morning, My beautiful friend, a great day isn''t it, hahaha," Hinotori said energetically.


    "If you just told me yesterday that you can cook, then I would have given you ownership of my apartment as a whole," Kurayama said.


    Hinotori laughed, "No need to do so my friend, cooking is a hobby that I love to do."


    "Well then, you have my thanks, master chef."


    For the first time in 10 years, Kurayama finally ate a proper meal.


    "By the way, shouldn''t you be at work by now?"


    "It''s okay, I asked my boss for a day off because I told him that I was moving out, but do you have anything for you to do?"


    "I mostly spend my day on the internet or outside. I don''t have a job and....."


    "And?..."


    "I just remembered something that I have to do."


    "Which is?"


    "I need to apply for the hero test."


    "Hero test?"


    "Yes, I never knew that there was an actual hero test to become a hero. I guess that''s the only job that I can do good in."


    "Well.... can I apply to?"


    "Don''t you have a job?"


    "I do, but it''s a boring job that sucks the life out of you."


    "Well then, get ready because we will take the hero test."


    And with that, both Kurayama and Hinotori went to the Heroes Government agency to take the test to become heroes.

 Gratitude and Information

    Kurayama and Hinotori were eating lunch peacefully while talking about their plans for the day until suddenly, a knocking was heard on the door.


    "Strange, I never have visitors," Kurayama stood up and walked to the door and opened it, the one who was knocking was the policeman that Kurayama met three days ago.


    "Oh, hello, officer. Nice to see you again."


    "Oh, Kurayama, it''s nice to see you too."


    "So, why did you come here?"


    "Well, I''m working on a case, and I need to ask the people of this area some questions, how long have you lived in here, Kurayama?".


    "I moved in here three months ago. Why?"


    "So, you heard about Reaper."


    "Reaper?"


    "Well I guess you haven''t, he is a vigilante that operates in this area, he is known for saving the people in the late night, but he brutally murders criminals. Right now, I am working on his case, but there haven''t been any leads by far. I do appreciate his work, he single-handedly lowered the crime rate of this area, but murder is still wrong no matter what the criminal has done."


    "Oh, okay."


    "So, I''m just going to ask you a few questions, and you have to answer them. Sincerely, okay?"


    "Alright"


    "Good, do you have a job?"


    "At the moment, no I don''t, everything I have been living off so far was from winning the lottery"


    "Okay, do you live alone?"


    "I did, but my friend just moved in with me today."


    "Alright, do you have any other friends or acquaintances?"


    "Only you and a woman who works at the Heroes Government agency."


    "Alright, that should do it, thank you for your cooperation Kurayama, have a great day."


    "You too, officer," Kurayama closed the door and went back to the kitchen to continue eating his lunch.


    "Who was it?"


    "Oh, it''s just a policeman that I know."


    "What did he want?"


    "He is working on finding out who is Reaper."


    "So, he''s looking for you?"


    "Yeah, and based on the information that I gave him, I will definitely be placed at the top of the suspects'' list. Anyways we need to finish eating and make our way to the Heroes Government agency."


    Kurayama and Hinotori have finished eating and made their way to the Heroes Government Agency. They entered the agency and went to the applications section.


    "Oh, Kiode, I thought you worked in the rewards section?"


    "Nice to see you again, I did, but because of that incident that I had, I asked for an evening shift instead of a night shift, so they changed my position and made me receptionist of the applications section."


    "But you had a morning shift yesterday."If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Oh, that was just temporary, so, how can I help you?"


    "My friend here and I want to apply for the hero test."


    "What''s your name? Sir", Kiode asked Hinotori.


    "Um...I...My name...Um..." Hinotori couldn''t say anything because of his social anxiety.


    "Hinototri Hisaki", Kurayama said.


    "Well then, I will need you both to fill these application forms here," Kiode said as she handed both of them a pen and paper. They started filling the application form for a couple of minutes, Kiode looked up at them to see them giving her a confused look.


    "What''s an evolvement?" Kurayama said.


    "And what does evolvement level mean?", Hinotori said while looking at Kurayama.


    "Wait, you both don''t know?" Kurayama and Hinotori both shook their heads a no.


    "I don''t think I have enough time to explain it all to you, how about we meet somewhere else?"


    "I guess that''s good, where can we meet?"


    "I know this very calm and relaxing jazz cafe, just two streets away."


    "Let me guess, its Brubeck jazz caf¨¦."


    "Ho-...How did you know?"


    "It''s a long story," Kurayama said as Hinotori chuckled, "Anyways, when can we meet?".


    "Around 8:00 PM, is it okay with you?"


    "Alright, we''ll wait for you there, thanks, Kiode."


    "You''re welcome."


    Kurayama and Hinotori walked out of the agency and made their way home.


    "So, what do we do now?"


    "We will wait until 8:00 PM."


    "Yeah, but what are we going to do until then?"


    "Let''s take a little walk, and then we can go back home."


    "Alright"


    Kurayama and Hinotori walked to a nearby park, and both sat on a bench.


    "Hey, Kurayama, do you remember any of the other subjects that were with us in the lab?"


    "Yeah, but not very much, why?"


    "I''m always thinking about what they''re doing right now. I don''t expect all of them to be blending in society as good as us, what if they became villains?"


    "Look Hinotori, if you keep asking yourself these questions, you will never find an answer and continue to fall in a pit with no bottom, until you have a nervous breakdown, just live the present and forget about the past, okay?"


    "Okay"


    "By the way, there is something that has been bothering me for a while now."


    "What is it?"


    "You have flame powers, right?"


    "Yes"


    "Then why didn''t you use them when you were being kidnapped?"


    "Well, I am afraid of my powers."


    "Why? Is it because it makes you remember the laboratory?"


    "That too, and also because when I activate my powers, I lose all consciousness and self-control that I have, and I become a crimson demon of death and destruction. The only thing I can do with my powers without losing control is making my arm combust."


    "Won''t that burn your arm?"


    "I don''t get hurt by my powers, except if the fire is too hot."


    "Your powers are good, but you need to work on them."


    "Okay, so do we go now?"


    Kurayama checks his watch to see that it''s 5:20 PM, "There''s still too much time, I guess we should go back home," Kurayama and Hinotori both stood up and walked back home.


    The time went by as Kurayama and Hinotori were either talking, watching the TV, or just sitting while browsing the internet until someone knocked on their door. Kurayama walked towards the door and opened.


    "Oh, officer, how are you?"


    "I''m doing pretty good, how about you?"


    "I''m doing fine. So, why are you here?"


    "You know why I''m here, Kurayama, or should I say Reaper."


    ....Fuck.


    "Reaper? Very funny, officer", Kurayama said as he fake laughed.


    "Kurayama, this is definitely no time for you to act stupid, but I am not here to arrest you," Kurayama was confused.


    "I am here to say thank you. You''re the one who saved my sister three days ago."


    "Sister?"


    "That''s because I still didn''t tell you my name, my name is Kiode Kenzo, and I want to say thank you so much for saving my sister from that disgusting man, if I were in your place I would have done the same"


    Kurayama smiled, "It''s okay. I must thank you too for not arresting me."


    "I am sorry to say this, Kurayama, but if you kill another criminal, I will have no choice but to arrest you, you''re a hero to the people of this area, but murder is still a crime and who commits a crime is a criminal."


    "*Sigh*, you have my word, officer."


    "Thank you. I will forever be in your debt. If you ever need help, then please don''t hesitate to ask me."


    "Thanks, Kenzo, I will also be in your debt."


    Kenzo bowed his head, "Thank you. Have a great day", Kenzo said as he walked away.


    "Was it that policeman again?"


    "Yes, I''m glad that I won''t be arrested today, at least. By the way, what time is it?"


    "It''s 7:10 PM. I guess we should go now."


    Kurayama and Hinotori both stood up and walked out of the apartment and headed toward Brubeck jazz cafe. They kept waiting until 8 PM.


    "Sorry for making you wait," Kiode said as she sat on the table with the two.


    "So, I guess you''re both eager to know about the hero test?"


    "Oh really, Never knew that," Kurayama said sarcastically.


    "So, the first thing is evolvements, evolvements are the scientific name or brand-new name for superpowers, your evolvement is your superpower in short, but nobody calls them that anymore."


    "Okay, I understand, what about the evolvement level?"


    The waitress placed the drinks on the table, Hinotori was drinking an orange juice, Kiode was drinking a cappuccino, while Kurayama was just drinking regular coffee.


    "Evolvement level is basically how evolved your superpower is, and there are four levels:


    Level 1 or Enhanced: An enhanced evolvement can only make its user enhance, boost, or strengthen their body to a certain extent. The same thing happens with those who have elemental evolvements; for example, when a flame user is still an enhancer, the moment he uses his superpowers, the flame will erupt all across his body. Still, he won''t be able to control it. Oh, and also, those who have super physical strength aren''t classified as a level 1.


    Level 2 or Evolved: An evolved evolvement can make its user control his/her superpowers to a certain extent, and it can also make them enhance their body to an evolved level, which is stronger than a level 1 enhancement. For example, a flame user who is an evolver can control his superpowers to a certain extent, and he can also switch his powers to an evolved enhancement which makes him enhance his body and make it way stronger, he can also control the flames that erupt from his body when he uses evolved enhancement.


    Level 3 or Super Evolved: A super-evolved evolvement can make its user control his/her superpowers to a farther extent than a level 2 with better control, and it can also make them enhance their body to a super-evolved level, which is stronger than a level 2 enhancement. For example, a flame user who is a super-evolver can control his superpowers far better than a level 2. He can also switch his superpowers to a super-evolved enhancement, which makes him enhance his body and make it far stronger than a level 2. He can also use the flames that erupt from his body to make him float a little.


    Level 4 or Ultra Evolved: An ultra-evolved evolvement can make its user control his/her superpowers to a farther extent than a level 3 with far better control and with ease, and it can also make them enhance their body to an ultra-evolved level, which is the strongest out of all enhancements. For example, a flame user who is an ultra-evolver can control his superpowers far better than all other levels. He can also switch his superpowers to an ultra-evolved enhancement, which makes him enhance his body and make it extremely strong. He can also use the flames that erupt from his body to shape it into different things or even make weapons with it. By the way, there is by far no human who ever reached Level 4, except the hero gamma."


    "This sounds very interesting. What about the hero test?"


    "Well, there is 2, there are the hero test and hero exam."


    "What''s the difference between them?"


    "Before that, you should know about the heroes list:


    The Heroes List: the heroes list is a list that contains all the heroes of the world with their ranks, and there are different tiers in it:


    -D tier: District Hero. The hero will be ranked in his District.


    -C tier: Regional Hero. The hero will be ranked in his Region.


    -B tier: National Hero. The hero will be ranked in his Country.


    -A tier: International Hero. The hero will be ranked in Multiple Countries.


    -S tier: Continental Hero. The hero will be ranked on his Continent.


    -SS tier: Global Hero. The hero will be ranked Globally.


    Heroes are ranked on three different things: Power. Heroism. Popularity.


    The Hero Test: the hero test is a daily or sometimes weekly test that is done to check if someone is eligible to be a hero. The test contains a written test, a physical examination, and a power test. It takes a minimum score of 50/100 to pass the test. Those who pass the test, depending on their score and all out performance, will be ranked between a D tier or B tier. Those who passed will be put as a lone wolf hero and will not be permitted to create their own organization. They can only join other agencies and organizations.


    The Hero Exam: The hero exam is a yearly test that is organized nationally, the exam can only be taken by those who already passed the hero test, the exam''s duration can last from 1 day to 6 days, those who passed the test depending on their overall performance and score, will be ranked between a B tier and an S tier. Those who passed the examination can decide to either join an organization, create an organization, or be a lone wolf.


    The three finished their drinks.


    "This is a lot to take in, but you have my sincere thanks, Kiode."


    "No, problem. By the way, you could fill out the hero application form now if you want."


    "You have them?"


    "Of course, I asked for a copy of them from the HGA."


    "HGA?"


    "Heroes Government Agency," Kiode said as she gave a pen and paper to both of them. Kurayama and Hinotori started filling up their application form; they finished and gave it back to Kiode.


    "Alright, you both need to be at the HGA at 1:30 PM tomorrow."


    "Thank you very much, Kiode, the drinks are on me by the way," Kurayama said as he and Hinotori both stood up and walked away.


    Kurayama and Hinotori both walked back home. It was a peaceful night with no crime or whatsoever. Kurayama and Hinotori both woke up early to eat breakfast and train a little bit. They kept training until lunchtime. As they both ate lunch, they made their way to the HGA.


    Kurayama and Hinotori enter the HGA, just to be greeted by Kiode.


    "Hey, you two."


    "Hey, Kiode"


    "Alright, I will guide you to the test chamber," Kiode guides them to a large hall with 50 different people, with some wearing sports clothing, costumes, or just regular clothing, Kiode walks out and closes the door.


    Kurayama and Hinotori looked at the applicants that were in the hall until they saw a teenager wearing modern archery clothing and carrying only a bow, "Are you looking at me? Weakling"


    "The fuck you think you''re talking to? Edgelord"


    They both walked up to each other as if they were about to start a fight while all other applicants were watching them.

 The Hero Test

    "Are you looking at me? Weakling"


    "The fuck you think you''re talking to, Edgelord"


    Kurayama and the archer approached each other as if they were ready to start a fight.


    "The fuck you just called me", the archer said.


    "I just called you an Edgelord, and what''s up with calling me a weakling, isn''t it way too clich¨¦ to call me that in this situation", The archer had an irritated look on his face. The archer clenched his fist as if he was ready to deliver a punch to Kurayama.


    "Gentleman, can you please keep your problems to yourselves, we need to start the hero test", both men took a few steps back from each other and turned to see a man standing in the back of the hall, wearing a formal suit. The archer turned to look at Kurayama, "The name is Yazaki Hayase, remember it when we finish the test".


    "Well then, ladies and gentleman, welcome to the hero test, I am sure that many of you are a bit familiar with it, but for those who are first-timers, please don''t panic, we will explain everything to you. The hero test is fairly easy and it only contains 3 tests, the first being a written test, the second being a physical test, and the third one being a power test, the power test is obligatory for those who have evolvements, it''s more of a power show off than an actual test".


    The man opens the large double doors behind him, revealing a long hallway with 5 doors in each side, "We will start with the written test, in each one of these doors is a classroom with an examiner in it to prevent any attempts of cheating, anyone who is caught cheating will be disqualified from the test, only 5 people may enter each classroom when you finish I will meet you at the next examination room, good luck", the man walks down the hallway and enters another room". The people in the hall each enter a classroom, Kurayama and Hinotori enter different classrooms while Yazaki enters the classroom with Kurayama.


    "Welcome everyone, to the written test, this test will be somewhat easy with only logic questions, simple equations, and your own answer and opinion on some heroic matters, the test duration is 1 hour, good luck", the examiner said as he passed a pen and paper to each one in the class.


    The test was easy, especially for Kurayama who had no trouble answering all the questions in record time, after all, his own family that died credited him for being the smartest amongst them, except for his father. Kurayama stood up from the chair and walked up to the examiner, handing him the pen and test paper, "In only 20 minutes, that''s a new record time", Yazaki looked up at them, "Hey sir, I think I saw this guy cheat at some point in the test", Yazaki said to the examiner. "Mr. Yazaki, I really admire that you''re the best archer in Japan, but if you keep this attitude, then I have no choice but disqualify you", the examiner said as he looked at Yazaki, "You can wait in the next test room sir", the examiner said to Kurayama as he was walking out of the classroom towards the next test room.


    Kurayama walked towards the next test room that looked like a very big gymnasium and sat in there waiting for 40 minutes, Hinotori was the second one to come out of the written test with only 31 minutes, while Yazaki was the fifth.


    "Alright ladies and gentlemen, I am very glad that none of you has been disqualified yet, now that everyone is here, we can start the physical test. But beware, using your evolvements in the physical test will get you instantly disqualified. Now without further ado, let''s start the test"


    The physical test contained all components of a normal physical test, like rope climbing, rope skipping, ball throw, jumping height, push-ups, sit-ups. The last physical tests were the 100-meter dash and the punching strength, the 100-meter dash was first.


    "Now everyone, one by one each of you will have to run 100 meters, those who take longer than 12 seconds to complete it will have -30 points, good luck"


    Yazaki was the first one to take the test, "Get ready...set...go", Yazaki ran so fast, that he completed the test in only 6 seconds, "My god, that''s an unbreakable record may I say, good job Mr. Yazaki", Yazaki grinned and looked at Kurayama.


    Kurayama was the second one to take the test, he completed the test in 8.5 seconds and so was Hinotori, while all other applicants completed it between 9 and 10.


    "Good job, everyone, now for our final test, the punching strength, the rules are easy, you just have to punch this punching machine here, there will be no punishments for this one, good luck".


    Yazaki was first again, he punched the machine and after a couple of seconds, the machine showed the strength of the punch in Newton. "4500 newtons, that is pretty impressive Mr. Yazaki, I think you might be the best one in physical power here". Hinotori was the second one, with 3800 newtons, all applicants punched the machine while the lowest score is 980 newtons.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    Kurayama was the last to come up to the machine, he clenched his fist and delivered an unbelievable punch to the machine, "13000 NEWTONS, THIS IS INSANE, Mr. Kurayama, are you sure that you didn''t use any sort of enhancement?", "My power isn''t super strength, and you can tell that I didn''t use any enhancement because nothing showed up in my body".


    "Right, excuse me for being rude". All applicants were utterly shocked, while Yazaki was giving him a look full of anger, "Well then, everyone, let''s continue to the final test, those who don''t have evolvements can''t take the test, but you are welcome to watch", the man guided all the applicants to a room with a one-way mirror that is looking at a test room, which a little bigger than the one they''re in, "Well then, everyone, for those who have evolvements, I want you to go into the test room and show us what you can do with it. You can use your power anywhere in the room".Hinotori was the first one to enter the test room.


    Shit, what do I do? My power is too destructive, I can only combust my arm but that would be too weak.


    Hinotori used his flame evolvement and made flames erupt from both of his arms, "Interesting, what else can you do with your flame power?", the man said to him from the other room. "I''m sorry sir, but that''s all I can do for now". Yazaki almost died of laughter, "Wow, way to fucking go buddy, hahaha", Kurayama looked at him as if he was going to kill him. "I''m going next", Kurayama said as he walked towards the door and patted Hinotori on the back, "Good job, you did your best", Kurayama said as he looked at Hinotori.


    Kurayama entered the room and took a deep breath, he turned to look at the one-way mirror and took a few steps closer to it. He closed his eyes while a dark aura was enveloping him, strangely there was no dark mist coming out of his body, "Dark Aura: Aura Of Rage", he opened his eyes that were now bloody red, everyone in the other room was horrified of the aura that he was giving off, some people even fainted because of the intensity of his aura, even Yazaki was completely terrified of him, but Hinotori was not affected.


    Kurayama stopped as his eyes reverted to normal and his aura was suppressed, he left everyone speechless, even the examiner, he walked out of the test room, "Good luck beating that, Yazaki", Kurayama said as Yazaki''s face went from a look of horror to a look of pure rage.


    "I''m going next", Yazaki said as he entered the test room and walked to the wall that was on the left giving everyone that was watching him a side view.


    He took his bow and aimed it straightforward, he wasn''t carrying any arrows so it looked a little strange, he closed his eyes as he was aiming his bow. Suddenly, yellow energy started forming in his hand and becoming an arrow made of yellow light, he kept aiming it for 50 seconds, then he shot it straightforward. The arrow exploded into the wall leaving seriously damaged, it''s as if 20 grenades exploded at once, making a shockwave that knocked the air out of everyone in the test room and knocking down Yazaki.


    Yazaki stood up and walked out of the room, "How about that, weakling", he said while looking at Kurayama. After that, the test went normal with only 20 people taking the power test. The man guided everyone back to the hall they started in, "Well then, congratulations everyone, I''m happy to announce that all of you have passed, make sure you come here tomorrow to get your hero license, have a great day", the man said as he left the room.


    Kurayama and Hinotori walked out and made their way towards the main hall.


    "Kurayama, Hinotori"


    "Oh, Kiode"


    "How did the test go"


    "It went pretty well, we both passed by the way"


    "I''m so glad that you both passed, congratulations you two"


    "Thank you Kiode, it wouldn''t have been possible without your help", Kurayama said as he and Hinotori walked out of the HGA.


    "Kurayama?", Hinotori said.


    "What''s up?"


    "Are you alright?"


    "I''m ok, why are you asking?"


    "It''s just because at the power test, everyone was scared of you and some have even fainted, but I felt nothing"


    "Oh, that? It''s because I didn''t want you to be affected when I use dark aura"


    "But how did you do it?"


    "Matter of fact I just learned it at that very moment, when I concentrate on someone who I don''t want to be harmed, my aura becomes ineffective against them"


    "Thank you, for standing up for me"


    "Don''t mention it", it was silent for a few minutes.


    "Hey, Hinotori"


    "Yes?"


    "What do you say we grab a drink at Brubeck jazz caf¨¦?"


    "I would love that", Hinotori said as he smiled.


    "Well then, let''s go", Kurayama looked a little bit calmer now, he looked stressed since he left the hero test.


    "Oi, weakling", A voice from behind them called. Kurayama turned to see Yazaki aiming at him with his bow charged.


    "Fight me"


    "The fuck? Are you retarded or something?", Yazaki was angry from Kurayama''s insult, he aimed his arrow at Hinotori.


    "Fight me or your friend here will get seriously injured"


    "Oi stop that, you will actually kill someone, you shithead"


    "I am no saying this again", Yazaki fired his arrow that almost hit Hinotori.


    "So, you''re serious. Alright, let''s get out of the street, then we could actually fight. Hinotori, here, take the apartment keys and go, I will deal with this shithead", Kurayama said as he gave his keys to Hinotori and signaled him to go.


    Kurayama and Yazaki both walked for 45 minutes until they reached a bamboo forest that was out of the city.


    "Yazaki, I''m warning you, if you fight me you have to prepare for death"


    "So should you. By the way, I know that you''re not weak, I acknowledge your strength, but you pissed me off, so you have to face the consequences"


    "Mutual feeling", Kurayama said while a dark mist was coming out of his body and covering 50% of it, but his eyes remained how they were.


    Yazaki pulled out his bow and aimed it at Kurayama and charged 3 energy arrows, he fired those arrows at Kurayama, but he dodged them, Kurayama ran towards him with his fist clenched and tried to punch him in the face, but he barely evaded the punch. He tried to get as far away from Kurayama as he can while charging another arrow, he jumped high and fired the arrow, it managed to hit kurayama and pierce through his shoulder, then the arrow disappeared.


    Kurayama let out a grunt of pain as he was slightly bleeding from his injury, "Hahaha, how do you like that?", Yazaki said as he was running in circles around Kurayama, "You know? You are seriously fucked up in the head, trying to kill someone who merely made you angry", Kurayama said, "Aren''t you also trying to kill me for making you angry, you are contradicted", Yazaki said.


    Kurayama tried to punch Yazaki, but he couldn''t, Yazaki was fast and dodged almost every single punch that Kurayama threw at him. He charged up another arrow and fired it at Kurayama but he missed this time, he jumped back and was still dodging all the punches that Kurayama was throwing at him. He jumped back while charging another arrow, but this time it took him a little longer, he fired the arrow at the ground and caused an explosion that threw Kurayama back and blocked his vision by creating a wall of dust, Kurayama stood up and was trying to look for Yazaki, as the dust was slowly trying to clear, Kurayama found Yazaki aiming at him with a fully charged bow, "You definitely are the strongest man I fought yet, but I am still stronger", he fired the arrow and caused a big explosion that created a crater and destroyed many bamboo trees and also caused a wall of dust.


    As the dust was starting to clear, Kurayama was now fully emerged in the dark mist, covering his entire body. He stood there looking at Yazaki who was completely shocked, while Yazaki was aiming his bow and charging another narrow, Kurayama revealed a dark whip that was coming out of his arm and used it to capture Yaziki with it and bring him closer while he clenched his fist and punched him right in his belly causing him to spit out a little bit of blood, then he grabbed his face and smashed him into the ground, causing him to lose consciousness and ending the fight then and there.

 Misunderstanding

    After Kurayama defeated Yazaki, the dark mist that was covering him started to fade out as he went back to normal, his shoulder was injured but it wasn''t a big deal.


    Kurayama took a quick glance at Yazaki and proceeded to walk back home, it took him a while to reach his apartment that was seven kilometers away. He reached the front door and knocked on it, waiting for Hinotori to open.


    Hinootori opened the door to see Kurayama breathing heavily while holding his shoulder.


    "Woah! Kurayama-...are you okay?" Hinotori asked Kurayama in a worried voice.


    "Yeah, yeah, I''m fine." Said  Kurayama Said as he walked past Hinotori and released a quiet groan. Hinotori was able to spot a single drop of blood that came out from Kurayama''s shoulder.


    "You''re bleeding?!" Hinotori asked in a panicked voice.


    "Just get me some bandages, they are in the bathroom." Kurayama calmly asked Hinotori, which the latter responded by running towards the bathroom and quickly grabbing a roll of bandages. Kurayama removed his hoodie and his shirt and started bandaging his punctured shoulder.


    "This is attempted first-degree murder with premeditation! Yazaki must be immediately reported to the police department and HGA!" Hinotori said in a worried, nervous, and angry voice as he grabbed the phone and tried to dial the HGA.


    "Can you calm the fuck down?!" Kurayama said as he snatched the phone from Hinotori''s hand and delivered a light slap to his face.


    "Are you crazy?! He''s insane! He attempted to kill me and you!" Hinotori shouted while rubbing his left cheek.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "I know! He''s popular, arrogant, overconfident, stupid, and has a somewhat retarded sense of justice."


    "See!"


    "But he''s a good guy nonetheless." Said Kurayama as he put the phone on the table and lied down on the sofa.


    "What?" Hinotori asked in a confused voice as he tilted his head and narrowed his eyes.


    "When we were at the hero test, precisely in the hall, Yazaki was acting nice and supportive towards all of the applicants. But as soon as I entered, he felt my dark aura and checked around him to see if anyone else detected it. He took it as his job to indirectly warn the others about my presence by describing my looks and aura out loud, but the others were deaf to such warnings.


    After that, in the written test, he tried to accuse me of giving answers. It was stupid to just accuse without any evidence, but he anticipated his failure and sacrificed his eligibility to pass the test just so he could warn others about me.


    In the physical test, he used all of his physical force to do his absolute best and show his superiority in physical power compared to me, until he was sweating and breathing heavily.


    In the power test, he used his last chance to try and make you quit the test by using his insults and popularity to mentally break you down, so I also quit. He hated doing it, I saw it in his face, but he had no choice. After he got shocked by my rage aura, he didn''t give in to fear and used all of his energy to perform one super attack to try and scare me into not doing anything to the applicants." Kurayama stated as he closed his eyes and tried to sleep.


    "You said it! He was trying to stop you from harming the applicants, then why did he try to kill me?!" Hinotori shouted his argument in full confidence.


    "After he saw us talking to Kiode, he might have thought that we were gathering information on the applicants to try and sell them, or do something worse. He couldn''t risk it, and did what no else could''ve done." Said Kurayama as he slowly started fading to sleep.


    "But-...he shot an arrow at me?" Hinotori wondered in a doubtful and quieter voice.


    "His arrows can disappear at will. When he aimed at you and fired that arrow, he made it disappear before it hit you, but you still dodged it, that''s why you thought that he was trying to kill you. I knew that he wasn''t going to give up, that''s why I fought him. He is honorable, strong, and heroic, that''s why he didn''t try to do a dirty move and shoot me while not paying attention. I really want to meet him tomorrow, so I clear this misunderstanding and move on with my life."


    "Huh-...I see. I don''t fully forgive him, but I guess it''s hard to hate him or have a grudge against him when you hear his reasons for such actions." Hinotori said as he looked down in a regretful way. He was thinking about how he was about to ruin someone''s life forever for simply trying to be a hero.


    "Well, he earned my forgiveness, but he still didn''t earn my trust." He stated before falling into a deep sleep.


    Kurayama woke up in the next morning and removed his bandages to see his injury completely healed, he walked towards the kitchen and smelled something really good, he walked to the kitchen and saw Hinotori being a master chef again while wearing an apron and serving breakfast to Kurayama while being very cheerful.


    "Man, you''re cooking is an actual lifesaver, you could have become a very well known chef." Siad Kurayama after taking a deep breath.


    "You think so? I only do it for fun, but I really appreciate all those supportive comments. By the way, how''s your injury?" Hinotori asked his friend in concern about his well being but still keeping a cheerful attitude.


    "Voila, it''s fully healed." Sarcastically said Kurayama while showing his previously pierced shoulder to be completely fine.


    "What? Your shoulder got punctured, and now it''s fully healed?" Hinotori asked in wonder.


    "What do you think we were doing in Lab 5 for ten years?" Kurayama asked.


    "I''m not sure how to react to such information. But I''m glad that you''re okay." Hinotori said as he gave Kurayama a happy smile.


    Silence fell as Kurayama was eating breakfast and tried containing his inner joy from eating proper food again.


    "Hey, Kurayama. What were you planning to do before the hero test?" Hinotori asked in curiosity as he removed his apron and sat down on the table to start eating.


    "Nothing." Nonchalantly replied Kurayama.


    "But, wouldn''t it be a problem if you continued your vigilante work?" Hinotori asked in confusion.


    "Yeah, but I wasn''t going to live longer anyway." Casually replied Kurayama as continued eating.


    "...What?" Hinotori asked in confusion and curiosity.


    "When I just lived here and started night hunting, I swore to myself that if I don''t find a purpose or reason to live for before the crime rate drops in this area, I will have to commit suicide." Casually replied Kurayama.


    "...W-why?" Hinotori asked in shock.


    "The pain was too great to bear. I blended into society, but deep inside, I am still the broken thirteen years old boy from ten years ago. Plus, my trust issue was unbelievable, I was still not trusting Kiode before you came."


    "Well, I''m happy that you''re still alive. By the way, what was this purpose that kept you alive?" Hinotori asked in curiosity.


    "Rent, yours percicelsy."


    "Oh-...that''s it?"


    "I guess having someone to talk to somewhat made my mind clearer about so many things. I no longer have to kill criminals at night to keep my mental stability. I guess that''s all thanks to you."


    Hinotori almost teared up as he heard Kurayama somewhat praise him.


    "Alright, finish your breakfast sleepy eye, we need to get to the HGA to finally become full-time heroes." Stated Hinotori as he raised his fist in victory.


    "Sleepy eye? I guess you''re right, soft flame." Kurayama said as both he and Hinotori laughed at each other.


    Shortly after, Kurayama and Hinotori made their way to the HGA on foot. They entered the agency to be greeted by a familiar friendly face.


    "Hey, you two." Said Kiode as she waved at the two with a friendly smile.


    "Hey, Kiode." Replied Kurayama as he waved back.


    "H-H-how are you Kiode?" Hinotori asked as he slightly stuttered.


    Kurayama and Kiode looked at Hinotori and tilted their heads in confusion.


    "Didn''t you have social anxiety?" Kurayama asked.


    "I still do, but-...n-not in front of friends." Replied Hinotori as he slightly blushed and itched his chin while releasing a friendly yet shy laugh.


    Kiode smiled "Well then, I''m happy to be your friend, Hinotori." She replied while giving Hinotori a friendly and beautiful smile. Hinotori was bashful and couldn''t utter a word.


    "Anyways. Kiode, I think you already know why we''re here?"


    "The license of course. But before that, you have to make up with someone." She said as she pointed behind them.


    "Kurayama! Hinotori!" The familiar voice of the overconfident archer was heard behind the two. They turned around to see Yazaki coming towards them in quick steps, and as soon as he reached them, he quickly bowed down to show the bandages that were wrapped around his head.


    "I am so sorry for my foolish and hasty behavior yesterday. You have my full honor and gratitude for forgiving me for attempting to kill you. Please, if you have any requests, just ask me right now." He said in an apologetic and regretful voice.


    "I think I should be the one apologizing for smashing your head." Replied Kurayama as he took a closer look at Yazaki''s bandaged head.


    "Please don''t worry about me. That was the least punishment that I deserved." He said as he bowed lower.


    "It''s okay Yazaki, let''s not blame each other anymore. In fact, you can come and share a drink with us if you want?" Kurayama suggested while trying to stop Yazaki from bowing anymore and attracting attention to them.


    "I humbly refuse your kind offer. After all, I am a hero who should be working day and night to save people, and to atone for my sin against you." Yazaki said as he slightly bowed again.


    "Alright. Don''t burn yourself out, okay?" Kurayama said.


    "Don''t worry, because after all, I need to become stronger than you," Yazaki said after giving a smile to Kurayama. He turned around and walked out of the agency while waving goodbye at the trio "Until we meet again." He said as he walked out of sight.


    "That guy sure is energetic and very determined, I bet he will become a very famous hero in no time." Said Hinotori while smiling at Kurayama.


    "He already is actually." Stated Kiode.


    "What?" The two asked in confusion.


    "Yes, he is B-Tier rank 100 out of 200 heroes. His immense popularity and amazing performance at the hero test gained him a very high rank in the hero list, he scored a perfect 100/100."


    "Celebrities and their privileges. What about us?" Kurayama asked in curiosity before Kiode handed him and Hinotori their license.


    Kurayama Ishigami: Pro hero, C-tier, rank 7


    Hinotori Hisaki: Pro hero, C-tier, rank 13


    "Unfortunately, you two didn''t obtain a perfect score. Hinotori, your points were deducted because you didn''t perform well at the power test. And for you Kurayama, they deducted your points at the physical test because the punching machine ''broke.'' Don''t worry, I heard the story, it''s truly unfair. I''m truly sorry you two." She said in an apologetic voice.


    "N-n-no worries, K-Kiode. It''s our fault for not performing g-g-good." Said Hinotori after mustering up the courage to answer.


    "Thank you, guys. Anyways, the HGA will call you to give you a job, but if you want one, then just call the number in the right corner of your license, you can request a job by phone or from here." She said in a professional voice while giving an equally professional smile to the two.


    "Okay. Thanks, Kiode." Replied Kurayama.


    "Your welcome, you two." Said Kiode after waving goodbye to the two.


    Kurayama and Hinotori were walking home after getting their license from the HGA, they were discussing their plans for today and what should they eat for lunch. Suddenly, Kurayama''s phone rang. The caller was a private number and beside it was written "The HGA."


    "Hello?"


    "Kurayama Ishigami?" An unfamiliar voice asked.


    "Yes?" He replied in a confused voice.


    "Sorry for bothering you, sir. If you don''t have any plans, then can you please take care of a recent job request we''ve received?" The unfamiliar voice professionally asked.


    "Of course, what is it about?"


    "Thank you. The job information will be sent to your phone, if you don''t think you can handle it, then please just give us a call." The voice replied.


    "Of course. By the way, is it okay if another hero helps me?" Kurayama asked while looking at Hinotori.


    "Of course, but he will only be registered as a sidekick and take less credit for it. If you want equal pay and credit for the job, then you have to register as a hero duo." The voice statted.


    "Can you register us now?"


    "Of course. Who is your partner, and what''s his rank?"


    "C-Tier hero, Hinotori Hisaki."


    "Alright, would you like a name for your team?"


    "No, just register it us without it for now."


    "Of course."


    "Okay, thank you for your help."


    "At your service, sir." The voice said before ending the call.


    "Who was it?" Hinotori asked in a curious voice.


    "The HGA, they already gave me a job. By the way, I registered us as a hero duo." Replied Kurayama.


    "Hero-...duo?" Hinotori asked in confusion.


    "Yes, so we take equal pay and credit for the job." Replied Kurayama before he received a message from the HGA.


    "Hello, Hero,


    A job request has been received from a farmer who reported that his livestock has entirely disappeared, most likely been stolen, but the farmer insists that wild foxes are the main reason for his missing livestock. This incident started four weeks ago.


    Objective: -Investigate the nearby mountain forest.


    -Kill any foxes nearby (Optional).


    -Arrest any suspects.


    Recommended equipment:  -Winter clothes due to snowy weather.


    -Hunter''s rifle (for safety).


    Tap on the map to receive the location of the mission.


    Once you finish the mission, please report back to the HGA via Phone or Agency.


    Good luck."


    After reading the message, Kuryama looked at Hinotori who''s eyes were glowing from excitement.


    "So, do we take the job?", Kurayama asked the excited Hinotori.


    "Of course! I have been waiting for this moment for all of my life!" Hinotori shouted in utter joy and determination.


    "Before that, we need to drop by the clothes store and buy a snow jacket for you." Said Kurayama while trying to calm Hinotori down.


    "Oh it''s okay, I have my flame powers, so I''m gonna be fine. What about you?" Hinotori asked while shrugging off Kurayama''s demand.


    "I''m already wearing my leather jacket, are you sure you''re going to be okay?" Kurayama asked Hinotori in concern.


    "Of course." Confidently replied Hinotori.


    "Well then, let''s do what actual heroes do to reach their destination," Kurayama said.


    "Oh, we use our evolvements to reach it?" Hinotori asked in excitement.


    "No, we take public transportation." Replied Kuryama as both he and Hinotori got utterly depressed.

 Unexpected encounter

    Unfortunately, like the bankrupt heroes they are, Kurayama and Hinotori had to take public transportation to the mission''s location, which was a very snowy Japanese farm right next to a mountain that was far from the city.


    After Kurayama and Hinotori reached their destination, they walked on foot through a snowy path towards the farm. The only one there was an old man wearing a snow jacket waiting for the two to arrive.


    "Are you the heroes?" The farmer asked in a very irritated tone.


    "Yeah." Nonchalantly replied Kurayama.


    The farmer clicked his tongue and frowned before he started ranting "The fuck is up with that answer?! And why the hell did you take so long?! And why are there only two of you?! I asked the HGA two weeks ago to send me a group of heroes, but they ended up sending me two fucking rookies after two weeks of waiting! God fucking dammit!" The farmer ended his rant after raising his fists in the air in anger.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ''What the fuck?'' Kurayama thought to himself. After being greeted like that, Kurayama was ready to either leave the farm and go back to his apartment or kill the farmer. Luckily, he took a deep breath and answered in a calm voice.


    "So, how do we help?" Kurayama calmly asked the farmer.


    "You already know what to do, just go to that god damn forest and kill them damn foxes. If you do so, bring them to me." The farmer said while pointing at the forest.


    "Understood. We will report back when we finish." Replied Kurayama.


    "Just get going already," The farmer angrily shouted before turning around and walking towards his house "Fucking rookies." He whispered to himself in a voice loud enough for Kurayama to hear.


    ''One more time and I''ll kill him.'' Kurayama thought to himself before he walked towards the forest with Hinotori following him.


    Kurayama and Hinotori spent two hours roaming the forest while searching for these "Foxes." They encountered every kind of animal except for these so-called foxes. They even encountered a bear at one point, which they were lucky enough to escape from because he was sleeping.


    Three hours went by as Kurayama and Hinotori started searching the forest, still not having a single clue on who stole the farmer''s livestock. All kinds of animals were in the woods, even bears, but the man always insisted that a fox was the reason for it. He was thus making the hero duo search the forest for one last time.


    "Kurayama?" Hinotori said while shivering from the cold weather and snow.


    "What?" Kurayama replied with slight irritation.


    "I''m freezing." Hinotori quietly stated.


    Kurayama turned around and glared at Hinotori. "What the fuck man?! Didn''t you say you were going to be fine without a jacket?!" He asked with a voice filled with anger and irritation.


    "Yes, but it''s too cold. My flames can''t come out." Replied Hinotori.


    Kurayama narrowed his eyes and tilted his head "Your weakness is coldness?" He asked in a confused voice.


    "I didn''t know either, I think it''s my lack of experience with it. It''s freezing!" Hinotori replied while on the verge of tears from the extreme cold.


    "Okay, fine. Hold on a second," Kurayama said as he removed his leather jacket and gave it to Hinotori "Be careful with that, it''s costly." He said.


    "Thank you, but-...don''t you feel cold?" Hinotori asked as he wore Kurayama''s leather jacket.


    "Snow can''t defeat me, it will take much colder weather to even barely affect me." Said Kurayama "Let''s get going, we need to finish roaming the forest for one last time and go back to that shitty farmer." He said before gritting his teeth.


    "Alright." Said Hinotori as he nodded at Kurayama.


    Kurayama and Hinotori kept roaming the forest with absolutely no clues or leads on who''s the livestock thief. It was getting dark and the two were ready to give up on the mission and just leave. Suddenly, they stumbled upon a wooden cabin, far away from the farm. It was poorly built and looked like it could cave in at any moment.


    "Woah! Look at the-" Hinotori impulsively said before Kurayama silenced him.


    "Yeah, I know, I see it too. It looks poorly made and inhabitable." Whispered Kurayama while observing the wooden cabin before he pulled out his phone and gave it to Hinotori "Take this and hide behind this tree. If anything happens, call the HGA and run to safety, immediately." He ordered Hinotori.


    "But-" Hinotori objected before he got immediately interrupted.


    "Just trust me. If you try to do anything, you''ll just make the situation more complicated." Said Kurayama with eyes filled with concern for his friend.


    "O-...Okay." Hinotori replied after taking a deep breath.


    "Good." Said Kurayama as he crouched down then slowly and silently walked towards the cabin. Upon reaching it, Kurayama walked towards the door and tried to peak through the window. Just to get jumpscared by the face of a black-haired woman wearing all white staring at him from the other side of the window.


    Suddenly, a strong gust of wind came from inside of the cabin, destroying the door and sending Kurayama flying towards a tree before crashing on it. He grabbed his chest and started coughing from the sudden attack that knocked the air out of his lungs. A woman with black hair and white nightgown walked out of the cabin extending her arm towards Kurayama as if she was aiming it at him.


    "Do you think I''m deaf? I heard your footsteps when you were walking towards my cabin. Who are you? And what are you doing here?" The woman asked in a calm but threatening voice.


    Kurayama stood up as he kept coughing while holding his chest. He stared at the woman while observing her facial features. Kurayama was in utter shock.


    "Y-...you''re-...subject#3?" Kurayama barely finished the sentence before the woman''s eyes turned red while a ball of air formed on her palm. The ball of air shot out like an air cannon which caused a gust of wind so powerful to hit Kurayama and smash him on two trees before he hit the third one and fell.


    "Who are you and How did you know that? You have 10 seconds to explain before I kill you and your partner who is hiding behind that tree."


    "Stop!" Hinotori yelled as he walked out from behind the tree while raising his arms in the air, "I''m subject#2 and he''s subject#1. We are both previous subjects of Lab 5. We are not hostile, so please don''t do anything." He said after mustering up an enormous amount of courage while his body was still shaking from fear.


    "I don''t remember any of you. Show me some proof or I will kill you both." The woman replied in a chilling voice after changing her aim from Kurayama towards Hinotori.


    "H-h-h-how can we prove it?" Hinotori asked in a panicked voice.


    "I don''t know. If you don''t show me proof in the next 10 seconds, you will die", the woman said as she aimed her arm at Hinotori and started to charge up another ball of air. Hinotori looked stressed and confused.


    "10...9...8...7...6...5-" Before the woman could finish counting, Kurayama punched the woman in her stomach and sent her flying towards the cabin while he was covered in a dark mist.


    He walked towards her and saw that she was unconscious. Dark mist emerged from him covering only his arms. "Dark energy: Dark Whip." He said as a dark whip came out of his left arm and used it to restrain the woman.


    "Hinotori, make a snowball." Said Kurayama as he extended his arm towards Hinotori.


    "..."


    "Just do it."


    Hinotori didn''t say anything as he grabbed snow from the ground and started making a snowball. He gave the snowball to Kurayama and took a couple of steps back. Kurayama grabbed the snowball and smacked it the woman with it, making her conscious again.


    "Oi, calm down and take a deep breath, we''re not here to hurt you." Said Kurayama as he looked at the woman.


    The woman glared at the two with a malicious look in her eyes. She took a deep breath then sighed before she talked "Do you seriously think that I''m going to trust you?" She asked as she raised her eyebrow.


    "I don''t care whether you trust us or not. That''s your choice, and you will face its consequences on your own." Kurayama stated.


    The woman was silent, analyzing her situation, and thinking of all the possible outcomes. She took another deep breath "I guess I have no choice because I''m in a tough situation. Fine, I will stay calm, but you have to answer some questions." The woman said.


    "Alright. What do you want to know?"


    "Is it true? What you said about being previous Lab 5 subjects?" She asked.


    "I hate to admit it, but yes. I''m subject#1 and he''s subject#2." Stated Kurayama as he pointed at himself then at Hinotori.


    "What about subject#4 and #5?"


    "I don''t know and I don''t care." Nonchalantly replied Kurayama.


    "How can I know that what you''re saying is true?"


    "Don''t you have any memories, at least those of the escape?"


    "I don''t remember anyone from that hellscape except for the one who saved me. Even so, I only remember him as some kind of shadowy figure."


    "Do you still remember how that shadowy figure looked like?"


    "Not really, the image is blurry in my mind."


    Kurayama retracted his dark whips, took a deep breath, and started concentrating until a dark mist completely enveloped his body.


    The woman was utterly shocked as she looked at the familiar dark figure. Her lips trembled as she tried to hold back the waterfall of tears that were about to burst out.


    "T-T-That-...that doesn''t prove a-a-anything." She said, trying to hold back the ocean of tears.


    "Your expression doesn''t look the same as before. Are you sure you''re not convinced?"


    "I don''t really know. Can I really trust you?" She said as tears raced down her cheeks while her lips trembled.


    "You don''t have to worry about anything, wind girl. You are no longer alone or in the lab." Said Kurayama as he placed his hand on her head in a gentle way that can make the wildest of monsters become as wholesome as an angel.


    Kurayama mentally improved. His encounter with Hinotori made him mentally stable and a better human being, but his encounter with this woman, unlocked an ancient emotion in him that he didn''t know existed anymore. The tears of this woman re-awakened his kindness, something that not even Kurayama knew he had.


    The woman went from crying to sobbing. The emotional pain that she endured for the last three months, the pain of knowing that there''s no one you can trust, it all disappeared with that gentle touch and those reassuring words.


    After a few minutes, the three were sitting down on the floor as an awkward silence filled the wooden cabin, making the situation very uncomfortable.


    "I-um-...I am sorry, for what I did." The woman said in a soft and apologetic voice after lowering her head.


    "Not gonna lie, what you did was very shitty, but it''s somewhat our fault that we just tried to sneak into your cabin like some bunch of kidnappers. Anyways, before our trust issues kick in again, I suppose we should get to know each other better." Kurayama casually said.


    "Yes, of course. My name is Hayate Kayano." The woman said as she introduced herself.


    "N-Nice to meet you, I am Hinotori Hisaki." Spoke Hinotori.


    "Kurayama Ishigami." Replied Kurayama.


    "Nice to meet you, you two." Replied Hayate as she nodded.


    An awkward silence filled the cabin again.


    "B-By the way, how did you live for three months?" Hinototri asked in curiosity.


    "Well, I had to steal some chickens and other livestock from nearby farmers, just so I don''t starve to death."


    Kurayama and Hinotori stared at Hayate and released a deep and annoyed sigh.


    "What''s going on?" Hayate asked in discomfort.


    "Well, we are both heroes who received a job request from a farmer. He said that a bunch of foxes kept eating his livestock, but it turned out that it was you all along." Kurayama shrugged.


    "Well, not completely," Hinotori stated, "Because she is a little foxy if you know what I''m saying." He said before a smug formed on his face as he kept poking Kurayama with his elbow.


    "One more joke like that, and you''re going to get evicted from my apartment." Kurayama coldly stated.


    "Am I-...Am I going to be arrested?" Hayate asked the two while fidgeting her fingers.


    Kurayama placed his fist under his chin and kept thinking, "Well, completing the job means that I''ll get more money. But I rather stick it to that annoying farmer and get some self-satisfaction as I tell him to go fuck himself while insisting that there are no foxes in the forest."


    "..." x2


    "In short, no. You''re not going to get arrested today." Said Kurayama.


    "Thank you, thank you very much." Said Hayate after bowing her head.


    "S-So-...Hayate. What are you planning to do now?" Hinotori curiously asked.


    "I-...I don''t know. I have nowhere to go, and I don''t have anyone. I have nothing." She said while staring at the ground with a sad look.


    An awkward silence filled the cabin again.


    "Would you like to become a hero?" Kurayama asked after releasing an annoyed sigh.


    "Can I?" She asked as she looked a little excited.


    "Depend on you, do you want to take the test?"


    "Of course. But-...I don''t think they can let someone like me take the test. Someone with no home or even clothes to wear." She said as her excitement vanished.


    "You can have all of those," Kurayama said before he smirked and looked at Hayate "But 75% of your monthly income as a hero will be mine. How about that?" He said as he scratched his chin while smirking.


    Hayate''s eyes widened in shock before she jumped towards Kurayama and hugged him very tightly, almost squeezing him to death. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you." She said on repeat as she hugged Kurayama tighter.


    "I''m-...dying." He struggled to say.


    "Sorry! I''m so sorry." Hayate said as she released Kurayama from the bear hug before wiping a tear from her eye. "Thank you so much, Kurayama. Please take good care of me." She said as she bowed her head.


    Kurayama was a little flustered but gave a quick smile to Hayate before he regained his calmness, "Anyways, let''s get going before night falls." He stated before looking at Hinotori, who had a wide smile on his face.


    "What''s so funny? Kurayama asked.


    "That was the first time that I saw you genuinely smile. I hope it''s not the last because it really warmed my heart and made me happy." Hinotori said after chuckling.


    Kurayama smiled back at the two. "Anyways, we seriously need to get going or we''ll have to walk back all the way." Said Kurayama in a serious voice.


    Kurayama and Hinotori walked back towards the farm to report to the farmer, while Hyatae took another route out of the forest.


    As the two met up with the farmer again, Kurayama started ranting about the farmer''s behavior and intensely criticized him. The latter couldn''t do anything as he was shocked by this sudden outburst. Kurayama finished talking and went to meet up with Hayate again, he was very satisfied after snapping on that farmer.


    The three met up again and took a bus back to the city and continued walking towards the apartment on foot.


    "Wow! So, this is our apartment?!" Hayate exclaimed as she entered the apartment.


    "No, this is my apartment, you two are just temporary guests until you earn enough money to buy your own." Casually stated Kurayama.


    "Alright. Enough with all the boring discussions. It''s dinner time!" Said Hinotori as he wore his apron and started cooking.


    Hayate stared at him with a look of awe before approaching him, "Can-...can I help?" She asked with an excited look on her face.


    "Can you?" Hinotori asked in wonder.


    "Of course." She happily replied.


    "Well then, welcome to the kitchen, secondary chef." Said Hinotori as he gave Hayate a spare apron that he had. Hinotori started teaching Hayate and showing her what to do, she was still a beginner so she was messing up a lot but they would just laugh it off every time. Kurayama observed the two chefs and subconsciously smiled from relief and joy.


    The dinner didn''t come out as good as the one that Hinotori used to cook. Kurayama really wanted to rant about how bad the rice tasted, but he couldn''t ruin the mood that the two had. Him seeing Hayate and Hinotori laughing with each other, completely forgetting everything that has happened to them, subconsciously made Kurayama smile from joy.


    "Man, today was amazing." Said Hinotori.


    "You say that because you''re not the one that got smashed into a bunch of trees and caught a cold." Kurayama ranted before sneezing.


    "I deeply apologize for that." Said Hayate in a genuinely apologetic voice, which the two casually laughed off.


    "Anyways, goodnight you two." Spoke Hinotori as he walked towards his room while stretching.


    Kurayama did the same as he stood up and stretched a little bit before walking towards his room.


    Kurayama entered his bedroom and lied down on his bed, tired and exhausted from today, but he was very happy with everything that has happened thus far. He lied down and started thinking of everything that has happened for the last four days, how he mentally improved, how his mind became clearer, and how the ghost of the past that was haunting him was finally exorcised.


    As Kurayama was slowly drifting to the sleep world, he heard a gentle knocking on the door that interrupted his sacred sleeping time. He sat up on the bed with and frowned before he answered in an irritated voice, "What?!" He said.


    Suddenly, the door was gently opened by Hayate as she came in with a shy look plastered on her face.


    "I-I''m sorry for the disturbance." She shyly said while fidgeting her fingers.


    "What do you want?" He asked, struggling to stay awake.


    "C-...Can I sleep with you-...tonight?" She asked in a mixture of sadness and embarrassment.


    "..." Kurayama just gave her a look that said ''Seriously?'' before he took a deep breath and answered, "Not gonna lie, I love your offer. But if your this desperate to lower the rent, you could have just told me so." He said in a casual voice.


    Hayate was very embarrassed and took a few minutes before mustering up the courage to clear the misunderstanding "T-T-T-...That''s not what I meant.


    "...Eh?"


    "I just wanted to sleep next to you. I am still paranoid and afraid to sleep alone." She asked as her embarrassment turned into sadness.


    "...Let me do a quick check." Kurayama said as he stood up from his bed and checked if Hayate had any poison, knife, or anything that she could use to kill him.


    "W-W-What are you doing?" She asked in a flustered voice.


    "Just checking if you have anything you can kill me with it. You''re all clear. Choose where you want to sleep." He said.


    Hayate looked around the room in search of a good place, before she walked over to Kurayama''s bed and lied down on it as she covered herself with the blanket.


    "Just know that this raises the price of your rent to 85% of your monthly salary." He stated as he lied down on the bed and covered himself with the same blanket.


    A few minutes, passed by as the two were lying on the bed, trying to get some sleep.


    "Thank you for everything, Ishigami." Said Hayate as sin a soft and gentle voice.


    "No problem-...Kayano." He subconsciously replied after smiling, right before he peacefully drifted to sleep.

 Unexpected encounter: Part 1

    Unfortunately, like the bankrupt heroes they are, Kurayama and Hinotori had to take public transportation to the mission''s location, which was a very snowy Japanese farm right next to a mountain that was far from the city.


    After Kurayama and Hinotori reached their destination, they walked through a heavily snowy path towards the farm. An old man wearing a snow jacket was waiting for the two to arrive.


    "Are you the heroes?" The farmer asked in an irritated tone.


    "Yes." Nonchalantly replied Kurayama.


    The farmer clicked his tongue and frowned before he started ranting, "The fuck is up with that answer?! And why the hell did you take so long?! And why are there only two of you?! I asked the HGA two weeks ago to send me a group of heroes, but they ended up sending me two fucking rookies after two weeks of waiting! God fucking dammit!" The farmer ended his rant after raising his fists in the air in anger.


    ''...What?'' Kurayama thought to himself.


    After being greeted like that, Kurayama was ready to just give up on the job, and go back home. He took a deep breath, cleared his mind, and replied.


    "So, how may we help?" Kurayama calmly asked the farmer.


    "You already know what to do, just go to that God damn forest, and kill them damn foxes. If you do so, bring them to me." The farmer stated while pointing at the forest.


    "Understood. We will report back when we finish." Replied Kurayama.


    "Just get going already!" The farmer angrily shouted before he turned around and walked towards his house, "Fucking rookies." He whispered to himself in a voice loud enough for Kurayama to hear.


    ''I hate my life.'' Kurayama thought to himself before he walked towards the forest, followed by Hinotori accompanying him.


    Kurayama and Hinotori spent two hours roaming the forest while searching for the ''Foxes''. They encountered every kind of animal except for the foxes. They even encountered a bear at one point, which they were lucky enough to escape from because he was sleeping.


    Three hours went by as Kurayama and Hinotori started searching the forest, still not having a single clue on who stole the farmer''s livestock. All kinds of animals were in the woods, even bears, but the man always insisted that a fox was the reason for it. He was, thus, making the hero duo search the forest for one last time.


    "Kurayama?" Hinotori called out, shivering from the cold weather and snow.


    "What?" Kurayama replied with a slightly irritated voice.


    "I''m freezing." Hinotori quietly stated.


    Kurayama turned around and stared at Hinotori, "Didn''t you say you were going to be fine without a jacket?!" Kurayama exclaimed.


    "Yes, but it''s too cold. My flames are too cold." Replied Hinotori.


    "...You can go back if you feel cold, I''ll just finish the mission on my own." Kurayama said in a calm voice as he gazed at Hinotori.


    "No, I want to finish the mission. I just-...I just feel very cold." Hinotori said as he shivered very badly.


    Kurayama gazed at the boy for a few seconds before he released a shallow sigh.


    "Hold on a second," Kurayama said as he removed his leather jacket and gave it to Hinotori, "Don''t let anything happen to this jacket, it''s very dear to me." He said.


    "Thank you, but-... Don''t you feel cold?" Hinotori asked in concern as he wore Kurayama''s leather jacket.


    "Not really, I don''t feel that cold," Kurayama said, "Let''s get going, we need to finish roaming the forest for one last time and go back to that shitty farmer." He said in an annoyed tone.


    Kurayama and Hinotori kept roaming the forest with absolutely no clues or leads on who''s the livestock thief. It was getting dark, and the two were ready to give up on the mission and just leave. Suddenly, they stumbled upon a wooden cabin, far away from the farm. It was poorly built and looked like it could cave in at any moment.


    "Woah! Look at that-" Hinotori impulsively said before Kurayama silenced him.


    "Yeah, I know. I see it too. It looks poorly made and inhabitable." Whispered Kurayama while observing the wooden cabin before he pulled out his phone and license and gave them to Hinotori, "Take this and hide behind this tree. If anything happens, call the HGA and run to safety, immediately." He ordered Hinotori.


    "But-" Hinotori objected before he got immediately interrupted.


    "Just trust me. If you try to do anything, you''ll just make the situation more complicated." Kurayama said with eyes filled with concern for his friend.


    "O-...Okay." Hinotori replied.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "Good." Said Kurayama as he crouched down. He slowly and silently walked towards the cabin. Upon reaching it, Kurayama walked towards the door and tried to peak through the window, just to get frightened by the face of a black-haired woman wearing all white staring at him from the other side of the window.


    Suddenly, a strong gust of wind came from inside of the cabin, destroying the wall and launching Kurayama towards a tree, which he violently crashed on. He gripped onto his chest and started coughing from the sudden attack that knocked the air out of his lungs.


    A woman with black hair wearing a white nightgown walked out of the cabin, extending her arm towards Kurayama as if she was aiming it at him.


    "Do you think I''m deaf? I heard your footsteps when you were walking towards my cabin. Who are you? And what are you doing here?" The woman asked in a calm but threatening voice.


    Kurayama stood up as he kept coughing while holding his chest. He stared at the woman while observing her facial features. Kurayama was in utter shock.


    "Y-...you''re-...subject# 3?" Kurayama barely finished the sentence before the woman''s eyes turned into bloodshot.


    A sphere of air formed on the woman''s palm. The ball of air shot out like an air cannon which caused a gust of wind so powerful to hit Kurayama and smash him on two trees before he smacked into the third one and collapsed into the ground.


    "Who are you? And How did you know that? You have ten seconds to explain before I kill you and your partner who is hiding behind that tree." She said as she took a quick glance at the tree Hinotori was hiding behind.


    "Stop!" Hinotori yelled as he walked out from behind the tree, raising his arms in the air. "I''m subject#2 and he''s subject#1. We are both previous subjects of Lab 5. We are not hostile, so please don''t do anything." He said, mustering up an enormous amount of courage to answer, but his body was still shaking from fear.


    "I don''t remember any of you. Show me some proof or I will kill you both." The woman replied in a bone-chilling voice after changing her aim from Kurayama towards Hinotori.


    "H-H-How can we prove it?" Hinotori asked in a panicked voice.


    "I don''t know, and I don''t care. Your countdown starts now. "The woman stated as she aimed her arm at Hinotori and started to charge up another ball of air. Hinotori looked stressed and confused.


    "10...9...8...7...6...5...4-"Before the woman could finish counting, she saw, with the corner of her eye, a dark figure dashing towards her at an absurd speed.


    The woman turned in a panic, and launched her attack, but failing as Kurayama dodged her attack before he delivered a devastating uppercut to her abdomen, launching her towards the wooden cabin.


    Kurayama''s arms were covered in a dark mist as he staggered towards the cabin, violently coughing as he gripped onto his chest.


    "Kurayama! Are you okay?!" Hinotori shouted in a frightened voice as he rushed towards Kurayama.


    "Hinotori! Stop!" Kurayama yelled as he pushed Hinotori with all his power.


    Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind struck Kurayama and violently launched him towards a tree with immense force. Kurayama collapsed on the ground, unconscious as a narrow trail of blood started leaking from his mouth.


    "You bastards! I was nice enough to give you ten seconds to explain yourself, yet you took the chance to attack me while my guard was dropped. Forget about getting proof, I''m killing you right now!" The woman shouted in an enraged voice.


    The woman was limping towards Kurayama, gripping onto her abdomen from the immense damage she received from that punch.


    Hinotori dashed towards the woman and tried to punch her in the face, but the latter already saw him and smacked him with the back of her fist before she flicked her finger at him, which created a gust of wind that launched him away.


    "Stay down." The woman said in a cold voice before she continued limping towards Kurayama.


    Hinotori was lying down on the ground, half-conscious from that powerful attack. He was looking at the woman staggering towards Kurayama. He was trying to move, stand up, talk, do anything, but he was too powerless. His body felt heavy and numb.


    While the woman was walking towards Kurayama, she was charging up another sphere of air, "I gave you a chance, but you so gladly fucked it up. Say goodbye." She said as she aimed the ball of air at Kurayama.


    "Stop!" A loud yell echoed behind the woman.


    She quickly turned, startled from the sudden shout. As soon as she turned around, her vision got blocked by Kurayama''s black leather jacket that covered her face. As she was trying to take the jacket off of her face, she felt an overwhelming and powerful punch right to her abdomen. She spontaneously gripped onto her abdomen, just to get punched in the face by the same powerful and overwhelming punch.


    The woman was trying to regain her focus, but the barrage of punches didn''t stop. She was getting assaulted by a never-ending barrage of punched that struck her face, abdomen, and side.


    Her nauseousness and dizziness were growing exponentially with each punch, slowly knocking her out of consciousness.


    The man delivering those devastating blows was none other than the farmer that Kurayama and Hinotori met when they arrived. He was wearing a white tank top, which revealed his bulging veins and muscles. He looked completely different from the fragile old man that he was before.


    As he was about to deliver another powerful blow to the woman''s face, the latter instantly charged up another sphere of air. The woman used the ball of air to strike the old man at point-blank range, launching towards a tree at an absurd speed.


    The woman removed the jacket that was blocking her vision and gripped onto it very tightly. She was bleeding from her mouth as she checked her surroundings with bloodshot eyes. She glared at the old man lying down on the ground unconscious.


    "Fucking enhancers!" She said as she charged up another sphere of air before she shot it out at him, which she missed due to her dizziness and nausea.


    "Fuck...That enhancer did a toll on me. I can''t believe I was beaten up just because a fucking jacket was blocking my vision." She said as she threw the jacket and charged up another ball of air.


    As she launched her attack at the jacket, Hinotori leaped towards it, guarding it with his own body. Hinotori took the full force of the attack with his body, yet he succeeded in protecting the jacket. Hinotori dropped down, struggling to breathe as he started spitting blood.


    "Are you stupid?" The woman asked in a confused voice.


    "It-...belongs to my-...friend." Hinotori struggled to respond.


    "Well, at least you''ll die bravely." The woman stated as she charged up another ball of air and aimed it at Hinotori.


    Suddenly, the woman felt an overwhelming presence right behind her. The aura of the person behind her was so devastating, it made her want to vomit.


    The woman slowly turned around, nervously sweating as she looked behind her with the corner of her eyes, just to see a dark figure completely covered in a dark mist.


    The woman quickly turned around and tried to launch her attack, but the dark figure tightly gripped onto her hand and stopped her attack. He then delivered an overwhelmingly powerful punch to her abdomen, launching her towards the cabin at an absurd speed before she crashed on it and completely demolished it.


    Kurayama stood still for a few seconds, observing his surroundings. Suddenly, the dark mist covering started to slowly disappear until it completely faded away.


    Kurayama collapsed to the ground, unconscious from the immense stress that his body underwent.


    The chaotic fight has ended.