The Author's POV

Creak— Creak—

As footsteps rushed out, a creaking sound was heard coming from the wooden floor beneath.

A young teen clutching a small soup ran toward a bed in a rundown apartment as a sickly figure lay on it.

There were cracks on the walls, and there were spiderwebs on the corner of the house as dust filled the area. It was not a place where a child should be in.

"Have some soup mother."

Kneeling down, the youth's hand shook as he carefully placed the soup on the shelf beside the bed.

The youth was rather skinny and his complexion was rather pale, but his green eyes shone with ambition.

"M…mother."

Carefully touching the woman that was resting on the bed, the youth tried to wake her up.

The more he stared at her, the greater the pain and void in his heart became.

"B..Brian."

The woman finally awoke, revealing a pair of beautiful green eyes as she touched the youth's cheek.

As her sickly and skinny arm touched the youth's face, it barely remained there before falling weakly onto the bed.

Picking the arm back up, the youth placed it on his cheek.

A bright smile adorned his face.

"Mother, I've got good news for you."

A wave of excitement washed over the youth as he stared at his mother lying on the bed.

"I've finally got a job!"

The youth's voice raised as he thought of the job offer that he received not too long ago.

In a world that was primarily dominated by the strong, those that didn't have strength were not treated well.

Rather, they were considered to be the 'burden' of society as they contributed nothing to the crisis that enshrouded the world.

The youth who was staring at his mother was one of the unlucky few who was born without a talent.

Or rather, he had one, but it was only of the rank level. Just like his mother.

Such talent was a curse in this world, as jobs were scarce. Who in their right minds would hire such talentless individuals?

People with great talents were the only ones able to land jobs since they were able to use their skills to complete tasks faster and more efficiently.

Farming? Why need farmers when you could have an awakened do the same tasks, faster and more efficiently?

Complex calculations? Just a simple skill and they would be able to do it faster and more efficiently.

A tough world greeted the mother and son duo, and they were just one of the many unfortunate ones.

That was until most recently.

"Listen here mom, I know that you're doubting me, but this job is clean. You can trust me!"

As he held tightly onto the sickly figure's hand, the youth thrust his face forward.

"…mom, the pay is really good and with it, I'll be able to finally pay for your medical bills! You will be healed"

Imagining his mother recovering and playing with him like in the good old days filled the youth with excitement.

"Mom, just watch me. I'll definitely cure you."

Feeling a clench of his hand, the youth looked toward his mother who looked back at him with a proud smile.

"I..believe you."

Her weak and frail voice echoed throughout the room.

Biting his lips, the youth squeezed her hand harder.

"Trust me."

***

"Ugh."

figure lay on the floor

"H..help."

murmured quietly as he struggled to move. Currently, his body was paralyzed and he couldn't move a single muscle. He could only just barely feel

inside

'I'm thirsty, I'm hungry.'

worse, it had been quite a while since he had last drank or eaten

was blurry and he was going in and out of

was born with

individual thought in the midst of

him, despite his lack of

he been stronger, he would've never

paralysis he was experiencing would've never happened if he was stronger or even

Never!

Drip—! Drip—!

served no purpose as it only heightened the individual's

eyes slowly grew

"Akh."

they bled, the individual moved

"W..water."

the moment. Without it, he

"Ukh."

pushed his body with his foot. The only part of his body that he

definitely make

***

done packing. Let's head back to

patted her hands in satisfaction as

his head and

leaving him

"Hm?"

Melissa tilted her head.

bringing me here? You surely must know of a

"I do."

eyes and staring at the

currently

spot for quite a while. Is she troubled with something? Or is

"Kevin?"

of his thought was Melissa's

his head, he was met with

"Hm? What?"

you not hear

at one of the plants in the distance, Melissa raised up

telling me that there's no way

for

stop Melissa from talking, Kevin raised his hand and gazed

way to go back to earth. But

don't like the

face hardened

such words,

check, Kevin meekly looked at Melissa before

'Right on.'

think Melissa. The problem isn't exactly

"Not big?"

Melissa raised her brow.

her arms together

"Please do tell me."

normal, but Kevin knew just how angry

understandable. For her to be suddenly dragged into a

else in her situation would react the way she

didn't get

the right words to say as he gazed at Melissa. In the end, he came clean as he

one dragged here. Amanda

***

the assault, three days passed, but

for the fact that Jin and I weren't in opposite rooms anymore, the routine

bang the

most exciting routine, but it was better

"Huuuu…"

sat cross-legged in the middle of the room, I took a deep breath and my

'I'm getting close.'

were tingling, a sign that I was on the verge

[Body Hardening]