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."

the floor groaning in a

"H..help."

to move. Currently, his body was paralyzed and he couldn't move a single muscle. He could only just barely feel his right foot, but

inside of his one

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

matters worse, it had been quite a while since he had

blurry and he was going in

I was born

individual thought in the midst

was clear to him, despite his lack of understanding of

he been stronger, he would've never found himself

he was experiencing would've never happened if he was

Never!

Drip—! Drip—!

served no purpose as it only heightened the individual's paranoia and sense

slowly grew

"Akh."

his lips until they bled, the individual moved his

"W..water."

moment. Without it, he was a

"Ukh."

veins bulged on the side of his face, the figure slowly pushed his body

definitely make

***

packing. Let's head back to

in satisfaction

shook his head and

leaving

"Hm?"

Melissa tilted her head.

say before that it was your fault for bringing me here? You surely must know of a way to

"I do."

staring at the interface in front of

currently looking at

has been staying in the same spot for quite a while. Is she troubled with something? Or is she

"Kevin?"

Kevin out of his thought was

was met

"Hm? What?"

you not

one of the plants in the distance, Melissa raised up

thinking about? Are you telling me that

for a

Melissa from talking, Kevin raised his hand and gazed in Amanda's

to earth.

the

face hardened a little

such words,

Kevin meekly looked at Melissa before

'Right on.'

not what you think Melissa. The

"Not big?"

Melissa raised her brow.

arms together she

"Please do tell me."

wore on the outside looked normal, but Kevin knew

her to be suddenly dragged into

her situation would react the way

was why Kevin didn't

struggled to find the right words to say as he gazed at Melissa. In the end, he

one dragged here. Amanda

***

three days passed, but nothing

weren't in

the wall with

the most exciting routine, but it was

"Huuuu…"

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

'I'm getting close.'

that I was on the verge of reaching the next stage of my body art

[Body Hardening]