I walked toward my home. After ten minutes of heavy silence, I arrived.

  It wasn’t too large, nor too small—just enough for me and my sister. Two spacious bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a small, neglected garden at the back. For a moment, I stood still, staring at the structure.

  I lived here with my younger sister, Olivia, who was fifteen. This house was part of my father's legacy, something I had inherited after his disappearance. Both my father and mother had been S-rank hunters—exceptional warriors with extraordinary skills and abilities.

  But one day, everything changed.

  Fourteen years ago, an S-rank portal had suddenly appeared in the heart of the city. Monsters began roaming freely, a catastrophe that had never happened before. Normally, creatures from the portals never crossed into our world, but that day was the exception. My parents had rushed to the scene, leading the evacuation efforts and battling the tide of monsters. Alongside their comrades, they successfully pushed back the invading creatures, ensuring the city's safety.

  But then, the government made a decision that sealed their fate.

  Determined to eliminate the threat at its source, they organized a raid on the portal, selecting six S-rank hunters to enter. Among them were my father and mother. They never returned. None of them did.

  Now, fourteen years later, the portal remains—untouched, sealed off by the government, and restricted to all citizens. A monument to the hunters who never came back. The government maintains a strict 14-kilometer exclusion zone around the site, enforcing high security to ensure no one crosses its borders.

  I sighed and stepped inside. My gaze landed on the shoe rack—Olivia still wasn’t home. She was late.

  I removed my shoes, placing them neatly on the rack, and walked further into the house. Opening my bedroom door, my eyes swept across the familiar sight—a bed covered in red sheets, a ceiling fan lazily spinning above. A small cupboard stood against the wall beside a simple wooden table. The walls were plain white, adorned only by framed pictures of my parents.

  I moved toward the table and pulled open the drawer. Taking the forty dollars from my pocket, I placed the bills inside and shut the drawer. With a tired sigh, I pulled off my shirt and turned to the mirror.

  A reflection stared back at me—nineteen years old, red hair, blue eyes. My body wasn’t flawless, but it was strong. My face, however, was another story. It was sharp and well-defined, features that mirrored my father's in every way. It was a face that could make any girl fall for me if I tried.

  But in contrast, it was all a mask. Dark circles clung beneath my eyes, the result of pushing myself too hard. My face, though chiseled, looked worn. Scars marked my body—some old, some fresh. But the worst was the reddened, swollen skin on my chest, still stinging from the boiling water Logan had thrown at me.

  I sighed again and headed toward the bathroom.

  After spending some time under the water, I stepped out, half-naked and refreshed. Droplets clung to my skin as I grabbed a towel and began drying my damp red hair. Sitting at the edge of my bed, I felt the mattress dip slightly beneath my weight. My gaze wandered around the room. It was big and spacious—at least, that’s how it seemed to anyone else. If someone saw this house, they’d assume I was doing well, that I earned a lot.

  But reality was different. Only I knew how hard it was to manage everything.

  My eyes landed on the old clock hanging on the wall. 7:20 PM. Olivia is late today, I thought.

  I stood up and opened the cupboard, searching for something comfortable. I pulled out a black baggy T-shirt and a pair of black trousers. Slipping them on, I felt a slight sense of ease. I headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

  By the time I finished cooking, the clock read 8:45 PM—but Olivia still hadn’t come home. A knot of unease settled in my chest. I grabbed my phone and dialed her number. It was switched off.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  My concern deepened into panic. My heart pounded faster with each passing second. Without hesitation, I rushed out of the kitchen and made my way to the front door, ready to search for her—

  But the door suddenly swung open.

  Olivia stood there.

  My breath hitched as I took her in. Relief hit me first—until I saw her uniform. The once-crisp white and blue fabric was now dull, smeared with dirt and ink. Her crimson hair—the same shade as mine—was a tangled mess, strands matted together with grime. But what made my heart skip a beat was the swollen, red mark on her cheek.

  I rushed toward her, my hands trembling as they hovered just inches from her face.

  “W-what… Who did this to you?” My voice wavered, thick with a sudden, sharp anger.

  She flinched at my words. “N-no one, Ren… I-I’m fine.”

  She spoke quickly, avoiding my gaze. Then, without another word, she slipped off her shoes and hurried into her room, shutting the door behind her before I could speak.

  My fists clenched, my jaw tightening.

  James.

  I knew exactly who had done this. James and his group. He had been bullying her for weeks, and today, he had gone too far. Without hesitation, I shoved on my slippers and stormed out of the house, my mind clouded with fury. I knew where to find him.

  Ten minutes of relentless running, my breath ragged with rage, brought me to the park. And there he was—James, sitting on a bench, laughing with his group. Seeing him laugh, something inside me snapped. Olivia’s bruised face flashed in my mind, fueling my rage. Without a second thought, without considering the consequences, I lunged at him.

  “JAMES! HOW DARE YOU—”

  Before he could even react, I tackled him, pinning him to the ground.

  Punch.

  Punch.

  Punch.

  Each blow landed with raw fury, my knuckles stinging with the impact. Jimmy, Lara, and Sophia’s eyes widened in shock as I overpowered James, my rage fueling me beyond my physical limits.

  But then—a crushing force slammed into my face.

  Pain exploded through my skull as I was sent sprawling onto the cold, hard ground. James had used his skill: ‘Superhuman Strength.’

  I barely had time to register the blood dripping from my nose before he wiped his own, his expression twisting with murderous rage.

  “YOU FUCKING BASTARD!” he roared.

  And then, he started hitting me. Hard.

  Fists rained down like iron, each blow rattling my bones. I tried to block, but he was too fast—too strong. Blood poured from my nose, my vision blurring. My face throbbed, swelling under the relentless assault. And all the while, Jimmy, Lara, and Sophia watched. Smirking. Satisfied.

  Then—Javier stepped forward. His hand caught James’s arm mid-swing.

  James’s fist hovered in the air, frozen. He gritted his teeth and tried to push forward, but he couldn’t move an inch. The difference in power was painfully clear. Javier held his wrist effortlessly. James glared at him in fury, then yanked his arm back with a sharp pull.

  Meanwhile, I lay cradling my ribs on the cold ground, blood dripping from my mouth and nose.

  “DID YOU FORGET WHO’S SUPERIOR, YOU BASTARD?!” James barked, lifting his fist to strike again.

  But Javier stopped him—again.

  “Enough. Both of you.” His voice was deep, steady—commanding.

  A tense silence fell over the group. Sophia, Lara, and Jimmy stiffened at the sound of his voice. It was clear—they had never heard him speak before. Then, Javier turned his gaze to Sophia.

  “Sophia.” His cold, piercing eyes held a power that made her shrink back. “Heal him.”

  The command was firm, absolute.

  Sophia flinched. “I—I’m not healing that useless wretch,” she stammered, her voice unsteady.

  “Yeah, let him rot like this,” James scoffed, spitting to the side before turning away.

  Jimmy hesitated but quickly followed behind him like a loyal dog. Lara and Sophia exchanged glances before leaving as well, disappearing into the night.

  Now, only Javier and I remained. Javier watched them leave before shifting his gaze back to me. I exhaled sharply, forcing my battered body to move. Slowly, I pushed myself up.

  His eyes widened as I staggered to my feet and spat a mouthful of blood onto the dirt. It wasn’t the fight that surprised him—it was the fact that I was still standing. Even after taking blow after blow from James’s superhuman strength, I was still able to move.

  “…Are you alright?” He stepped forward, reaching out to help me.

  But I shook my head and walked past him. Javier didn’t stop me. Instead, he watched my retreating figure, his expression unreadable. Then, in a quiet murmur, he said, “…He’s… impressive.”

  His eyes lingered on the bloodstains marking the dirt. “He endured multiple iron punches—directly to the face. And more importantly, he hasn’t even awakened yet, but his endurance is…” He trailed off, deep in thought.

  Meanwhile, I walked through the dimly lit streets, the soft glow of the moon casting long shadows on the pavement. My face throbbed, swollen and red, but it wasn’t as bad as I had expected. More than the pain, something else lingered inside me.

  Satisfaction. The thrill of having finally landed a punch on James.

  And… something else. A quiet, growing excitement. Because something was flashing before my eyes.

  Bright, glowing blue letters.

  ? Congratulations. ?

  ? Congratulations. ?

  ? Congratulations. ?

  [ YOU HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECRET QUEST: ‘WILL OF THE POWERLESS.’ ]