As the ground trembles violently, people around me pray with intensified fervor. Their faces are pale, frightened, filled with fear and tears. Yet, all of them try to find a bit of peace and hope from God.Above, a celestial light, unseen by many, grows ever brighter. I sense my ability is coming back, stealthily, I find a secluded corner, close my eyes, and delve deep into my mental world.In this realm, a devil at the core harnesses thousands of the souls of Babel's populace—criminals and those engulfed by their dark emotions, unable to follow the light to free themselves.These souls coalesce into a vast, ominous sphere, breathing dark energy and striving to dominate my inner world.Meanwhile, in my inner world there are hundreds of stars, each of my ability manifest as tiny stars.When I founded the Eden Guild, there was a pact that each superhuman or ability user who want to join had to give me a minimal amount of their ability to me as the leader.This pact is still remains in e

Under the sprawling canopy of a dense forest, the chill of the afternoon wind whips through the air. Tommy stands, his breath visible in the cold.“No,” Tommy declares firmly, his voice echoing slightly in the vast, open space, “I love my mother, and I want to be a successful person for her. She needs to be alive to see her only son succeed.”Livia, appearing as an ethereal angel with a gentle smile, responds soothingly. “You are good, Tommy. That’s why you are the chosen one. You are special. I am just joking with you.”Tommy’s gaze shifts to the corpse lying a few feet away. “How about Jack?” he asks, his eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and dread. “Do I need to bury him?”“You already have a new ability,” Livia explains with a mysterious grin. “It is necromancy. You can use it to bind Jack’s soul to his body, so he can be a zombie who will always listen to you.”“Really?” Tommy laughs, a hint of excitement mixed with disbelief in his voice. “Great. What should I do?”“Just say th

Later that night, as I lie awake, Violet's words echo in my mind. Perhaps she’s right—acting on principle could endanger us both and our livelihoods.She may lose her restaurant, her only means of living.Yet, the thought of many people consuming harmful food gnaws at my conscience. Some children may die.Over the course of a sleepless night, I wrestle with the weight of my choices, and by dawn, I arrive at a resolution.The potential harm to Violet, who has been nothing but kind and supportive, becomes my deciding factor."Violet, I've decided to leave this place," I announce as the morning light begins to fill the room.Violet looks at me, her expression a mix of concern and understanding. "Are you going to confront William directly?" she asks quietly.I nod solemnly. "I won't challenge him openly. But I will try to save some of this Greentown people."Marie, who has been listening, chimes in with a hopeful tone, "Alex, will we meet again?""I will always return here when I have tim

As the monstrous B-rank beast, a gigantic puma, chases Yorcik and Evan, Sergei finally drags the last car into place, creating a temporary camp of stacked cars.All four mercenaries, including myself, are hidden in the middle.This makeshift fortress is meant to be a place of refuge and strategic advantage.We can hide within the hollows of the cars, making it difficult for the beast to reach us while allowing us easy opportunities to snipe at it.Yorcik and Evan, running for their lives in a panic, quickly slip through a small gap in the cars—a gap too narrow for the beast to follow. Inside, the air is thick with tension and the smell of oil and metal.“What will we do now?” another hunter asks Sergei, his voice trembling with fear. They all know the grim reality when Sergei had yelled "Rank B beast!"—such creatures are notoriously difficult to kill.The puma starts to dismantle the cars one by one with its sharp claws and fangs. The sound of tearing metal fills the air, adding to th

This morning, I walk out of the hospital with all payments covered by the mercenary guild.With a sense of dread, I decide to walk into the mercenary guild, knowing that Joana is manning the reception desk today.My feelings really turn bad.Joana, wearing glasses, has a sweet voice and a pretty face, but beneath that exterior lies a temperament not many can stand.If you are ranked C or above, she treats you like royalty, sweet as honey. But if you're below that, prepare for a nightmare.Her gaze is condescending, and her words, venomous, wound every time she speaks.She always treats me like a burden, a dead weight at rank F.I choose to evade her and wait for other receptionist for my mental health and as I'm about to leave, her voice cuts through the air, taunting, “What a poor, useless guy here. Are you waiting for Lily? Sadly, she started her long vacation yesterday. You'll need to wait two weeks if you want her help.”I sigh, knowing I can’t wait that long. In a sour mood, I ap