Despite their sorry looks and the devastating state of the residential houses, these men still rejoiced. For people like them, they rarely faced disasters. But when they do, they will be helpless.Even though they have abilities, they aren’t as strong as the Challengers. These magic were used only in their everyday lives. And it’s not enough to defend themselves against such monsters.While they were rejoicing, Axel was at the side, panicking. The [Stealth] ability just wore out. This was the first time that he exerted himself. Using his abilities one after another drained him of his strength.He collapsed on the ground with a loud thud, heaving in exhaustion. His heart is beating against his chest.He only conjured that wind blade according to how he saw the owner use it. But he did not expect this ability to be strong enough to kill the creature.Axel’s lips widened in a smile. He killed a Tower monster. Just him. Just by his strength. He stared down at his hands and giggled.A few
Axel waited for the others to leave before he got up and left. But right when he turned to the next alley, he slipped and tumbled.A slightly big lump was lying in the street. His legs were still unstable, and he could not avoid it in time. Luckily, his butt only hit the ground beside the lump, he did not hit it directly.Axel curiously looked at the lump.It was a cat.A big tuxedo cat with a fluffy belly.Axel is not fond of animals… but his brother is. He remembered that his brother would adopt cats, feed them, and if they didn’t stay inside the house, he just let them go. But Nyx will always leave cat food in the backyard, just in case it comes again.As Axel took a closer look, this fluffy tuxedo cat is injured. It’s belly has an ugly wound and blood pooled around it. Axel stretched his hand to heal the little thing but he can’t muster any healing aura on his hand.He was able to regain his physical strength but not his abilities.Axel gritted his teeth.This won’t do. How will he
A week had passed since Axel was released from the hospital. During this week, he never missed a day visiting the Masuda Dojo and practicing swordsmanship with Luna. He also got to know her better.She didn’t like to talk, but she loved animals. When he mentioned the tuxedo cat he had saved in an alley, she showed interest for the first time. She said she wanted to visit the cat and even thanked him for saving it. Axel immediately took this chance to invite her to his house, but she refused.“Why?” he blurted out before he could stop himself.“Just so,” she replied with an expressionless face, turning her back on him. Axel was left scratching his head. Sometimes he couldn’t tell what she was thinking. She wasn’t the talkative type, and her actions were hard to decipher.But he knew she was kind. She was kind enough to give him towels and a bottle of water during break time and kind enough to prepare his dojo uniform before training. Although he soon found out she did these things for e
Of course, Axel would not forgive his foolish classmates.Throughout the entire school year at Maple High School, that group of boys never left him alone. They followed him like annoying fleas, beating him whenever they got the chance.Axel stared at his book.Should he… steal their abilities? Let them feel what it’s like to be boiled alive?A smile crept across Axel’s lips.The next morning, he slung his bag over his shoulder and locked the door behind him. He made sure his hair still covered his face and hunched his shoulders, just as he always did when heading to school.When he caught his reflection in the mirror, he noticed something had changed. He no longer looked beaten up and lifeless. Ever since he died, he seemed to look more alive.For the first time, Axel was able to smile.Axel left his house in high spirits, but the moment he stepped out of the gate, he felt someone’s eyes on him.Surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it, acting as if nothing was wrong
What was he about to do? Of course, practice his skills.Cole stretched his fingers as if he hadn't used them in a long time. When he saw Axel’s figure, he smiled in triumph.“Oh, look who’s here.”“Attaboy, coming to class like an obedient top student,” Cole snickered.He and his friends didn’t realize Axel was already prepared. The reason he stole Leon’s ability was because of its uniqueness. It wasn’t meant for fighting but was perfect for surveillance.Leon’s skill could track anyone. It was a high-level ability that could produce at least one hundred bug-like creatures, capable of recording both high-quality video and audio.Leon could upload this footage to his smartwatch and store it in his virtual space, allowing him and his friends to watch it whenever and wherever they wanted.Not only that, as long as he knew which user to search, he can search for their account and share them the footage of what was recorded. He can even share a live feed as he wants to, without using any
The reporters and Mr. Carlos’s supporters witnessed his son’s cruelty firsthand.Because of Axel’s death two weeks ago, his face had become widely known. So, seeing this poor boy, who had just returned to school, being ganged up on by his schoolmates shocked and dismayed everyone.The media present had their cameras rolling, broadcasting live to their networks.“Who is playing this video?!” Mr. Carlos screamed at the staff in charge of the video.But he was met with surprise when all the staff showed him that everything on their end had been disconnected.The power was already cut, yet the video continued to play. Even his wired mic no longer worked, and the high-definition cameras positioned for different angles had also been disconnected.But the huge projector still played the video.“It’s an ability. Someone’s awakened ability is keeping the video playing in projection,” one of the staff murmured. Seeing that they had already turned off the generators they brought as a power sourc
Axel was treated at the clinic and rested there.In reality, he was just pretending to be unconscious. The moment that person arrived, Axel immediately cut the connection from the projection and smiled.He had seen how Leon used his abilities and knew how to use them as well. After all, that idiot would often boast about his unique abilities in the group, saying he would become the greatest undercover agent and change the world with them.Leon could never imagine that someone might copy his ability and use it against him.“Hehe,” Axel giggled.Because of the earlier incident, which had clearly sparked public outrage, the school asked Axel to rest in the clinic and gave him two days off. The man from the Challenger’s Association was quick to respond as well. After Axel was blocked by the instructor, he first headed to the nearby bathroom and released the bugs. He managed to obtain a 3D map of the building layout and located Cole and his friends.Three bugs were placed in the same corri
Axel didn’t respond for a minute. Then, his dazed, lethargic eyes slowly looked up to meet Gabriel’s gaze. “I’m okay,” he whispered.But those guys are not.Axel flipped the blanket off and got down from the bed.“Thank you for saving me,” he said, bowing to the tall, stoic man who had shown him concern.“You—you shouldn’t be moving. Get more rest,” Gabriel said, taking a tentative step forward, ready to assist Axel in case he felt weak and collapsed.Gabriel had just discovered the monstrous things those boys had been doing to this unawakened poor guy. For years, they used him as a "living practice target," and no one paid any attention because the gang leader was the son of the Chairman.The students clearly didn’t want to get involved for fear of being affected. When Gabriel used his powers to question them, he was able to get the truth from their mouths.Axel was the only unawakened in the school.Nobody dared to go near him. No one wanted to help.Why would we help him? We are no