章 2: Chaos Descent

February 11, 2499. (Present)

Lishing Street, Axel Hospital.

Breathless, a young man was running in the white hallway of the facility. Adrenaline surged through his veins as he navigated the long corridors and his heart pounding in his chest like a war drum.

Rooms and hallways swiftly blurred into the background as the boy darted forward, each step carrying him closer to his sister's side.

The sound of alarms and distant growl of monsters resound through the sterile walls, fueling his urgency.

There was no time to waste, no room for doubt.

The demonic beasts are here.

'Please... please, please be safe Ruka,' the young man worriedly cried in his mind.

The young man had memories of his past life as a slave mercenary. He could vividly recall the depressing days of his childhood caused by the absence of parental love and the harsh realities of being an orphan.

When he was 6 years old, a dark organization gave him a tag with a carving of 014, indicating that he is their 14th trainee.

He was manipulated and dragged into the clutches of a dark and sinister organization and was subjected to grueling training day and night in the most devious and unforgiving manner in order to become strong slave mercenary.

As he climbs the ranks by gaining power so fast, he was deemed as the most dangerous mercenary, making his owner grow restless.

On his last mission, looking forward to the sweet promise that he will be finally free, he unconciously left his guard down. In the end, 014 was the one who was betrayed.

He died not knowing the feeling of freedom nor having a name and a family.

He always yearned the taste of true freedom, to experience the warmth of a loving family and the joys of a normal existence. And so, he was really grateful when he was granted a second chance at life.

In this life, he had indeed found a family, albeit one living in poverty.

Within this world, where strong bullies the weak, his family found themselves victimized and oppressed by those with powerful backgrounds. Their weakness led them to the unrelenting pressures imposed upon them by those who held the reins of influence and privilege.

Yet, they brought him immeasurable happiness despite the miserable circumstances and for first time he experienced a sense of belonging and togetherness.

But fate in its relentless caprice had chosen to snatch away his parents, leaving him and his sister alone.

From then on, the young man vowed to protect his sister at all costs. Even if the world becomes his enemy.

As he arrived at a familiar door, his gaze fixed upon the number before him— 'Room 197'. He sighed in relief when he see that the door was unscatched.

Without a moment's hesitation, he turned the doorknob and pushed the door open, revealing his sister peacefully resting in the hospital bed with a mana tube attached to her arm.

"Thank god, she's safe," the young man whispered in rejoice between his breaths.

However, the fleeting moment of relief shattered the moment his eyes were drawn to a horrifying sight just beyond the windowpane.

A hungry demonic beast, resembling a hybrid of a man and a wolf, stands tall on its two legs. It's eyes, the color of crimson red that gleamed with wild instinct, fixated its gaze upon them with its claws pressed against the glass.

Within moments, the monster crashed through the window, shattering the fragile barrier and mercilessly attack the two defenseless humans within the room.

Equipped with the experiences when he was a mercenary at the face of foreign enemy, he had a mix of calmness and nervousness.

Gritting his teeth, he swiftly threw the backpack he had been carrying, obstructing the beast's line of sight.

The creature instinctively raised its hand to shield against the unexpected obstacle, causing the bag to tear open and its contents scattering in random directions.

Taking advantage of the distraction, the young man scanned the room to search for a suitable object to wield in defense.

His gaze settled upon a mop with an iron rod, and with a fluid motion, he snatched it in his hands.

The hungry beast growls and lunged forward aimed directly at him.

The young man used the iron rod as a makeshift shield, causing the creature to swallow the iron mop instead.

"That was close!" he exclaimed through gritted teeth.

Dueling with the E-ranked beast, the young man realized that his strength alone was not enough to deal with it head on. He can feel his muscles breaking and his tendons trembling.

'This ugly beast was comparable to a super soldier on earth...' muttered in his head, analyzing the situation.

'It is dumb... I can win this If I use my cards right.'

Out of battle instinct, he pushed himself off the wall with a strong kick, using it as leverage.

Just when their body was slightly apart, the creature remove the mop in its mouth, ready to strike the young man.

But unexpectedly, the young man twisted his body to execute another powerful kick hitting the abdomen of the beast.

The beast's body was sent flying through the air, crashing into the mana absorption stand, leaving a dent to it.

Shaking its head from the disarray of landing, the beast saw a young girl lying peacefully near its impact point.

His eyes goes wide open and saliva escaped through its mouth as it sees nothing but a luxurious high-grade meat.

"NOOO!!! LEAVE MY SISTER ALONE!!!"

The desperate cry erupted from the young man's mouth.

Full of intense rage, his mind went blank and despite his own injuries, he charged forward.

The young man and the beasts engage in a fierce close combat battle. Their movements was a clear of instinct and raw power.

As the bald werewolf unleashed its wild fighting style, a total chaos develop, causing the hospital bed on which Ruka lay in coma to be carelessly knocked over.

Seeing this, the young man's rage was fueled even more.

"GRAAAAAAAAAH!"

Gritting his teeth and hardening his muscles, his fighting style blew off the roof. This is his first time fighting like a maniac without thinking.

However, all his efforts was futile when he found himself floating in mid-air.

His body was sent flying by the enemy.

His F rank strength was a baby compared to the strength of an E-ranked demonic beast.

"Huh?"

Feeling the world around him seemed to slow down, he asked with confusion.

"Is this really happening on my birthday?"

A series of thoughts flooded his mind, contemplating the cruel twists of fate that had led him to this point.

"It's true that I've taken countless lives, innocent or not, in my past life... I-Is this karma?"

"Just when I finally gained a proper name... and even a family I can call my own..."

"Why's life so unfair?... it's too cruel..."

The young man's mind swirled with a cloud of emotions.

This time, he finally landed on the ground with his back facing the ground.

"HAHaHAHAHAHaHAHAHa!" laughing maniacally, he struggles to sit up.

Right now, he needed to save his sister, not waste his time being depressed by his miserable fate.

"F*ck this! I won't admit defeat!"

As he uttered those words, he grabs the first object closer to him. It was an open box containing a dark scarlet book. Ancient pattern and time-worn symbols was carved in its cover, looking like a sturdy primitive weapon.

The book was a family heirloom inherited from his parents. His initial plan was to sell this book to earn some star coins enough to pay the hospital bill of his sister.

He was very careful not touching the book to remain its value but that's gonna change now.

Without a moment of hesitation, he threw the box along with the mysterious book with all of his remaining strength on the demonic beast who was on the verge of devouring its luxurious high-grade meat.

The book swiftly flew towards the demonic beast but instead of hitting the creature, It suddenly shoot light rays in all direction like a blinding bomb.

Accompanied by a pieircing, deafening pitch, it makes the bald werewolf and the young man unable to do anything.

Suddenly, a female voice resounded inside the young man's head.

[Qualified User Detected.]

A wisp of light smoothly entered the forehead of the young man.

[System rebooting... Successful.]

[Fusing... 34%...]

[79%...]

[100%... Successful.]

[Congratulation on obtaining the System,]

"I must be crazy... I'm even hearing things now?" he chuckled.

Remembering the situation he was in, he can't afford to waste any second.

"This isn't over you ugly beast!"

He gritted his teeth as all of the rage and negative emotion came back to his being, reaching the limit.

[Skill Awakening!]

[You've learned a skill 'Outburst']

"I don't know what is this but I'll even sell my soul to the devil in order gain power," the young man muttered in a low voice before saying another words.

"Come. Outburst."

At the mention of the command, a surge of dark crimson energy burst at the body of the young man.

'I can feel the power but... my sanity's fading...'

'Doesn't matter... I'm here to slaughter.'

He looked coldly at the demonic beast who was still immobilized.

"You're dead now, fur-less dog-man."