"What is this?" I stared, confused, at the glowing translucent blue panels floating in front of me. They shimmered in the air like projections from some futuristic game menu, except… I could feel their presence. They weren't holograms—they were real.
[Level: 1]
[You have gained: Super Strength Lv.1 – Multiplies strength by 100]
[You have gained: Super Speed Lv.1 – Multiplies speed by 100]
[You have gained: Super Durability Lv.1 – Multiplies durability by 100]
[Life Saved: 1]
A system panel…? Was this really that? The fabled interface only System Holders could see? I'd watched training demos from the League of Heroes—but those were just simulations. Only the actual chosen ones saw the real thing. Yet here it was, floating before me. Impossible. Unreal. But the bruise throbbing on my arm and my racing heart reminded me this was real. Very real.
"Ouch…" A soft voice pulled my attention away. Across the street, the woman I'd saved sat on the curb, rubbing her lower back gently. Her eyes met mine—bright red, piercing, and somehow haunting—and guilt tightened my chest.
"Are you okay?" I rushed toward her, worry filling my voice. If I was suddenly strong enough to withstand a speeding truck, what if I'd accidentally injured her when pushing her out of harm's way?
"Y…Yes…" she murmured softly. Her gaze lingered on mine, curious and strangely intense. But she looked unharmed—not even a scratch. Maybe my powers activated after I pushed her, protecting us both. Relief flooded me.
"Good… That's good." I whispered, more to reassure myself than anything.
Turning away, I approached the crumpled bus. The metal was caved in, crushed like a tin can. When I peeked inside, it was empty. No driver. No passengers. Just a cold, clean, automated vehicle—no one to blame, no human error. But maybe…
My smile widened.
This was my chance—a lawsuit, emotional trauma, mechanical failure. I could sue the company. Hell, maybe I could even own part of it. Excitedly, I reached for my phone to take pictures for evidence. Then sparks danced across the screen. My phone let out a high-pitched whine and suddenly burst in my hand, electricity surging violently through it. I yelped, dropping the melting device.
"Oops! You should try our new product—we've got electric-proof phones, only $599!"
A smug voice echoed above me. Looking up, I saw her: a girl in a bright yellow jacket hovering mid-air, sparks of lightning crackling playfully between her fingers. Instantly, I knew—it was her. She destroyed my phone on purpose!
"I'll report this to the League of Heroes!" I shouted, pointing angrily at her. "You attacked a civilian!"
She laughed mockingly. "Good luck with that, loser." In a flash, she darted to the bus and quickly snatched something small and glowing from beneath the wreckage. "Mine now," she grinned, waving it in the air triumphantly. "Bye!"
Energy surged around her as she prepared to dash away. Something snapped inside me. No. She wasn't getting away that easily. Without thinking, my hand shot out, gripping her throat mid-flight. Panic filled her eyes as lightning erupted violently from her body, burning into my hand with agonizing pain.
"FUCK! That hurts!" I screamed, stumbling back as she tore free and disappeared into a crackle of electricity. My palm throbbed with searing pain, blistered and charred. She was gone, leaving me alone, painfully reminded that having power didn't mean I'm invincible.
Eventually, I limped back home.
My cheap apartment greeted me with thin walls vibrating from neighbors' arguments, dripping ceilings, and a mattress on a bare floor. But rent was cheap.
And right now, it was the only place I could call home—or at least afford to call home.
Now that my phone was fried, I had nothing left to do, nowhere else to go.
Except… maybe test my powers?
I suddenly sprang up from the couch. How did I forget? Everything today was so chaotic—a flipped bus, my mom dies, real system panels, a lightning attack—and somehow, I'd nearly missed the most important detail: I had powers. Real, tangible powers.
But then, reality hit me again.
To use powers legally or enter Gates, you had to be an officially registered Hero. Otherwise, the League classified you as a Villain, even if it was self-defense.
The Hero Center didn't open until 9 a.m.
It was nearly 8 p.m. now—I'd have to wait.
"Damn it!" I raised my fist angrily, nearly smashing the armrest, but caught myself just in time. My strength felt immense, like a bomb waiting to explode.
Hours dragged on slowly.
On TV, a news anchor smiled brightly. "Breaking news: A Rank S Healer successfully cured the Ministry of Defense's daughter from terminal cancer!"
My fist clenched again, bitter resentment boiling. I changed channels, but it was always the same: "Heroes Ending Poverty." "Heroes Rescuing Civilians." "Hero Daily Life." Heroes, heroes, heroes—idolized, marketed, worshipped. Even their breakfasts got screen time.
Yet the interesting part was always the villains. They rarely appeared, but when they did, things turned dark and exciting.
"Breaking news! Rank C Hero 'Electric Bee' from Ohio was found brutally murdered. The cause of death is unknown, and Sector B has been classified a danger zone. All heroes must proceed with caution."
Reporters asked another hero on scene, "Do you think this was a villain?" The hero nodded grimly. "She was loved by the community. Whoever did this—even if it was a civilian—is a villain now."
The moment I saw Electric Bee's picture, I froze. It was her—the bratty girl who destroyed my phone. I held a grudge, but did she deserve death? No. That didn't sit right.
I turned the TV off, closed my eyes, and sighed. For a brief moment, peace returned. In the silence, a different face appeared—the black-haired girl with haunting red eyes. Thinking of her made my heart quicken. She stayed with me, lingering like a vivid dream.
Then— "SHUT UP! I'LL KILL YOU, YOU CRAZY BITCH!" Loud shouting pierced the thin walls, dragging me back to harsh reality. Angry voices. Dripping ceilings. Roaches. This was my real world. A broke, invisible guy in a place someone like her would never remember.
I rolled over and closed my eyes again. Sleep was all I had left tonight. Tomorrow… tomorrow, I'd officially become a Hero.
---
Hours ago.
Somewhere in Ohio, high above the city, Electric Bee lounged casually atop a tall building, her legs dangling over the edge. Beside her, a half-eaten box of donuts and juice. Her phone buzzed—a notification showed $100,000 deposited.
"Heh, nice!" she chuckled, licking sugar from her fingers as a distorted voice crackled in her earpiece. "Payment processed."
"Sweet! Did you catch the hacker?" she asked cheerfully.
"That's not your concern." The line abruptly disconnected.
She shrugged, unconcerned. The truck's manufacturer had privately hired her to erase evidence—her powers were handy like that. She leaned back, tapping her phone. [Gate tonight. You joining?]
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her. She looked up too late. A silent blade sliced cleanly through her, splitting her body apart in an instant. Blood sprayed, staining donuts and concrete.
Electric Bee was dead before she even saw her killer's face.