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Alexander took the lunchbox from Mrs. Jackson. He wondered why she chose him specifically for the task. She was the wife of the CEO, after all. She could literally enter and leave anytime she wanted.

 Before Alexander left, he noticed the stern look on Mrs. Jackson's face—devoid of her usual cheerful gaze. The atmosphere around her alone wasn't right.

 Alexander kicked the thought aside. Why did he even bother thinking about it? It wasn't important anyway. Matters like that weren't supposed to concern him. What mattered now was earning enough money to pay for his sister's fees and enroll into the Hunter academy.

 Alexander made his way back through the company premises and reached his boss's office. He opened the door without knocking. 

The next thing he saw seized his breath.

His eyes froze at the scene before him. Diana—his girlfriend and co-worker—was sitting on Mr. Jackson's lap. They were kissing. Her work clothes were partly open, exposing her breast.

 His abrupt entrance startled them both. Neither of them expected anyone to walk in.

Diana pulled away from Mr. Jackson's embrace, adjusted herself, and hurried out of the room. But Alexander had already witnessed everything.

His girlfriend and his boss were having an affair.

Alexander stood frozen in the doorway, his breath caught somewhere in his throat, his feet rooted to the tiled floor, unable to process what his eyes had seen. The kiss replayed in his mind—how intimate it looked. The unmistakable affection in it. Damn.

Before his gaze could shift, Mr. Jackson's bloodshot eyes found his—filled with cold fury that could level a building.

"Get out. Now!"

 Alexander didn't hesitate. He turned and fled the office, his legs moving on instinct alone. He returned to his desk, but the scene refused to leave his head. Diana and Mr. Jackson. The kiss. The way she'd arched into him. The things she'd forbidden Alexander from doing.

 He'd gone through hell to ask Diana out. Saved for weeks to take her to a decent restaurant. And she'd said yes. But their relationship had always felt hollow, like she was doing him a favor. Unlike him, Diana came from a less recognized family, yet the way she carried herself in the company made you think she came from old money.

Alexander had never seen or had such moments with her. Ever. Throughout their two years together, she'd forbidden him from kissing and touching her, saying they should “take things slow.” But Mr. Jackson?

A message notification cut through his thoughts. He checked his phone and saw it was from Diana. He looked at her desk, but she wasn't there. She was probably still in the bathroom, fixing herself.

[ I don't know what you're thinking Alex, but it's over between us. Honestly speaking; I was never interested in you to begin with. You lack what every other powerful hunter has and I need them. Consider yourself fortunate for what your eyes got to see today. ]

 Alexander's breath came in ragged waves. His hands trembled as he lowered the phone.

What did he just read?

Two years. For two years he'd built his life around this woman. And she'd disposed of him like trash.

 He turned off his phone before he could read her words again.

 Before he could fully process his shattered world, a voice cut through the fog.

"Alexander."

 It was Laura, his best friend, his roommate, the woman who'd been there every single night Diana left him for Mr. Jackson. The woman who'd held him when he cried about Diana's coldness. The woman who actually cared.

"Mr. Jackson wants you in his office. ASAP."

Alexander’s chest tightened at the request. He wanted to grab Laura's hand, tell her everything, and let her comfort him. But there was no time.

 She leaned close to his ear. "I'm sure it's about the promotion. Don't worry, I put in some good words for you yesterday." She then pecked him on the forehead and patted his head like he was her child. "Now go and make momma proud."

Alexander swallowed hard. If only she knew the truth about everything; If only she knew what was about to happen.

He made his way back to Mr. Jackson's office and knocked five times before receiving permission to enter. He wished he'd knocked the first time; it wouldn't have come to this. 

The moment he stepped in, the atmosphere was suffocating. Glacial. Alexander kept his posture straight, eyes on the ground, though his legs felt unsteady.

Mr. Jackson didn't even spare him a glance. "You're fired. Pack your things and get out of my company. And no paycheck for you. That's it get—"

"Please, sir, don't fire me!" Alexander's knees buckled. He fell forward. "I really need this job."

Mr. Jackson said nothing. Just stared ahead like Alexander was beneath acknowledging.

"Please, sir, I swear I won't tell anyone anything. I really need this job. My sister's fees—"

Mr. Jackson's eyes rolled. A gesture of pure contempt.

Alexander had only gotten this job because of Mrs. Jackson. His wife. Albeit, he'd never fully trusted her. But after his mother died, she'd become something like a second mother to him. She was always there, always kind. One time, Mr. Jackson had found them in an awkward position together, something that made him suspicious. But Alexander never knew what he actually thought had happened between them.

How the hell was Alexander supposed to navigate that minefield now?

"You can leave when you're done with your nonsense," Mr. Jackson said coldly.

Alexander's heart plummeted into his stomach. Mr. Jackson had no more use for him. His dream of becoming the world's greatest Hunter was shattering.

"Sir, please." His voice cracked. "I recently awakened a talent and class. I really need this job so I can fund my Hunter Academy fees. Please. I won't tell anyone. I swear it."

He meant every word. What did it matter to him if Mr. Jackson was cheating? If Diana was the mistress? He was just a commoner struggling to survive. He had no leverage, no power. He just needed to keep this job.

Mr. Jackson was quiet for a moment. His gaze lingered longer than before. For a second, Alexander believed, actually believed, that Mr. Jackson was considering it. After all, Alexander was hardworking. He would do anything for the Jackson family. Anything.

Mr. Jackson stood up and walked toward him. "So what exactly did you get?"

There was a glimmer of something in his expression. Interest? Alexander's hope rekindled.

"Sir, I awakened as an E-Rank Hunter. My talent is..." He paused, gathering courage. "I can sense and navigate the road to literally anywhere in the world."

The moment those words left his mouth, Mr. Jackson's lips curled into a smile.

Then he burst into laughter. Cold, mocking laughter that echoed through the office.

Alexander froze. He didn't understand what was funny.

"You really should get out of here," Mr. Jackson said, finally catching his breath. "Tell me something. What's the lowest rank in Sunburn City?"

"C-Rank..." Alexander replied quietly.

"Good. You awakened as an E-Rank with a direction skill? What are you—a road map?" Mr. Jackson shook his head, disgusted. "Do you have any idea how useless that makes you? You're the lowest of the low. A compass with legs."

Alexander's face burned. Sure, his rank appeared to be the lowest, but awakening as a Hunter with direction skills wasn't entirely useless. Was it?

"But sir—"

"Shut it!" Mr. Jackson's voice cracked like a whip. "I don't want to hear another word. You will leave my company right now, and you will never show your face here again. And lose all contact with my wife. All of it. Understood?"

Alexander's gaze shattered like glass. This was getting out of hand. How could he cut her off? Mrs. Jackson depended on him. She made him stay, even paid him for his time. He couldn't just abandon her.

"Sir, I can't. That's too much. I already said—"

"I SAID LEAVE AND DO AS I SAY!" Mr. Jackson roared.

Alexander froze immediately. The door to the office burst open, and two hefty men stormed inside.

"TAKE HIM OUT!" Mr. Jackson ordered, his voice dripping with venom. "This boy is nothing but a nuisance. What's a direction skill supposed to do for my company? For this city?"

They didn't waste time. Within minutes, Alexander was grabbed by his collar and dragged toward the exit.

The sun had already begun its descent when Alexander finally left the building. He'd waited for closing hours, unable to face going home immediately. What was he going to tell his sister? How could he explain that he'd lost his job?

He could have contacted Mrs. Jackson, but that would only escalate things. And Laura... She'd surely witnessed him being dragged out. But no one had come. No one had tried to help.

He dragged himself across the empty streets. Twenty years of planning had been blown to dust. No one believed in him. No one saw any use in him. Even non-awakeners never missed an opportunity to scorn him.

By now, everyone at the company knew he was fired. Probably knew about Diana too. They'd all laugh about it tomorrow.

He was just a few blocks from his home when he noticed the lights were still on. His sister was still awake. His aunt wasn't home yet—if she had been, the lights would be off. His sister was waiting. Waiting for him to bring money home. Waiting for him to take care of her.

He'd failed her.

Before he could take another step, a group of hefty men emerged from the shadows and clouded his path. They wore the company uniform.

Alexander's heart skipped a beat as he staggered backwards.

"W-What do you want?" he asked, voice cracking.

Their leader stepped forward, and Alexander recognized him. One of the men who'd dragged him out.

"Mr. Jackson wants you gone," the man said flatly. "You know too much to be left alive."

Alexander's eyes exploded wide. He staggered backward. "What? No, I already promised not to tell anyone! I swear—"

The man chuckled as he raised his palm. Fire emanated from it, a swirling inferno that painted his hand in oranges and reds. A C-Rank hunter. At least.

"Nobody asked," the man said. "Besides, I believe this is for the betterment of Sunburn City. An E-Rank hunter like you shouldn't exist anyway."

Alexander stopped breathing. These men were really going to kill him. Right here. Right now.

"Please," Alexander whispered. "Please have mercy. I have to pay for my sister's school fees. My aunt needs treatment. I have responsibilities. Please."

The man's smile widened, cold and cruel. "Well then... run."

Something ignited inside Alexander. Not hope. Not exactly. But defiance.

He snapped around and bolted. His legs pumped hard, pushing his body to its limits. 

He'd run. He'd make it home. He'd find a way to survive this. He had to. His sister was waiting.

He wasn't useless. He wasn't.

Before his feet could even properly touch the ground for a second stride, fire erupted behind him.

The blast struck him square in the back, and the world became heat and pain. He was thrown forward like a ragdoll, slamming into the concrete so hard the impact drove the air from his lungs. Skin scraped raw. Bones screamed.

The men descended on him, their laughter mixing with the crackle of flames.

Alexander couldn't fight back. The stats of an E-Rank hunter would never compare to those of higher ranks. He was as good as dead.

He tried to rise, tried to crawl, but another blast of fire sent him sprawling. His vision blurred. Blood filled his mouth. The pain was everywhere, consuming, absolute.

His breath started to fade as darkness began consuming the edges of his vision.

He was useless. Worthless. A piece of scum.

Just like everyone had always told him.

What good was a direction skill?

Death was already at his door, laughing and mocking him for his uselessness.

It was only then that he remembered: today was his birthday. His twentieth birthday.

Unfortunately, no one remembered.

Maybe Laura did. Maybe Mrs. Jackson did.

They'd probably organize something for him.

But he wasn't going to live to see it.

Never again.

Today he would die, on his birthday.

At twenty years old, Alexander WOLFSTANG, died.

[ DING! ]

[ ALL REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET! ]

[ ABYSSFALL ONLINE SYSTEM INITIATED ]

[ WELCOME ALEXANDER WOLFSTANG ]

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