Evolving Infinitely From An E-Class Hero

Chapter 3

All I could see was the darkness. Floating. A weightless abyss where time had lost all meaning.

But in the daze of near death, I could still hear.

The cheers. The voices. The shuffling of boots against concrete.

"The Guardian Corps saved us!"

"Thank you, Golden Guardian!"

"It's Lady Phoenix in all her blazing glory!"

"We thought we were going to die!"

Somewhere in the distance, the little girl was sobbing, but this time, with relief.

I could still hear the people — my people. The ones I had fought for. The ones I had died for. But their words weren't for me.

They were for the real heroes.

Golden Guardian, Lady Phoenix and War Man.

Their voices were close. I could hear them standing near the wreckage of the battlefield, near the bodies of those who had fallen. Including me.

"What brave heroes these ones were," Golden Guardian said with his gallant voice.

"They fought with everything they had," I heard Lady Phoenix add.

War Man let out a scoff. "Snake King was only an S-Class Villain. Us three didn't need to gather to take them down."

His voice was flat, unaffected. Not that I was surprised. From what I'd heard, War Man had always been like that — cold and straight to the point.

Lady Phoenix sighed. "It has been a while since we united like this. Thankfully, we all answered the call since we were close by."

"A complete coincidence, I'm sure," War Man said distastefully. "Whatever. I'm leaving." He cracked his neck, turning away without a second glance. "Too busy for this."

Lady Phoenix exhaled, shaking her head. "You're always too busy for everything."

War Man didn't respond. His heavy boots thudded against the cracked pavement as he leaped high and disappeared into the night.

Lady Phoenix turned to Golden Guardian, studying him for a moment. Then, she gave a small smile.

"It was nice seeing you again, Guardian. Been a long time."

Golden Guardian didn't smile back, but his expression softened just slightly. "Yeah. It has."

Lady Phoenix nodded once, then spun into a tornado of fire. Her flames roared to life, twisting skyward, and in an instant, she was gone.

Golden Guardian waited for a while. His gaze swept across the battlefield, taking in the destruction, the bodies, the sacrifices.

He watched as medics and policemen arrived, assisting the civilians. Each time someone yelled his name, he would wave.

They all loved him. Respected him.

I did too.

I wanted to be him.

I wanted to stand beside him.

To shake his hand, to thank him for all he had done for humanity.

Golden Guardian was the model hero. The type I idolized and wanted to grow up emulating.

Then— he looked in my direction.

Golden Guardian sighed.

"You did good, kid."

A pause. My dead heart skipped. Did the great Golden Guardian just commend me?!

Then, almost dismissively, I heard him speak again.

"What were you? An E-Grade? That's unfortunate. You would have been better off staying at home. At least for your sake. Let the stronger heroes handle the stronger villains."

My dead heart shattered again.

…What?

No.

No, that wasn't right. That wasn't what he was supposed to say.

I had fought. I had bled. I had broken my body apart for them.

And that was all he had to say?

Even after such a sacrifice, I was still seen as insignificant. As nothing compared to the stronger heroes.

Even after dying!

"Make sure you take the bodies to the ISA morgue," Golden Guardian said before exploding into the sky.

"Yes, sir," one of the workers around said. There were only two dead ones, right?"

"Yeah, it was TimberMan and that kid over there— huh?"

The other one turned to the pole where I had crashed on. It was empty.

"That's strange. I could have sworn there was a dead blond guy there."

What did they mean by that? Where else would I be?

My mind cut to black, like an old TV losing signal.

Wait. Where was I right now? What was happening?

I didn't know.

I couldn't tell.

I was lightheaded, my limbs were numb, and my thoughts swam through molasses.

However, as I kept floating up this magical field space, my mind kept replaying Golden Guardian's words over and over again.

"You did good, kid... But you should have stayed home."

I was still in disbelief, still burning with heartbreak and fury. So in the end my life was completely meaningless? I ended up achieving nothing?

That was all I kept thinking. And beyond that, whatever happened next, I couldn't remember.

To me, I was certain that I had died.

***

Beep beep beep.

It was the sound that woke me up.

Faint at first, like a distant heart monitor. Then louder. A rhythmic, steady sound resonating in my ear, dragging me awake.

I finally forced my eyes open.

Red. So much red.

A dim, pulsing glow the color of crimson, coming from outside the curved, glass-like box I was trapped inside.

Box? Trapped?

Panic instantly gripped my chest.

Where the hell was I?!

I shifted, trying to move my arms, but something was attached to me. I looked down and I saw them.

Tubes.

Long, coiling wires embedded in my skin, connecting me to the machine.

What was happening?

What the hell was happening?

Outside the glass, I saw figures move.

Seeing that they were not at all humans, my eyes widened with terror.

They didn't even look like the monsters we were used to fighting on Earth.

Their bodies were too long, their limbs too thin. Eyes too many, skin too green, clothes too foreign.

They walked past in silence, completely ignoring me, their glowing red monitors flashing symbols I couldn't read.

There was no doubt in my mind when I came to the decision. They were aliens.

I screamed.

The beeping spiked, turning into a loud, warning alarm. I thrashed, yanking at the tubes, trying to break free.

I had to get out. I had to get out!

Then, a figure suddenly appeared in front of me.

I paused, catching my breath as I stared at it.

This one was not like the others. It was humanoid.

Tall. Slender. She had golden skin and four silver eyes, her face still strangely human-like.

Unlike the others, she wore a sleek, regal uniform, her long hands folded behind her back.

Her voice was smooth, calming. "Stay still. If you panic, the Forever Core will not sync properly."

'Forever Core? What is she talking about?'

Even if I wanted to stay still, my trembling body would not listen.

"Who... what are you? Where am I?!"

She gazed at me, her expression unclear . "My name is Q'urtona. You are aboard the Zenith. My people have been watching Earth for centuries."

"Watching?" I swallowed, my throat dry. "Why? Are you going to invade?"

A soft chuckle. "No, nothing so barbaric. We merely observe. You Earthlings are... intriguing."

I didn't like the way she said that.

I tried again to move, but the tubes held me tight. "What am I doing here then? If you mean no hostility towards us, then let me go!"

She didn't flinch. "That would be unwise. You have already been chosen."

"Chosen?" My eyes widened. "Chosen for what?!"

Her silver eyes blinked in unison. "A host."

None of that sounded good. It made my heart pound harder.

She took a step closer, the red light casting a long shadow behind her. "For centuries, my people have sought a worthy vessel. A bearer strong in willpower that they can withstand the power of the Forever Core."

She lifted a hand, and suddenly, the tubes in my chest glowed.

A violent pulse of energy rippled through my body, and I screamed as something shifted inside me.

Something alive.

"You lost your heart in battle. The Forever Core — a fragment of a special asteroid we found — has taken its place," she continued, her voice eerily calm.

"You are the perfect host we have been searching for for years. We watched your battle. We saw your resilience. Your drive to help. Your desperate refusal to stay down. This is an opportunity we can not let by."

"I don't want it." I said out of fear.

The words came out strangled, almost a whisper.

Her expression didn't change.

"You are in search of power so that you can save more people. The Forever Core will grant you all the power you need. But... it will also change you."

Change me? My breathing tensed.

Q'urtona hesitated.

"Your body will no longer be entirely human. You will be somewhat... Bionic."

"No! No! I don't want it! Let me out!" I yelled, fighting, trying to break free. But then, gas flooded the chamber.

As I began to fade away, I heard Q'urtona whisper something to me:

"You are the only one who can save the universe."

Ding!

[The Core has been calibrated with the host.]