Tragedy Unfolds

In the sweltering afternoon sun, the laborers of the dump site toiled tirelessly, and among them was Tony.

It had been a fortnight since he had been discharged from the hospital, and ever since then, he'd doubled his efforts to support his household.

This time, Tony was shirtless, exposing a prominent scar on his chest, a lasting reminder of the fiery blast he'd endured during his tournament bout with Flash. The wound still gnawed at him, refusing to fully heal.

With strength fueled by determination, he hoisted a refuse sack onto the awaiting truck, which roared to life and sped away. Tony wiped the sweat from his brow.

[Host tired and hungry, Host must rest and eat]

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his head, urging him to rest and eat.

"Will you shut up! Who says I'm hungry?" Tony snapped back at the voice, but his rebellious stomach growled, as if answering the question for him.

The others on the site turned their heads, bewildered by Tony's apparent conversation with himself, a moment of embarrassment for him.

"Hey, what the heck are you saying? There's absolutely no one talking to you," the mean-spirited Manager interjected with a sneer, his voice dripping with condescension.

"Sorry, sir," Tony responded, his tone respectful but tinged with embarrassment.

"Has your brain suffered some damage in that duel with Flash?" The Manager continued, rudely mocking Tony, eliciting laughter from the other workers who had gathered around.

"What were you even thinking, Tony, going to participate in a tournament with your grades?" He scolded Tony, his tone growing increasingly harsh.

"That's all in the past, sir. I'd rather not discuss it," Tony replied, attempting to maintain his composure. He didn't realized the news has spread so fast.

"Whatever, just get back to work, weirdo," the Manager taunted with a derisive grin, as Tony obediently returned to his duties.

As evening slowly cast its shadows over the workplace, one by one, employees began signing out. Tony decided it was time to do the same. A sense of accomplishment welled up within him as he realized he had managed to complete fifty bags today, a personal best. That amounted to around twenty-five Dars, more than enough for a satisfying dinner.

[Host alert! Lillian's approaching]

The system informed.

Tony's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected announcement. He swiveled around, his eyes widening as he witnessed Lillian sprinting toward him. Her cheeks glistened with tears, her heart raced like a drumbeat, and her trembling voice pierced the air.

"Brother! Brother!" she cried out, reaching out to grasp his arm, her desperation palpable.

Tony's concern deepened, and he urgently inquired, "What's the matter, Lilian? Why are you crying?"

Between sobs, she managed to utter the dreaded words, "It's mother."

Tony's heart felt like it had dropped into the abyss. "What happened to mum?" he asked, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on him.

"She fell unconscious and was rushed to the hospital," Lilian explained, her tears flowing more freely now.

"No, no, no!" Tony's hands shook as he held his head in disbelief, a sense of helplessness washing over him. "Have they started the treatment?" he asked, desperately seeking a glimmer of hope.

"They said they'll only start if we can pay half of the entry fee, which isn't even part of the main bill. So, she was returned back to the bridge," Lilian replied, her voice quivering with fear of the impending catastrophe.

Tony's mind raced, trying to come to terms with the staggering cost. "How much is it?"

Lilian's response hit him like a sledgehammer. "That's seven hundred and fifty Dars."

"What! That's too much!" Tony exclaimed, his daily pay barely amounting to ten percent of that sum. With only twenty-five Dars to his name, he felt an overwhelming sense of despair. He paced back and forth, desperately searching for a solution, before a glimmer of an idea flashed across his mind.

"Hold on a second," he told Lilian, determination shining in his eyes, as he darted toward the manager's office.

"Sir, please, I'm in desperate need of your assistance," Tony began with urgency, his voice quivering with concern.

The manager, his disinterest palpable, replied, "What is it now?"

"It's my mother, her heart condition has worsened, and I require funds for her hospital bills," Tony pleaded, his eyes filled with worry.

"Sorry, I can't lend you any money beyond your daily pay," the manager retorted, clearly unwilling.

He reluctantly handed over Tony's hard-earned twenty-five Dars, "That's your payment, now get lost!"

Desperation evident in Tony's expression. "Sir, I still need an additional seven hundred Dars…"

"Seven hundred! Are you out of your mind?" the manager bellowed angrily.

"Please, I promise to repay it. I'll work for it, just give me a chance," Tony implored, tears streaming down his cheeks as he knelt down and touched the manager's feet.

"Sir, she might not make it."

"You think I care? Deal with your problems on your own. Get out from my feet!" The manager coldly kicked him to the ground.

Tony's sister, Lilian, rushed to his side. "Brother?"

Tony struggled to his feet with his sister's help. "Don't worry, Lilian. I'll find a way to cover mom's bill," he assured her.

"But take this money to the hospital, give it to the nurse, and tell them I'll bring the remaining balance soon, okay?" he instructed his sister.

"Yes, brother," she replied, hugging him tightly before rushing off. "Please hurry."

Tony felt overwhelmed by the daunting task ahead. Seven hundred Dars seemed impossible to afford for someone in his situation, with no friends or family to turn to. He was trapped in a state of confusion and despair.

Then, he recalled Charlotte, a friend who had always come to his aid when he faced bullies. She was the daughter of Tyker's president, and perhaps, seven hundred Dars wouldn't be too much to ask from her.

Tony's heart pounded as he embarked on his frantic journey towards the presidential mansion, an arduous trek spanning roughly two hours on foot. The sky was draped in an ominous shroud, with thunderous rumblings that foretold an impending downpour. The world seemed ready to weep, but Tony cared little for the brewing tempest; he ran with unwavering determination.

In the midst of his sprint, a nagging voice from the system persisted within his mind, pestering him.

[I can assist you Tony]

[Let me help you]

Annoyed and exasperated, Tony couldn't contain his frustration, and he bellowed, "Just shut the hell up!" Yet, the system remained obstinate, denying him the permission to silence it.

Raindrops began to fall, accompanied by a biting, bone-chilling wind that enveloped Tony. His clothes clung to his body, drenched from head to toe. His vision blurred as exhaustion threatened to overcome him, his head throbbing with hunger, for he had not eaten all day.

Amid this relentless struggle, a sudden alert pierced through his thoughts, a message of dire importance.

[System alert. Lilian in danger. Host must return to her aid]

Tony's dilemma intensified. Should he press on to secure his mother's payment, or should he heed the mysterious voice and race back to save his sister? Doubts gnawed at him. What if the voice was fallible? It could be a futile, time-consuming detour. However, the voice had been right before, timely informing him of Lilian's arrival. These conflicting thoughts swirled in his mind, but ultimately, his love for his family prevailed, and he reversed course, sprinting back towards the bridge, the place his family called home.

With each laborious step, Tony's body screamed for respite, yet he refused to yield. Vehicles sped by, the city's dazzling exterior belying the cold, indifferent hearts of Tyker, a place where compassion seemed as rare as a precious gem.

Tony finally arrived at the location under the bridge, which served as a refuge for the homeless. His heart skipped a beat as he took in the scene, a chilling sight of mage hunters and officials swarming the area.

Perplexed, he asked, "What's happening here?" As he reached the central arena, the gruesome evidence became undeniable, with splashes of blood splattered across every surface, and flesh scattered in grotesque disarray.

His mind reeled as he inquired, "What happened here?" His question hung in the air, only to be swiftly answered by a vigilant mage hunter who had spotted him.

"Hey, what are you doing here? No humans or civilians are permitted outside. There's a dangerous monster on the loose," the mage hunter warned.

Tony felt his soul nearly escape his body at this revelation. "No, Mom, Lilian!" he cried out in despair, sprinting toward the area where his family typically sought refuge. His eyes widened in horror as he encountered the nightmarish scene before him.

"Mom!" his anguished scream pierced the air as he beheld his lifeless mother lying on the ground, a gruesome void where her heart should have been.

A concerned mage hunter intervened, grasping Tony by the arm and urging, "Young man, you must leave this area."

"Let me go! Where's my sister!?" Tony demanded, resisting the mage's hold.

"I'm sorry, but if you can't find any of your loved ones, they might have become part of the scattered human remains. A Grade D monster attacked this area, and we're still trying to locate it," the mage explained grimly.

"No! She can't be dead!" Tony vehemently denied, his emotions unleashing an intense gust of wind that swept through the area.

A warning echoed in his mind.

[Warning: Host needs to calm down]

[Host might unlock beserk mode]

"Please, young mage, calm down," he implored, attempting to soothe the agitated Tony.

[Berserk mode unlocked]

[Duration: five seconds]

[Four seconds remaining]

[Three seconds remaining]

"Don't tell me to calm down!" Tony's eyes blazed white as he channeled an immense surge of wind energy in all directions, hurling mage hunters aside like rag dolls. The chaotic tempest he unleashed marked a dramatic turning point in the unfolding crisis.

[Bersake mode expired]

[Enatra remaining: 0%]

As the berserk mode faded away, Tony's body felt utterly drained and weak. He curled up into a ball, tears streaming down his face, lamenting the unfairness and harshness of reality. It was as if a never-ending storm had battered his life—losing his father, expulsion from the mage academy, a near-death experience, the loss of his home, and now his mother and sister were gone as well.

"I'm all alone," he sobbed, his voice quivering with despair.

[Host is not alone… I can assist you in reuniting with your sister.]

Tony raised his head, a glimmer of hope in his tear-filled eyes.

[I can guide you toward wealth and power.]

[I can relieve your suffering.]

[But the host must adhere to my instructions.]

"Is Lilian alive?" Tony asked with a hopeful expression, his heart pounding with anticipation.

[According to my scans, using your DNA, I can locate her.]

[Lilian is still alive and in Tyker.]

[I can aid you in bringing her back.]

Tony felt a renewed sense of hope. "How?" he inquired, his voice trembling.

[The host must commence training first.]

[The host is currently too weak to embark on this journey.]

A holographic screen materialized in Tony's vision, displaying his current status.

[Host's Current Status]

[Strength level: 10%]

[Speed level: 11%]

[Durability: 5%]

[Stamina: 7%]

[Talent: Air]

[Skill level: 0%]

[Number of skills: 0]

[General Power analysis: 17%]

[The host must attain a minimum of 30% to embark on a mission.]

Tony stared at the screen, realizing the extent of his weakness; not a single stat reached even 20%.

[Are you ready, Tony?] The system asked.

"I am," Tony replied with unwavering determination.

[Congratulations, Tony.]

[Welcome Bonus: 1000 gold coins]

Tony rose to his feet, his heart filled with newfound determination. His time of suffering was about to come to an end.