Rebirth Of The Sealed Core: The Rise Of Billy Howell

Chapter 6 – The Man With Blue Eyes

Billy couldn’t move. His legs felt glued to the pavement as he stared at the empty spot beneath the streetlamp. The old man was gone—completely gone. No footsteps. No shadows. No lingering silhouette.

Just thin air.

Billy’s throat tightened.

“That… wasn’t normal. Not even close.”

He forced himself to breathe and checked the system interface again, hoping it would explain something—anything.

【 WARNING REMAINS ACTIVE 】

An ability user has shown interest in you.

Threat Level: Unknown

Distance: Out of range

Billy closed the screen with a shaky hand.

“So someone out there can teleport or disappear. Great. Just great.”

He swallowed hard and hurried home, constantly looking over his shoulder. Every passing face felt suspicious. Every moving car felt too slow, as if watching him. He kept walking faster until he reached the tall, aging apartment building where he lived.

The security light above the entrance flickered, as always. He went straight to the third floor, opened his door, and locked it—once, twice, then the chain.

He leaned on the wall, exhaling.

“Okay. I’m safe. For now…”

But the moment the adrenaline faded, exhaustion hit him like a hammer. His body felt heavier than usual, and a strange heat pulsed in his chest—probably the “energy unlock” the system mentioned.

Billy threw himself on the bed and covered his face with his hands.

“Ability users are real. The system is real. And I’ve been noticed.”

He groaned. “My life was normal two days ago. How did it fall apart this fast?”

As if hearing him, the system chimed softly.

【 SYSTEM MESSAGE 】

Your awakening will attract stronger attention soon.

Prepare to grow.

Billy frowned.

“What does that even mean?”

Before he could ask, another screen slowly unfolded.

---

【 NEW FUNCTION UNLOCKED – REWARD HALL (Beginner Tier) 】

You may now claim one Beginner Reward for activating the system.

Available Reward:

Beginner’s Gift Box (Lv. 1)

---

Billy sat up instantly. “Finally, something helpful.”

He tapped on the glowing box.

---

【 OPENING BEGINNER’S GIFT BOX… 】

You have obtained:

+30 System Points

Basic Physical Enhancement (Minor)

Energy Sensation Skill (Lv. 1)

One System Token

---

Light washed over Billy’s body like a warm breeze. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened again, and the heat in his chest steadied into something more balanced.

He stretched his arms.

“Okay… that actually feels good.”

He checked the new skill.

---

【 ENERGY SENSATION – Lv. 1 】

Allows you to faintly sense life energy, danger, and supernatural fluctuations nearby.

Range: 3 meters.

---

Billy blinked. “Three meters is nothing… but better than zero.”

He tapped the last item.

---

【 SYSTEM TOKEN 】

A rare currency that can be used to unlock one system function early.

(Usable only once.)

---

Billy hesitated. Should he use it now? Or save it?

His curiosity won.

“System, what can I unlock with this token?”

The interface responded instantly.

---

【 FUNCTIONS AVAILABLE FOR UNLOCKING 】

1. Exchange Pavilion – Buy items, skills, and upgrades with system points.

2. Legacy Archives – Unlock memories, skills, and fragments of your past life.

3. Combat Simulation Room – Train without risk and gain experience.

---

Billy stared at the list.

All three looked ridiculously useful. But he could only pick one. His head began spinning as he tried to decide.

Exchange Pavilion meant he could finally buy skills or techniques.

Legacy Archives meant learning about his mysterious past life.

Combat Simulation meant training safely… something he definitely needed.

He ran his fingers through his hair.

“I’ll… think about it. Picking blindly could kill me.”

He put the token aside mentally and stood up.

The moment his foot hit the floor—

His entire body froze.

A shiver ran up his spine, cold and sharp, as if invisible ice brushed his skin.

Billy instinctively activated Energy Sensation.

His heart dropped.

Someone was standing outside his apartment door.

Not moving.

Not knocking.

Just… standing.

Billy’s breath caught.

“No way. Already?”

He tiptoed to the door and looked through the peephole—

Nothing.

Empty hallway.

Silence.

Nobody there.

But his senses kept screaming.

He backed away slowly.

A message popped up:

---

【 ENERGY FLUCTUATION DETECTED 】

Unknown presence attempting to conceal themselves.

Threat Level: Low–Medium

---

Billy felt sweat form on his forehead.

“If the system says someone’s there… then someone’s there.”

He scanned his room with his eyes, trying to find something—anything—to defend himself with. A mop. A chair. A shoe. Nothing useful.

Suddenly—

A crisp knocking echoed through the quiet apartment.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Billy’s heart jumped to his throat.

A calm voice spoke from the other side.

“Billy Howell… we need to talk.”

Billy staggered backward, eyes wide.

He knew that voice.

It was the old man from the street.

The one with glowing blue eyes.

Billy’s pulse roared in his ears.

The man outside spoke again, voice steady.

“Don’t be afraid. If I wanted to harm you, you’d already be gone. I only want to help you… awaken.”

Every muscle in Billy’s body tensed.

Help him awaken?

How?

Why?

Billy paused, swallowing hard.

He didn’t know whether to open the door…

Or run for his life.