Kai’s vision blurred, the edges darkening as consciousness slipped away. The last thing he heard was Liang’s voice, cold and victorious.
“And remember, Kai. Strength is everything, and the top of the world is reserved only for those who possess an ‘Overwhelming’ amount of it.”
“Let this be the last time you try a stunt like this.”
“Else those limbs of yours will be replaced with robotic prosthetics.”
Liang finally turned around and left his brother on the ground defeated.
Kai lay on the ground, bruised and defeated, the weight of his failure heavy on his chest. The whispers of the onlookers filled his ears, each word a dagger to his pride.
“Did you see that? He didn’t stand a chance.”
“Liang was toying with him the whole time.”
“Kai’s always been too weak. He should have known better.”
All he could think about was his own weakness, his inability to protect Yanzi, and the humiliating defeat at the hands of his brother.
In anger and frustration, Kai slammed his fist into the ground, the impact sending a shockwave through the already shattered earth.
“Damn it… Damn it all!” he yelled, his voice echoing across the training grounds.
“Why did things turn out like this… The times I didn’t want anything, I got everything, the times I didn’t even try, I emerged victorious.”
“What’s so different now… why has everything changed?”
Indeed, throughout his life of living with a golden spoon, Kai lacked nothing, and thus never really wanted anything. Not the position of family head, not the shares of any of the family’s businesses, or some sort of position of prestige or power. He wasn’t ambitious.
But now things had changed, he wanted to get back at Alister for what he did, he wanted to protect the image of the woman he loved, he wanted to punish his brother for looking down on him and mocking the woman he loved, he wanted the means to easily accomplish all of that.
He wanted power!
‘Now… more than anything, that is what I want! The power to get my revenge, the power to teach my brother a lesson, the power to crush any and everyone who stands against me!’
The onlookers fell silent as they all slowly began to disperse, there was nothing left to see here. As his words echoed in his thoughts, a strange sensation came over him.
Suddenly, a red talent window appeared before his eyes, its message glowing ominously: The One Beyond The Abyss smiles upon you.[]
—–
In Megacity I’s Sector III, the massive, sturdy headquarters of the White Comet Guild could be found. Unlike other guild masters who had moved their headquarters to Megacity X, Yuuto had chosen to leave his in Megacity I, often saying this was the home where he created most of his memories he couldn’t bear to leave behind.
A memory flashed before Alister’s eyes.
…
Alister walked through the sterile, white corridors of the hospital, the faint beeping of monitors and the quiet hum of medical equipment surrounding him. He paused outside Miyu’s room, taking a deep breath before pushing the door open.
Miyu lay in her bed, a gentle smile spreading across her face as she saw her brother enter. “Alister!” she exclaimed weakly, her voice filled with warmth despite her frailty. Alister forced a smile, trying to hide his concern. “Hey, Miyu. How are you feeling today?” Miyu shrugged lightly. “Same as always. But seeing you brightens my day.”
Alister took a seat beside her bed, his expression turning serious. “Miyu, I need to tell you something important. I’ve been offered a position at the White Comet Guild, and I’ll be moving to their headquarters.”
Miyu’s eyes widened slightly, a look of surprise and sadness crossing her face. “You’re leaving?”
Alister nodded. “Yes, but it’s only temporary. I promise you… Miyu, I’ll find a cure. I’ll be back to save you.”
Miyu’s smile returned, softer this time. “I know you will, brother. I believe in you. I’ll be waiting for your return, just like I always do.”
Alister reached out, taking her hand in his. “I won’t let you down, Miyu. I swear.”
…
The memory faded.
‘I won’t let you down. I promise…’ Alister thought.
Alister now stood before the massive building with a huge white comet emblem, unable to help but marvel at its sheer size.
Yuuto, standing by his side, said, “This will be your new home. Follow me, and I’ll show you to your room while introducing you to the others.”
“Understood,” Alister replied.
Aiko glared intensely at Alister, but Alister returned an indifferent look, letting out a sigh as he followed behind Guild Master Yuuto.
Stepping through the door, Alister was immediately struck by the sight of a quirky duo engaged in a peculiar and dangerous game.
One of them, a young man with bright green hair and dark green eyes, he was balancing on a stack of wobbly chairs, juggling what appeared to be live grenades.
His partner, a woman with a spiky pink hair and a mischievous grin, was tossing the grenades
up to him while simultaneously trying to catch the ones he dropped.
The chaotic scene was a whirlwind of color and danger, and it seemed as if disaster could strike at any moment.
These two, Alister quickly learned, were the guild’s infamous troublemakers. Known throughout the White Comet Guild for their reckless antics, they often left a trail of chaos in
their wake.
The green-haired juggler was known as Axel, while the pink-haired dynamo went by Blitz. Together, they had a reputation for being both incredibly talented and unbelievably
troublesome.
Just as Alister was about to question the sanity of the guild, Aiko’s patience snapped. She stormed over to the duo, her voice sounding like a whip.
“Axel! Blitz! How many times have I told you to stop this kind of behavior? You’re supposed to be members of this guild! You should act like it!”
Axel’s face went pale, his juggling faltering as one of the grenades slipped from his grasp. Blitz caught it just in time, but the pair quickly scrambled to disassemble their dangerous
setup.
They both trembled under Aiko’s intense gaze, their bravado evaporating in the face of her
fury.
“P-Please, Aiko,” Axel stammered, “we were just trying to lighten the mood…”
