Inside a horse-drawn carriage, I sat facing Mary, who held a small book in her hands, while Noah took charge of driving.
Suddenly, the road ahead of us was blocked… again. A group of bandits emerged from between the trees, waving their weapons.
I exhaled in irritation and waved my hand, forming a swirling gust of violent wind that shattered their formation and hurled them away like scattered leaves.
The ones who remained stared at us in fear and disbelief before running off without even considering coming back.
"I told you buying a carriage was a stupid idea…" I stretched a little where I sat, trying to get some rest.
Mary replied with a soft snicker, "Still better than having two people share a single horse."
Noah laughed. "Stop whining. We won the vote."
I sighed in annoyance. "Easy for you to say. I'm the only one here capable of wide-range attacks. When bandits appear, who has to fight? Me, obviously."
Suddenly, I spotted a city in the distance. "Ah, we've arrived."
When we entered the gate of Valdron's capital, the ground was paved with hot asphalt.
The city itself was built with meticulous care. The temperature inside was noticeably cooler than the desert outside, and the atmosphere felt like any other kingdom despite the harsh environment.
The scent of marketplaces filled the air.
I didn't pay much attention — I'd seen countless cities like this — and simply drew the Hero's Sword, following the direction it pointed.
Noah eyed the sword curiously. "I haven't seen you use that sword except to track the chosen ones."
How am I supposed to explain that the sword isn't really a sword… more like a phone?
"…I can only use it on an enemy stronger than me."
"What?" Mary looked at me in confusion.
"It can be used once to grant me a huge burst of power."
We stopped walking when we reached a large crowd gathered around a wanted-post board. It stood in front of a strange building that looked like some kind of police station.
A man stepped out of the building holding a bundle of money — and the sword reacted, revealing him as the third chosen one.
I stepped toward him and greeted him. "Hello."
Mary and Noah approached behind me, both showing a hint of nervousness on their faces.
The surroundings fell silent. People stared at us in fear and unease.
"What do you want?" the man asked, irritated.
Mary spoke firmly, "We are the Hero's team. And it seems you're the third chosen one."
"Hero's team? Third chosen one? Not interested."
"Wait— we need you to save the world!"
"Let it burn. What's that got to do with me?" He tried to leave, but I grabbed his shoulder. "Hold on."
In a smooth motion he unsheathed his sword, nearly slicing off my arm if I hadn't withdrawn it at the last second.
"…Don't touch me again." He walked past me.
"Are you trying to start a fight?" I asked.
"You want to fight me? You can barely stand."
Mary grabbed my shoulder. "What does he mean?"
"…Remember my fight with Kyle? I used all of my speed at once. My bones got a bit damaged."
"And you didn't tell us? You should've at least visited the castle's doctors!"
"They were too kind… I didn't want to trouble them."
Noah added, "Let's go to a clinic. Maybe someone can fix you."
"There's no need. I'm fine now."
But Mary was already asking locals for the nearest clinic.
"Alright, this one seems good," she said, pointing at a building painted in white and green, bearing a serpent symbol.
We entered — the clinic was full of patients of all ages.
We stood waiting amid complaints and grumbling, mostly from me.
After an hour, our turn came. We entered the doctor's room. He was a young man in his thirties, with a light beard. He welcomed us warmly and asked me to sit on the bed.
I did as he asked. He studied my face for a moment.
"Aren't you the Hero?"
"Yes, that's me."
"I saw your fight during the ceremony — you were incredible."
"Ah… thanks."
"It's an honor to have you here. What seems to be the issue?"
I explained my problem. He asked me to remove my boot.
Mary gasped. "I didn't know some of your toes were missing!"
"It's fine. Lots of people have weird mutations."
As he spoke, the doctor's eyes glowed green, letting him see through flesh and bone as if using an X-ray.
After examining me, he said, "There are some fractures and damage to the bones, but you're lucky — nothing serious."
"Can he walk normally?" Noah asked.
"Yes, nothing to worry about. I'll fix the fractures now."
A green laser shot from his fingertip to each crack, restoring them as if they never existed.
I stood up beside Noah and Mary.
The doctor leaned back on his desk. "Congratulations, you're fully healed."
"Thank you."
"What's the cost?" Mary asked, pulling out a bag of coins.
The doctor raised his hand to stop her. "It's on the house — the least I can do for our Hero."
"That's very kind of you," Mary said, offering several grateful words as we stepped outside.
The sun was setting, painting the sky orange.
I was about to review the information I got from touching that man — whose name I now knew was Khaled — skimming through details about his job, name, finances, goals…
But his past remained hidden.
Before I could focus, a loud explosion echoed in the distance.
We ran toward the source — and saw a massive beast covered in fur, long fangs protruding, eyes glowing red.
I drew my sword. "Mary, Noah — clear the area. I'll handle it."
Noah stepped forward. "I'll help!"
"No… you're still weak. Don't think you're strong — you've only mastered your power a month ago. You're still far behind."
I stepped forward. "Watch and learn."
Lightning wrapped around my body as I launched myself at the beast, targeting its arm.
"Stop! He's not a monster!" someone yelled, distracting me.
The beast swung its claw — I dodged and soared upward using the Hurricane Calamity beneath my feet.
From above, I glared at the beast, then at the boy who distracted me.
"Speak. What is it?" I asked.
"It's my friend! We were playing and found a weird seed. I dared him to eat it, and he turned into this! Please don't kill him — help him!"
A weird seed?
I looked at the beast again — this time with pity and understanding.
"I'm not making any promises."
I dispelled the wind power and dropped straight onto the beast's head.
Mid-fall, I sheathed my sword and punched it instead.
Its hide was tough — the attack barely did anything.
I dodged another claw swipe as I landed.
Before I could move again, the person I had been waiting for arrived — Khaled.
He struck with a power that felt like the force of a star.
"What are you standing around for?" he asked, standing in front of me as his strike pushed the beast back.
"I'm thinking."
"I've got a plan. Kill it."
"Don't be stupid — it's a child."
He looked at me, confused, but I quickly reassured him.
"Listen, I have a plan. I need your help."
He frowned at the beast, then relaxed. "What's the plan?"
"Pin down its arm. I'll handle the rest."
With lightning-fast speed, Khaled leaped onto the beast, tearing apart every spot he stepped on until he reached the head.
The beast tried to stop him, but Khaled shoved his arm deep into the wounded part of its limb, grabbing and holding it still.
"Hurry up!" he shouted.
I dashed beneath the beast. It raised its foot to crush me, slamming it down with enough force to bury me.
Silence.
When the dust cleared, I stood holding the beast's leg with one hand.
Then I gathered all the water in the area and blasted it into its stomach.
The beast vomited violently — fur and flesh melted away, and from within, a child fell.
I leaped forward, catching him gently.
I looked at Khaled. "See? We did it without casualties."
Khaled's face was frozen in shock — hilarious, actually.
He quickly tried to regain composure and stormed off.
********
Hours later, Khaled sat alone outside the capital, trying to rest after the fight.
The three of us stood a few meters away, warming ourselves by a campfire, watching him quietly… until Mary broke the silence.
"Are you going to sit there alone?"
"What's it to you? I told you I'm not joining you. Leave."
"You're stubborn — but I'm more stubborn. I'm staying until you agree."
Noah asked, "Khaled, why did you leave the city? Can't you rent a room?"
"I don't want innocent people getting caught up in the fights."
"What fights?"
I looked at Noah.
"He's a bounty hunter and mercenary who hunts criminal gangs. Of course they'll want revenge. And since he revealed his location during the beast fight… they'll come after him."
I glanced into the distance — dust rising. A bloodthirsty crowd approached.
Khaled stood, preparing for a hopeless battle, refusing to die running.
The moment the gang reached him, they leapt toward him — and he tore them apart with one swing.
Despite exhaustion, he continued fighting, blades clashing, bodies falling beneath his furious strength.
I stepped onto the head of one bandit, slamming him unconscious, and asked, "Need help?"
"No."
But both of us kept swinging — though my strikes knocked them out, while his killed.
"At this rate, we'll die here."
"Leave if you want. I won't run."
"Khaled… a man's life is sweet because of the people he knows. No one reaches greatness alone."
Silence.
His eyes widened — a mix of sadness and anger.
"The last person who told me that died long ago."
"Was he wrong?"
Thud!
Five arrows struck Khaled's back, drawing blood.
"You'll live as your friend wanted, right? I'll help you, Khaled."
I lifted him onto my back, blocking every attack and retreating toward the carriage where Mary and Noah were waiting.
I used the Earthquake Calamity, collapsing the ground into a stone wall that slowed the attackers.
"Hurry!"
The carriage sped away.
Within the chaos, Khaled's mind drifted back… to memories long buried.
*******
Fifteen years earlier
A traveling caravan of six wandered the lands, including a talented little boy named Khaled, sitting beside his father, Ibrahim — the man he adored more than anyone.
They traveled like a roaming circus, sharing music and joy with every town.
Khaled watched every performance with shining eyes, dreaming of the day he could join them.
"My son, you know you can never play music alone, right?" Ibrahim ruffled his hair gently.
"I know. Music isn't impressive on its own."
"Just like people. Nothing beautiful grows from being alone. We're like instruments — we complete one another."
"But why say that now? I don't want to be alone."
"…I just want you to avoid my mistakes. Life is short. We won't be with you forever. You'll need—"
"Don't say that!" Khaled hugged him tightly. "You'll stay with me forever!"
"Oh, my sweet boy…"
But life doesn't always follow our wishes.
"Ugh, my head…"
"Yusuf, are you alright? What's happening?"
The man clutched his skull as darkness consumed him.
And then— a book appeared out of thin air before him.
"Not again… not again… NOT AGAIN!" he screamed, clawing at his own face.
The creature possessing Yusuf glared at the caravan.
With one wave of his hand, he exploded Rimi — the guitarist — right in front of the horrified young boy.
Her remains gathered toward the book, feeding it.
"Still not enough…"
He looked next at the man beside Ibrahim and fired a beam at his shoulder.
The man shoved Ibrahim in front of him as a human shield.
The attack punched a hole straight through Ibrahim's chest.
"Father!"
"Tch! Man, I wasn't trying to kill you. Just wanted your arm. Look, you orphaned the kid."
The creature spoke as if scolding someone.
Then it seized the father's corpse, wrapped in blood, and teleported away —
leaving behind betrayal, cowardice, and a memory that would never fade.
*******
Present
"What is this!? How can you be this heartless!?"
Early in the morning, Khaled was full of energy after being treated. He inspected the horse.
Mary stared at us in confusion. "What's wrong?"
"Don't you see the wounds on your horse? Its condition!? How can you neglect a gentle creature like this!?"
"We don't know anything about horses! What did you expect — walking that whole distance!?"
"Calm down, both of you…" I intervened. "Now that you're with us, Khaled, you can help."
Khaled turned to me, a bit surprised. "I don't even know your name."
"I don't have a name. Call me whatever you want."
As everyone climbed into the carriage, I sat beside Khaled.
"Can you tell me about the friend you mentioned yesterday?"
"…He wasn't a friend. He was my father."