I rushed toward the direction of the screams, and what I saw made me question my entire existence.
Was this real?
Was I a real person, or just a character thrown into some dark fantasy game?
A creature stood before me—something out of a dark fantasy game. It had long, razor-sharp teeth, huge bat-like wings, and a dog-like nose that seemed capable of sensing everything from miles away. My brain struggled to understand what I was looking at.
At first glance, it looked like a child—maybe five or six years old—but only half of its body was still human. The other half had mutated into something monstrous, covered in thick, dark fur. Half of its face was crying like a terrified kid, while the other half twisted into a demon smile. It was eating something, and blood dripped down its chin to its stomach. The smell and sight were so disgusting that I threw up right on the spot.
I didn't fear death… not anymore. But this?
Was this some prank using holograms? Some insane VR simulation?
If it was, then it was the worst prank anyone could pull.
As I stood frozen, the monster slowly turned toward me. Its ugly, fur-covered face locked onto my eyes, and the bloody half-mouth curved upward in a horrifying smile. But the left side—the human part—was trembling, eyes full of tears.
And then I heard it.
A voice.
A voice that could break the hardest heart.
"M-mom… Dad… Help… Help me…"
A tiny, terrified voice, trembling with fear—crying out for his parents.
Narrator
This child's consciousness was still awake, trapped while another entity controlled the monster half of his body.
The scene suddenly cut away to a dark office room.
A man entered, his face hidden in the shadows.
"Sir, that man is going berserk. He's not listening to your orders. What should we do?"
A deep, commanding voice replied,
"Leave for now. I will handle that man myself."
The scene snapped back, and the monster charged at me.
It leaped with terrifying speed, claws bursting from its left hand. I dodged just in time, but still felt the scratch across my cheek.
"Damn… I dodged but he still managed to cut me. Is this monster really that strong? Or am I just too weak?"
I couldn't afford to lose focus. If he attacked again and I failed to react, I would die.
But I couldn't attack him either—there was still a child trapped inside that body. If I attacked recklessly, the innocent half would die too.
Out of nowhere, another attack came. I instinctively moved—almost teleporting—dodging again.
"What? Did I really just do that?"
The monster reacted and growled,
"Oh? You can teleport too? It doesn't matter. I have that ability as well."
He teleported behind me instantly, claws ready to rip through my back. Instinctively, I released my power—my entire body erupted into flames, forming a burning armor with a one-meter radius around me.
The monster recoiled and teleported backward. His entire face went pale, drenched in sweat, body shaking uncontrollably. Fire—his greatest weakness—burned the air around him. With a desperate cry, he collapsed unconscious.
I stared in shock at the blazing armor covering my body.
"What… is this power…?"
It took several moments for me to shut down the flames. When they finally disappeared, I approached the unconscious child-monster. Up close, I noticed a fresh injection mark on his neck.
Someone forced this transformation onto him.
I immediately contacted AGA Management team.
"Hello, AGA Management Team. This is newly assigned B-Rank Superhero Muhammad Orhan from Kyuga City, Zone-5. I was assigned to locate a missing child, but this kid has turned into a half-monster. He was screaming for help, so I knocked him out. What should I do now?"
The response came quickly.
"We are sending a professional superhero squad to capture the target. Do not let it escape until they arrive."
But before I could reply, the monster's eyes snapped open. In a blink, it vanished and appeared behind me.
I felt the claws rip through my back.
"Aahhh!"
The pain was unbearable—I dropped to my knees, struggling to cover the wound.
The child-monster tried to escape, but even through the agony, I saw him running. I raised my hand, summoning my flames, and unleashed a scorching ring of fire around him. He screamed in agony, voice breaking.
"Help… Mommy… it hurts… it's too hot…"
My heart shattered. I saw my little sister in him and I can never see my little sister cry that's why when I saw that kid crying in pain, begging for help. I couldn't endure it.
I canceled the flames.
The monster sprinted away instantly. I closed my eyes in despair.
I failed. I couldn't save him.
Suddenly, a loud explosion shook the entire zone. I stood up, stunned. The kid-monster lay on the ground, heavily injured.
A voice echoed from thin air,
"Don't worry kid. We'll handle the monster now. Medical team, send teleport support immediately."
A woman materialized from invisibility—a famous A-Rank superhero known as Ghost Woman, who recently defeated a City-Rank monster alone. She captured the child using a compact spherical device capable of sealing anything inside, no matter the size.
Moments later, a mini-van arrived with five superheroes jumping out.
A large man with a calm expression approached me.
"Hey kid, are you Orhan—the one who took the Aether Exam today?"
"Yes," I answered, confused.
He handed me a letter.
"Mr. Rod forgot to give you this. Your enrollment letter."
I unfolded it. My eyes nearly popped out.
A.G.A Headquarters
Advanced Guardian Association
Kyuga City, Federation Zone
Date: 24 November 20XX
Document ID: AGA-ENR/HS-004291
Official Enrollment Notice
To: Muhammad Orhan
Aether Registration Number: BR-11782
Dear Candidate,
Congratulations.
Based on your exceptional performance and successful qualification in the National Aether Examination, you have been officially selected and enrolled into the A.G.A Hero Academy (Hero School)—a mandatory training institution for all licensed Heroes operating under the Advanced Guardian Association.
The acceptance into AGA Hero Academy is considered equivalent to enrollment into a National Defense University, and graduation from this program is equivalent to a professional degree, allowing eligibility for full Hero licensing, global deployment, and private or international contracts.
"Graduate from an AGA Hero School…? First class… tomorrow morning…? It's already three AM!"
Before I could process anything, one of the heroes with teleportation powers placed a hand on my shoulder—and in the next instant, I was back in my hotel room.
I collapsed into bed and slept for hours. When I woke up, I was already late. I rushed to the school near the Main HQ—but the moment I reached the gates, Mr. Rod stood there, and asked.
To be continued…