Location: ???
There were plants and trees everywhere, yet every single plant was covered in daisy flowers. Children's laughter echoed through the air while adults chatted peacefully among themselves. The place was wide open, bright, and calm it looked exactly like a peaceful village taken straight out of a dream.
Children were playing games in the center of the village.
But something was wrong.
Almost none of them had faces.
The adults were the same.
It was as if someone had forgotten to give them faces… or perhaps someone had erased them from memory.
And that person was-
- - - : You can't join them, Jack.
Jack: I want to join them.
This was a memory from ten years ago.
Young Jack stood there, his hands wrapped in bandages, a small medical patch resting on his cheek. The person he was speaking to was his mother.
Jack's Mother: I already told you. You're forbidden from joining.
Jack's face twisted with anger, yet tears threatened to fall from his eyes.
Jack: My brother can join! So why can't I?!
His mother clenched her fist.
She squeezed so hard that blood began to drip from her palm. She bit her lip until it nearly bled, desperately suppressing something inside her until finally, her frustration exploded toward Jack.
Jack's Mother: Because you have no talent! No technique!
Jack's anger vanished instantly.
Only shock remained.
Jack: ...What?
Jack's Mother: You heard me! You're a technique-less brat!
The children continued playing.
The adults continued talking.
No one reacted.
It was as if everyone already knew this truth and simply accepted it.
Only one child stopped.
Jack's younger brother.
He stood holding a ball, silently watching. Everyone else laughed and ran freely, yet Jack alone stood trapped inside a cruel moment no one intended to interrupt.
Jack: You don't have to scream just because I don't have a technique!
Without hesitation, his mother punched him directly in the face.
The impact threw Jack to the ground.
His cheek turned red instantly, and blood trickled faintly from his nose. Meanwhile, his mother looked relieved almost satisfied, as if she would celebrate if the child lying before her simply disappeared.
Tears streamed down Jack's face.
His brother only watched.
Jack's Mother: Sometimes I regret ever teaching you a fighting style. You weren't even worthy of that.
Jack reached his limit.
The moment he stood up, he ran.
He ran straight toward home.
Behind him, his mother merely watched with cold, emotionless eyes.
Jack ran while gasping for air. His chest burned. His vision blurred.
What child could endure something like that?
He reached home, threw the door open, and slammed it shut so hard the sound echoed through the house. He rushed into his room and slammed that door as well.
Then he stood still.
His room was different from the rest of the house.
Every other room was clean and well-maintained.
Only his room was rusted, worn down, almost abandoned as if even the house itself rejected him.
Jack slowly turned toward the wall.
Cracks already covered it.
He punched it.
A sharp cracking sound echoed.
He punched again.
And again.
And again.
Over and over.
It was as if he was trying to rip his anger and pain out of his own body and bury them into the wall.
Blood began pouring from his hands.
Red stains spread across the cracked surface.
Only one thought echoed inside his mind.
Jack (Thought): It hurts… it hurts… it hurts… it hurts…
Strangely, after a while, hitting the wall hurt less than remembering her words.
Then a goal formed.
A purpose.
Jack (Thought): I'll become strong… so strong that even geniuses will fall before me! I'll become a guardian who crushes prodigies… especially that genius Zach!
His brother, Zach had been born blessed by the world itself.
He spoke his first words at five months old.
At three years old, he awakened a technique.
A genius among geniuses.
Jack, on the other hand, spoke at two and a half years old.
No technique.
No talent.
Just ordinary.
Yet Jack had only one goal in life.
And nothing mattered more than achieving it.
Jack (Thought): Why…? Why?! WHY?!
His fists continued striking the wall until the bandages tore apart completely. Blood covered his hands. The wall became a mixture of cracks and crimson stains.
Then-
A thought escaped his lips.
Jack (Thought): ...Why don't I just die?
Jack (Thought): If I died… no one would be bothered by me anymore…
Dark thoughts swallowed him whole.
He truly believed the world would remain unchanged if he disappeared.
Behind him, however-
The shadow above his bed began to deepen.
It thickened.
Rose upward.
As if something was being born from darkness itself.
A figure slowly formed.
Torn, dark clothing covered its body. A hood hid its face, revealing only a short black beard. Its hands were covered entirely in scars.
- - - : Aren't your hands too precious to destroy like that?
Jack turned instantly, trembling from pain and shock.
The dark figure stood… then suddenly knelt before him and gently held Jack's injured hands.
- - - : Please… don't hurt yourself anymore.
Jack: Who are you? Why are you in my room?
The figure released his hands, stood up, and pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.
He extended it toward Jack.
- - - : Take this. Go down to the city… and visit this address.
Jack accepted it cautiously. The man was clearly suspicious.
- - - : There are people there who will treat you kindly. You'll spend good years there.
Jack: Why are you asking me to do this?
- - - : My only wish… is for you to go there. Please. Live peacefully.
Suddenly, the figure covered his mouth and coughed.
Blood soaked his hand.
It became obvious this man did not have much time left to live.
Jack realized he had no reason not to trust him.
Jack: I'll go. So… don't worry.
A faint smile appeared beneath the hood.
A peaceful smile.
- - - : Thank you… Jack.
The figure dissolved into shadow like drifting dust.
For the first time in his life-
Someone had smiled at him sincerely.
That single moment filled Jack with warmth strong enough to believe.
Jack (Thought): I'll pack my things… and go.
He opened his closet; rusty hinges creaked loudly. He gathered everything he needed and stuffed it into a bag. After finishing, he slung it over his shoulder and walked to the window.
He opened it.
Jack: Goodbye… so-called mother.
He jumped out.
Landing outside, he looked toward the city and began running.
For hours he ran.
Eventually he reached it.
Floating cars hovered close to the ground. Crowds moved along the sidewalks. The world felt alive.
He checked the paper.
A-1250
A house stood in the distance bearing the same number.
That was the place.
Ignoring exhaustion, ignoring his burning lungs, Jack ran toward it with unwavering faith.
Jack (Thought): Will they love me like their son…? Will they treat me kindly?
His heart answered before his mind could.
Yes.
At last he reached the house.
Breathing heavily, he climbed the five steps to the entrance and rang the bell.
A voice shouted from inside.
- - - : If it's another salesman, I'm killing him!
Jack flinched but stayed.
The door opened with a creak.
A tall man appeared, wearing a white tank top and white jeans. His arms were mechanical, lined with blue glowing strips, yet his face looked completely human. A bottle of alcohol rested in his hand.
Jack's hope faltered.
Jack (Thought): Did I come all this way for nothing…?
The man looked down at him.
- - - : Hey. What's a kid like you doing here?
Jack tightened his fist and handed over the paper.
Jack: A mysterious man gave me this. He said I'd find peace here.
- - - : ...What?
The man examined it.
- - - : Kid, looks like someone messed with you.
Jack's voice trembled.
Jack: I understand… Take care, and I'm sorry for bothering you.
- - - : No problem.
Jack slowly turned to leave.
The man lit a lighter then froze.
On the back of the paper was a signature he recognized instantly.
His eyes widened.
- - - : Hey! Kid! Wait! What's your name?
Jack: ...Jack Horizon.
The bottle slipped from the man's hand and shattered.
- - - : ...Looks like the guy who sent you wasn't joking after all.
Jack: What do you mean?
- - - : That idiot talked to me first. Said a lot about you. Asked me to look after you.
Jack: I just met him… and I don't even know who you are.
- - - : Right, my bad. I should introduce myself first. Name's Leonardo Cyber. Nice to meet you. Let's talk inside… his last wish was for me to take care of you
.
Leonardo had white hair and cybernetic blue eyes. His mechanical arms were gray with glowing blue lines. He wore a white tank top and black jeans. About 1.87 meters tall, appearing somewhere in his thirties.
Jack asked once more, wanting to be absolutely certain.
Jack: What did that man look like? The one who gave me this paper?
Leonardo let out a short laugh.
Leonardo: Ha! Relax, kid. You can trust me. Short black beard, right? Yeah, no problem that's the guy.
At that moment, Jack understood.
This man was trustworthy.
Without hesitation, Jack stepped inside the house.
Leonardo closed the door gently behind him.
From that day onward, the bond between them slowly grew into something far deeper than simple guardianship. It became a true father-and-son relationship.
And for ten long years…
Jack lived a peaceful life, free from chaos and suffering.
Returning to the present day…