"You're a hero, Shun."
Those words lingered in his mind, echoing. But as time passed, her voice grew distant, slowly replaced by the rhythmic beeping of a medical machine. It grew louder.
Shun stood before an old woman, lying weakly in bed. Her body was surrounded by machines and wires.
"A hero?" Shun clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. The machine's rhythmic beeping pulsed louder.
"I don't deserve to be called that."
---
"Her condition is worsening," the doctor said grimly. "At this rate, she won't last more than a few days."
The doctor's office smelled of alcohol and sanitizer, but Shun couldn't care less.
"Then do whatever it takes to keep her alive! If it's about money, I have it!" he snapped, filled with rage.
"It's not about money, Shun." The doctor stood and placed a report on the table.
"Her condition is... unique. It's not of this world. The virus in her body likely came from a Tower. It feeds on mana and specifically targets her Heart, causing a cascade of health issues."
He paused, letting Shun absorb the information before continuing.
"This is the first case we've encountered. By protocol, a carrier of an unknown virus should be placed in quarantine to prevent potential spread.
However, in our studies, the virus dies instantly upon contact with air. Even when transmitted through bodily fluids to test subjects—rats, for example—it behaves the same. We've concluded it's unique to her alone."
"What are you trying to say, doctor?"
"That it may not be a natural virus... but a weapon. One designed specifically to kill your grandmother."
"What?" Shun's voice turned cold.
"It's only a hypothesis. But in a world where people can be killed through cursed artifacts or just their hair and blood, it's not unthinkable that she was targeted."
His words hit Shun like a hammer. It made sense—too much sense. But why was he only hearing this now?
"Why are you telling me this now?" he asked, annoyed.
"We simply didn't have enough data to make that call earlier. It took time to analyze the virus."
Shun fell silent, the truth sinking in. Her disease wasn't natural—it was man-made. Someone had done this. Just knowing that boiled his blood. His fists clenched, the air around him began to stir.
His emotions churned. Rage, sorrow, and anxiety twisted into a tangled ball, clouding his clarity. He wanted to let them out—but how?
Destroy. Kill.
Two words flashed through his mind. He could kill this doctor—the man who failed to save her, who held such an important intel until now. If only he inform it early, Shun might be able to find ways to cure his grandma!
No, that wasn't right. The doctor lacked data and needs more study. But he could be lying.
He looked at the doctor with madness in his eyes. His hair began to grow, turning white. His irises shifted into lens-like cameras. But then—
[Memory of Flesh has been activated.]
His thoughts stilled. A second skin of control wrapped around his mind—dulling the rage, isolating the impulse, rerouting instinct.
It didn't erase the emotion, but caged it.
His hair returned to normal. So did his eyes.
Then, he collapsed.
The doctor had watched everything, stunned.
"Are you okay, Shun?"
"No. I need rest." Shun shook his head, dragging himself to the sofa.
The doctor approached him. "I'm sorry about your grandmother. But as a Hunter, she likely knew the risks.
Don't carry this weight alone. It's not your fault. There was nothing you could have done."
Shun stared at the ceiling. He barely heard the words. What just happened wasn't him. That wasn't his mind.
He had nearly gone insane. He had almost killed the doctor. He had wanted to destroy everything.
The thought unsettled him. Was he really that violent deep down? A savage who only knew how to destroy?
He shook his head. No. He had made a promise to himself—and he had honored it. That was the truth. The only truth that mattered. Not doubts. Not fear.
"Shun, are you listening?" The doctor's voice pulled him back.
"Ah... sorry," Shun replied, flustered. "What did you say?"
The doctor sighed, then repeated patiently, "What happened to your grandmother isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself."
Shun went quiet for a moment, then said softly,
"No. I can't do that. The person who did this... they'll die.
Whoever they are—they're dead. Very, very dead."
He ended his words with a smile. A terrifying one. The doctor felt a chill.
"Are you really Shun?" he asked, voice trembling.
Shun's threatening demeanor faded at the question. He smiled lightly.
"Doctor... did your hospital shift hit you with amnesia?"
The doctor paused, then chuckled faintly. "Maybe."
Then he added, his tone thoughtful,
"Whatever you went through last night... it changed you."
Memories flashed across Shun's mind. He chuckled, voice like an old sage.
"The taste of a god... isn't that bad."
"?!"
The doctor stared, deeply concerned. Shun's emotional jumps were too drastic. One moment terrifying, the next baffling.
'What god?!'
***
The aftereffects of his passive skill wore off after a few hours. Shun left the office and headed to Rakina's room.
He walked cautiously, afraid his steps might crack the tiles.
When he arrived, he found a note saying she had returned to school.
He stared at it for a while, thinking.
Then, he opened his status window.
---
Name: Osamu Shun
Level: 7
Heart: A Nascent Heart (Common)
Rank: Dormant (Ascension Available)
Ability: Aura Manipulation
Exclusive Ability: Living Alloy
Skill: Echo of the Divine Forge
Passive Skill: Memory of Flesh
Divine Symbol: Absurdity of You
---
Status
Strength: 23 (+25)*
Durability: 5 (+30)*
Agility: 22 (-15)*
Magic: 10
Perception: 5 (+20)*
*Modifier Source: [Living Alloy] Transformation (Temporary State)
---
Shun stared at his innate ability, lost in thought. He knew from fiction that Aura Manipulation was terrifying if used well.
But at this early stage, he was limited. At best, he could cloak his fists to enhance punches, or his legs to boost speed.
Cloaking his whole body? That would drain his mana in seconds.
A yellow glow wrapped around his hand. He didn't feel much different, but maybe... just maybe, defeating a god had strengthened it a little.
He sighed bitterly. He had expected some kind of experience gain—or at least something. But reality was quiet.
Disappointed but resigned, he moved on.
His eyes drifted back to the status panel. He let out a long "Hmm..." and narrowed his eyes.
The Divine Symbol. What did it mean?
As he pondered, the System answered him.
---
Divine Symbol: Absurdity of You
Description: A symbol that speaks divinity, yet murmurs absurdity. You are its bearer, its foundation.
To everything in this world, you are the most absurd.
You have rejected logic, bent causality, and kissed the mouth of madness.
Where others break under the gaze of higher beings, you smile.
You are not supposed to exist.
And that is exactly why you remain.
Proceed with caution.
---
The description ended there.
Shun paused. He wondered if those words held the key to its effect.
One line stood out:
"Where others break under the gaze of higher beings, you smile."
Did this mean he could withstand madness? Cosmic terror?
He wasn't sure—but he clung to the thought. At least... for now.
And then, he laughed.
"Finally," he breathed. "Finally."
After years of being stuck at level seven, always behind, always lesser...
Now, at last, he could move forward—like everyone else.