("I was trickly mentioned the times in these chapters for a special reason, please stick with me for now. -Author")
As his taxi arrived, Ry-Two left the villa around 9:20 AM.
It took exactly twenty minutes for him to reach the Superhero Bureau.
At 9:42 AM, Ry-Two stepped into the building.
His face was expressionless, and his demeanor had completely changed from when he was at home.
If he had been a comedic presence and a quietly doting father at the villa, now Ry-Two carried himself like a prideful conqueror.
That's right.
Despite Ry-Two being Henry's clone—who should have been an exact copy of Henry—for some reason, his "Pride" aspect was greatly amplified compared to the original.
"What can I help you with, miste—Sir…" Flora, the receptionist who had called him earlier, was taken aback when she saw "Henry" arrive at her desk.
His document was still on her desk, so it wasn't hard for her to recognize him.
'He feels like an entirely different person—not at all like the nervous man I just spoke to on the phone,' she thought.
Having worked in this profession for a long time, Flora had sharpened her ability to read people.
Now, this man's presence was so intimidating that Flora unconsciously adjusted her tone mid-sentence, addressing him with more formality.
"I came to report my awakening power. It wasn't an Esper Type—it's a Physical Type," Ry-Two announced coldly.
Then, as if to demonstrate, he took a disk-shaped object from his pocket and spun it between his palms until it transformed into a cube-like ball.
It was the metal comb from his villa.
Flora watched the entire process in bewilderment.
Actually, it wasn't unheard of for the initial examination to be incorrect. In rare cases, some people didn't even awaken their power after receiving certification from the Bureau.
She was more surprised by how effortlessly Ry-Two bent the metal object into a ball. It might have just been aluminum, but the result was undeniable.
"Excuse me, we are currently holding a promotion test for the Physical Type. If you don't want to deal with further trouble, you can join the promotion test now to have your rank evaluated," Flora said professionally.
"This way, you won't have to return to the Bureau for another test later."
"What do you think about this suggestion?" she asked.
Normally, Flora would simply guide him to the registration office and let the relevant staff handle it.
But with her experience—and her suspicion that Henry's Physical Strength might be above Rank E—she acted according to special protocol, and allowed him to skip the standard registration, sending him directly to the promotion test.
Ry-Two didn't care much. For him, less trouble meant more time with his children, so he gave a cold nod.
"Okay. Let's go with it."
He exchanged some final words with the receptionist before she left her post to lead him to the testing room.
...
Around 10 AM.
After briefly introducing "Henry's" special case to the instructor, Flora swiftly returned to her station.
The instructor, a solidly built man with sharp eyes, gave Ry-Two a quick inspection, nodding in approval at his physique.
"Not bad. Solid foundation," he said with recognition, clearly pleased with the newcomer.
"Follow me. Let's test your punching power first."
He led Ry-Two to a punching machine standing at the end of the training hall. The other participants had already finished their tests, so the machine was ready and waiting.
Just as Ry-Two raised his fist for a casual strike, a familiar chime rang in his head.
...
[Ding!]
[Your girlfriend, Rio, just faced danger and is currently deeply frustrated. Despite being nearby, you are unable to act, which is a disgrace for a life partner.]
[Mission: Regain your dignity.]
[Requirement: Ace the Superhero Test to please your girlfriend and prove yourself worthy.]
[Reward: ???]
'Damn it! What now!?' Ry-Two grimaced internally.
Unbeknownst to him, the System had flagged a minor incident—Rio nearly slipping on the stairs—as a "danger event." Her subsequent jealousy over Henry's attention to their children registered as "frustration."
And now, the System demanded Ry-Two prove himself… through this test.
Clearly, something was off.
There seemed to be confusion in how the System processed input—likely mixing data between Henry and Ry-Two.
Ry-Two was the clone, but he was the one bound to the System. So he became the target to receive its missions.
As a result, he was now paying the price for Henry's domestic drama.
'There goes the low-key plan…' he grumbled inwardly.
Still, he had no choice. He had to go all out.
Stepping before the target, Ry-Two gathered his full strength. His eyes sharpened, muscles tensed, and with a controlled roar, he unleashed a ferocious punch.
BAM!
The machine shattered with a metallic screech, splinters of twisted parts flying across the room.
The room fell into stunned silence.
The machine—built to withstand strikes from Rank E to Rank C Physical Type Ability User—was obliterated.
Ry-Two stood still, his expression unreadable.
What the instructor didn't know was that Ry-Two's body had been enhanced by the System far beyond normal. His power, speed, reflexes, and even technique had all been amplified to the peak of Rank C—if not higher.
In fact, Ry-Two's versatility was unheard of. Normally, an Ability User of Physical Type would only awaken the ability that enhances one aspect of their body.
Some had super strength, others had super speed,...
But none of them possessed the kind of versatility shown by this "Henry."
The instructor, himself a Rank B, stared wide-eyed at the destroyed machine.
"A Special Mutation case...!" he muttered.
He had suspected something unusual the moment Flora mentioned a misclassified Awakening. Now it was confirmed.
Special Mutation—when an Ability User's power mutated, sometimes into a new type—often resulted in an ability stronger than the original, and it might retain characteristics from the original power.
The instructor glanced at Ry-Two again, now with a mix of admiration and envy.
"C-Rank! Not bad!" he declared, brushing aside the ruined machine.
Ry-Two sighed inwardly with relief. He had half-expected to be billed for the damage.
Meanwhile, the other participants had gathered around, drawn by the commotion.
Their ranks varied from D to C.
Some of the younger, passionate-faced participants looked at Ry-Two with awe and respect.
Meanwhile, the older ones—especially those on the verge of losing their certification—glared at him with naked hostility.
For them, this test was everything. If they failed, they couldn't retake it until next year—and some didn't have that long.
Superheroes had limited certification periods:
Rank E: 3 years
Rank D: 5 years
Rank C: 8 years
Only Rank B and above held indefinite certification until retirement.
And certification wasn't just prestige—it came with monthly financial support. As long as you kept your rank, you could live in luxury doing the bare minimum.
For some here, this was their last chance.
Ry-Two's sudden, blessed rise made jealousy and bitterness simmer in their eyes.
'Why him?'
'Why weren't they blessed?'
'Why did they have to lose everything… while he gets promoted so easily?'
...
After the small incident…
The instructor tested "Henry" with various physical evaluations, and the results were as follows:
Strength: Rank C (Overqualified)
Speed: Rank C (Overqualified)
Reflex: Rank C (Overqualified)
Mental: Rank C (Overqualified)
His mouth curled into a broad smile as he looked over the report. Some of the Rank C participants who had previously been hostile toward "Henry" were already giving up on their petty thoughts.
Still, many others couldn't let go.
They couldn't bear the thought of losing the luxurious life they had enjoyed all these years. Losing certification meant drinking the special serum to neutralize their powers… and living as mortals again.
'How could they stand it?'
And so, they shamelessly blamed others' blessings for their incompetence.
If they couldn't enjoy such a life anymore, then before losing their prestige, they might as well drag this "blessed" newcomer down with them.
'Destroy him while he's still a newbie.'
They were that desperate—and that petty.
No, perhaps they had already gone mad.
"Good. Good. The results are all overqualified! Let's go to the arena to test your combat power!" the instructor said, leading "Henry" to the next testing location.
As they walked past the group of unqualified participants, Ry-Two noticed their hostile gazes.
But like a domineering conqueror, he completely ignored them—deeming them trash, unworthy of his time.
And in truth, Ry-Two was right.
These people had spent years enjoying the wealth and comfort this career brought them, never bothering to improve themselves. Their once-promising potential had long since been hollowed out by alcohol and excess.
That was precisely why the expiration rule existed—to prevent people like them from abusing the system and wasting taxpayers' money.
Ironically, although the number of awakened superheroes was already small, the number of "expired" superheroes over the years far exceeded the currently active ones.
After all… it was hard not to be tempted by money and power.
...
At the arena.
Ry-Two stepped into the fighting ring as instructed when a humanoid robot appeared.
"Oh?" His curiosity was instantly piqued.
Reading "Henry's" expression, the instructor introduced the machine with a touch of pride, "This is the combat practice mechanoid. Its strength is equal to Rank B, so you can go all out with no worries."
He said that, but inside, the instructor was sweating through his shirt.
'That mechanoid is just an old model from a higher-tier city branch...'
'Even so, it cost a billion Mil.'
'This young man won't destroy it like he did the punching machine… right?'
In truth, the instructor's heart had already bled the moment his beloved punching machine was obliterated. But thinking about the hefty bonus he'd get if his branch certified a C+ Rank Superhero, he forced himself to move on with a professional smile.
Even so…
If the mechanoid were destroyed, not even the bonus would cover the loss.
Still, a job was a job.
As an instructor, he had to follow protocol.
And so, the battle began. Clasping his hands together, the instructor silently prayed for the mechanoid's safety.
Behind him, some of the unqualified Rank C Ability Users had already gathered. Their eyes gleamed with thinly veiled malice.
Meanwhile, in the ring, "Henry" began his fight with the mechanoid.
...
After exchanging several blows, Ry-Two retreated to a distance.
"Not bad, you're sturdy," he commented coolly.
The mechanoid, emotionless as ever, raised its fists again—ready to continue the fight.
Ry-Two's expression turned serious as he unleashed his full power, combining it with refined techniques from the martial arts school.
His punches and kicks were ruthless, each coated with a sharp killing intent.
The instructor stood stunned, visibly bewildered by such a performance from a supposed newbie.
If not for the background information displayed on the tablet on his arm, he would have assumed "Henry" was a veteran Superhero with years of field experience.
That domineering posture…
That ruthless fighting style…
They weren't something a rookie could possibly possess.
Yet here he was—fighting equally with a Rank B mechanoid.
Taking advantage of his full-body enhancements, Ry-Two not only fought with force, but also carefully analyzed the mechanoid's movements, reading and adapting to its patterns.
The fight dragged on for forty minutes before Ry-Two finally grasped the mechanoid's attack sequence.
Now, it was time to break the deadlock.
He feinted a punch but instantly switched to a kick—then followed up with a headbutt, delivered from an inhuman posture.
His flexibility was unreal.
Somehow, he managed to combine his muscle strength and fluid movement into a deadly strike aimed at the mechanoid's head—an attack too unnatural for the robot to predict.
BAM!
The impact rang out with a sharp metallic crack. The instructor nearly fainted when he saw a huge dent in the mechaoid's head.
Across the ring, Ry-Two stood firm.
His head was perfectly fine, and he was ready for a follow-up strike.
"St-stop! Stop!" the instructor shouted, leaping onto the stage.
He examined the damage on the mechanoid's head with a grave expression, as if he were looking at his injured children.
Then, with surprising tenderness, he picked the mechanoid up in a princess carry and glared at "Henry."
"Hey! Can't you take it easy!? These machines cost hundreds of thousands of Mil to repair, you know!?" His face had gone pale.
Without waiting for a reply, the instructor madly dashed out of the arena, yelling over his shoulder:
"Stay there for now—I'll be back soo—"
His voice faded in the distance, eventually vanishing completely.
Ry-Two was left speechless.
'Damn, I nearly made the original go bankrupt!' Ry-Two broke into a cold sweat internally.
When it came to benefits, it was "ours."
But when it came to disasters… it became "the original's" problem.
...
Meanwhile…
As soon as the instructor left, some of the participants' eyes lit up.
They saw this as their golden chance to vent their frustration.
A large group of Rank C and Rank D Ability Users began to swarm the fight ring. Most were already in their mid-twenties, with some approaching thirty.
In short, they were all people nearing their expiration deadlines.
After witnessing Henry's overwhelming performance, they understood one thing clearly: they would need to be ruthless if they wanted to take him down.
At this point, there was no turning back.
They had already gone too far.
And now, they might as well cripple him.