Mira closed the apartment door with deliberate care, fingers easing it shut as though the hinges themselves might ruin everything. With a soft click from the lock, she paused for a moment, no movement the inside. Good. Kaito needed sleep more than disturbance right now.
The morning air greeted her with a chill that crawled under her school jersey. The street was still half asleep, but a few people passed from far away.
She adjusted her school bag on her shoulder and stepped forward, walking on the street until he appeared.
Kaito stood near the corner of the building, stretching casually like someone who had been awake for a while.
Even from this distance, Mira could tell her sister her brother had gone through some transformation. Though he possessed abnormal strength, his body wasn't accompanied by by thick muscles as now.
"No way?!"
Yes way, a month in the 'Corrupted lands', how would you expect one to return? Not of course if you are clueless like dear Mira.
"You are up early."
Kaito glanced over, eyes sharp but relax.
He had forgotten his sister goes to school. No wait, he forgotten that school exists, and if school is around there has to be someone who pays his sister's fees and that's unmistakably his responsibility.
"I'mma hit the road, and food's in the fridge, see yah."
"Ok, bye."
With his sister gone, he decided to to enter the apartment and summons his Stat Window.
Tti-ring
[Attributes]
Vitality:28
Strength:34
Stamina:30
Agility:32
Kaito studied his Stats profoundly before deciding to allocate three points to 'Vitality'.
They were higher than they should be. Far higher than what a Zero Grader was ever meant to possess. Staring at them seemed almost impossible for someone like him to have grown this much.
Unlike the 'Corrupted Lands' earth's air resistance was poor, this morning during his morning run, Kaito realized his support attributes didn't automatically increase just like they used to.
"Maybe I should ask Takihana for a mission."
Crazy as it sounds, Kaito just returned from the 'Corrupted Lands' and he expects to be sent on a mission. Any question that involves his survival would be answered without hesitation, even mentioning the system's existence. But right now he needs to see if his still a worthless 'Zero Grader' or not.
****
Two hours passed by.
Kaito stood in front of his bedroom's mirror, the Core Wielders Society uniform worn, jacket unzipped as he always let it, boots tied carefully and his hair refused to obey when combed. Now that he thought about letting his sister cut his overgrown hair when she arrives from school. His body muscles lined throughout his black T-shirt, making him uncomfortable he decided to zip his jacket, imposing as a normal looking person.
"That outta do the trick."
He left the apartment soon after, stepping into the fully woken streets filled with people who were too busy with their own lives. Walking toward the Society complex was longer than he remembered. Or perhaps his sense of distance had simply been ruined by a world where crossing kilometers at a sprint was normal.
Curiously, Kaito wondered how long it would take him by running to get there. Approximately, one hour when walking.
What if he ran, using 'Double Dash'.
A small smirk formed on his face.
This became the perfect opportunity to test his new skill in less denser air.
Though his curiosity grown without control, he immediately activated 'Double Dash', the skill consumed five percent of his 'Core Energy'.
He set his wristwatch in stopwatch mode, his thumb hovered around the starting button, before deciding to accelerated.
The instant he pushed off, the ground fell away behind him. Air screamed past his ears as his body surged forward in motion itself. The road stretched ahead like a ribbon snapping taut.
Kaito weaved between lanes, boots barely touching the asphalt before lifting again. As a viewer one could tell he was blurring with terrifying speed that seemed almost impossible for a human to comprehend, he passed most vehicles like they weren't moving . Drivers shouted, their voices swallowed by the wind. He ignored them, focusing all his might at this very moment, as if the world needed it.
To most people it looked like a streak of dark fabric and blue light threading through traffic like lightning.
Thus, he was fast even he couldn't see his own legs, it as if they lost control, buildings streaking at his peripheral vision like painted lines dragged by careless hands.
He vaulted a shallow staircase landing perfectly without breaking the rhythm, legs absorbing impact with effortless precision. The lighter gravity gave him more hang time than expected, just enough for his body to recognize the difference. He felt like he was running with permission instead of resistance.
He slowed near an intersection, skidding lightly as his shoes fought against friction. A couple walking their dog stared, mouths slightly open, too confused to react before he was already moving again.
"Almost there."
Kaito slowed slowly, stopping in front of main entrance, leaving the gate's guard's mouth wide open after entering.
"Forty-five minutes."
Labeled as 'Zero Grader', Kaito was quite the famous guy. His outstanding performance in hand to hand combat is what got him in The Core Wielders Society.
"Oi Kaito long time."
"Sup Kaito."
Core weilders through the lobby greeted him with smiles, and slaps in the back. But, none of fooled him, he knew they were celebrating when he wasn't around, none of them bothered to even spend some quality time with him.
But none of them seemed to know about the about the 'Corrupted Land' incident, perfect.
He passed the reception office greeting the woman who set by there.
"Morning Yuno."
"Long time Kaito"
Takihana's office is the first thing that came to his mind.
Most regular Core weilders have different jobs according to their division. Division four (one that Kaito is in) is responsible for peace keeping through out Japan. Low ranking officers like Kaito are responsible in patrolling the city (in pairs).
Knock!
Knock!
Knock!
"Enter."
Kaito stepped inside the office, closing the door with deliberate care, knowing the man who sat behind him doesn't appreciate baming doors.
"Close the door." Takihana said absentmindedly.
"I did".
As usually he was too busy with paperwork, but the voice he just heard froze him. His hand pause and slowly he raised his head witnessing the man who always disappointed him appear right in front of his desk, alive and kicking.
"K-kaito?!"
Kaito stood there in his worn uniform, shoulders broader than before, posture straighter, eyes sharper.
"Sir!"
Takihana couldn't believe his eyes the last mission Kaito took has been declared to have killed him. He understands if he survived but how did he escape? , no survival is impossible in that land, then how. There were so many question that needed answers each.
"H-how where you able to escape?"
Kaito knew what to say, he expected this question the moment Takihana saw him. Though, the answer might sound ridiculous, but he expects Takihana to believe him.
"It's a long story and might sound crazy but, just when I was about to die a s-!"
A huge amount of pain rushed through his head, all senses aching, corners of his vision blurred in red crimson, the air smelled more blood like. The pressure prevented him from finishing what he was about to say.
Tri-ting!
The sound rang directly inside Kaito's head.
The translucent interface appeared in front of him.
[WARNING]
[System Violation Detected]
[Player Should not mention the system's existence]
[Penalty: Brain damage]
"Huh!"