The Author's POV

Creak— Creak—

As footsteps rushed out, a creaking sound was heard coming from the wooden floor beneath.

A young teen clutching a small soup ran toward a bed in a rundown apartment as a sickly figure lay on it.

There were cracks on the walls, and there were spiderwebs on the corner of the house as dust filled the area. It was not a place where a child should be in.

"Have some soup mother."

Kneeling down, the youth's hand shook as he carefully placed the soup on the shelf beside the bed.

The youth was rather skinny and his complexion was rather pale, but his green eyes shone with ambition.

"M…mother."

Carefully touching the woman that was resting on the bed, the youth tried to wake her up.

The more he stared at her, the greater the pain and void in his heart became.

"B..Brian."

The woman finally awoke, revealing a pair of beautiful green eyes as she touched the youth's cheek.

As her sickly and skinny arm touched the youth's face, it barely remained there before falling weakly onto the bed.

Picking the arm back up, the youth placed it on his cheek.

A bright smile adorned his face.

"Mother, I've got good news for you."

A wave of excitement washed over the youth as he stared at his mother lying on the bed.

"I've finally got a job!"

The youth's voice raised as he thought of the job offer that he received not too long ago.

In a world that was primarily dominated by the strong, those that didn't have strength were not treated well.

Rather, they were considered to be the 'burden' of society as they contributed nothing to the crisis that enshrouded the world.

The youth who was staring at his mother was one of the unlucky few who was born without a talent.

Or rather, he had one, but it was only of the <G> rank level. Just like his mother.

Such talent was a curse in this world, as jobs were scarce. Who in their right minds would hire such talentless individuals?

People with great talents were the only ones able to land jobs since they were able to use their skills to complete tasks faster and more efficiently.

Farming? Why need farmers when you could have an awakened do the same tasks, faster and more efficiently?

Complex calculations? Just a simple skill and they would be able to do it faster and more efficiently.

A tough world greeted the mother and son duo, and they were just one of the many unfortunate ones.

That was until most recently.

"Listen here mom, I know that you're doubting me, but this job is clean. You can trust me!"

As he held tightly onto the sickly figure's hand, the youth thrust his face forward.

"…mom, the pay is really good and with it, I'll be able to finally pay for your medical bills! You will be healed"

Imagining his mother recovering and playing with him like in the good old days filled the youth with excitement.

"Mom, just watch me. I'll definitely cure you."

Feeling a clench of his hand, the youth looked toward his mother who looked back at him with a proud smile.

"I..believe you."

Her weak and frail voice echoed throughout the room.

Biting his lips, the youth squeezed her hand harder.

"Trust me."

***

"Ugh."

Powerless, a figure lay on the floor groaning in a dark room.

"H..help."

He murmured quietly as he struggled to move. Currently, his body was paralyzed and he couldn't move a single muscle. He could only just barely feel his right foot, but that was just about it.

He felt trapped inside of his one Body.

'I'm thirsty, I'm hungry.'

To make matters worse, it had been quite a while since he had last drank or eaten something.

His mind was blurry and he was going in and out of consciousness.

'...If only I was born with more talent.'

The individual thought in the midst of his despair.

One thing was clear to him, despite his lack of understanding of what led to the sudden situation.

Had he been stronger, he would've never found himself in this situation.

This paralysis he was experiencing would've never happened if he was stronger or even a little bit more talented…

Never!

Drip—! Drip—!

The dripping sound from the corner of the room served no purpose as it only heightened the individual's paranoia and sense of thirst.

His eyes slowly grew bloodshot.

"Akh."

While biting his lips until they bled, the individual moved his body with all his strength.

"W..water."

He desperately needed water at the moment. Without it, he was a goner.

"Ukh."

As veins bulged on the side of his face, the figure slowly pushed his body with his foot. The only part of his body that he could feel.

"I …will definitely make it."

***

"Alright, I'm done packing. Let's head back to earth."

Melissa patted her hands in satisfaction as she headed toward Kevin.

Kevin shook his head and stared into the distance.

"We aren't leaving him yet."

"Hm?"

Melissa tilted her head.

"Didn't you say before that it was your fault for bringing me here? You surely must know of a way to return?"

"I do."

Kevin replied while squinting his eyes and staring at the interface in front of him.

He was currently looking at Amanda.

'Amanda has been staying in the same spot for quite a while. Is she troubled with something? Or is she just resting?'

"Kevin?"

Startling Kevin out of his thought was Melissa's voice.

Turning his head, he was met with her annoyed face.

"Hm? What?"

"Did you not hear me?"

Taking a look at one of the plants in the distance, Melissa raised up her glasses.

"What are you thinking about? Are you telling me that there's no way back to earth?"

"Calm down for a second."

In an attempt to stop Melissa from talking, Kevin raised his hand and gazed in Amanda's general direction.

"There is a way to go back to earth. But there's a bit of a problem."

"I don't like the sound of this…"

Melissa's face hardened a little bit.

"Whenever I hear such words, I know there's incoming trouble."

Scratching the side of his check, Kevin meekly looked at Melissa before bitterly smiling.

'Right on.'

"It's not what you think Melissa. The problem isn't exactly big…"

"Not big?"

Melissa raised her brow.

Crossing her arms together she smiled.

"Please do tell me."

The smile she wore on the outside looked normal, but Kevin knew just how angry she was inside.

Her anger was understandable. For her to be suddenly dragged into a different planet out of nowhere...

Anyone else in her situation would react the way she did.

This was why Kevin didn't get angry or react.

Kevin struggled to find the right words to say as he gazed at Melissa. In the end, he came clean as he noticed Melissa's darkening expression.

"Basically, you weren't the only one dragged here. Amanda and the others have also been dragged here."

***

After the assault, three days passed, but nothing really changed.

Except for the fact that Jin and I weren't in opposite rooms anymore, the routine was pretty much the same.

Drink water, and bang the wall with my arms.

Wasn't exactly the most exciting routine, but it was better than doing nothing.

"Huuuu…"

As I sat cross-legged in the middle of the room, I took a deep breath and my chest heaved up and down rhythmically.

'I'm getting close.'

My arms were tingling, a sign that I was on the verge of reaching the next stage of my body art practice.

[Body Hardening]

Since I only used my arms and hands at the moment, those were the only areas that were hardening, but in any case, this was what I wanted since I could feel power surge from within me.

With enough practice, I could break down the wall with just one punch once I mastered the art.

It might take a while, but it was definitely possible.

…and that was all possible with my mana sealed.

"Huuuu…"

Taking another breath, I mumbled underneath my breath.

"Just a little bit more."

***

Crac..crack!

In a world where red dyed the skies, rotted vegetation, sparse water, and cracks tore the ground apart, a dark silhouette stepped into the middle of the void, tearing apart the space, and finally entered the planet.

Observing the planet from above, the figure fell slowly toward the ground.

"What a shit hole."

Landing on the ground, his presence spread throughout the planet and the ground beneath him trembled.

Immediately after, several demons rushed from a very far distance as the demon that had just arrived noted their approaching figures.

"Your royal highness, Magnus."

In front of the dark figure, the demons kneeled immediately. There were approximately two of them and both did not dare look up.

Briefly glancing at the demons, Magnus waved his hand.

"Rise up."

"Yes, your excellency."

Slowly, the demons rose to their feet. Standing up, they perspired from the sides of their faces as their backs remained straight.

Taking a look at the surroundings, Magnus monotonously asked.

"Have you seen any humans on this planet recently?"

"Humans?"

Suddenly faced with a question, the two demons turned to look at one another with confused looks.

Taking note of their reactions, Magnus immediately lost interest in them.

"…So you haven't."

"Eh, a—"

"Quiet."

Flicking his finger, the demon that was just about to speak disintegrated on the spot.

After that, the other demon's expression paled significantly as his back straightened further, and he stopped speaking altogether.

The fear in his eyes was evident as he looked at Magnus.

Meeting the demons' eyes, Magnus softly muttered.

"I don't like it when someone speaks when I don't give them permission to speak."

The demon immediately nodded his head.

With no regard for the other demon, Magnus sank into thought.

'This is the third planet where humans have not been found. While I don't know why his majesty is so fixated on a couple of humans, considering his personality, it must be about something extremely important.'

In Magnus's eyes, Jezebeth was like a god.

A figure that was beyond the realm of mortals, and was omnipotent.

Nothing could escape his eyes. And for him to pay this much attention to some humans, Magnus knew that he had to take this task extremely seriously.

'There's still a couple of planets missing. The closest one should be Illonia, while the closest one after that is Cassaria. I'll step into Illonia first before paying a visit to Cassaria. It shouldn't take too long."

Magnus nodded to himself as he planned his future course of action.

Taking a glance at the demon beside him, he waved dismissively.

"You have a good sense."

The space in front of him cracked immediately after he said those words.

Cra…crack!

Taking a step into the crack, his figure soon disappeared from the spot.