System X: Bloodline Awakening System

Without hesitation, Kaiza made up his mind. He was certain—he chose his wife. But who wouldn't?

If this question truly came from his future, there was no way he would choose a stranger over someone he loved. Every hero was expected to make that choice.

Kaiza reasoned further in his mind. This decision didn't stem from a vengeful part of himself; it was a reflection of his true nature. As a hero, his duty was to save everyone, but above all, to protect those dearest to him—especially his wife.

What kind of hero would he be if he chose to save someone he hardly knew over someone he cherished? That felt wrong.

In Kaiza's mind, a border appeared around the chosen option, mirrored on the screen before him. As it displayed, Kaiza thought further.

As a hero, his wife would always come first—she was his priority. But afterward, he resolved to find a way to save the citizens too. He would do everything in his power to ensure both survived.

Unbeknownst to him, as he committed to this choice in his mind, his score was updated. Instead of gaining three points, only one point was added to his score bar. Kaiza didn't notice, lost in his thoughts, strategizing how he could save both victims as quickly as possible.

Moments later, the stats updated again. This time, his bar rose significantly, filling with extra points displayed at the top of the battery indicator. Looking up, Kaiza eagerly anticipated his score, feeling confident he had answered correctly, though his thoughts remained conflicted. As a hero, he knew he wasn't supposed to save one life at the expense of another.

Regardless of who he saved first, Kaiza would always strive to get everyone out of danger.

When he glanced at the screen, he noticed the updated stats—and they exceeded his expectations. It was far beyond what he had anticipated.

Moments later, the score scrolled off the screen, replaced by a series of new messages.

[Congratulations, Player]

[You are now considered a Hero]

[System Unlocked]

[You have unlocked the Hero System]

As these messages flashed across the screen, Kaiza felt a surge of excitement rising within him. He wanted to shout out in triumph, but his enthusiasm was cut short when he realized his hand was stuck.

His palm felt glued to the screen, immovable, no matter how much he tried to pull away. Suddenly, a surge of energy coursed through his body, entering through his palm. It wasn't painful, yet it wasn't pleasant either—a strange sensation hovering somewhere in between.

Kaiza froze, unsure of what was happening. The sensation was indescribable, like a mix of electricity and fluid rushing through him. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced, leaving him bewildered and unsure of how to react.

Just then, Kaiza felt himself lose control over his body. His limbs went limp, even weaker than when M. Boss had injected that mysterious fluid into his neck. His body sagged, but his hand remained firmly stuck to the screen, keeping him upright. Though he could still stand, every other part of his body was powerless.

[System connecting . . .]

[System activation - 35%]

[System activation - 100%]

[System activation completed]

[Congratulations: Hero System activated]

As the final message appeared, a brilliant purple light surged from Kaiza's palm, spreading through his body like an electrical current. The energy flowed to every part of him, and when it reached his neck, his once brown, human eyes flicked open—now glowing with a vibrant mix of purple and white.

With a sudden release, his palm broke free from the screen, and he collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

* * *

Meanwhile, outside the cave, M. Boss stirred awake from his unusually long slumber. He rose abruptly, his mind racing to process the last thing he had seen before losing consciousness.

As he tried to piece it together, the memory of the purple light and Kaiza seemingly merging with the ground replayed in his head, like a movie stuck on an endless loop.

The scene baffled him. M. Boss had always suspected that Kaiza wasn't ordinary. He had concluded that Kaiza might be a mixed blood, but walking into the ground? That was something entirely different—something beyond extraordinary.

As the memory of the event lingered, he suddenly recalled the injuries on his back. The sharp pain had faded, and, as if on cue, he realized the wounds were beginning to heal.

The man grabbed his phone and made a call.

"I just sent you my live location. Do a quick search on the area!" he barked, his tone sharp and commanding. It was clear he was addressing either a subordinate or a peer.

Anger and frustration laced his voice as memories of his failure flooded back. He had come this far with a clear objective, only to leave empty-handed. He had underestimated the kid, only to discover Kaiza was far more exceptional than he had anticipated.

The thought of being outwitted by Kaiza flushed M. Boss's face with anger. His teeth clenched, and the veins on his temple bulged as his fury mounted.

Minutes later, his phone buzzed. He answered immediately, his voice sharp.

"Did you find anything?" he barked.

"There's something massive on that land," the voice on the other end replied. "But there's a barrier blocking our servers from gathering more detailed information. It might be the Alien Power Lab."

M. Boss froze. "The Alien Power Lab?" he echoed, his eyes scanning the area in awe and disbelief. Could it be true? Had he, by sheer chance, stumbled upon the long-lost treasure humanity had sought for decades?

The Alien Power Lab was a legendary facility, created fifty years ago after the Dowolf invasion. The Dowolf—ruthless, otherworldly creatures—had devastated the Earth until an alien race intervened, defeating the creatures and helping to rebuild what was left of humanity.

The aliens had warned humanity that this wasn't the end of the war. They foretold that more powerful creatures would invade Earth again, though their purpose for doing so remained a mystery. The lab, built as a safeguard, was said to house unimaginable power, capable of defending the planet against any future threats.

To help humanity defend their newfound home from the Dowolf and the looming threat of the Zutan, the aliens created ability-enhancing books and the legendary power lab. Their goal was to forge a new breed of warriors they called "Heroes."

But humans, being humans, grew greedy. They launched a war against the aliens, hoping to seize their powers for themselves. In the end, the last of the alien race sealed the power lab, ensuring it would never be found again.

Many dismissed the tale as a myth, but supernatural beings like M. Boss believed in its truth. For decades, he had searched tirelessly for the lab. The realization that he had been chasing a "piece of gold" only to stumble upon a "pillar of gold" filled him with a surge of excitement and triumph.

He gave his final orders to the person on the other end of the line.

"Get the team and be here ASAP," he commanded, his voice firm and resolute.