Biliousness

The next few weeks passed uneventfully, with no major incidents to report. I continued to go about my business as usual, taking on missions and completing them with efficiency. However, all that changed when something unexpected started happening.

It started with a strange feeling of unease that crept up on me, like a shadow lurking in the corner of my mind. At first, I tried to ignore it and carry on with my work, but the feeling only grew stronger with each passing day. I found myself becoming increasingly distracted and jumpy, unable to focus on my tasks as I normally would.

And then it happened a strange dream. I dreamt of a world where everything around me was disappearing, only to reappear in a flurry of colors and movements. It was as if the dream had the power to create and destroy, to mold and separate objects at will.

For the first time in my life, I felt a connection to something greater than myself. But just as suddenly as it began, I woke up to the sound of chaos outside my window.

As I peered out, I couldn't believe my eyes. People were fighting, but not with fists or weapons. They were fighting with powers - supernatural powers like the ones in movies and fiction.

I took a step back in shock. Was this real? Was I still dreaming? But as I watched, a person conjured a ball of fire in their hand, while another called forth a wave of water.

"What the hell," I muttered to myself, unable to comprehend what was happening before my very eyes.

"Do my eyes deceive me?" I asked myself, trying to keep my voice steady.

I quickly got dressed and made my way outside to get a closer look. As I approached, I could see that the fighters were using their powers to attack and defend themselves from each other.

The scene was chaotic and dangerous, with debris flying everywhere and buildings starting to crumble under the strain of the battle.

I had to get out of there, and fast. But as I turned to leave, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

I turned to see Lucien standing behind me, a look of concern etched on his face.

"What is going on?" I asked, still in shock.

Lucien took a deep breath before replying, "I think that, this is the awakening. Humanity is starting to... change as we are talking, and people are discovering new abilities that were once thought to be nothing more than myth and legend."

I couldn't believe it. The world was changing right before my very eyes, and I was just thrown into this hot mess.

"Wait, did you also have a weird dream?" I asked Lucien, eager to find some answers.

"Yeah, it was so weird, I actually thought that I got high one way or another, but jokes aside, that dream might just be the reason why these people have powers now."

"So we all manifested some kind of weird powers?"

"I believe so, but I do think that some people developed their powers further than others in the matter of physical strength but today probably marks the day when people have awakened their powers."

"So would you say that today, we all have truly entered stage one of manifesting our powers?"

"Yeah, that's very likely. Because Haruto was already physically strong before and he didn't use any Powers but only his strength and the same goes for me. So it's possible that we both were only halfway through stage one, however, if it turns out true that everybody manifested their powers to stage one, then this could become chaos, not just in Japan but also in the rest of the world."

"So what should I do?" I asked, feeling lost and unsure of what my role would be in this new world.

Lucien placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "You do what you've always done, Katsu. You adapt, you survive, and you make the most of what you have. That's all any of us can do."

I nodded, taking in his words. He was right, I had survived in this world as a mission taker when I got sent here, and I could survive this too with the right mindset.

As we ventured through the bustling city, which became no more than a fighting ground, a voice called out to us, beckoning us to come closer.

It was none other than Elyna, standing bravely beside a group of people engaged in a fierce battle. With urgency in her voice, she implored us to lend a hand.

Without hesitation, Lucien sprang into action, dashing towards the commotion. I, on the other hand, chose to approach at a more measured pace, observing from a safe distance. It was then that I caught sight of Haruto in the corner of my eye.

In the midst of a skirmish, he fought off a group of ruffians for what appeared to be a precious commodity - food.

As I observed Haruto, it became apparent that he had returned to this place to gather food. I watched in awe as he battled against a group of adversaries single-handedly, his movements fluid and precise. There was no denying that he was exceptionally strong, possessing not only brute force but also impressive speed and quick thinking. With every punch and strike thrown at him, he deftly dodged and countered with ease.

"He's gotten even better," I murmured to myself in amazement.

But I was quickly interrupted by the sounds of Lucien struggling in his own fight. Without hesitation, I rushed over to assist him. It was then that I witnessed Lucien unsheathe his sword, wielding it with incredible speed and precision.

With each swift stroke of his sword, Lucien dispatched his foes with lethal precision, leaving them no chance to even gasp for breath before their lifeless bodies hit the ground.

I marveled at the grace and speed with which he moved, each slash a testament to the countless hours of training and technique that must have gone into perfecting his craft.

"Damn, I had no idea he was capable of such feats," I remarked with admiration, noting the painless yet deadly slashes he delivered. It was clear that Lucien was a force to be reckoned with. I realized that there was still so much I didn't know about this town and its inhabitants.

As chaos continued to reign around me, I found myself suddenly attacked and pinned to the ground by an assailant, who then attempted to stab me. But just in time, Lucien returned from his own fight, pushing the attacker aside and delivering the fatal blow that killed the assailant.

I should have felt relieved and grateful, but instead, a feeling of worthlessness consumed me. In this place, surrounded by so much talent and power, I couldn't help but feel envious of those who possessed it. And I was just standing in the middle of it, letting myself get attacked and the worst part is that I couldn't even protect myself, but needed the help of Lucien.

I was a clumsy person who only made mistakes throughout life but not only that, I also disappointed my parents and even society with my lackluster academic performance.

I had never truly experienced genuine love or a connection with someone. I had always felt like an outsider, a wall separating me from others.

Why bother striving to be the best, only to be outshined and compared to others? What was the point of letting some people live as they pleased while others suffered? My heart was filled with bitterness and resentment, and I vowed to make everyone taste the same dread that I had felt. For it was only by experiencing pain that one could truly become the strongest, not by some arbitrary notion of talent or a privileged upbringing.

This was to be my connection, my way of bringing people back to reality. I would reclaim what was rightfully mine and forge my own path forward, leaving behind the family and friends who had never truly mattered to me.

This was a new start for me, my chance to prove to my parents, friends, and even myself, that I wasn't worthless and not just a play toy to that girl in my dreams.

...

"Correct," a soft voice whispered behind me, causing me to turn around. And there she was - the girl from my dreams, her hands clapping in excitement.

As I looked around, I realized that time had frozen still, as if her mere presence had halted the world's clock. It was clear that she was the cause of this surreal phenomenon.

"I brought you here to find yourself," she explained, her eyes gleaming with mystery." And you finally started getting closer, you are finally growing out from being a play toy into a serious toy," she jested.

"But be warned, the true test lies ahead."

"Will you continue having the strength to overcome the challenges that await you, because things will only get harder from now on?"

She smiled, and before I could even gather my thoughts, she vanished into thin air. As time resumed its course, I suddenly felt exhaustion and stress, it was unbearable.

As I struggled to keep my eyes open, I couldn't help but wonder what fate had in store for me. However, I was unable to maintain my composure any longer, and before I knew it, I had already lost consciousness.