Blink… Blinkk…
Hex slowly blinked, clutching his head as he fought back the sharp waves of pain pounding against his skull. He cursed silently, gritting his teeth as the first traces of consciousness returned.
Then he saw a flickering screen hovering before his eyes.
---
Name: Hex
Rank: Common
Race: Carbon Human
[Bloodline Ability]
Main Ability
Copy [???]
Temporary Slot
[ ], [ ], [ ]
Permanent Slot
Chaos Reflection– B
---
Hex's eyes widened as he scanned the screen in disbelief. He was just about to analyze it further when another tremor shot through his body. A searing, banging pain erupted in his head like someone was hammering his skull from the inside.
"Gyaa!"
'What the hell's going on? Did I grow a tumor or something? Why is my brain rioting again? This is the second damn time!'
Clutching his temples, Hex took a few deep breaths and slowly opened his eyes again. The screen had vanished, but he could somehow feel it was still there—like an interface linked to his thoughts. He could pull it up again at will, so he decided to check it out later.
His eyes adjusted to the scene before him, and what he saw was nothing short of a disaster zone.
Debris was scattered everywhere. The smell of ash and burnt metal lingered thick in the air. Makeshift beds had been set up, and rows of patients in torn, soot-covered white uniforms lay groaning in pain. Medics rushed between them with IV bags and bandages. The atmosphere was grim—life and death hung in a delicate balance.
'Had the Chaos Born finally been dealt with?'
Hex glanced down and realized he was lying on a thin mattress. As he tried to sit up, his gaze fell on a small chubby figure curled up beside him—not asleep, but resting.
"Mira?" he whispered.
Relief washed over him.
"Thank God… she's alright." Hex exhaled, heart finally settling.
"Kid, you're already awake?"
Hex turned his head toward the familiar voice. From a short distance, Rondal approached with a limp, a cup of coffee in one hand and a piece of toast in the other. His head was wrapped in bandages, and a tired but relieved smile hung on his face.
Hex's lips twitched at the sight.
'You're bandaged up like a mummy, and you're still walking around munching toast? Seriously?'
He shook off the sarcastic thought and focused on the bigger issue.
"Uncle, has everything been taken care of? What happened to the other Chaos Born?"
"They were handled by the Federation Army," Rondal replied, taking a slow sip of coffee.
"There was a minor rift nearby that allowed them to break through and run wild. And worst of all… it had to be Chaos Born. Their energy fields rendered the laser drones useless. Thankfully, backup forces managed to arrive just in time."
'Just in time? If I hadn't taken that one down, who knows how many people would've died? And what about the other sectors?'
Hex frowned deeply, the weight of it all pressing down on him.
Rondal saw the change in his expression and gave a tired smile. "Hex… We're not omnipotent. No one is. You did well. Now we just need to stay calm."
He stepped closer and gently patted Hex's shoulder.
But the moment his hand made contact, Hex felt something strange ripple through him—a faint shiver, like static running up his spine.
[New ability detected.]
[Host, do you want to replicate?]
Hex's eyes lit up instantly. He didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
[Ability detected... Hair Growth.]
[Ability copied to temporary slot.]
"…???"
Hex stared blankly, expression twitching.
'Hair growth? Really? That's a big ability?'
Rondal, blissfully unaware, continued sipping his coffee like the world hadn't just flipped upside down.
Hex looked at Rondal with a thoughtful expression and asked, "Uncle, you said you are elite."
The moment Rondal heard this, his expression flustered and his face heated up.
"Of course I am a true elite, or else do you think I would survive despite falling from above?"
Hex's expression shifted slightly. Now that he thought about it, Rondal's words held some truth. Earlier, the man had been blasted from the top floor and caught in an explosion—yet he survived.
That ability of his was honestly pretty lousy, yet somehow he managed to survive. What was Hex missing?
Was he a dual ability holder?
It was rare, but not impossible.
"Uncle, what's your ability?" Hex asked curiously.
Rondal's face flushed deeper. "Sorry, I can't say that. I have signed a treaty, so please..."
Hex hesitated for a moment. A question had been nagging at the back of his mind something about the strange screen he had seen.
Was it normal? Did everyone who awakened an ability see something like that? Or was it unique to him?
"Uncle, how do you know you've awakened an ability? Do you get some system from the Federation for input or something like that?"
Rondal shook his head. "Awakening an ability is a part of the bigger picture. Awakening helps to walk on the path of Super. Elite,the term you're referring to was only used during your college grading."
Seeing Hex's expression grow more confused, Rondal was about to explain further when they both heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching.
"There he is!"
The loud voice caught everyone's attention. Hex and Rondal turned toward it, seeing a group of people in uniform approaching, guided by a nurse who pointed in their direction.
Rondal's expression changed instantly. He moved quickly, pulling Mira close and glancing at Hex. He handed over a card and said hurriedly, "You can contact me later?"
Without wasting another second, he turned and bolted away but not before giving a respectful salute to the man leading the group.
Soon, a square-jawed man with a clean, authoritative appearance stepped forward and looked at Hex with a stern expression.
"Nurse, is he the one?"
"Yes."
The man turned to Hex, eyeing him sharply, and asked, "Did you defeat the Chaos Born outside and kill it?"
Hex didn't feel any need to hide it. With an opportunity knocking right at his doorstep, this could be a turning point.
He nodded firmly. "Yes, I was the one."