Shit...
Lin Ling was in Toadman's elevator with a grimace of discomfort as he felt his aching body. He was wearing his usual clothes, except that he was still wearing the shell necklace that Cyan had given him.
I should have known it would end up like this after this weekend.
Lin Ling put a hand on his shoulder while swinging his arm.
But then some memories of how much fun he had with Cyan and the others on the trip flashed through his mind, causing him to stop what he was doing with a thoughtful look.
I guess... I just need to exercise more.
He straightened up with a sigh as the elevator beeped, signaling that he had arrived at his floor.
Even though I just got back from my trip today, I still have to come to work, and Wang Ming is still going to be out because he has more meetings today. What bad luck-
His thoughts were interrupted when he entered the floor and a group of people entered the elevator at the same time, led by a tall woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a short blue dress with gold details, followed closely by a small group of men in suits.
Lin Ling awkwardly passed by them, while they didn't even bother to look at him.
Who were they?
"Lin Ling."
Lin Ling turned his attention to another employee who was calling him.
"The boss asked you to come to his office as soon as you arrived."
Lin Ling couldn't help but swallow hard when he heard those words.
I hope it's not too bad...
Lin Ling walked to his boss's office and took a deep breath before knocking on the door.
"Come in."
"I was told you wanted to see me." Lin Ling entered the office and saw Mr. Cheng signing some papers at his desk.
"Yes."
A few seconds passed as Lin Ling stood in front of the boss's desk, waiting for him to say something. Mr. Cheng finished with the papers and began to look directly at Lin Ling, who in response tried to appear as calm as possible.
"I have a few things to discuss with you."
"Is it about Lucius?" Lin Ling ventured to ask.
"One of the issues. His agency came personally to apologize for their hero's behavior. In response, he is no longer part of their team as a hero—and probably no one else's either."
Lin Ling wondered for a moment how things had come to this, but soon realized that Lucius's confidence must have fallen after all that.
I guess it was to be expected...
"I just want to remind you that, even given the circumstances, Toadman condemns any act of violence. I hope there won't be a second case like this again," Mr. Cheng said seriously, his gaze steady.
Lin Ling nodded in agreement.
"And this..." Satisfied with the answer, Mr. Cheng took an envelope and handed it to Lin Ling. "This is for you. An apology from the agency to you, as the main person involved. They have also deposited the money for the marketing you did for Lucius."
Lin Ling blinked a few times before taking the envelope.
"And his agency... who are they?" Lin Ling was now more curious.
Mr. Cheng let a slight ironic smile appear on his face.
"Treeman. Apparently, he was a secret hero who was going to be announced at HeroCom. On the bright side, this case may have brought us closer to Treeman."
Lin Ling couldn't hide the surprise on his face.
He really did all that behind Treeman's back!?... Wait, those people from earlier...
"When I arrived, I saw a group of people leaving the floor. Were they from Treeman?"
"Yes, the woman among them is Miss J. She recently took over as the new manager of the hero Nice. From now on, she will be the main person involved in approving marketing projects involving Nice."
"I hope I get along with her..." Lin Ling muttered as he opened the envelope.
More money wouldn't be bad—
Lin Ling's thoughts were interrupted when he saw the contents of the envelope. Mr. Cheng raised an eyebrow, curious to see the employee's expression of astonishment.
"What?..." Lin Ling held the paper, trembling slightly.
"THEY'RE VIP TICKETS TO HEROCOM!?"
Lin Ling ended up blurting out loud.
Meanwhile, visible through Mr. Cheng's office window, one of the large advertising screens across the street was flashing, signaling something new.
"HELLO PEOPLE OF CITY X, THIS IS CUTTY, YOUR STREAMER AND NOW YOUR FAVORITE PRESENTER!"
On the big screen, a woman with pink hair in twin tails appeared, smiling happily. She wore a dress with pink and white details, along with large white boots.
Some people walking down the nearby streets stopped to watch the screen.
"In this edition, I'll be the presenter at HeroCom! And I'm here to talk about the second biggest event in this world of heroes! The event brings together fans and their favorite heroes at the world's largest convention. HeroCom delivers big announcements about heroes and their agencies, along with activities for fans and heroes to interact, sales of exclusive and limited products, and, as expected, great heroes are confirmed for this edition!"
Some silhouettes of heroes appeared in the background behind Cutty on the big screen.
"The hero who always smiles as a symbol for everyone, Hero Smile!
The hero who never gives up! Always standing up against the villains! The great Firm Man!
The heroine who is an example for a generation of heroines, the one before whom the unworthy must kneel, Queen!
The sensational duo connecting man and beast! The Johnnies!
The new young heroine who is shaking things up with anticipation, a cute and intelligent heroine of justice, Loli!
The duo of heroes who convey perfect love to their fans! The perfect couple Nice and Moon!
And as a big surprise in this edition, this hero has never participated in any edition of HeroCom throughout his career... He entered into an agreement with Fomo solely to participate in HeroCom. His silence is relative to how cool he is... the silent Ghostblade!
Some of the people watching couldn't help but express their surprise at this news.
"Of course! Many more heroes will be present, but I think I'm forgetting something..."
Cutty began tapping her chin with a thoughtful expression.
"Ah!... We can't forget the main activity for fans at HeroCom, the biggest cosplay contest there is! Dress up as your favorite hero and show your love for them. The first prize this time is magnificent: the winner will receive a complete tour accompanied by the hero of their choice at the Tower of Heroes! There is still a last batch of tickets available. I hope to see you at HeroCom. Don't miss this chance; it could be unforgettable for you.
Ending the announcement with the HeroCom logo, the screen soon returned to its normal programming of advertisements.
Some of the people on the street commented on everything they saw on the screen.
"Ghostblade at HeroCom? What's going on?"
"Even he's going to appear, and nothing from X..."
"Not only him, but Mighty Glory won't have any heroes in this edition."
"Damn, the ticket prices are too high..."
"And they're about to sell out again."
Returning to Lin Ling, he was still visibly shaking from what he had in his hands.
I tried to buy them months ago when the first batch was released, but they sold out in seconds. At this point, having VIP tickets so close to the event...
"It's not that surprising, Treeman is currently one of the big hero agencies, it's not difficult for them to get that." Mr. Cheng commented as he thought about it.
"Right... now on to the next topic." Mr. Cheng returned to serious conversation with Lin Ling.
In response, Lin Ling quickly put the envelope with the tickets in his backpack. He would process this better later.
"Treeman also talked about the new marketing project for Nice... your next task is to write song lyrics for the hero Nice."
.
.
.
.
"... What?" Lin Ling asked, confused.
"I said you're going to write lyrics for the hero Nice."
"WHAT!? WHY!?"
"Treeman couldn't get in touch with the composer they wanted, he's too busy as a result of the whatisyourcolor initiative, and Treeman doesn't want to be left behind in this initiative either."
"I figured if I was going to do something involving music, it would be a music video, an album cover—"
"Treeman decided they can count on us, the company in charge of Nice's marketing in recent years. According to Treeman, Toadman has enough knowledge of Nice's perfect image to write a song for him."
"But isn't there anyone more appropriate than me in the company?"
"You've been primarily in charge of Nice's marketing in recent years, so you're the logical choice. Besides, Treeman is our main client. If we lose them, not only will we lose our biggest source of income, but other agencies won't want to do business with a company that was dumped by Treeman. We can't just refuse their requests."
Lin Ling swallowed hard. It wasn't the first time he had heard these words.
"How much time do I have?" Lin Ling asked, accepting this crazy task.
"About two weeks. The deadline is subject to change. Treeman's main focus is still on HeroCom to further promote the Nice and Moon couple."
"Okay."
How did I get mixed up in this?
Lin Ling still didn't understand the logic behind this choice.
"The last thing I have to say is about the chaos you've been involved in at the company lately..."
Lin Ling's attention returned fully to his boss upon hearing these words.
"I've come to the conclusion that in order to calm the employees and even prevent more rumors of unexpected people appearing at the company, you will be allowed to work from home starting tomorrow."
"Huh!?" Lin Ling was once again surprised by his boss.
"It's just a temporary measure, to be more exact, it will only be while you are writing the lyrics, this will allow you to have more focus and peace of mind to develop this task," Mr. Cheng finished, looking steadily at Lin Ling.
"I-I understand," Lin Ling replied awkwardly, still processing everything he had discovered and heard in such a short time.
"Enjoy it, but don't forget your work. I'll want updates on how it's going, and now get back to work. I need you to finish the artwork for the Nice and Moon flyers for HeroCom." Mr. Cheng went back to shuffling the papers from before.
"Okay..." Lin Ling left his boss's office with a lost expression.
That was the most unexpected conversation I've ever had with him.
Fomo Agency - recording studio
Luo Li was sitting at a desk in the studio, writing in a notebook with a slightly irritated expression.
"No."
She tore the sheet and crumpled it in her hands before throwing it toward a trash can on the other side, but the paper ended up falling next to the trash can, joining others that were scattered on the floor.
"How's my rising star doing?"
Luo Li turned around when she heard that voice.
"Zac? What are you doing here?" Luo Li asked, looking curiously.
"I'm just here to see how things are going," Zac said with a slight playful smile on his face.
CEO of the Fomo agency, and responsible for launching the Fomo social network, Zac is a rather young looking man who wears a pink and white baseball tee, has brown unkempt hair, and wears a pink headband. He has large, soft brown eyes, and lightly tanned skin.
Luo Li just rolled her eyes and went back to concentrating on what she was writing.
Zac responded by approaching and standing next to Luo Li.
"I'm still surprised that you came up with the proposal to write a song to perform at HeroCom. I thought I would have to propose that kind of idea."
"I... just want to show my gratitude to her in some way. Music seems like the right thing for me, the right thing that can reach her," Luo Li said calmly.
"A very interesting reason, besides the fact that music for heroes is on the rise, so it's easier to go with that idea." Zac commented as he remembered all the commotion that the whatisyourcolor movement is causing.
"Yes, that's why I'm not going to miss this chance, I'm going to write a song about the heroine that I am." Luo Li said with determination as she returned to writing.
Zac let himself smile a little more in response.
I think this HeroCom is going to be the most unique one yet...
"And you..." Zac raised his voice to speak to a person sitting at a table on the other side of the studio, writing in their own notebook.
"Our partnership could extend to something more lasting—"
The person looked up and glared at Zac with an irritated expression. It was Ghostblade.
"Okay..." Zac sweated slightly upon receiving this Ghostblade-style response.
"I told you it was useless." Luo Li said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"You can't blame me for trying."
Convenience store.
"Next."
Cyan was standing in line with a shopping basket, happily humming a song. She was wearing the clothes she normally wore to relax at home.
(Based on pop-up shop advertising)
"I don't think I forgot anything... I'll try making that Lanzhou Lamian I saw once."
"Next."
"Oh, are you new around here? This is the first time I've seen you." The cashier, who this time was an elderly lady, commented as she looked at Cyan.
"Yes, I'm spending some time with a friend here." Cyan replied with a slight smile.
"That reminds me of my own youth." The lady commented thoughtfully as she finished scanning the purchases at the register.
"Is that all?"
"Yes." Cyan reached into her pocket and took out the money Lin Ling had given her earlier to make these purchases.
If only I had access to my bank account.
Cyan sighed, disappointed that it still had to be Lin Ling who gave her these things.
But then she noticed a specific flyer hanging on the wall behind the lady.
We are hiring!
"Are you really hiring?" Cyan asked curiously.
"Hm? Oh yes, we are, but it's only for part-time work." The lady replied as she handed Cyan's groceries to her in a bag.
"Interested?"
"Well..." Cyan thoughtfully replied.
I've never worked at anything... I can't work with my music since I'm hiding... besides, I'm curious and I can help Lin Ling more this way.
"Yes."
Back with Lin Ling - Toadman Company Rooftop
Lin Ling decided to take his lunch break early to clear his head after everything that had happened to him today.
I was hoping things would calm down from now on... but I guess that's far from happening.
Lin Ling thought as he looked at the view from the company rooftop, a place that always helped him think more clearly.
"I guess I'll just accept all this for now, after all, it's not all bad." Lin Ling said to himself as he picked up his phone and opened the Fomo app, curious to see how people were reacting to HeroCom's latest announcement.
The announcement about Ghostblade participating really took everyone by surprise. I think it would be really fun to go, besides, I could take the opportunity to meet Moon.
Lin Ling thought that Cyan wouldn't want to go, but then he remembered that an event like this would be too risky. Cyan could be discovered, and then...
Lin Ling decided it was better to stop thinking about that kind of thing.
I'd better sell these tickets, I'll get good money for them.
Lin Ling's attention was then drawn to a specific post on Fomo.
Sing loud!!! @songlovexxx
We're so close to HeroCom! It's a shame that Lucky Cyan won't be participating due to the bad time she's going through, but at least I hope she has a good birthday.
#luckycyan #herocom
She'd better enjoy her own... birthday...
.
.
.
.
BIRTHDAY!?
Lin Ling was alarmed when he realized this.
Her birthday is in less than a week!
Lin Ling put his hands to his head; he had forgotten this detail.
And I can't act like I can't give her a gift, but what gift would she like? I've never given a gift to anyone other than my grandmother!
RING*RING
The cell phone rang, startling Lin Ling, who almost dropped the device on the floor.
When he looked at the number calling him, he felt even more anxious. It was Cyan calling him.
What bad luck.
"Hi, Cyan, how are you?" Lin Ling said, trying to sound as calm as possible.
"Hi, I just wanted to check that everything is going well with you, like, no problems?"
"No problems at all."
Cyan noticed his nervous tone but decided to believe him. "Great, besides, I have a surprise for you!" She said excitedly on the other end of the line.
"Really?"
"Yes, I'll tell you when you get here, and remember that this is also a warning for you to stop working overtime." Cyan said firmly.
"Don't worry, I won't." Lin Ling replied more calmly after hearing these words.
"Okay, see you later."
"See you later."
Cyan ended the call, leaving Lin Ling thoughtful. Without realizing it, one of his hands rested on the shell necklace he wore.
I have to give her a gift.
Later - After Lin Ling's workday
I know I should go home right away, but I need to try to find something nice to give her as a gift.
Lin Ling entered a large specialty store a few blocks from his work.
It was a store selling hero merchandise, where you could find a wide variety of products from both high-ranking and lower-ranked heroes.
Is this really the only type of store I know well!?
Lin Ling quickly realized that it wasn't the best idea; this was the ideal type of store for him, not for Cyan.
Lin Ling turned to leave.
"Oh, you must be Mr. Lin?"
Hearing this new voice, Lin Ling stopped and looked in the direction of the questioner. It was a young man with short red hair and glasses that highlighted his appearance. He wore the store uniform, indicating that he was an employee.
"Ahhh... yes, but how do you know?"
It was the first time Lin Ling had seen him.
"I may be new here, but you are well known here, the number one fan of the heroine Moon, always buying her products. Besides, your badge gives away your name."
"I see." A blush rose to Lin Ling's face in embarrassment.
Am I really that fanatical about Moon?
Lin Ling wouldn't deny that he saw Moon as his goddess, but he was embarrassed when other people pointed out that side of him.
"I assume you came for more Moon products? We have some new items that arrived recently." The employee smiled slightly as he offered this to Lin Ling.
"Well..."
A quick look won't hurt.
"Sure."
Lin Ling began to follow the employee until they reached an area designated for Treeman hero products.
"New Moon action figures have arrived."
Lin Ling quickly approached to get a better look, but was quickly disappointed when he saw the action figures. They weren't exactly for Moon, but rather for the perfect couple.
One of the action figures was Nice and Moon fighting side by side against Nice's nemesis, King of Destruction.
Another action figure was Nice and Moon in their signature poses on top of a flowery altar.
The last one was Nice and Moon dancing together to a slow song.
"Don't you like them?" The employee asked awkwardly when he noticed Lin Ling's disappointment.
"It's not exactly my favorite type..."
"I'm sorry, more and more products featuring Moon have been reduced to just the perfect couple."
"It's okay, it's not your fault."
I think they're going to become more and more rare.
Lin Ling thought with disappointment about how his favorite heroine was less and less appreciated for who she is.
Sometimes things may be so tough
Feels like everything is enough...
"That sound?" Lin Ling asked, looking curiously in the direction he heard the music coming from.
He didn't notice, but the employee smiled when he saw his reaction.
"Interested? This way." The employee guided Lin Ling to a deeper part of the store where there was a section dedicated to one heroine, Lucky Cyan.
"All of our Top 10 heroes have a section dedicated to each one."
Lin Ling couldn't help but look around at all the Cyan products, speakers, headphones, music CDs, T-shirts, watches, and more.
"It seems you're interested in another heroine?" the employee asked. In response, Lin Ling felt a blush of embarrassment rise to his face as he realized how he was acting.
"W-well, I can say that her whole situation caught my attention..." Lin Ling replied, scratching his cheek. There was no way he could hide it anymore.
"Is there anything in particular that interests you?"
Lin Ling responded by approaching and taking a closer look at Cyan's products, but he was discouraged again for a different reason.
Damn, they're much more expensive than the Moon products I've bought before...
Lin Ling then remembered something in particular.
He took out his wallet and removed a specific piece of paper from it, the scratch card that offered a 40% discount on Lucky Cyan products.
"Do you accept this?" Lin Ling asked as he showed the paper to the employee.
The employee looked curiously until his eyes widened slightly.
"Of course! You must be a lucky guy, normally only people with up to 15% discount on one of these come in."
"Yeah... lucky." Lin Ling replied with a slight laugh at the end.
"Mr. Lin, would you like to take advantage of this opportunity and get something special from Lucky Cyan?"
"What do you mean?"
"Wait a moment."
The clerk went to the back for a few minutes, then returned holding something.
Lin Ling was a little surprised by what he had.
"What's this?"
"A limited edition action figure for Lucky Cyan's anniversary."
It was an action figure of Cyan, with her heroine outfit and her signature guitar.
(Based on the Lucky Cyan S.H.Figuarts Action Figure)
"Isn't that a bit over the top?" Lin Ling asked with obvious nervousness.
"Why would it be? After all, you're not the type who would want to miss an opportunity like this, are you?" The clerk asked Lin Ling with an amused smile.
Lin Ling didn't know what to say.
He looked at the scratch card in his hand as he thought deeply.
"Driver, let's get off here!"
A group of people got off the bus at night.
Leaving only Lin Ling and the driver on the bus, Lin Ling sat dejectedly as a comical cloud of sadness hung over his head.
I'm weak...
The Lucky Cyan action figure was visible through an opening in the zipper of Lin Ling's backpack.
I planned to try to find a gift for Cyan and ended up buying something for myself, even worse... an action figure of her who lives with me—
Lin Ling sat up straight as he realized something.
Shit, shit, shit, I'm going to be home for a while, how am I going to hide this from her!? If she finds out...
Lin Ling then imagined Cyan looking at him with disappointment after finding out that he had bought it.
"What a loser."
"Arghhh..."
I could never face her again!
A few seconds later, Lin Ling began to calm down.
Calm down... Cyan isn't that kind of person... but still...
Lin Ling brought one hand to his face while the other hand touched the shell necklace he wore.
Why does thinking about this possibility make me feel this way?...
"HEY!"
Suddenly, the bus stopped abruptly, with the driver shouting angrily.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!? GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Lin Ling curiously stood up and looked out the front of the bus, trying to get a better view of what was happening.
"ARE YOU DEAF, YOU IDIOT!?"
Lin Ling looked and saw that in the light of the bus, the person was wearing something black with a cape, but for some reason, the darkness made it difficult to see the figure's face.
Is it a hero?
Then the person pulled something from their waist, and Lin Ling's eyes widened when he saw what it was.
A sword!? Don't tell me—
"ARE YOU THREATENING ME?!—"
Quickly, the person swung the sword toward the bus. What appeared to be a wave of energy cut through the vehicle, splitting it in two and completely destroying the roof in the process.
Lin Ling was lying on the floor with a look of shock on his face.
CLANK!
The person climbed onto the bus and began walking toward him, passing by the driver who had fainted from shock, their metal boots causing the only sound that could be heard at that moment.
Lin Ling could see how the person had bright purple eyes while something black and viscous was on their face.
"Good to see you again, Lin Ling." The person said calmly as he approached Lin Ling.
"L-Lucius!?" Lin Ling quickly recognized that voice.
"Not anymore, now I'm Blayke, at least someone trying to prove who I am," said Blayke, stopping in front of the broken glass scattered on the floor, looking at his own fragile reflection."
"What happened to you!?"
Blayke remained silent, not answering Lin Ling's question.
"Tell me Lin Ling, who are you?" Blayke said, looking directly at him.
"What?" Lin Ling asked, not understanding his question.
"I finally understand why I hated—no, despised who you are..." Blayke spoke with a melancholy tone in his voice. "You are what I was afraid of becoming."
A memory flashed through Blayke's mind.
One day at school, students were leaving the classroom.
"Hey, doesn't that guy have any friends?"
"Who cares? He doesn't make a difference."
A group of students left the classroom.
Tian Hao was leaning against the door, Lin Ling, the student that group was talking about, was at the back of the classroom, drawing something in his notebook.
Tian Hao couldn't understand.
It's always the same, they always treat him like this, but every day he's here again, smiling to himself as if none of it matters...
Tian Hao clenched his fists tightly before starting to walk away.
If people treated me like this, would I be able to keep going?
Tian Hao quickly shook his head, pushing the thought out of his mind.
"How people see you is what matters most!"
Ending that memory, Blayke clenched the hilt of his sword tightly.
"You were the opposite of who I was. Forgotten, belittled, and discredited, what I despised in you was the representation of the fear I had."
Lin Ling listened in complete silence, taking in everything Blayke said.
"So I became someone like you. I thought I could do what you did, surpassing myself every day, striving to achieve my dream, ignoring what people said... but I couldn't. I just felt worse, so I threw away who I was and became someone new, but then there you were..."
Blayke remembered the day of the class reunion.
"You were still the same, but even so, you smiled and had someone by your side... as you always had... I couldn't accept that, it seemed like I was living wrong, I needed to prove that I was right."
Blayke then remembered the last time he met Lin Ling.
"When I heard you talking about what you believed in, speaking with conviction in front of someone who despised you, didn't believe in you, it was like looking in a mirror..."
Blayke began to shake visibly.
"I needed definitive proof... but you—"
"If it's for her... I DON'T NEED TO BE A HERO TO PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE!"
The words that kept haunting him.
"I also had someone I wanted to be strong for, but even so- WHY!? WHY COULD YOU DO IT, BUT I COULDN'T!? WHO ARE YOU TO SAY WHAT CAN OR CAN'T BE DONE!?"
Blayke shouted with a few small tears falling down his face.
Lin Ling lowered his head, processing everything Blayke had said.
A few seconds of silence passed before Lin Ling clenched his fists tightly on the floor.
"I... I don't know exactly..." Lin Ling admitted slowly.
Again, silence fell between the two until Blayke began to wipe the tears from his own face.
"I understand... I can live with that answer, but I can't live with you alive."
"W-what?" Lin Ling's eyes widened in shock upon hearing these words.
"I don't care anymore about who I was, who I tried to be, now I only care about moving forward for myself, but I won't be able to move forward as long as there are things that remind me of who I once was..." Blayke held the sword with both hands.
"I need to get rid of who I was, accept that I don't need anything else besides that..." Blayke raised the sword as he took a stance.
"Wait!" Lin Ling raised one hand in desperation.
"Fear."
Blayke swung the sword down toward Lin Ling. Lin Ling closed his eyes and cowered, expecting the worst.
But then the blow never came.
"WHAT!?" Blayke exclaimed in shock.
Lin Ling opened his eyes and could only sigh in amazement, a cyan-colored shield preventing the blade from reaching him. He didn't notice, but the shell necklace around his neck glowed brightly in cyan. The shield then repelled Blayke's attack, who was thrown to the ground, dropping his sword.
Lin Ling jumped up, grabbed his backpack, and ran out of the bus in any direction.
That power...
Blayke gritted his teeth as he got up.
She still pisses me off!
Lin Ling's apartment
Cyan was sitting on the living room sofa, still wearing her apron, staring at her cell phone. The table was already set for dinner.
He's late...
Cyan thought worriedly, until she finally decided to call him again.
Back with Lin Ling
Ring*Ring
Lin Ling was running frantically through the streets when he heard his cell phone ringing. He tried to grab it but ended up tripping and falling to the ground, the phone hitting the pavement hard, breaking the screen and turning off as a result.
Blayke was running towards him a few meters away until he also tripped and fell to the ground.
When he lifted his head from the ground, Blayke saw that Lin Ling had already started running again.
"You can't use that luck forever!" Blayke exclaimed angrily as he got up.
Lin Ling continued to run through a few streets as he began to feel tired.
Why... why is there no one else around here!?
Lin Ling wondered as he had not encountered anyone else on the streets so far.
Lin Ling then turned the corner, exhausted, and ended up leaning with one hand on whatever was in front of him.
Then he heard a specific noise that made him raise his head and look in that direction. There was a man standing in front of him. He had black hair, wore a suit, tie, and glasses.
Lin Ling then realized that he was leaning on a soda machine and the man had his finger pressing one of the machine's options while looking curiously at Lin Ling.
What-
"Stop running, Lin Ling."
Blayke was on the street corner looking at Lin Ling angrily.
"I expected to find the same Lin Ling who had that determination before... but anyway, after breaking up with you, I'm going after that lucky bitch."
Lin Ling again felt something snap inside him, just like that day.
He squeezed the soda machine tightly as he remembered Blayke's question.
"Who are you?"
38 A.C - a few weeks after Lin Ling's graduation.
"Lin Ling, what are you doing?" A woman's voice asked as she watched her grandson fiddling with his laptop on the sofa in the apartment.
"I'm sending my resume to some companies. There's an advertising agency looking for interns. I hope they like my portfolio, even if it's just stuff for local businesses," Lin Ling said as he continued typing.
"What about your dream of being a hero?"
Upon hearing these words, Lin Ling stopped typing and assumed a somewhat uncertain look on his face.
"Your surgery is finally scheduled, and besides using your savings, you have plans to travel after you recover, right? Well, I have to find a way to support myself, I can't take any risks right now," Lin Ling said seriously as he returned to typing.
"We've discussed this before... you don't have to give up your dreams so that I can live mine." She didn't like hearing her grandson talk like that.
"This isn't giving up, it's taking responsibility. I have to accept my reality."
In response to her grandson's words, she sighed as she approached him.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, besides, I don't know what kind of hero I want to be."
"I thought you wanted to be the cool kind of hero," Grandma said with a slight smile.
"And would that be enough?" Lin Ling asked, finally looking at his grandmother.
"I don't know, that's up to you to decide, but whenever you're in doubt, look here..." Grandma pointed to Lin Ling's heart. "You may not have the answer now, but when you do, your heart will tell you what you want most as a hero."
"Isn't that selfish? Especially for a hero?"
Grandma laughed softly when she heard this question.
"It may be, but it doesn't matter. Remember, we all have a reason why we get up every day. That's not something to be judged..."
Grandma put one hand on Lin Ling's head and slowly stroked his hair.
"It's admirable."
Back to the present
"I don't want to be the cool kind of hero."
Lin Ling said to himself as he walked away from the soda machine.
"Get out of here." Lin Ling said to the man in the suit who was now staring at him intently.
"Who am I? I'm just an ordinary person... no one special... after all, anyone can be a hero in this world... the moment I feel strong, I feel like a hero..." Lin Ling remembered that punch he threw at Lucius-Blayke. "It wasn't to seek fame or feel like the center of attention..." Lin Ling's voice grew louder with each word.
"You are someone unforgettable to me, and I hope you feel the same."
Lin Ling once again remembered everything he had been through with Cyan so far.
"That's when I found someone special..." Lin Ling stood a few feet away from Blayke, raised his fists and assumed an awkward stance, then looked directly into Blayke's eyes, his eyes shining with determination.
"SOMEONE FOR WHOM I AM WILLING TO GIVE MY LIFE!" Lin Ling shouted at Blayke, who trembled upon hearing these words and seeing the look Lin Ling gave him.
There you are, this is who you really are...
Blayke thought as he gripped his sword tightly.
This is who I need to kill.
Blayke then assumed a stance, holding his sword at his side, and with a quick thrust, he closed the distance between himself and Lin Ling and swung his sword at him.
Lin Ling responded by swinging his fist as best he could against Blayke's blow, both ready to clash.
SNAP
Blayke's sword passed through nothingness, and Lin Ling disappeared.
"What...?" Blayke wondered as he looked around.
Lin Ling opened his eyes and quickly sat up on the ground.
"What!?" Lin Ling looked at his own hands, trying to understand what had happened.
"I have to say..."
Hearing someone speak, Lin Ling finally looked up, gasping in shock at who he saw.
A man with white hair combed back and square-framed glasses with orange lenses. His outfit consisted of a white suit with red cuffs and a red tie with a metal "X" symbol. In addition, he wore white pants and white shoes with red soles. The shirt under the white suit was black.
"You're the type who says nice things." The man said, smiling slightly at Lin Ling.
"X!?" Lin Ling shouted in shock when he saw the strongest hero in front of him.
This man, this hero, the mysterious hero who appeared out of nowhere in one of the tournaments and defeated all the heroes in an instant, the first hero to hold the title of X for three editions of the hero tournament, a legend to many for being practically impossible to find, was standing in front of Lin Ling, who could only tremble in shock.
Lin Ling then realized that he was no longer on the street he had been on before. To be more precise, he was on the same street, but everything around him was colorful as if he were somewhere else. Blayke was nowhere to be seen.
"Wh-what... where?" Lin Ling still couldn't calm down with this escalation of events.
X then held out a hand while maintaining the same smile.
"Better sort this out quickly."
SNAP
X snapped his fingers and then he and Lin Ling were back on the same street, facing Blayke.
Blayke stared at them, his eyes trembling with shock.
First Lucky Cyan and now X!? Why do these heroes appear to him!?
Blayke trembled as he assumed a fighting stance again. The more he looked at the hero in front of him, the more he remembered his own opinion of this hero.
The hero who looks more like a god... if I defeat him, I will become someone unique...
Blayke then stomped hard on the ground and lunged forward, ready to clash his sword against X.
SNAP
His sword never reached the hero. Suddenly, X had his own sword in his hands, clashing with Blayke's sword and preventing him from continuing his attack.
Blayke jumped away from X, his own sword cracked from this brief skirmish.
Lin Ling, who was right behind X, watched everything in silence.
While Blayke trembled at this situation, X remained unchanged. He didn't seem concerned about Blayke's existence. The way he smiled made Blayke feel like he was playing with him.
I know... this hero is far beyond anyone else, but this time...
Blayke raised his sword above his head, the sword glowing with a dark purple light.
"I will not give up who I am at this moment!"
X then reached out his hand toward Blayke.
Blayke's entire body glowed like his sword, and then as he swung his sword forward, a wave of cutting energy flew toward X.
X stood still, unconcerned.
SNAP
Blayke then found himself in a new place, cold, but in front of him a light blinded his vision.
Blayke felt weak, barely able to keep his eyes open.
"The... sun?"
A memory then flashed through his mind.
"Mom! Mom!" Little Tian Hao called for his mother in the living room.
"What?" She appeared a little confused but happy with her son's actions.
"It's time! Let's watch!" Tian Hao said as he sat down on the sofa.
"Oh, sure." His mother sat down next to him as she turned on the TV.
The hero tournament was underway, with two heroes fighting for the title of X.
"Being a hero is the coolest thing ever, isn't it?" Tian Hao asked his mother with sparkling eyes.
"Yes." His mother replied, smiling back at her son.
"Then I'm going to become the coolest hero of all, no matter what!" Tian Hao jumped up, raising his fist enthusiastically.
"I don't think it's like that..." his mother said calmly, sensing confusion in her son.
"What do you mean?"
"What kind of hero you become matters, just as who we are matters, but the main question is who you are to yourself..." His mother smiled slightly as she placed a hand on her son's head. "Maybe Mommy won't be there to support you forever... so never forget who you are to yourself."
With the end of this memory, Blayke felt sad again, tears forming in his eyes as he let go of the sword in his hand.
Maybe... I'm the one who has forgotten who I am...
SNAP
Lin Ling blinked as he processed where he was now, it was the bus stop closest to his apartment.
Lin Ling then felt a tingling sensation in his neck. He quickly reached up to hold the shell necklace, but it was cracking until it suddenly broke, turning into dust in the air.
Lin Ling clenched the fist that had been holding the necklace as the dust disappeared.
Sorry, Cyan...
"That puts an end to this problem."
Lin Ling looked to the side and saw Hero X sitting at the bus stop playing with a coin between his fingers.
"What... what happened to him?"
"He's better, that's all I know."
Elsewhere in City X, a police officer who had taken a smoke break outside the police station had a look of shock on his face as the cigarette fell from his mouth, a man wearing armor and a broken sword fell out of nowhere to the ground in front of him.
"What the hell—"
"What about the other guy? The one from the soda machine?" Lin Ling asked, remembering him.
"Oh... that guy? He ran away in a panic... there's no need to worry about him." Lin Ling could have sworn he saw Hero X sweat slightly at the beginning of his response, but he quickly forgot about it, as he was still processing everything that had happened.
"Good." Lin Ling commented calmly upon hearing the answer.
"What you said before..." X stood up and faced Lin Ling. "Was it true?"
"What?"
"The speech about the special person to you? I could hear it from afar."
Lin Ling then remembered everything he had said. He acted that way again, but he couldn't lie, at least not to himself.
"Yes, it was all true."
Now it was X's turn to have a memory flash through his mind.
X stretched as he finished his lunch. It had been another tiring day at work, so he picked up his soda, ready to open it.
"I'm telling you, this Lucky Cyan situation is crazy," said someone on the other side of the cafeteria.
"True, will she come back? I wouldn't."
"Why wouldn't she? Her life is better in this situation."
"I highly doubt it's that simple."
The group argued, while X listened with a thoughtful expression.
Should this be happening?
X then left one hand under the table and then.
SNAP
X now had his back to a bus stop.
"Ma'am, could you tell me how to get to Toadman?"
A woman wearing a white shirt, jeans, and a black cap was talking to a lady at the bus stop.
X then looked and realized that it was indeed the person he was looking for, but it was still someone else.
He watched as she grew increasingly impatient at not getting the answer she wanted from the lady.
He then smiled slightly and approached her to offer a little help.
"A marketing company should be located in the most central neighborhoods of the city. It's better to take the subway. The next bus goes straight to a station."
The woman looked at him curiously.
"Oh, thank you."
X smiled contentedly as he opened a can of soda.
The bus arrived in a few seconds, and the woman turned to board.
I'd better go, my lunch break is almost over.
X thought as he looked at the watch on his wrist and then left his arm behind his back.
SNAP
Snapping his fingers, he took advantage of the noise from the bus and disappeared without anyone noticing.
Back with X and Lin Ling
X smiled slightly at Lin Ling's response.
"That person is lucky to have you."
X then turned to leave.
"Thank you," Lin Ling said right behind him.
"Hm?" X turned around curiously upon hearing this.
"Thank you for saving me, I—"
"Don't think too much about it, after all, this is the most common thing a hero does." X said with a smile until he raised his hand.
SNAP
X disappeared in front of Lin Ling.
Lin Ling's Apartment
Cyan jumped up from the sofa quickly when she heard the front door open.
She ran over and gasped in surprise, but at the same time, relief.
Lin Ling stood before her, looking tired and dirty.
"Are you okay? What happened?" Cyan asked, getting Lin Ling's attention, who seemed lost until he heard her voice.
Lin Ling then looked at her, his eyes shining slightly when he saw her.
Lin Ling smiled as best he could.
"Yes, I'm fine-"
But the words failed him. Lin Ling felt tears running down his face and his legs buckling, and he fell to his knees on the floor.
Cyan quickly knelt in front of him and hugged him tightly. Lin Ling, still trembling, returned the tight embrace, crying as he leaned on her.
Notes:
I know, you're eager to get to the events of episode 1 (so am I).
But first, there are still a few more ideas to come. I hope you're enjoying the story so far.
Thanks for reading, and see you soon.