The wind drifted softly across the plains, carrying grains of dust and scattered leaves into the air.
Leo and Ash walked slowly toward the Sphere Kingdom. Leo carried the resources they had gathered, while Ash leaned on his shoulder, struggling to keep his balance.
By the time they reached the outer gates, they made a quick stop at a small house just outside the kingdom. It belonged to a well-known D-Class citizen healer named Fons.
Inside, Ash lay down as Fons treated the deep wound on his back.
The process only took 10 seconds, but it felt longer with the sting of pain.
When it was done, Fons stretched his hand out.
"That'll be five silver."
Ash sighed. It was a painful amount for them… and it was his fault for losing focus during the fight.
"…That's a lot," Ash muttered, handing over the coins anyway.
Afterward, he turned to leo, guilt written all over his face.
"Sorry, leo… I spent some of our money."
Leo smiled immediately, without hesitation.
"It's fine. You're safe, and that's what matters than a coin."
Ash froze for a moment… then smiled back.
They continued walking toward the Southwest District Gate, side by side.
On the way to the guild, they stopped in front of the Experience Leaderboard.
Leo stared at it like always—but this time, something caught his attention.
"…Wait," he said. "There are categories?"
Ash blinked.
"…Are you serious? Those have always been there."
Leo scratched his head and laughed awkwardly.
"I thought you just scroll forever."
Ash clicked on the Absolutes category, revealing the 15 Absolutes of the Sphere Kingdom.
Leo's expression shifted.
"…Their experience… it's insane."
Ash nodded.
"As far as I know, you need at least three million XP to become one of them."
He let out a small laugh.
"…And we're stuck at nineteen to twenty thousand. Not even a quarter."
Leo stared at the rankings, eyes burning with something deeper than admiration.
"Yeah… it's crazy."
Then he smiled.
"That's why I want to become an Absolute someday."
Ash laughed loudly.
"You're serious? That's impossible! Most of them started at B or even S rank."
He looked at leo.
"…We started at E."
Leo didn't laugh this time.
"I didn't."
Ash paused.
His mind drifted back to their days as students… something about Reo always felt different.
"…So that's your goal?"
Leo nodded.
Ash smirked.
"Then I'll go with you."
Leo's face lit up.
"Yeah. Let's make it happen."
After their talk, leo suddenly remembered someone.
Resha.
Curious, he quickly searched the rankings.
First D-rank… nothing.
Then C-rank still nothing.
Then E-rank—
There.
Resha – 21,011 XP.
"Oh, I found her, so she's an E Rank Hero, i thought he was above us ash"
Ash leaned closer, but his attention shifted to the hero above resha.
"…Who's that girl?"
Leo followed his gaze.
"…Which one?"
Ash whispered, almost mesmerized.
"She's… beautiful."
Leo stared at him, unimpressed.
"Maybe that's your soulmate."
Ash grinned.
"I feel it."
Leo made a disgusted face.
"…Let's just go eat."
Inside the guild, several heroes glanced at them.
Some whispered.
After all, leo and Ash had taken a quest near the deep forest—a place where stronger monsters lurked.
"They're staring," leo whispered.
"Yeah," Ash replied. "They probably thought we'd die."
They both laughed awkwardly facing each other since they can't face those heroes awkwardly staring at them.
Leo stepped forward and placed their bag of resources on the counter.
A familiar guild receptionist greeted them with a smile.
"You're back. I thought you'd run into serious trouble."
Leo scratched his cheek.
"…We kind of did."
She chuckled.
"Let's check your memories for XP."
Leo and Ash walked to separate orbs. As they placed their hands on them, the spheres began glowing to the a glow represent D Grade Monster.
A sign.
They had defeated a D-grade monster.
Leo opened his eyes, staring at the orb.
How does this even read memories…?
When they returned, the receptionist handed them two gold coins.
"Here's your reward."
"Thank you," leo said.
She smiled.
Leo hesitated, then asked:
"…Do you know where these orbs came from?"
She shrugged.
"No idea. I just work here."
They both laughed lightly.
Some mysteries simply stayed mysteries.
But then reo and ash excitedly exiting the door of the guild.
Outside, hunger struck hard.
Leo handed Ash his share.
"Let's eat."
Ash's eyes lit up.
"Finally!"
They spotted their favorite restaurant—
Almost full.
Only two seats left.
Leo's eyes widened.
Then—
Woosh!
He sprinted.
"LEO!!" Ash shouted. "YOU TRAITOR!"
Ash ran after him—
Boom.
Pain shot through his back as he bump and bounce to someone tough.
the world spun for a second.
Then… shadow.
A massive shadow swallowed him whole.
He slowly looked up.
The man standing before him didn't look human.
He looked like a wall carved from muscle and anger.
"…Sorry, sir…" Ash muttered, still sitting like a stunned child.
The giant didn't answer immediately.
His eyes dragged down to Ash—slow… heavy… dangerous.
"…You bump into me, want to have some fun?" he said quietly, voice low like thunder before a storm.
Ash felt his throat tighten.
"N-no sir… I was just—"
A hand grabbed him.
Easily.
Like lifting nothing.
Ash's feet left the ground.
His breath stopped.
"…You looking for a fight, kid?"
Ash's mind blanked.
This is it.
I'm dead.
Then—
"Hey!"
A voice cut clean through the tension.
Leo.
"Put him down."
The giant turned slightly, eyes shifting.
"…Your friend?"
Ash nodded quickly, even while choking.
"Y-yeah… and he's strong…"
Leo shot him a look.
Now you say that? Your the traitor.
The giant smirked.
Then dropped Ash.
Ash collapsed, coughing, holding his neck.
The giant stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
"Well then…"
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Let's have some fun."
But before that—
BOOM.
A burst of flames exploded behind him.
"Ember Pulse!"
Fire licked across his back.
The giant staggered half a step—
Then froze.
Silence.
Slowly… he turned his head.
Not at leo.
At Ash.
Ash felt his soul leave his body.
"…This is bad."
The giant's eyes look at ash like he was a death reaper planning to kill ash.
"Oh… you're dead."
He stepped—
But leo vanished.
A blur.
Slash.
The giant's right leg cut open, forcing his right knee to bend slightly.
Reo landed, sliding across the ground.
"Focus on me," leo said, voice steady.
The giant looked down at his leg.
Then laughed.
A deep… unhinged laugh.
"You think that hurt?"
His muscles tensed—
Then—
He jumped.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
Ash's eyes widened.
"He's flying?!"
The giant rose like a falling tower—
Then crashed down toward them.
"MOVE!" Leo shouted—
Moments later—chaos.
More figures appeared, giant's teammates.
Ash was grabbed.
Leo locked into a fight, between the Giant's teammate.
Steel clashed.
A blade flashed wildly toward leo—
The knife wielder grinned like a starving animal.
"Too slow—!"
"Featherstep."
His body moved unnaturally fast, twisting, bending, striking from impossible angles.
Leo blocked once—
Twice—
Three times—
Sparks danced in the air.
"…You're annoying," leo muttered.
The man laughed, tongue out.
"Die!"
Leo's eyes sharpened.
Then—
He jumped.
High.
Too high.
The knife wielder froze.
But in that moment—
A shadow appeared above leo.
"…Got you."
The giant.
Mid-air.
His arm shifted—
Skin turning iron…
"Iron fist."
His fist became iron including his forearms.
And then—
BOOM.
A strong punch landed in reo's shoulder.
Leo's body snapped sideways—
Launched—
Boom...
Boom...
Boom...
Crashing violently into the ground and then into a table—
Wood shattered.
Plates shattered.
Food scattered like fallen leaves.
Silence.
"…You ruined my meal."
The voice was calm.
Too calm.
A man stood up slowly from the broken table.
Dust fell from his shoulders.
His eyes landed on the giant.
Not loud.
Not angry.
But heavy.
Like pressure before something breaks.
"...Freddy, why are you fighting some kids, that bad" ".....You should fight me instead"
The giant clicked his tongue.
"…Jack"
The air shifted.
Even the crowd stepped back.
Jack glanced at the ruined food.
Then back at Alfred.
A small sigh escaped him.
"I was enjoying that."
Alfred smirked, rolling his shoulder.
"Then eat faster next time."
Jack's lips curved slightly.
Not a smile.
Something thinner.
Colder.
"…You always start things you can't finish."
Alfred's grin faded.
"…Say that again."
Jack stepped forward.
Slow.
Relaxed.
But each step felt like it carried weight.
"Want to fight?"
No shouting.
No dramatic pose.
Just quiet certainty.
Alfred stare at him knowing he doesn't have a chance against jack, but his arm move on his own like an intrusive thoughts.
His iron fist shot forward at full speed—
Fast enough to crush bone instantly.
But Jack didn't move.
Not even a step.
Not even a blink.
He raised one finger.
Tap.
The punch landed—
And stopped.
For a split second—
Nothing happened.
Then—
BOOM.
A shockwave burst outward.
Alfred's arm violently bounced back—
His entire body shook.
His nerves screamed.
"…GAAH—!"
His arm trembled uncontrollably.
Jack lowered his hand.
Almost bored.
"It sends it back."
Alfred staggered, clutching his arm, eyes wide.
Jack tilted his head slightly.
"You hit hard."
A pause.
Then—
"You should try survive it."
Alfred's face twisted with rage.
But he backed off.
Jack tilted his head.
"You always attack first. Try letting me go first next time."
Alfred clenched his teeth.
He turned back toward Ash—
But Jack spoke again.
"Let the kid go. It was an accident."
Alfred glared… then sighed—
"Release him."
His teammates obeyed.
Ash ran to Reo and hugged him.
"I thought we gonna die reo!"
Leo sighed. "We almost did…"
Later, at the restaurant where jack eating—
Leo, Ash, and Jack standing together.
"Thanks for helping us sir from that crazy big bald guy" leo said.
Jack waved it off. "Don't worry about it, and no need to call me sir, I'm jack cyk so just call me jack" "...and that crazy guy is Alfred Rion, he have such a bad temper so keep a distance to him"
Ash smiled. "So that's why he just choke me even though i apologize to him, im gonna teach him a lesson next time."
"....but we thank you a lot jack, maybe we can buy you a new food"
Jack happily decline ash offer "No need to buy me new one, i have money to take care of myself, take your money, you needed it more"
"Thank you so much jack, maybe we can eat together" leo say.
They ate together, laughing.
Leo asked,
"What's your ability, by the way jack?"
Jack replied,
"Rebound, Physical attacks bounce back when it Hits me but it still depend on my mana" "...but i have my gun to fight the monster if it use superpower"
Ash's eyes widened. "That's strong."
Jack chuckled. "Not really."
...
After there long conversation and a long eating session, they stood up.
"I'll see you around kid" Jack said.
Rleo and Ash nodded. "Yeah"
As Jack walked away—
Ash whispered to reo,
"They were planning to fight him again…"
Jack laughed from a distance, hearing ash whisper to leo.
"I wouldn't mind."
Leo smiled as they make a connection between a C Class Hero.