In the morning, Zain made his way downstairs, stretching lazily.
He could smell the warm food from the stair.
He could see that Zelia was already up, eating her own breakfast.
Zelia noticed that Zain was already there, so she tossed his breakfast to him.
"Eat up, lazybones. You're gonna need the energy."
Zain smirked, pulling out a chair and sitting down. "You're spoiling me, sis."
Zelia chuckled. "Please, I'm just making sure you don't drop dead somewhere."
As he started eating, she slid her phone across the table.
"By the way, here." She pointed at the screen.
"I sent you the location of the Hero Association's branch in CD-1. Shouldn't take you long to get there."
Zain picked up the phone, glancing at the map. "Hah. You work fast."
Zelia shrugged. "What can I say? I have to keep my genius little brother well-informed."
Zain chuckled, finishing his meal.
He stood up, cracking his neck. "Alright, I owe you one. I'll head there now."
Zelia leaned back in her chair, watching him with mild amusement.
"Just don't get yourself into too much trouble."
She smirked. "Actually, never mind. That's impossible for you."
Zain grabbed his coat, grinning as he walked toward the door.
"I'll try not to burn the place down."
Zelia laughed, shaking her head. "No promises, huh?"
With that, Zain stepped outside, heading toward the Hero Association.
---
Zain followed the digital map his sister had sent him, making his way toward the border between CC-1 and CD-1.
As he walked, he thought back on the naming system of the city.
The first letter represented the Zone.
The second letter indicated the Section within that Zone.
The number represented the threat level.
A 1 meant low-threat areas, meaning they were relatively safe compared to other places.
So, CD-1 referred to "Section D of Zone C, with a low-threat level."
Each section was separated by walls, marking the distinct differences between areas.
CC was a poorer section, while CD had a slightly better standard of living.
Zain soon arrived at the border checkpoint.
A few guards stood by, checking IDs and ensuring only those with clearance could enter.
He casually reached into his pocket, pulling out his original ID card before handing it over to one of the officers.
The guard studied the ID before glancing at him. "Where are you headed?"
Zain smirked, his voice relaxed. "Hero Association."
The guard was a bit surprised. "You awakened a superpower?"
Zain nodded. "Yeah. Just recently."
The guard sighed, shaking his head. "Listen, kid. Not all superpowers qualify someone to be a hero. You could have something completely useless, and they wouldn't let you in."
He folded his arms. "I need to see what you've got before I can allow you into CD-1."
Zain's smirk widened. "Oh? Sure."
He lifted his hand, and within seconds, a small flame flickered on his fingertips.
The guard's eyes widened slightly. "Elemental ability…?"
His earlier doubt vanished, replaced by a look of approval.
"Quite a rare ability you have there. Good. You pass." The guard smiled, handing back Zain's ID.
"Welcome to CD-1. But remember—don't cause trouble here."
Zain tucked his ID back into his pocket, smiling. "Relax, officer. I'm going to be a hero, remember? No trouble from me."
He gave the man a lazy wave as he walked past the checkpoint. "See you around."
The officer chuckled, shaking his head. "See you too, kid."
Zain glanced around the section after passing the checkpoint.
The difference was quite clear.
CD-1 was cleaner and the people looked a little better than CC-1.
But for him, it wasn't anything impressive, as all of this didn't matter.
He just continued to go to his destination, which was the Hero Association.
---
Zain soon arrived at the Hero Association building.
It was a large, imposing structure filled with people moving in and out.
He looked around, immediately noticing the variety of bizarre costumes.
Some people wore full-body armored suits, while the rest had colorful capes and tight-fitting uniforms.
Zain smirked. "Hah. Guess looking ridiculous is a requirement to be a hero."
Ignoring the flashy crowd, he entered the building and approached the reception desk.
The staff behind the counter was a young woman with neatly tied hair.
She smiled professionaly as soon as he notice Zain.
"Hello, welcome to the Hero Association. What can I help you with today?"
Zain leaned casually on the counter. "I want to register as a hero."
The receptionist nodded. "I see. In that case, can I ask for your ID card?"
"Sure." Zain pulled out his ID and handed it over.
The receptionist took it, her fingers moving swiftly over the holographic keyboard, inputting the necessary data.
After a few minutes, she handed Zain's ID back.
"Your Hero Card will be finished in a few minutes."
Zain raised his eyebrow. "That fast?"
The receptionist chuckled. "Of course. Hero registration is free, and the process is streamlined for new applicants. However, your initial rank is determined based on your evaluation."
She smiled. "For now, you've been classified as a D-Rank Hero."
Zain smirked. "D-Rank, huh? Makes sense, I suppose."
He tapped his fingers on the counter before asking, "So, what do I need to do to become a C-Rank Hero?"
The receptionist nodded as she explained.
"To rank up, you'll need to take a test. The C-Rank assessment consists of both a combat trial and a hunting test."
Zain's eyes gleamed with interest. "A combat trial? Sounds fun."
The receptionist smiled politely. "It's not easy, though. Many fail their first attempt. If you're serious about ranking up, I'd recommend preparing first."
Zain shrugged. "I'll be fine."
She chuckled, handing him a temporary registration slip.
"You'll receive your official Hero Card soon. In the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to ask."
Zain took the slip, grinning. "Nah, I've got everything I need. Thanks."
As he stepped away, he glanced at the bustling crowd of heroes-in-training, his smirk widening.
"A combat test, huh? Sounds like a good way to have some fun."
With that, he made his way further into the Hero Association, ready for whatever came next.