Zain stared at the wreckage.
Ruckle's corpse was already vanished after being absorbed by his system.
Around him, the area was silent.
The other thugs who had remained were caught in the chaos.
They had all died either by my attack or Ruckle's attacks.
The sun was low, casting a red light across the cracked ruins.
Zain exhaled.
"That took more effort than I expected. But… it's done."
He stretched his shoulder, wincing a little from the lingering pain.
Then, he glanced around at the scattered debris.
Steel scraps, shattered weapons, broken crates and even bloodstained jackets.
"Let's clean up. Might as well squeeze every point I can out of this."
---
[Hack Initiation: Area Absorption]
[Target: All Surrounding Materials]
[Effect: Convert materials into Hack Points]
[Status: Executing...]
---
[Absorption Complete]
[Total Hack Points Gained: +1,800]
[Current Hack Points: 1,820]
---
Zain's eyes gleamed as the numbers flashed across his vision.
"Heh. That's more than I expected."
He clenched his fist in excitement.
"Low-tier abilities cost 100… so I could get almost 18 more. Or maybe… save up for something bigger."
He paused.
"A mid-tier ability, huh? Might take a lot more."
Zain turned toward the alley exit, walking toward it.
"Let's go home first. I'll figure it out later."
---
Zain walked through the dim streets, feeling the aftereffects of the battle.
His clothes were torn, his body ached all over, and smoke still clung to his scorched sleeves.
"Tch… it still hurts."
He glanced at the bruises on his ribs and the burns across his arms.
Then he looked up, eyes narrowing.
"Hero Hacker should be able to heal me, right?"
He raised a hand toward his interface.
"System. Heal my body. Full restoration."
---
[Hack Initiation: Full Body Restoration]
[Target: Zain]
[Effect: Heal all injuries and restore the body to perfect condition]
[Cost Required: 100 Hack Points]
[Status: Executing...]
---
Zain froze in place as a gentle surge of warmth pulsed through him.
His muscles relaxed, wounds closed, and the sharp, stabbing pain across his chest dulled before vanishing entirely.
He flexed his hands, blinked, and straightened up fully.
"Hah… that's better."
He cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders.
"100 points, huh? Kinda expensive... but worth it."
He smirked.
"At least this way, Zelia won't freak out when I get home."
But then his expression shifted, turning serious as he kept walking through the dark alley.
"Still… what Savra said keeps bugging me. Rust Rats had multiple C-Rank enforcers."
Zain looked back at the wreckage.
"If Burnshot and Ruckle were stationed on the edge of the territory…"
His eyes narrowed.
"That means I've only seen the outer defense. The real core must be deeper in. Stronger."
He paused and looked down at his hand.
"But judging by how many points I just got…"
A grin returned to his face.
"Farming this gang might be hard—but it's gonna be worth every second."
---
Zain was approaching the border.
The same guard from earlier had spotted him and stepped forward quickly.
"Hey, kid—wait!"
The guard called out, eyes scanning him up and down.
"You're… completely fine? Not a scratch on you?"
His tone was somewhere between surprise and disbelief.
Zain flashed a relaxed smirk, hands in his pockets.
"Yeah. Just finished a little hunting."
The guard blinked, confused.
"Hunting? In this district? Are you out of your mind? What were you even hunting in a place like CB-2?"
Zain paused at the gate, leaned in slightly.
"Just a couple of pests. If I remember right… their names were Ruckle and Burnshot."
The guard's eyes widened instantly.
"What?! Those two?!"
Zain gave him a wink.
"Anyway, I'm heading home. Don't worry, I cleaned up the mess."
And with that, he strolled past the checkpoint.
The guard stood frozen for a moment before muttering under his breath.
"No way… those were the C-Rank enforcers. Both of them? Alone?"
He looked toward the direction Zain had come from, then swallowed hard.
"Damn it... I need to report this to the boss. If word gets out I didn't notify him first, I'm screwed."
"That kid's not just strong—he's dangerous."
The guard quickly pulled out his communicator and stepped away.
Meanwhile, Zain disappeared into the city night, making his way back home.
---
Zain had arrived at his home and the moment he entered, he smelled something.
A rich and spicy aroma.
"…Is that curry?"
Zelia poked her head out from the kitchen, wearing an apron and holding a wooden spoon.
Her face brightened when she saw him.
"Zain! Thank god you're okay."
She exhaled, her shoulders visibly relaxing.
"You weren't hurt, were you?"
Zain grinned and waved his hand casually as he walked in.
"Come on, sis. Don't underestimate your little brother. Those villains aren't that scary when they're the ones fighting me."
Zelia narrowed her eyes, but smiled.
"Still, you must've been running around all day. You're not made of steel, you know."
She stepped aside and gestured toward the table, where a steaming pot of curry was waiting.
A thick, golden-brown, with chunks of meat and vegetables soaking in rich sauce.
A plate of hot rice sat next to it.
"Here. Eat. I made a lot. Spicy, just the way you like it."
Zain's eyes lit up.
"Oho? You're speaking my language. After the kind of day I've had, this is heaven."
He sat down and picked up a spoon without hesitation.
The moment he took a bite, he let out a satisfied sigh.
"Mmh. That hit the spot. Don't mind me—I'm eating all of this."
Zelia giggled softly, sitting across from him.
"Good. You deserve it. Just… don't get used to scaring me like that, alright?"
Zain smirked between bites.
"No promises. But I'll always come back. That much I guarantee."
And with that, the house filled with the quiet comfort of a shared meal.
---
The next morning, Zain had just woken up.
He glanced toward the window, smirking.
"Well… yesterday was productive."
Zain flexing his fingers.
"Two C-Rank enforcers down, over 1,800 Hack Points gained, and a few broken ribs healed."
He rolled his shoulders, testing his body.
"Feels like I didn't even fight. The system really is busted."
He took his coat and wore it. He also didn't forget to take his Hero ID.
"Now… time to head to the Hero Association."
His lips curled into a knowing grin.
"I need to meet Savra again."
He stepped out and spoke to himself as he headed down the hallway.
"She's sharp, she knows the city's villain better than most, and she's clearly used to dealing with dangerous people."
He pushed open the door and stepped into the light.
"Exactly the kind of person I want to keep close."
He looked up at the sky and narrowed his eyes.
"Besides… something tells me she's got more valuable information about villain groups or others that I don't know of."
He adjusted his collar, walking confidently down the street.
"Let's meet her. Let's see what kind of tips she has for me today."