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Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Hospital 

"Eat more, dear. You look all skinny and bone. Eat more." The pleasant voice of his mom was echoing in his ears as she put more plump dumplings on his plate.

Dumplings were his favourite, and he enjoyed eating them.

"I am eating. I can't eat more than I digest, right?"

"Look at you, boy. At your age, I ate five bowls of rice every day," his father said from the side.

His father was tall. He was so burly and muscular. It was such a pity that Anvil didn't inherit his height.

His parents looked at him warmly as he ate. It was one of the simplest things—now imagining back—made Anvil feel happy.

However, everything broke. The entire scene cracked up like glass, and a loud smashing sound echoed.

"Aaaaaah! Help! Help! I'm stuck!"

"Water! Water!"

"Monster!"

The entire slum was in chaos.

The mana gun shot everywhere, burning the brittle metals. Fire somehow caught on, and it spread rapidly.

Humans caught in fire ran around, rolling on the ground while screaming for water.

The debris had buried people. Some hurriedly half-screamed for help.

But the majority of the people were running. People fell down mercilessly.

Children's crying sounds echoed but were muffled by the screams of adults.

Anvil stood on the ground, watching the chaos. He was pushed around but somehow didn't fall.

"Mom, Dad," he called softly as he searched for them.

Wide-eyed, he looked around.

"Mom! Dad!" he called for them loudly.

Suddenly he froze.

His gaze met with a monster.

The giant monster resembled a gorilla, but its fur was thick—so thick that a human could hide themselves in it.

It was taller than 2 meters and had thick arms and legs. Its three azure eyes met his, and its big mouth—capable of stuffing a human head and still having room for a burger—opened to let out a loud roar.

The ear-deafening roar further made him freeze, and his pants soiled.

The monster, on all fours, ran at him at a speed that defied its weight.

But suddenly, as it was about to reach him, a mana bullet hit directly at its face. However the bullet managed to push it back and not harm anything. There wasn't even a scratch.

"Gaaaarrrrrr!" It let out a scream and thumped its chest loudly with its hands.

Anvil didn't know where he got the courage from, but he ran beside the monster.

He entered deeper into the chaos where he saw more soldiers trying to contain the monster. However, the monsters were increasing in numbers, and the soldiers were barely managing to kill any.

The mana bullet couldn't manage to pierce its skin and only burnt the fur slightly.

Anvil passed by them and somehow survived. He didn't get hit by a bullet or spotted by a monster.

He then saw what he feared the most.

The corpses of his parents.

They were lying dead on the ground.

The monster had hit them, crushing their bones.

Anvil, frozen, knelt.

Tears fell uncontrollably.

A monster saw him and ran at him.

But by some miracle, a light hit the monster.

The massive gorilla-like monster flung back.

Anvil looked at the source of the light.

A person covered in armor had come.

The person was very fast, and they jumped so high that a normal human could only dream of jumping that high.

They had a sword in their hand that was shining. It looked so sharp that maybe it could cut through anything.

From the sword, a bright light was shot that pushed the monster back easily—a feat that no normal weapons could do.

The person appeared before the monster and swiped their sword. With one swipe, the monster's head was off its body.

"[Knight]."

The person was a [Knight], a title given to those who possess superpowers and could perform feats that ordinary humans could only dream of.

Anvil didn't feel gratitude. Anvil felt anger towards them.

Why were they late?

If they had arrived earlier, maybe his parents would have been saved.

But that was selfish of him.

He knew it.

But he couldn't reason at all. Anger had consumed him, yet fear had made him kneel like a statue.

Anvil didn't know how he got to the survivor base with other survivors.

Anvil only felt depression.

The death of his parents hit him hard.

And more suffering was awaiting him at the new place he was going.

"Haaah! Haaah!" Anvil jolted awake.

"Where…." He looked around.

It was bright.

"Ah! He's up!" A voice suddenly rang in his ears.

"Huh." Anvil tilted his head.

His brain was foggy. Everything was moving before his eyes which overwhelmed his brain.

"Ugh." He felt nauseous. Dizziness and the urge to vomit hit him, but he somehow endured those urges as he raised his body.

He was on a bed, but it didn't feel like one. It was hard and not in any way comfortable.

He sat on the bed.

He felt weak.

Even just sitting made him feel like he was out of breath and energy.

He didn't wish to even move his finger. That's how exhausted he was feeling right now.

"You are awake, finally." A man wearing a white coat entered the room with a smile on his face.

He was middle-aged but still had a sunny face with barely any wrinkles. His hair was black, and he looked quite charming.

"Finally? How long was I sleeping?" Anvil asked, but his voice was hoarse. Worse, he was out of breath again just saying those words.

"One month. You were down for a whole month. It's good that you are finally awake now. Now rest a bit."

"A-a month?!" Anvil was shocked.

"Yes. Now, if you just rest for a while, you will be fine."

Anvil nodded at the doctor's words and laid down.

But the hardness of the bed was irritating. He couldn't catch a sleep.

The doctor came and checked his pulse. He then checked the machine he was connected with and left with a satisfied grin on his face.

Anvil, confused, had no idea what to say. He looked at the ceiling, trying to remember what he had gone through.

His mind became clear as memories flooded in. He remembered all the events he faced.

The giant mouse, the dark room, the secret room, the dark orb—and then it was blank. He had no idea what happened after he saw the orb.

'How much truth should I say?' Anvil didn't wish to spell out the whole event.

He had no idea if the [Knights] had found him in the secret room. He didn't even know how they found him and why he was in this hospital.

'I need information.' Anvil made a mental note of a list of questions he would ask later.

But now he had no energy to move, let alone talk.

Then suddenly, a nurse entered the room. She wore a white outfit, but her skirt was short, reaching her thighs.

She had a pretty face, the kind of face one would never find in the slums. Her figure was impeccable, and her chest had a large bulge.

Anvil didn't stare at her. He took a glance and closed his eyes.

He was a man, but he had self-control.

The nurse was irresponsible—or so he thought. The way her outfit was quite… improper.

The white shirt she wore had a few buttons loose, and her cleavage was shown. If looked from the top, her bra might be visible too.

Her skirt was short as well, barely reaching her thighs.

Less of a nurse and more of a seducer.

Anvil cursed in his mind how city dwellers enjoyed such views every day.

"Here's your food. Get up and eat it while it's hot." The nurse said cheerfully, a beautiful smile on her face.

"O-Okay," Anvil nodded.

She placed the plate on the desk beside the bed, on the right side. The left side was occupied by a machine.

Anvil sat up slowly. He still felt weak, but definitely better than before. He leaned back against the bedframe.

It was hard, but the pillow softened it.

He picked up the plate and was surprised by what he saw in the bowl.

Porridge—with meat.

Meat was a luxury in the slums. Anvil had only eaten it when his parents were still around. After becoming alone, he never got the chance again.

Of course, there weren't many pieces of meat. Most of it was rice, soup, and vegetables.

Still, it was far beyond anything he expected.

If he could eat like this every day, he wouldn't mind staying in the hospital for a year.

"Delicious," Anvil muttered, eyes widening.

The porridge was incredible.

It couldn't compare to his mom's cooking, but it was better than anything he'd eaten since moving to the new slums.

There were spices, the rice was soft, and the soup was flavorful. The meat was addictive, and the vegetables added a pleasant touch.

After the first spoonful, he couldn't stop. He stuffed his mouth full, eating greedily.

The bowl was big, but it wasn't enough.

Growl~

His stomach growled despite eating a large bowl of porridge.

He noticed a bell on the desk. He pressed it.

Ding!

The same nurse returned in under a minute.

Anvil blinked in surprise at the speed.

This place is way too luxurious. The clinic back in the slums wasn't even 10% this decent, he thought.

"How can I help you? Oh—you've already finished the porridge. Shall I take the utensils?" the nurse asked, still polite despite her frivolous outfit.

Anvil's impression of her shifted from flirtatious to a responsible one.

"Can I get seconds?" he asked meekly. He didn't expect a yes, but he had to try.

"Oh my, you're quite the glutton," she chuckled. "But don't worry. We have an ample supply. I'll bring another hot serving right away." She picked up the plate and left.

"Ahaha," Anvil let out a dry laugh.

This was a luxury.

Back in the slums, porridge was 90% water, 9% rice, and 1% vegetables. Bland, and even that was costly.

He mostly ate rock-hard stale bread, sometimes decent soup, and rarely dumplings—they were too expensive.

A bowl of this porridge would cost a week's salary for a typical miner in the slums. And it had meat.

Anvil felt a surge of energy. He still felt weak, but standing no longer seemed impossible.

He tried getting up, but his tense, unused legs gave out.

He stumbled and fell back onto the bed. It was hard, and his butt ached from the impact.

The nurse soon returned with a fresh bowl of porridge.

He devoured the second helping and felt completely full afterward.

He lay back and took a nap. Despite the hard bed, sleep came easily. Maybe because it was the first time in a long while that he felt full.

Evening had come when he woke.

But he didn't wake up alone—there were men staring at him.

He jolted upright instinctively.

"Calm down, boy. Sorry to startle you."

"Told you, you'd frighten the poor kid," the doctor said from behind.

"Ahaha, sorry," one of the men chuckled, wearing a weary smile.

Two men in black suits stood beside his bed. They looked like corporate elites or government officials.

The doctor stood behind them, watching them like a supervisor.

One man was middle-aged, with wrinkles and a receding hairline. His face seemed kind and cheerful.

The other was younger, maybe in his twenties, with a cold expression and eyes that silently analyzed Anvil.

"Relax a bit, boy. Your eyes are already icy," the older man nudged the younger one.

"I know," he replied simply, turning his gaze toward the suitcase in his hands.

"Now, may we introduce ourselves?" the older man asked politely.

"Yeah, sure," Anvil said, still on guard.

His tone was serious.

"No need to be tense. We're from the [Knight Supervision Department]. I'm Will Rain. He is Park Wilson. Apologies for disturbing your rest, but we have some questions and important information to share."

Will stretched out his hand.

"Ah," Anvil gasped.

[Knights] were like superheroes to ordinary people. Many idolized them.

He didn't know what the [Knight Supervision Department] was, but it sounded like they supervised [Knights].

People who supervised superheroes.

His respect for them skyrocketed. Sweat formed on his forehead.

Am I being rude?

He quickly sat up straighter, lowered his head slightly, and grabbed Will's hand.

"I-I... I'm Anvil Osborn. Pleased to meet you," he stammered.

"Haha, no need to be so tense," Will chuckled. "We may be from fancy organizations like [Knight Supervision Department], but we're just regular folks. We don't have any superpowers. So relax. We're here to give you some information."

"Right..." Anvil eased up a little but stayed polite.

"First, congratulations. You've awakened. You are now an [Awakened]."

"Uh. Huh?" Anvil stiffened. He turned his head slowly like a robot. "[Awakened]? You mean like... what I think it means?"

"Exactly. You're now eligible to become a [Knight]. That said, it's not mandatory. You can also become a [Hunter], [Adventurer], or just live as an [Awakened] without joining any organization."

"Wait, wait," Anvil interrupted. "I don't know what [Hunter], [Adventurer], or even [Awakened] really mean. I get the words, but I've never heard them used like this."

"You're from the slums, right?" Will asked, not unkindly.

Anvil nodded.

"Didn't mean anything bad by that. People in the slums usually aren't familiar with these terms. I'll explain briefly."

Will cleared his throat.

"[Hunter] is essentially the same as [Knight]. The difference is organizational. [Knights] are part of the government—like soldiers or police. [Hunters] belong to guilds, which are private or independent organizations. They offer more freedom.

"[Awakened] is the general term for anyone who's awakened a power. So all [Knights], [Hunters], and [Adventurers] are [Awakeneds].

"[Adventurers] work in corrupted zones—high-risk areas with dangerous monsters. They sneak in, gather intel, and eliminate threats. Their job is more dangerous than regular [Knights] or [Hunters]."

He paused briefly, then continued.

"There are other paths too, but those three are the most known. In cities, [Hunters] are more common. In rural or slum areas, people mostly see [Knights]. Guilds don't usually operate in such regions. When they do, people mistake them for [Knights]."

Anvil nodded, absorbing the information.

"So I'm an [Awakened]? I don't feel different."

"That's normal. Powers don't manifest right away. You'll need training. Speaking of which—Park?"

The younger man handed a stack of papers to Will.

"These documents explain [Awakeneds], guilds, the Knight Association, dungeons, and more. We also recommend joining the [Awakened Academy]. It's a six-month course, but since the current session has already started, you'll only get a month. Still, it's worth it."

Will took a sip of water and continued.

"We'll return tomorrow with questions. Sorry to leave it so late, but we're on a tight schedule. Any questions for now?"

Anvil tried to digest everything but couldn't. Still, he asked the first thing that came to mind.

"Do you know where I was found? I don't remember much. What happened to the giant mouse? I ran away from it."

"That'll be explained tomorrow. But the soldiers who cleared the dungeon reported that you were found in a sealed room—discovered only recently due to a small opening."

Will checked his holographic watch.

[7:25 PM]

He nodded and stood. Park followed.

"We'll take our leave now. Thanks for your cooperation. Don't worry about the hospital bill—it's covered by the [Knight Association]," Will said, flashing a bright smile.

They didn't wait for a reply and left swiftly.

Ordinary people? Their speed doesn't say so, Anvil thought.

He leaned back, rubbing his temples.

The information overload gave him a headache.

The doctor muttered from behind.

"What a rude fellow. Didn't even say goodbye to me."

He sighed, then walked up to Anvil with a smile.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. I ate a lot. Got some energy back. Not sure about running, but I feel way better than this morning."

"That's great," the doctor said brightly. "Just some rehabilitation, and you'll be walking again in a day or two. You have no wounds so you just need more nutrition and rest."

"Thank you, Doctor."

"No problem. It's my job. Rest well."

He left the room.

Peace returned.

"I'm still hungry... I need to go to the toilet... and I have to read those papers. Okay. Toilet first, food, rest, then reading."

He rang the bell again.

The same nurse came.

Damn. Should've asked the doctor instead.

It felt awkward asking her for help to go to the toilet, but he kept a poker face.

"Can you help me stand and take me to the toilet?" he asked politely.

"Sure, of course." She came and supported him.

He leaned into her, and suddenly felt something soft—along with a strangely addictive scent.

Calm! Calm! Calm!

His senses overloaded. Something stirred in his pants.

He held his poker face despite the inner storm.

They reached the toilet. He relieved his bladder and returned right away.

Back in his room, he got another bowl of porridge, ate it happily, and even asked for dumplings tomorrow—which got a yes.

He smiled. A real smile, after a long time.

He napped briefly, and woke with a clear mind.

He took the documents and began reading.

And for the first time in forever—he focused.

He read every word.

An hour passed like a breeze.

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