5 My New Home

In a barren landscape, two figures persistently engaged in a fierce battle, trading blows and kicks with each other. One was a child, merely six years old, defying the laws of physics with his agility and strength that seemed implausible even for an adult. The other was a humanoid creature, almost human except for its lack of a face. Despite its absence of eyes, it managed to parry most of the child's attacks with uncanny precision. A slip from the child presented an opportunity for the faceless creature. It seized the moment, aiming a powerful blow at the child's face, a punch so forceful it could have flattened a metal ball. However, the child's smirk suggested that it was all part of his plan. He dodged the attack, closing the distance between them. With all his might, he delivered an uppercut that sent the creature soaring into the sky before crashing down with a thud. The creature gradually disintegrated into ashes. (Errol's POV) I took a deep breath, relaxing my weary body after the grueling fight against the formidable opponent conjured by the system this time. Each month, the system created a new adversary for me to battle, pushing me to my limits. This one was particularly challenging, slippery like a snake and always striking when least expected. It took me almost an hour to defeat it. "Now, let's check the results of this fight status." [Name: Errol Abilities: Tracing Hyper institution Skills: Taekwando Lvl 16 Basic Cultivation Technique Lvl 20 Boxing Lvl 17 Gacha] This was the outcome after meeting the protagonist's family. My progress may be slower than Linfan's, but I didn't mind. I wasn't living in a world dominated by beasts and haughty young masters. I had almost a decade before Lala's arrival on this planet, which would normalize the presence of aliens in everyday life. By then, I was confident that I would be as powerful as a nuclear weapon. Looking at my status, the basic cultivation technique had reached its maximum level, and the experience needed to evolve it had increased significantly. At this point, my strength was slightly superior to Captain America's. Considering that I could use energy enhancement to boost my attacks, I believed I could defeat him. However, he was a seasoned warrior, having fought in wars and faced aliens with superior strength. My chances were slim, but I was young and had the potential to grow stronger. After the fight, the battlefield gradually disappeared, and I found myself back in my bed. Exhausted from the hour-long battle, I fell asleep instantly. (Short time skip) I woke up full of energy and headed to the backyard where the children usually played. It was empty as it was only 6 am. I did some basic stretches and practiced shadow boxing and kicking. This was my usual morning routine. Despite the absence of real enemies, this practice still provided some experience to level up. Cultivation might make you stronger, but it doesn't shape your body. After completing my morning workout, I returned to the building to proceed with my usual activities. That was the plan for the day, but I was unexpectedly summoned to the matron's office. Her face displayed a mix of relief and sadness, which she tried to hide. I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was about to happen that would change my life forever. Upon entering the room, I noticed Saiba waiting inside, along with a lady who I recognized as Yuuki Rinko, Saiba's wife and the mother of Rito and Mikan. Rinko approached me and began examining me from head to toe. Before I knew it, I was stripped down to my bare skin by her swift hands. Both the matron and I were taken aback by her actions. "What was that for? Are you a pedophile?" I shouted at her. She seemed taken aback by my outburst. "I'm sorry. It's just that when I see someone who could look good in both male and female attire, my fashion sense takes over," she apologized. The matron, however, warned her sternly, "If I hear about you attacking a child again, I will have you arrested." Saiba intervened, introducing his wife, "This is my wife, Yuuki Rinko." "Please take care of me," Rinko added, still examining me. Feeling uneasy, I asked, "So, can I ask what's going on?" Saiba was the one who responded, "Errol, how would you feel about me becoming your dad?" I was taken aback, "Come again?" The matron clarified, "What he means is, do you want to be adopted by them?" Saiba continued, "Errol, you might be wondering why I want to adopt you. It's mostly for Mikan and Rito. They both look up to you, calling you their elder brother. They are always happy around you, so I thought, why not adopt him? Having another child doesn't sound bad." Rinko chimed in, "Yes, and what's wrong with adopting? It's just like we will have another child, but not in the usual way. I also want another kid, but being pregnant for nine months and barely being able to do anything is a hassle. Although I love my children." The matron spoke to me in a motherly tone, "Come on, Errol. You are a mature child, quite intelligent too. You can't stay here in the orphanage forever. Everyone else will also leave eventually, but you are just leaving a bit earlier, like some other kids who were adopted." Feeling hesitant, I agreed, "I agree, but can I say goodbye to the others first?" The husband and wife smiled, and the matron joined them, although she looked a bit sad. "Of course, take all the time you need. I will take you tomorrow because there are still things I need to prepare for you in our house," Saiba assured me. Time seemed to slow down as I bid farewell to everyone. I never thought I would get so attached to this place. I was an introvert in my previous life, with barely any friends. But perhaps these were the feelings of my six-year-old self that got buried under my wealth of memories. The day passed, and it was time to leave. I stood outside with my belongings packed into a small bag. I turned to the matron and bowed to her. "Thank you for raising me," I said, tears welling up in my eyes. In front of me stood the mother figure that my six-year-old self had looked up to. She had been there for me since I learned how to speak, crawl, walk, and until this day. I never thought I had these buried feelings, and they were now fully on display, surprising those who had never seen me cry. The matron also had tears in her eyes and hugged me tightly. "You know, you are the first child I took in this place since I took over this orphanage from the previous matron. So, you can say you are my firstborn child in my life. I have seen you grow every single day until now. I am sure you will do just fine, even without us. And don't cry, you silly boy. You can still visit us like the other children do." "I know," I replied, choking back tears. She continued to hug me, reminding me about everything from eating healthily to brushing my teeth regularly, until she was out of breath. I listened attentively, even though I already knew most of what she was saying. "And lastly, you may or may not know this, since most children here are not aware of their parents' names. My name is Shizuka Yuna. You better remember it," she added. "Umm, I will not forget," I quickly agreed. It was time to go. "Goodbye to you all. I promise to visit from time to time," I said, bidding my final farewell to everyone. As the day passed, we arrived at their house, or should I say our house. Saiba called out to Rito and Mikan, "We have a surprise for you guys!" They came running down, looking around in anticipation. Upon seeing me, they expressed their surprise, "Eh, Er-ni, why are you here?" They were used to visiting me, so seeing me in their home was unexpected. "This is your surprise. From today onwards, Er-chan will live with us. Aren't you guys happy that he will finally be your brother?" Saiba grinned at them. They were momentarily surprised, but their surprise quickly turned into cheers. They began jumping around me, laughing happily. I guess this is now my new family. Despite some initial regrets, I had long accepted this new world. From this day forward, Yuuki Errol had officially joined the Yuuki family. It sounded a bit strange, but I was sure I would get used to it.

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