5 Felix

Hans raised his head, to be precise to the floating status panel continuously buzzing in his ears.

[Hunger Awakens... ??? Commencing…]

[Endless Plunder Starting…]

[The residual power of the previous user is being consumed.]

[All stats +1000, temporarily.]

[You have temporarily obtained the skills…

Sage's Eye (SSS)

Hand of Hercules (SSS)

Flash (SSS)

…

…]

[Duration: 10 Seconds.]

He doesn't know where this newfound power came from or where did he get these abilities. The only thing he can think of is to kill Allan no matter what.

Swish—

As if his instincts warned him, Hans tilted his head.

Bam—

It didn't hit Hans but instead, the large blade penetrated the stones behind which greatly surprised Allan.

'What? How is thi—?'

Before he could even finish his words, Allan's head was held tightly by a strong hand before he was slammed down to the ground.

SLAM!

Crack—

The force shattered the ground together. No not just the ground, but the whole dungeon.

Crack—

Like a chain reaction, the cracks of the ceiling started spreading as the cave shakes from the mighty force of Hans' simple slam.

If one looks closely, it was clear that the dungeon is… forcefully being destroyed.

Hans's gaze shifted down towards Allan's minced body before raising his hand as he inspects his now newly regenerated limbs.

'Statu—'

Flop—

But before he can check his status, he was suddenly assaulted with numbness as his body fell powerlessly to the ground.

[Duration Ended.]

Pant, pant—

He felt like he's out of air after he tried making large deep breaths.

'At least I killed that bastard… haha'

The moment he knew that he's powerless to stand anymore, Hans already surrendered to fate.

'Sigh—'

What a relief that was. He doesn't have to worry about anything.

'It wasn't bad dying at all… I wish I could have tried even one cigarette though.'

Rumble, rumble—

Finally, the dungeon collapsed.

Blinding darkness suddenly wrapped around Hans's body and at the same time, his eyes blurred before he lost his consciousness.

.......

Endless Plunder (2)

Opening his eyes, Hans was assaulted by the bright lights of the ceiling. He tried to cover his eyes with his hands but he can't move any of his limbs. Fortunately, his senses weren't blocked, or else he'd be playing guesses on where he is.

His ears heard beeping sounds on his right side while his nose was assaulted by the smell of blood, urine, and the unpleasant odor of bleach.

'I'm in a hospital.'

It's quite easy to know where he is. Ever since his grandmother was hospitalized, he would often visit her after his raids and the smell of her ward is pretty much like this.

'But how did I get here?'

No rather, how did he survive? He clearly remembered being squashed by those large rocks before he passed out.

It wasn't only that though, he can feel his senses were strengthened.

'What's going on?'

Recalling the scenes that happened before he passed out, Hans was bewildered. This shouldn't be possible. Allan killed them one by one until he was the only one left and then…

'Wait!'

He remembers now. His limbs were severed by that bastard and he…

'I… can't remember?'

Hans tried brainstorming but eventually gave up midway. If put in words, it felt like his memory was missing a certain piece.

A sword clearly hit him but the memory ended there. The next time he remembers is lying on the ground waiting for his death to come.

What happened in that short amount of intervals?

Did someone help him?

'It's not impossible.'

Perhaps an awakened pass by and then help him. This is the only thing he can come up with as of now.

'How about Allan?'

Did that mysterious helper kill him?

"Arghhh!!! Fucking brain… why can't you remember at all!!!"

No matter how many times he tries to recall, it all ended in a blackout.

Sigh—

Thankfully, he was alive. Hans thought that it was the end for him but it seems someone gave him another chance.

"You've finally woken up."

Surprised by the sudden hoarse voice, Hans' pupils contracted. Although he can't see who speak, he can sense that this guy is sitting on the couch.

'Wait how did I even know that?'

It's like he can see it, but at the same time, he can't.

"I apologize if you're surprised by our sudden visit but we need to interrogate you right now."

Hearing the man's words, Hans's eyes narrowed before asking.

"Who are you?"

The man got up from the couch and slowly walk towards Hans's sight. He's wearing a black suit with a maroon-colored tie and a black monopoly hat tilted sideways to his head.

"I'm from the NAA. Deputy Head of the Dungeon Management Department, Felix Adams."

Felix then put his hands on his inner suit pocket before pulling out a golden badge with his name and rank engraved in it.

"I hope you will cooperate with us."

Hans's eyes remained at the man. He saw him occasionally appearing in televisions and large bulletins. Even on the front page of a newspaper, his face often appears there.

Felix Adams, S-Class Awakened.

Although the U.S.A lacked SS-Class awakened, the country was blessed with a large number of S-Classes. That is the reason why the country survived till now. Felix was one of those awakened who protected the country from the early days. The signature scar on his right eye indicates that he's been injured by a strong monster.

"What do you want to know?"

Felix slowly nodded. He opened his briefcase, pulled a record inside, and placed it at the bedside.

"Tell me everything that happened inside the dungeon."

......…

"So you are telling me that a mysterious man helps you?" The pressure emanating in the air suddenly became heavy. "You're not lying are you?"

Hans shuddered at the seemingly sharp gaze staring at his eyes.

"That's all I remembered."

Felix nods his head. Although he wants to doubt it, his experiences in this field tell him that Hans is not lying.

Due to the false truth Hans' mind created, it seems that he really believes someone saved him.

"Anything else you can remember? Like who is this helper or what he looks like?"

Hans shakes his head left and right. "I lost my consciousness… that's all I can recall, and when I woke up I'm already here."

"…"

"Oh by the way, how did I get here?"

Actually, Hans was more curious about how did he get here than how did he survive.

"You were found lying in the ground unconscious by the Disaster Team in the area."

Hans nods at Felix's response. Since he was rescued after he passed out, then his doubts were cleared as well. He thought that maybe that mysterious helper saved him out of the dungeon but it seems that it's not. Sighing, his eyes shifted back to the ceiling. Thankfully, the Disaster Team was…

Hans's eyes opened widely at the sudden realization.

"Did you just say Disaster Team?"

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

Of course, there is something wrong! The disaster team only operates when large-scale destruction struck a country or a state. They wouldn't bother with a failed red dungeon raid just to rescue some bunch of E-Class Awakeners and an F-Class like him.

So why are they at the scene?

"Is there any problem Mr. Luther? Did you recall something?"

"Tell me! why is the disaster team the one that is dispatched to the area?"

"They have to."

"Why?"

"Sigh— you've been asleep for a week now so you don't know…"

Felix awkwardly opened his mouth and continued with a hint of a frown.

"The dungeon you raided at Mill Hill Park was destroyed forcefully, together with…"

"… with what?" Hans nervously swallowed his words.

"… with almost half of the New Jersey."

......…..

[News XX

Reporter: This is the 8th day of the disaster team's investigation of mysterious large-scale destruction in New Jersey. We've been…]

Looking at the news, Hans couldn't speak. His mind was overturned by the news on the television. His sight shifted to Felix as he asked him hurriedly.

"Where am I then?"

"New York."

"How about grandma!?"

"Grand… ma?" Felix tilted his head at the question. "Aren't you living alone Mr. Luther?"

"You don't know? Aren't you at the Awakened Testing Hall at that time?"

"I am there."

"Then you should have seen my grandmother!"

"Uhm… pardon me Mr. Luther but I didn't see someone with you at that time."

Just what the hell happened? They didn't know he had a grandmother? That's impossible. He was broadcast on the news at that time.

"My records! Let me see my records!"

Records were like a diary. It was a device that records an awakened everyday life in real-time using advanced technologies that Awakened acquired in the dungeons or relics of other species.

Although confused, Felix nodded and fetch the watch from the table, and placed it beside the bed.

The scenes were played like a movie. From the moment Hans got the watch and the moment the watch stops recording when he entered the dungeon, his grandmother didn't appear in the record.

"It can't be." Hans displayed a shocked, disbelieving face. He forced his hand to move but Felix stopped him.

"Mr. Luther calm down. If I said something wrong, I'm sorry. But we need to know what truly happened back there. You are the only clue we have."

However, it seems like Hans didn't hear his voice and continued staring at the ceiling.

"Can you give me an hour to think, Mr. Adams?"

Felix sighed before nodding his head.

"Alright."

He clicked the stop button of his recorder and put it back inside his briefcase. Although he doesn't know what Hans is thinking, he's probably in a state of shock from the news. He turned his head so he could look behind as he speak.

"I'll be back here Mr. Luther. I hope you can give us detailed info about the incident."

Criek— slam—

The door closed leaving Hans in his room, which was back at being quiet. Numbness filled his already numb body, as tears fell from his eyes. Nothing but his cries can be heard from his ward, as he slowly recalled that final moment when his grandma appeared in the dungeon.

'I know that she doesn't have much time anymore.'

He closed his eyes momentarily and took a deep breath. After calming down, he tried lifting his hands to his chest and feel the slow and steady beating heart. That was probably her last goodbye.

Rather than be sad, now he's confused.

'My family, just who are they?"

No rather, what are they?

His grandma's very existence vanishes from this world just like his parents' records as well. Then does that means his existence will vanish as well?

Is his family special people? But his race is human. It's impossible for the system not to know his true race unless…

Hans's eyes shot wide open.

'Status!'

[Name: Hans Luther

Age: 23 Level: 1

Race: Human (98%), ??? (2%)

Potential: ???

Strength: 10

Agility: 10

Stamina: 10

Mana: 10

Unused stats: 0

Talent: Unlock at Lvl 100

Innate Skill: [Endless Plunder]

Plundered Skill: [Body Enhancement (B)], [Minds Eye (E)]

Skill: No skill.]

'I knew it!'

Staring at the innate skill, Hans confirmed his doubts.

Innate skills are special skills related to one's true origin. Usually, only those humanoid and monster species owned this kind of skill.

As for humans, they can't have innate skills. That is common knowledge people knew. But there is a record in the book that sometimes, a race can block their child from manifesting their innate abilities. Either because it's too powerful or it's not the time yet.

'Then I… am not a human?'

No, rather why is he a human?

Too many weird things were happening all at once.

........

Felix scratches his chin as puffs the cigarette from his fingers.

Phew—

The smoke blended with the wind before vanishing from his vision. He raised his left hand and took a glance at the time in his watch.

'30 minutes more.'

It's been a long time since the last US state was destroyed. Back then, his job is only killing monsters and raiding dungeons with his colleagues but now he's dealing with a whole mess where he doesn't even know where to start.

"Hans Luther… is it a coincidence?"

He was there when that kid was tested for his potential. That's when he started to have interest in that kid but when he heard that he lost his all in the dungeon that interest vanished as well. So meeting him here was a coincidence. This is also the second time Hans has been in a dungeon raid failure and a red dungeon at that.

'But who can forcefully destroy a dungeon?'

Although not many know but the association already speculated what happened but they don't want to publicize it until they were confirmed.

Though Felix has a ridiculous guess that he won't want to believe but couldn't help to think.

'Did Hans destroy the dungeon?'

Felix then let out a chuckle. That's more impossible. It's like saying a chicken can kill a dinosaur. No one would believe it at all.

Then suddenly he felt gazes from his back so he turned his head to look.

'Huh!?'

There, many guys were holding their laughter while their phones were raised recording a video of him. Not just because they recognized him but… in the strange position he was in.

"What is it?"

"Uhm… sir Felix, you've been standing in the urinal for 30 minutes now while giggling… which was quite weird."

"Uh oh? Oh!"

Now, how did it come to this?