1 Chapter 1 - Metamorphosis

"Kaahkk!"

Exclaimed the boy as he got pierced by a short sword.

"F-fuck."

Only one word escapes his mouth, but this one word contains all the feelings in his heart.

Frustration. That he, a boy who only lived 18 years and is yet to experience life, is now on the verge of dying.

Despair. That he, a boy who believes that he is special, faces a cruel realization that he is in fact, just nothing.

And the last one...

Humiliation. That he died in the hands of a goblin, a monster that is very known to be one of the 'bottom monsters' in the monster tier list.

"KA-HA-HAK-KA!"

The goblin laughs as it is delighted for the easy kill.

The goblin then draws its sword and is now ready to deal another blow, for good measure.

*Swisshh*

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"W-what!?"

Shouted the boy as he seemingly awakes to an unfamiliar place.

As he gets up, he then quickly feels the 'pierced' chest of his but there is no wound. Not even a bloodstain can be found in his clothes. It was as if nothing happened at all.

"!?"

The boy was really sure of what happened. The memory of him getting pierced by that short sword, the pain that he felt, and most of all, the mental effect of that moment, was very vivid.

He then calmed himself and proceeded to observe his surroundings.

It was bright, and wherever he looks, nothing came to his view. It is an endless landscape with marble tiles as the ground.

"Is this heaven? It looks boring..."

Accepting the fact that he is in fact, dead,

he made such a remark.

"I guess I should loo-"

"Hey there Sir Greus."

Just as he decided to explore the infinite landscape he is in, a dignified voice of a man suddenly called him.

"Ah."

Looking at the man, he really is shocked.

That reddish hair and eyes, that appearance that matches the word "blazing hot" perfectly, only one man matches that description.

"He-hero Larus Flemmen!"

Larus Flemmen. A hero who is said to be a peak expert in fire. It is said that he is the only human that have maximum affinity towards the fire element. Thus, allowing him to have explosive fire power!

The man that earned the title, "Hottest Hero", is standing in front of him.

"HAHA! You know me!"

"Who wouldn't?" The boy, who is named Greus wants to retort, but chooses not to. In fact, he thought that he should be the one saying who knows who.

"What does Sir Hero want of me?"

Larus smiled briefly then replied.

"If you have the chance to become a hero, what kind of hero would you be?"

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"Uhmm... Sir Hero?"

"Yes?"

"Is this supposed to be the like a 'dying then waking up in nowhere then meet s cool guy to become a hero' thing?"

Dumbfounded by such an unexpected reply, the Hottest Hero, who can be considered as an existence that brings fear upon enemies, gets stunned by a youngling.

"Y-yes this is that sort of thing..."

Larus helplessly said with a wry smile.

"So it really is like that!"

The thought of becoming a hero, an existence that he dreams of becoming, makes Greus very excited.

Larus didn't want to ruin Greus' moment of excitement, as he knows the feeling of knowing one would have the chance to be a hero. However, Greus really needs to answer the question.

"So Sir Greus, what kind of hero would you want to be?"

Passing away his excitement for a moment, Greus begins to think about the question.

Now that he actually thinks about it, it was really hard!

Would he be the kind of hero that have the capability to deal lethal damage with one blow? No.

Would he be the kind of hero that have the capability to withstand the strongest of blows? No.

Support? Brew potions? Make artifacts? Be... No.

Parameters and jobs aside, power to establish an empire? Influence that lasts for years to come? Beautiful women by his side? None of that actually matters for Greus.

Well, err... Being surrounded by beautiful women sounds good. Greus can't helped but be honest.

But the bottomline is he actually didn't know what kind of hero he wants to be!

"I just want to live a fullfilling life, not bowing to anyone, unshackled by organizations. I just want to have the power to explore the world..."

Greus thought as he finally came to a realization. He then looks at Larus with a serious expression.

"I can see that you have arrived at your answer."

"Yes. I want to have the kind of hero that have the power to be free! To be able to experience life as I please, and where only I, dictate my fate."

Greus declared with such a weight in his voice that made Larus nod his head in acknowledgement.

"Is that your answer Sir Greus?"

"Ye... !?"

All of a sudden, a sword pierced his chest, as if to recreate the moment he died. The only difference is that it is a long sword this time!

Greus can't say anything in shock. He just stared at Larus with wide eyes filled with confusion.

Larus just smiled at Greus then withdraws his long sword.

Greus then falls to the ground with his back facing the endless landscape he is in.

And once again, his vision went black.