The First Step

A few hours later, in a discreet, somberly lit office, Akira waited; the shadows from the single flickering desk lamp danced across his face.

He had called Hiroshi, an old family friend of his father, a high-ranking official overseeing the management of the dungeons and raid missions.

He had visited him in the hospital within days of the tragedy and promised to help him however he could.

The door creaked open, and Hiroshi stepped in.

Hiroshi's eyes, sharp but compassionate, took in Akira's hardened expression and dark, steely gaze.

Akira had always been a fiery, bright young man, but now his face held a somberness Hiroshi had only seen in people no longer cared about the world.

"Akira,"

Hiroshi said in a warm, low tone of voice.

He came around his desk and sat down, looking to Akira with curiosity and concern.

"You sounded urgent over the phone."

Akira didn't waste time on preliminaries.

"I need your help.

Hiroshi nodded, leaning forward.

"I am here; what is it?

Akira said, his voice no more than a whisper laced with a raw edge.

He looked at Hiroshi, his stare intense, unyielding.

"I'm going to get them, but I need a way to move unseen."

"I need a new identity to get into dungeons."

Surprised, the look flickered in his eyes.

"A new identity?"

"Akira… you mean you have awakened?

Akira's face clouded; a faint shadow of confusion crossed it.

"Yes, but I don't remember how it happened."

His voice fell soft, almost as if he spoke to himself.

"I don't remember much of it at all.

Hiroshi's face scrunched up in concern.

"An awakening without memory...that's highly unusual."

His gaze took in the profound exhaustion that had been carved into Akira's face and the weight he carried.

"Akira, I can see how much this is weighing upon you."

"Your eyes they don't shine like they once did."

Akira's vision clouded a bit more.

"That light died the night they took everything from me."

"I don't need it."

"What I need is your help Hiroshi-san.".

Sighing, Hiroshi leaned back, steepling his fingers.

He could see Akira's determination-raw and fierce, the intensity in him.

He knew Akira wouldn't rest until he had his vengeance.

"All right....I can give you a fake identity."

"But there are limits."

With this identity, you'll only be able to raid low-level dungeons-E-rank to D-rank.

Anything above that would draw too much attention.

Akira's mouth clamped down as his head nodded.

"That's just what I want."

"I need the time to get stronger"

Hiroshi looked at him for a very long time; on his face was a strange mixture of reluctant admiration and deep concern.

"This path you're taking… it's not the kind of path one takes so lightly."

"It's the road from which no return is possible.

"I already made that choice,"

Akira said without hesitation, his voice even,

"The day they took my family, my life changed."

"I won't stop until they're brought to their graves, Hiroshi-san.".

He slowly blew out a breath and nodded.

"Then I'll do what I can."

"But remember, Akira-if you go too far too fast, there will be consequences."

A faint, bitter smile crossed Akira's face.

"The low-level raids are only the beginning, testing and building up this power-whatever it is-and getting stronger."

Hiroshi stood and extended his hand.

"I'll set it up."

"I owe your father that much… and more."

"He was a good friend and an honorable man."

"If this is what it takes to give you peace, I'll stand with you."

Akira took his hand.

"Thank you."

As they parted, Hiroshi locked his eyes upon him for a last time, his features softened to a last, almost fatherly concern.

"Be careful, Akira.

"Vengeance has a way of consuming those who pursue it blind."

Akira's gaze didn't waver.

"I'm prepared for that."

"One way or another, I'll get them."

Hiroshi nodded, knowing Akira's father was one who strove to bring safety and a semblance of order to the chaos of the dungeons, a man of his principles.

Now, looking at Akira-who was so hard-bitten and relentless, sure on his way concerning vengeance-only he hoped this would be enough to keep him grounded by such a bequest of justice in his heart.

Hiroshi saw Akira leaving but called after him,

"Take care of yourself, Akira."

"This path… it's a hard one."

"Remember, you still have people who care about you."

Akira took only a moment of pause, enough to nod then he leaved.

The next day

It was the shrill buzz of Akira's phone that cut into his early morning exercises.

It was Hiroshi-the message curt:

"Meet me in my office."

"I have what you need."

Wasting no time, Akira finished up, changed, and made his way to Hiroshi's office.

As he stepped inside, Hiroshi looked up, holding a small, official-looking card between his fingers, glancing at it with a faint sigh before handing it to Akira.

"Here it is,"

Hiroshi said, handing the ID over.

"With this, you can enter and raid dungeons under your new name."

"Remember this is temporary."

"Construction is so it can fly under the radar, meaning you can only raid up to E and D ranks dungeons.

"Anything above that may raise suspicions."

Akira took the card, his fingers tracing across its holographic surface, the name and identity that once was his now buried beneath fabricated details.

He met Hiroshi's gaze, nodding silently.

"Thanks, Hiroshi."

"This is exactly what I was after.".

Hiroshi's face softened, but the look of concern didn't quit his face.

"Akira, let me remind i don't know how much power you have awakened but these low-level dungeons may feel like they aren't so dangerous, but never be fooled by that."

"Complacency is dangerous."

"Never underestimate what you are walking into.

Akira gave a small smirk. 

"Don't worry."

"I'll stay sharp."

Hiroshi sighed, shaking his head.

"You always were full of confidence, even as a kid."

"But listen, there's something else you ought to know.

Akira raised an eyebrow

"What is it?

It's less calculative than that, really," Hiroshi said seriously.

"It bugs out sometimes."

"A lower-ranked dungeon might well have higher-ranked monsters in them-usually much further inside."

"Just. be on your guard."

"Walk into every dungeon expecting it to turn into a death trap at any moment.".

Akira nodded, understanding the gravity in Hiroshi's words.

"Understood. I'll be careful."

Hiroshi nodded weakly, his eyes sticking to Akira's.

"Good. And… if it gets weird, don't hesitate to pull back."

"There's no shame in retreat, to fight another day.

Akira nodded curtly.

"I understand thanks, Hiroshi-san."

"Really."

Hiroshi sighed, softening.

"I just want you to stay alive, Akira."

"Remember that."

Akira firmed his grip on the ID, the cold solid reality of the first step ahead.

"I will. For me, this isn't the end; this is just the beginning."

Akira gave some firm handshakes before leaving the office, while his mind was already racing in anticipation; he just spent a whole year training, studying and learning all the tricks that Eri and her team who betrayed him could teach him.

Finally, it was time to test himself, to try all the things he learned so far in a real dungeon.

Akira froze for a moment, allowing the eerie silence of the entrance to settle around him.

The new ID hung off his belt, the name "E.B." glinting faintly in the dim light.

"I Chose this E-Rank dungeon from the application that gets the STARS to reserve the Dungeons"

The entrance was rough, a jagged tear in the earth that seemed to exhale darkness.

Mist curled around his feet and drifted inward, pulled into the dungeon's gaping maw as though even the fog had a mind to disappear.

"So… this is what it's like,"

He muttered, running a hand along the cool, damp stone.

The walls seemed to vibrate with a strange energy.

This was what STARS had to deal to earn the respect they have.

He exhaled, feeling his heart quicken with the rush of anticipation and a flicker of doubt. That it was low-ranked didn't matter-it was a first step toward a greater purpose, a first trial outside the rigorous sterile confines of training.

A real test.

"Let's do this,"

He muttered quietly to himself, his voice steeled with resolution as he moved forward, slipping into the shadows.