Luic

Evil. The world is filled with it. They sneak in every man's heart. They put a front that looks so beautiful and perfect but once you get a hold of it, and you hold it dearly, you'll never reach the surface again. You'll drown from it.

He's drowning. I don't think he can reach the surface with his arms and legs tied up.

"Now answer me, Diego, how does it feel to be drowned and have nothing to grasp with- or should I say, have no means to grasp at all?"

It's obvious he can't answer me. He is struggling to live. And with his death, the criminal organization Baku follows.

Luic grabbed the phone from the pocket of his black suit, smirking as he's about to call his employer.

"Your boy is dead. Your turn," said Luic as he took a final look then walked away from the messy water-filled tank, inserting left hand into the pocket of his pants.

"I'll be sending it to your account now. Make sure that you keep your health intact. The next order will arrive in 2 hours. Stay alert," said the person on the other line.

Luic heard a notification from his phone so he dropped the call and put it back in his suit, then took his car keys after.

Walking away from the abandoned basement, Luic is carefully lifting his legs so he won't step onto dead bodies which were all over the place.

If my father knows what I am doing he would be so proud. Proud to disown me.

[15 years ago]

"Run! Run! Run! Run like there's no tomorrow! Run like your life is on the line! Run like your favorite food is running away from you!" shouted Ling, beside Luic.

"Pa, Lumpia can't run! It's food!" Luic said, furrowing his brow towards Ling, his father.

"I know, son, hunger tends to be a motivation that's why I said that. But that's beside the point. What we are trying to attain here is to enhance your ability to imagine. It's our lesson for today," said Ling, sighing.

"I can't seem to grasp it," said Luic with a hesitant smile, thinking that his father is disappointed in him.

Ling narrowed his red eyes towards Luic, causing him to stop running.

"Come here, kid. Take the rubber off of your body and sit beside me. For now, I want you to listen to me carefully," said Ling tapping Luic's shoulder.

Luic took off the rubber from his waist and rolled the wheel towards his father so they could sit on it.

"Imagination is the act of seeing things that are not seen with our naked eyes. It's believing in something beyond what is possible. Or sometimes, it's the act of foreseeing what is not yet happening."

"Hmm. But how is that helpful when I run, pulling a heavy wheel behind me? I can still feel the pain."

"Yes. But if you focus on imagining a vision and transfer all your energy to it, you'll transcend into a spiritual realm and hardly notice the changes inside or around you."

"I'm not following, father."

"Here's another way to say it. What you are doing earlier is you are pulling a 150 lbs wheel of a truck using your nine year old body. That wheel is thrice your weight. And you just listen to what I say and envision it while you are pulling. Now my question is, how many hours do you think you are doing that?"

"Wait. I lasted over an hour? I didn't notice."

"Exactly. You could actually last a bit longer if you didn't complain about Lumpia running."

Luic laughed as hard as he could when his father said that. Ling then laughed too upon seeing his child relieving all of the stress from his body.

"So, Pa, I guess the mind is stronger than the body, huh?"

"Mind is powerful, yes. But without the body, the mind cannot be contained, making it powerless. So both need to exist together. Which is why in order to be strong, you need to develop them both."

Upon hearing his father, Luic suddenly looked away and closed his mouth firmly. It bothers him and so he asked, "Why do I need to be strong, Pa?"

"To fight against darkness. To defend the weak. To tend the wounded. To preserve peace."

"I don't understand."

"You soon will," said Ling, wrapping his arms around Luic and leaning his semi-pointed chin over his small-rounded head.

"Come, I'll tend your wounds at home and we'll eat what your Mama cooked."

"I'm so hungry! I feel like I'm gonna die if I won't be able to eat Mama's food."

"I feel you, child. I feel you," said Ling as he carried the beat up child on his shoulder, together with his equipment. "I am proud of you, Luic," Ling whispered to him.

Ling knows deep in his heart that this child is going to be great. The potential stored in him is enormous and with wrong guidance can be dangerous.

I'm afraid I might lead him astray. He is too perfect even for me.

Upon walking, a man is rushing towards them waving both of his hands in the air.

It's not a wave that greets happily. It's a kind that says something bad happened and it tells a person to rush.

Ling immediately ran carrying his tired son over his shoulder and asked the man abruptly, "Albe, what happened?"

With a heavy breathing, Albe said, "Your wife was attacked inside your house. She was carried to the nearest clinic."

"Pa, put me down. Go after Mama, she needs you more than me. I can't slow you down."

"No, kid. She needs all of us," said Ling tapping Luic's back. "Albe, I am grateful to you. Do you know where Meng is?"

Albe, who stopped his short breathing and looked away from Ling, said, "That's another problem. Meng pursued the attacker on his own, according to Mira."

That brat, charging without thinking. I wonder who the attacker was. Is it the Sharks? That's most probably the case. I need to get to him as soon as possible. I won't let my kid die from the hands of those cruel bastards.

"Albe, can you bring Luic to his mother? She needs someone beside her. Tell her not to worry about us, I have things under my control," Ling said upon contemplating who the attacker was.

"Little warrior, you heard me. Remember what I said about fighting against darkness? We are fighting against it now. So be strong and stay near your Mama, protect her and don't go anywhere until we get there," said Ling to Luic upon putting him down then patting his head.

"Pa, be careful," said Luic with a soft and trembling voice.

"Evil will never prevail. Justice will."

[Present: April 18, 2022]

Oh father, I am prevailing. You have no idea how liberating it is to get out of your silly ideas of doing good and all that stuff. Reality is nowhere near that. It is harsh and cruel, like living in a lake of unquenchable fire.

Luic got out of his Ferrari as soon as he finished parking it in the parking area of his apartment. Thinking what to do next, Luic suddenly felt the urge to train his focus and marksmanship for the upcoming mission.

So he went back inside his car and drove to the warehouse where he usually trains.

[Inside the warehouse]

This warehouse that accompanied Luic as he grew up has grown old and rusty.

The chain that holds the punching bag is almost beat up. The pull up bar is no longer shiny as it was during the time he first saw and tried it.

It's fair to say that they are like this due to frequent usage. There was not a day where these equipments were not used.

Luic began his preparation by turning on the target shooting machine in front of him and put a liquid chemical in its appropriate place.

He kneeled down to open the big dusty chest, where all his weapons are kept.

Of all the weapons, heavy and long, he reached his hand instead towards the silver pistol and put some bullets in its magazine.

Its size and mass is proportionate to his grip and pulse. It's as if this weapon is made specifically for him.

As he extended his arm upward to shoot the target in front of him, a cockroach flew towards the target.

It stopped in the middle of it, as if provoking Luic to come and shoot it.

A gunshot was heard and remains of the cockroach scattered all over the target board.

Fool. That target is covered with liquid chemicals that insects, the likes of you, tend to get addicted to. It can trap your legs with its sticky substance.

Believing that every pleasure always begets happiness is the most foolish thing you could ever think of. Worst of all, it might even lead to death. Like the fate of this cockroach.

An hour has passed and everything looks messy, especially the targets that Luic has been shooting ever since he got into the warehouse.

It's almost time. I need to get ready or I'll be damned.

Luic turned off the button that allows the targets to move randomly, and pressed the maintenance button.

It's during this moment that he is grateful that he decided to become a contract killer. With the things he can access, strength is much easier to achieve.

In my family's perspective, I am just a Head Security Officer in a big company called Ondergang. But little did they know that my boss in that company is the same employer who hires me to kill people for him.

Lucio. He's more like a father to me than my real father. At least he won't make me feel like stepping aside because there is someone more important than me.

He made me feel special. Like a main character and not an extra. My father can't do that because he is busy with feeding my brother's ego.

He must be so proud of him for passing the board exam. I don't want to do any sort of crap like that. This is real life. This is the real test.

I will complete this mission and show what being strong is like.

[A text message]

Estrut Building, Draken Street, 1860.

Special forces got a hint in one of our branches. It's one of our largest sources of income, make sure to protect it from their raids. Inform me if you are going to request for a backup. You might need one. Best of luck!

—

Backup? They'll just get in my way and slow me down. There's no need to have them. I am more than enough.

Luic drove immediately to the said address since all the things he needed to accomplish this mission was already in his possession.

This knife and pistol is all I need. Special forces have one thing in common. I am already familiar with how they do things since my father is one of them.

I wonder how my brother is doing as a special force as well. There's no way he is involved in this raid, right? This seems like a big mission for him to meddle with.

[Outside Estrut Building]

Luic arrived at the back of the Estrut Building. This building is only a front. The real thing is the underground.

I'll give it to the special force. It's very concealed yet they managed to get a hint of it. Impressive.

Was there a mole among us? Regardless. I need to accomplish this. I can't disappoint Lucio.

[Inside the Underground]

Upon entering, he is wondering why the underground is empty. The only thing present is the products they kept. Not even a hint of people recently using the toilet.

Are they trapping me? Or is this another test from Lucio? Heh. Easy.

Luic, with his black suit, covers his face with a white mask. With darkness it's the only thing visible.

That's his plan. To attack the enemy in a situation where he can take full advantage of.

Preparations are all done. Now come, little kittens.

As he positioned himself near the entrance of the inner office, he heard footsteps coming from the main entrance of the underground.

They came. Judging from the faint yet fast footsteps, it can't be that many. I'm guessing five.

The seemingly big footstep of one of them is getting closer and closer. I can hear it. It parted ways with the other. I can take advantage of that.

Luic then connected his phone to the main speaker of the underground, which they are using in announcement of emergency. He then started playing a song entitled "Don't stop me now" by Queen.

[A music]

Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time

I feel alive

And the world I'll turn it inside out, yeah

I'm floating around in ecstasy

So, (don't stop me now)

(Don't stop me)

'Cause I'm having a good time, having a good time

A loud music is heard throughout the underground. All six members of a special force group named Delta heard it and were slightly taken aback.

The loud bass and vocal of the music disrupted their flawless communication. This, in turn, results in separation among the members, scattered in the underground.

Luic got a sight of one of their biggest members, impairing its balance by shooting both of its legs, allowing him to twist his neck.

For a special force that seems like a small fry. Or at least that's what Luic thought.

The seemingly unconscious huge man, who's lying on the floor wearing a full body combat uniform, stretched his hand and pulled the trigger of the gun he took on the floor and almost hit Luic's leg.

Luic was able to hide behind a wall as he evaded the shot.

Guess I'm wrong about this guy after all. He almost got me. Had I not noticed his arm due to the flashlight- wait, flashlight?

Suddenly, a smoking bomb was thrown at Luic coming from his south. It's another member of Delta.

I wasn't able to finish that big guy quickly and it bought time for the others to find their members. Still, I can't lose to the likes of them.

If this is another test from Lucio to showcase my ability to fight all on my own, I can't make myself look like a poor weakling guy.

Luic then drew out his knife from his foot and began to remove the mask, making him much harder to see in darkness. Especially now that the smoke from the bomb is fading, he was able to slip behind the big guy without being noticed.

Unalert and trying to rearrange his composure as he stood up, the big guy suddenly felt a stab from his back and let out a shout from the top of his lungs, signalling his teammate to come to him.

It was too late, however, when his teammate came, because that big guy was already breathing his final breath from the hundred stabs on his back.

It took longer than I expected. He's a tough nut. But hey, one down. Now this crafty fellow is next.

As Luic was breathing heavily behind tons of sacks, he saw a shining wire passing on the floor.

It must be a trap. If I get caught with it, will I die from it or I'll only be captured? The small shiny thing above must be connected to that wire. But why would he lay that out in the open, knowing that I might be able to see it? Perhaps it's a misdirection. If that's the case…

Luic took one of the sacks and put his coat all over it. He then threw it along the wire and saw a large object coming at the location where he threw the sack.

Suddenly a gunshot was heard.

Got you.

Luic ran quietly to where he saw the gunshot coming from. And as he was about to stab the figure of a man, it was nothing but a metal covered in dark cloth.

A trajectory tactic. It's a different fighting style from the one who threw the bomb. Those kinds of tactics rely too much on their equipment. This one is different. A marksman perhaps.

It might take a while before I can rip this man's heart and gouge his eyes. He is dangerous.

I'll slow down for now. Seems like they are all together. This is harder than I thought. Each of them appears to have specialized skills that I am not fully aware of.

That style. It's similar to Meng. I hope I a wrong.

But this group of people, they are different from what I know about special forces. They are diverse and unpredictable.

Could it be that this is a solo operation? I didn't hear any external commands when I listened to the radio from the big guy earlier. If that's the case, what are they trying to accomplish?

It can't be the money, right? Being a special force gives a lot of benefits to an individual. They are highly skilled and are trained exclusively in return for sustaining their wellbeing. So money is really out of the equation. Lucio. Are they aware that he's the mastermind?

Suddenly, an overlapping fast footstep is heard circling around Luic.

Multiple bullets scattered all over the place and Luic can think of only one thing: blow this place up.

Blowing this place won't affect things above as it is designed as a haven for undetectable products and transactions. Which means that I can do it without risking our front. This may seem like a total loss for us, but I don't care about it anymore. Lucio doesn't care about it. He's just all about strengthening me.

In a few seconds, Luic shouted "Stop!" And gunshots ceased.

"I give up, I won't fight," said he, walking in the middle of five men in full combat uniform.

"Luic?!"

When Luic saw one of the members running towards him, he didn't think of anything else aside from pressing the remote that he's hiding behind his grip.

"Luic don't!!!" shouted the man who was running towards Luic.

[After 5 minutes]

Luic opened his eyes. Pillars destroyed. Dust all over the place. Debris falling. The bomb is attached to every corner of the underground and the impact caused things to burst almost all living and non living things.

There lies Luic with a group of people and debris on his top. Faced by a familiar one, he forcefully moved his shaking hand to touch it.

"Meng, why?! Why in the world did you save me?! Why are you here?!"

Luic, with tears falling down his face and blood covering him, jerked his body upward to get out of his position.

Why did they end up like that? Did they run towards me all together? It is as if they all covered me. That is not possible. I am their enemy.

But why do I feel like I have done something terrible with my life? Why does it have to be this way? I guess I'll never know.

Luic stopped moving. As he rested his muscles and allowed the weight to burden him all at once, he breathed as if a big chunk was taken away from him. With that, everything seems to have stopped.

A glorious light took over the scenery and overwhelmed them. Now, to the other side they went.

[Overkant]

The sound of the bird humming, leaves falling, and wind passing through, disrupts the deep slumber of Luic, who is currently lying in the middle of a gated garden full of flowers and fruits.

As he tried to move his hand to clear the way above him, he felt lighter compared to before when he closed his eyes.

He tried to touch his chest, tapping everywhere, wondering where all the bodies and debris went. With the idea that everything seems like a different environment, Luic finally opened his eyes.

The first thing that caught his glance is the illuminating book floating above his left hand. Adding more shock to Luic is the red priestly garment he's wearing.

As he looked in front of him, he saw a strange message and status window all over his sight.

<Welcome to Overkant, Adventurer!>

- Overkant is a Role-Playing Game that serves as another side of the real world. With the right way of playing, you can become a legend. Make a name for yourself. Reach the highest floor. Enjoy!

<Please type your username>

- Characters such as _@#$"'- or similar to that is not allowed.

<Level: 1>

- To increase level, kill monsters, complete a raid, compete in an arena, and participate in boss events. Click to see more.

<Physical: 1>

- Use attribute points to upgrade Physical. This attribute is used to enhance physical attack damage. Click to see more.

<Magic: 1>

- Use attribute points to upgrade Magic. This attribute is used to enhance magic attack damage. Click to see more.

<Intelligence: 1>

- Use attribute points to upgrade Intelligence. This attribute is used to increase your capacity to acquire skills. Click to see more.

<Speed: 1>

- Use attribute points to upgrade Speed. This attribute is used to increase mobility. Click to see more.

<Physical Defense: 1>

- Use attribute points to upgrade Physical DEF. This attribute is used to increase the resistance from any form of physical attacks. Click to see more.

<Magic Defense: 1>

Use attribute points to upgrade Magic DEF. This attribute is used to increase the resistance from any form of magic attacks. Click to see more.

<Attribute Points: 20>

- Attribute points will be earned through leveling up, joining a guild, competing in arena, completing a raid, and participating in boss events. Click to see more.

<HP: 1,500>

<MP: 1,500>

<Gold: 10,000>

<Class: Healer>

<Skills: No skills yet>

<Click to acquire skill "Healing for Everyone">

"What in the world is this?!"