He Had A Son?

"Atrixus! You're... You're alive?!" exclaimed Jael, one of the slum dwellers who joined the illegal expedition.

His face was a mix of shock and relief. His eyes scanned Atrixus, seeking answers to questions that lingered in the air between them.

"How did you survive? We all thought... we thought you were dead," Jael continued, his curiosity barely contained.

Every slum dweller that went on the expedition believed Atrixus to be dead. Even the System Bearers confirmed that an ordinary person wouldn't have been able to survive.

Atrixus, caught off guard by the directness of his inquiry, defaulted to a fabricated tale.

"I was lucky, I guess. Found by a group of System Bearers on some kind of patrol. They got me out just in time," he replied with a steady voice, masking the turmoil of emotions that threatened to surface.

Jael's eyes widened with intrigue, but before he could probe further, he recalled something and shifted the conversation to a more ominous topic.

"The people from the retrieval expedition in Shunri Paradise, they've been looking for you. Asking around the slums," he said while lowering his tone to a whisper, as if the walls around them might betray their conversation.

Atrixus felt a chill run down his spine at the mention of the expedition team's search. The implications were clear; his actions in Shunri Paradise had not gone unnoticed, drawing the attention of forces with intentions yet unclear.

"What did you do for those dangerous people to come looking for you?" Jael asked, his concern palpable.

Feigning ignorance, Atrixus brushed off his concern with a nonchalant shrug. "I don't know what they could possibly want with me. But I'll be careful," he assured Jael, his mind racing with the realization that the slums, his home, were no longer safe.

The payment of 12,000 runis, once a lifeline that could cater to his needs for months, now seemed like a distant dream.

With a brief farewell, Atrixus continued on his way to the hospital, his steps quickened by the urgency of the situation.

The brief encounter with Jael had crystallized a stark reality; the shadows of Shunri Paradise extended far beyond its verdant borders, ensnaring him in a web of danger and intrigue.

As he navigated the bustling streets toward the hospital, Atrixus mulled over his options. The revelation that he was now a marked man, hunted by individuals with resources and reach, weighed heavily on his shoulders.

The slums, once a haven of anonymity amidst the chaos of Paricus City, now represented a vulnerability, a place where danger could find him all too easily.

Internally, Atrixus resolved to find a solution, to secure his mother's safety and his own. The hospital visit, a routine check on his mother's well-being, had taken on a new significance. It was a reminder of what he was fighting for, of the stakes that had risen exponentially in the wake of his foray into Shunri Paradise.

The hospital loomed ahead, a beacon in the encroaching darkness. Atrixus steeled himself for the visit, pushing aside the tumult of recent events to focus on the moment.

His mother, unaware of the dangers that pursued her son, remained the anchor in his storm-tossed life, a reason to keep fighting, to keep moving forward.

In the safety of the hospital room, as he sat by his mother's side, the questions and fears receded, if only for a moment. But in the back of his mind, the resolve hardened; Atrixus Timothy would navigate the perilous path that lay ahead, confronting whatever dangers it might bring.

Under the sterile, white lights of the hospital room, Atrixus sat by his mother's bedside.

Her form was still and silent in the throes of a coma that had been her reality for far too long. The beeps of medical equipment filled the air, a constant reminder of the fragile line between life and the abyss.

Despite the clinical coldness of the surroundings, Atrixus felt a warmth in his heart as he began to recount the tale of his extraordinary past week to his unconscious mother, clinging to the hope that somehow, she could hear him.

"Mom, you won't believe what's happened," Atrixus started, his voice a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

He spoke of the illegal access point that led him to Shunri Paradise, of the daunting wilderness that tested every fiber of his being, and the incredible discovery of the System Bearer Microchip left by his father.

"I can't believe Father left a System Bearer Microchip behind... why didn't you tell me? Did you know? I saw a memory or a dream... I still don't know what it is..."

With each word, he painted a vivid picture of his transformation, of battles fought against formidable Evos, and of the newfound power that surged within him.

"As a System Bearer, I... I think I can finally make things right. I can save you," Atrixus whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

The optimism that laced his words was a stark contrast to the somber reality of the hospital room, yet it was real and palpable. He spent the night there, the steady rhythm of his mother's breathing a comfort in the uncertain world he now navigated.

Meanwhile, the tranquility of the slums was shattered by the arrival of dangerous individuals, some of whom bore the unmistakable aura of System Bearers.

Their presence sent ripples of fear through the community. They sought Atrixus.

Confrontations ensued, veiled threats exchanged, as the slum dwellers faced the overwhelming pressure of the formidable visitors.

"You will tell us his whereabouts or I promise torment for you lots. The city doesn't care about stinking slum dwellers so rest assured that your deaths will go unnoticed," the leader of the group who had tattoos all over his face did not hide his bloodthirstiness as he spoke.

Under duress, some confessed to Atrixus's brief return, though they were quick to assure that he had since departed.

The dangerous group, unsatisfied yet thwarted, issued a stern warning to the residents.

"Contact us the moment he returns," they demanded before departing, leaving a palpable tension hanging in the air like a storm yet to break.

Unaware of the turmoil his existence had stirred within the slums, Atrixus left the hospital the next day, his thoughts consumed by the dual burdens of hope and responsibility that now defined his life.

The walk to school was a journey through a world that seemed both familiar and alien, his mind preoccupied with plans and possibilities.

The school, a place of learning and future dreams, now held a different significance for Atrixus. It was a battlefield of another sort, where knowledge intersected with the stark realities of his new existence.

His arrival was met with a mix of curiosity and awe from his peers, whispers of his adventures in Shunri Paradise swirling around him like a cloak.

Despite the undercurrent of celebrity that his actions had garnered him, Atrixus found himself isolated, the weight of his secrets a barrier between him and those who sought to understand him.

He navigated the hallways and classrooms with a sense of detachment, his mind always returning to the plight of his mother and the shadowy figures that hunted him.

The contrast between the mundane routine of school life and the extraordinary circumstances of his recent past was stark. Atrixus sat through lessons, the words of his teachers washing over him, his thoughts a thousand miles away in the verdant wilderness of Shunri Paradise.

■■■

In a towering Aigon Corporation skyscraper, a nexus of cutting-edge research and exploration, a figure stood as a sentinel before a vast glass wall.

The scene beyond was a flurry of activity, with scientists engaged in an experiment that held the promise of bridging new frontiers.

Sir Revenault, with his imposing presence and deep, calculating eyes, watched the proceedings intently.

Two scientists, notes in hand and anticipation in their posture, flanked him. They were eager to explain the nuances of their work, focusing on a golden microchip that lay at the heart of their experiment—a piece rumored to unlock unprecedented capabilities in System Bearers.

"As you can see, Sir Revenault, we are making progress, and when it—"

Before the scientist could finish, an explosion rocked the laboratory.

Boom~

The golden microchip, the epicenter of their hopes, detonated in a brilliant flare of light, sending scientists reeling back from the shockwave. Alarms blared, casting the room into chaos, but Sir Revenault remained unfazed, his disappointment manifesting in a subtle click of his tongue.

"If only Dr. Marcus hadn't vanished. We would have already gotten what we wanted," he remarked, his voice steady yet laden with frustration. The scientists beside him wilted under his gaze, their faces a canvas of shame and regret.

As Sir Revenault turned to leave, disillusioned by the setback, one of the scientists hesitated before voicing a thought that had been brewing in the back of his mind.

"Sir, Dr. Marcus's son, Atrixus, is currently in year three at Sacred Heights High School... what if he knows something?" he said, his voice laced with a mix of hope and uncertainty.

Sir Revenault paused, his interest piqued. The mention of Dr. Marcus's son sparked a moment of contemplation.

"He had a son?"