Chapter 14: Hero?

"Alright old man…Let's throw hands"

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Previously, After reaching Ethdam, V and his friends finally arrive at the headquarters of The Organization. Due to how some things panned out V was taking a mock test and now faces the very man who created The Organization…

*V-"...I got 2 more heals before I'm out…for now…I need to my eyes on this man's movement…"*

John Farrece-" Assessing my movements ay? Wise choice-"

V gets startled.

John dashes forward, In just a second the gap between them has shortened, John inches away from V, then lands 3 jabs on V's abdomen. V coughs as the attacks make contact, John then swiftly lands a clean kick for his neck, V notices and blocks the kick and grabs on John's leg, V prepares to slam him on the floor,

John Farrece- "Too long, your guard is open"

John twists his leg to loosen V's grip and lands a solid palm strike on V's ribcage, right then and there, another kick follows, but this time instead of blocking, V dodges it and lunges back, trying to make the distance between them for him to think.

*V-"What is up with his agility…its not normal…and his strength as well…Its almost as of he can read my thoughts…if i don't find a loop hole soon then…"*

John Farrece- "Hmm..that should've broken your ribs..HAHAHA! You sure are a tough one!..but...You're thinking too much boy-"

Just as V came back to his senses, John vanished before his eyes, V frantically looked around trying to search for John, he looked behind him to see John, ready to strike his fist against his skull, it's as if time had slowed down, with all sense of rhythm gone all V could do was guard.

V puts up his arms together and braces for John's punch. The punch had shaken the ground…cracking it…a punch so strong even an experienced fighter would be blown to smithereens..and yet...

*V-".. He's right…thinking like thing won't get me out of this, This just won't do… Adapt... Adapt to this situation…and then counter!"*

John Farrece-" Ho?...Seems like you were able to tank this one.."

As the dust and rubble swirling around them pass, V grabs onto John's fist, the ground sunken along with his feet, trembling from the aftershock of the impact. Despite barely holding his ground, V snaps back and gives off a glare in his eyes,

V-"...My turn.."

V vanishes in an instant, leaving John clueless, he comes from behind and lands a swift kick, John notices and grabs tightly onto his leg. Without stopping his rhythm, V burns off his leg with Null and twists off his leg, with a shifting twisting motion of his body he sounds around his other leg, kicking John directly on the chin, Momentarily making him incapacitated.

John gets sent aback, his vision starts to blur as he's been hit in a critical state.

*John Farrece- "..Well I'll be damned…he deliberately twisted his leg off just to land a hit…not only that..what regeneration…it's almost like he's a bonafide Monster…"*

V-"... you're a Gift user aren't you…"

John Farrece-" Hm?...Good observation...yes, I am one…but I may not be one as well…"

V-" What?"

John Farrece-" On what basis can you confirm that I might be a Gift user? Is my confirmation of saying that I am one, something you can trust?"

V had a stern look on his face, He put his fists together again,

V-"... Doesn't matter…Gift user or not I'm still gonna kick ass Old man-"

John Farrece-" Hahaha!...we think alike don't we.."

John spits out blood on his side. V had already regenerated his broken leg. Not letting his eyes wander V dashes in, John readies himself for defense. V moves in and lands in 4 strong jabs,2 jabs breaking his guard and 2 landing on his stomach, V goes for a straight punch, and John notices and moves to strangle V, V noticing this, immediately takes his punch back and crouches, John's hand, missing him by a few inches, V gets inside his guard and lands a strong left hook on his ribcage, breaking one of his ribs,

*V-"..my punches are working but…it feels like I'm punching a fucking mountain…if I use Null..no..i'll win this with my own 2 hands!"*

V keeps going on the offensive, Swiftly Adapting to John's style of fighting, and any counter John tries to make gets negated, Every time John tries to go offensive V adapts and counters his attacks, almost as if he's mimicking John himself,

*John Farrece-" The boy's ability to adapt is extraordinary…every counter I make he watches them like a hawk…learning from them..even if he gets hit he doesn't stop…he reminds me..so much of him…"*

As V is hitting his punches, John grabs hold of both of his arms and bashes his head against V's nose. Leaving V in a daze he desperately tries to defend but his vision is too blurry. A punch lands straight on V's gut. As he coughs out blood, John readies another punch. 

V-" P-..Partial...Room-"

V activates a partial Room acting as a shield from John's attack, As John tries to punch V his fist is met with an invisible barrier. V snatches his arms away and lunges back to make some distance, blood dripping down from his bruised forehead and potentially broken nose,

*V-"...my head hurts…my ears are ringing like hell…what can i do here…is there something i can do here?..."*

Just then an unknown yet familiar voice echoes inside of V'head.

Unknown voice-"open us …let everything go…Let your Greed overflow…do what you know best…"

"Get up and Fight-"

Static noise follows through, the same noise that eats V's head over and over again, as if it's desperately trying to block off something very important.

The rain starts to pour down. John took notice of how the atmosphere around him had changed. V stands up as his wounds start to heal themselves. Without uttering a single word He strikes. V dashes forward and gets past his guard, John goes in for a downward punch but V puts his hand out as a barrier protects him. V jumps in and lands a straight hit on John's abdomen, without wasting a second V gives off 3 strong jabs leaving bruises and wounds on John's body.

*John Farrece-".. he's going for more offensive…something changed..but what did.."*

John tries to grapple and gets a hold of V's arms again, but this time V jumps and lands a kick on John's face, without wasting a second V goes in for another right hook and gets kicked in the gut by John and sends flying through the field. But V was unscathed as he had enveloped himself with his partial room barrier. As V nonchalantly walks back on the field he shrugs off the dust on his shoulder. John moves in, V evades his strike but it is already too late, John grabs onto his shoulder, and without wasting a second grabs him and slams him onto the floor, without showing much restraint, V retaliates and lands a critical hit on John's gut, and for the first time John bleeds. V lunges back to prepare his finishing move.

*John Farrece-"... he's not himself…it's that sinister feeling that I had when I met him for the first time… I guess this is how far I can push the boy for now.."*

V dashes forward to give the last blow to the injured John. Just as his fist was about to connect…

"Undead Stopwatch-"

Time stops completely. The rain, people, everything had stopped in their tracks..except John himself. John stands up and starts to slowly walk towards V.

John Farrece-" That's enough for today…you did well on your test-"

As John was going to put his hand on V's shoulder, one of V's fingers twitched. Seeing this John jolts back and in shock.

*John Farrece-" W-What's going on…I just saw his finger move…time should be stopped everywhere, only I should be able to move right now"*

Just as John talked out loud to himself, V's fingers started to twitch more and more, slowly his arm, head, shoulder… every part of his body started to twitch and would try to move…As John was walking behind V to comprehend what was happening, V's head jolted and stared right into John's eyes, looking at him like a Hawk looking at its prey. Dead eyes, as if he was looking straight at his soul.

*John Farrece-"..This boy…I see.."*

John then strikes behind V's neck, making him unconscious. The time reverts to normal, As V was falling to the ground John held him in his arms.

John Farrece-"Heh…not bad for your real first fight kid…"

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Inside the headquarters, in the reception room, Eve and Lily wait for V's result. Lily paces back and forth worrying about V.

Eve-" Um…Lily..I know you're worried about him but chill out"

Lily-" Chill out?? He's fighting the strongest there is! I didn't know Old Man John was the founder of this place.."

Eve-" Not just the founder…he's the one who keeps balance over everything as of now…the strongest Human that ever lives…The old man's too young to retire.. at least that's what people say.."

The crowd around them starts to talk within themselves, their murmurs whisper to Eve and Lily's ears.

-"Big boss is handling this new kid-"

-"Yikes! Sucks to suck..the kids gonna have nightmares for days"

-"Bet the newbie got his ass handed down to him hahaha!"

-"Isn't making the new kid fight the boss kinda cruel?"

-"The poor thing"

-"Wanna bet if the kids are crippled or not hahaha!"

-"Bet the newbie shat his pants Haha!"

-"Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"

-"Heard the kid isn't even going to join us! Must be weak as hell!"

Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah...

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Lily-"...Why you lil'-"

Eve-" Save it, Lily-"

Lily-" But..Big sis…they don't even know Big bro…and they talk behind his back.."

Eve-"... This is how the world operates Lily…the strong rule over the weak..survival of the fittest…to be honest even I'm a bit worried..since old man John doesn't like to hold back much.."

Lily-" Big sis…I-"

Lily gets interrupted by a loud step in the reception hall. A tall man covered in wounds and bruises carrying an unconscious boy on his shoulder comes forth. With each step he took, silence followed through. The people around him look at him in shock, not because he was carrying a wounded boy, but more to why he was wounded. John spots Eve and Lily.

John Farrece-" Hm?..Oh! If it isn't the young lass and this is?"

Lily-" Lily.. *Lily points at V who was being carried by John* I'm his sister"

John Farrece-" Ho? Are you now? HAHAHA! Sorry for being rough with your brother then HAHAHA!"

Eve-" you…YOU'RE BLEEDING?? HUH??? YOU'RE THE UNSHAKEABLE MOUNTAIN AND YOU'RE WOUNDED?"

John Farrece-"HAHAHAH! That's just a name the people gave me…I'm nothing more than your average Joe… I'm nothing more than a man after all... Here…take the boy to the infirmary..tend to his wounds"

Eve-" And what about-"

John Farrece-" You're too early to worry about me, young lass…I heal quick..HAHAHAHA!"

Just as John leaves, the sudden shift between the people's mocking and shock turns into fear, praise, and excitement.

-" That newbie pulled it off?"

-" You serious? That kid??"

-" The big boss must've gone soft on him"

-" Looks like you lost your bet Hahaha!"

-" The Big Boss still won the fight tho?"

-" But did you see that? The boss had wounds on his body..is the kid strong?"

-" Oi Oi! You gotta be joking-"

...…

One rumor started another. How a young boy was able to put a dent in the defense of the strongest man alive.

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"I was back here again…

I don't know this place and yet it seems so nostalgic…how does something unknown feel so nostalgic?... I look around…a room with no end and an open sky..the sky has a shade of blue never Seen before reaching the horizon, mixing with a shade of red, nearly having a crimson horizon line…I look around again and see nothing as far as I can look…the black sand underneath my feet shines brighter than pearls…and then there's me..sitting in this chair..sitting… in front of this casket…is this a dream?...can you have the same dream again and again?..."

What are dreams?... Do they have a metaphysical form? Or are they just a term to use what a man's aspirations are?... Do they hold meaning?..some say the dreams that you chase are the ones that hold meaning..but what if the roles were reversed?... What if the dreams…were chasing you?...

"The casket in front of me…some part of me wants to open it…to see what's inside…but no matter how many times I decide to open that casket…my body doesn't respond…I just sit there…looking at it…being constantly reminded.."

"Do not open us."

V suddenly wakes up in cold sweat…putting his hands on his face, he wipes off the sweat, Eyes feeling heavy…He looks around..seeing he'd been transferred to his room.

*V-" What happened…where did old man go..did I black out?…something strange is happening to my body.."*

Eve-" Hm?..Ah! You're awake now!"

Eve enters his room with a tray full of food. She sets the tray beside him and pours a glass of water.

Eve-" You good?...seems like you had a nightmare or something"

V-" Yeah…I'm fine..sorry for worrying"

Eve-"psshh~ Why apologize? I wasn't worried or anything..though I'd say Lily was a handful though"

V-" Haha.. how's she doing?"

Eve-" Better…she's asleep right now..it is middle of the night after all..have some food and get some proper sleep"

V-" What happened to the old man?... I don't remember what happened in the 2nd half of our match.."

Eve-" Hmmm…well just as much as everyone could expect..ya got your ass handed to ya…"

V-" Hahaha…I see…fighting him…sure was scary..it was like I'm fighting a monster.."

Eve-" Heh- I'm basking in the glory from seeing all the faces of those bozos…they'll remember this for years hahaha!!"

V-" Hm?... why? Whatcha talking about?"

Eve-" Hmmm…you'll figure that out soon enough…get some sleep…I'll see ya tomorrow at breakfast" 

V-" Yeah..night."

As Eve left V's room, V looked outside the window, looking at the moon.

V-"..."

The next day came, V's wounds had already healed, and Eve came to pick him up from his room. As they both head out for the cafeteria, people stare at the both of them. V wondered what was going on and why they were staring at him in the first place. Until an unknown man came before them out of nowhere with a stern look on his face.

V-" Is..there something you need from me?"

Unknown man-" You…You're the kid that fought The Big Boss!"

V-" Big boss?...Ah you mean the Old man"

A lot of people then surrounded V and asked so many questions, They were fawning over him, as the kid who was able to hold his own against the world's strongest. And in this crowd, Eve got comically shoved to the side.

Eve-" Wow~...seems like someone's popular now"

Lily-" See? I told ya~ Big Bro would be popular~"

The man(Kevin) and Lily came and stood next to Eve, watching as V got flocked by all the people. While V was overloading with what to do and how to get out of this situation. Lily laughed at V's stupid expression.

Eve-" Hey you gotta at least admit...He's got more charm the you unc"

The man(Kevin)-"..."

Eve-" Unc?...Kevin?"

The man(Kevin)-" Huh?...sorry what's that?"

Eve-" Bruh you weren't even listening?"

Even Amid the commotion, The man(Kevin) had been thinking of something else.

John Farrece-"...I wasn't expecting your arrival to this city so soon...Vice commander..."

The man(Kevin)-"Yeah Yeah…and quit calling me that-"

John Ferrece-" What? It's true though?...you and I built this place from scratch…even though I'm the face of it everyone knows there are 2 commanders here"

The man(Kevin)-" I'm no commander…And besides..the shadows suit me more…anyways…what'd ya think about the kid?"

John Farrece-" Well…He's too dangerous to be left alone i can tell you that…Good combat instinct, intellect, adaptability, and sheer grit…given experience he'd be the strongest there is…"

The man(Kevin)-" Well look at you~… it's pretty rare to hear you praise someone"

John Farrece-"...I want you to imagine someone..someone who has the strength to overcome anything yet is fragile at heart..someone who fights for others not expecting to get anything in return..someone…who despite had the choice of going down a dark path..did not..someone who fights despite knowing he'll die in vain...Someone…who knows how to sacrifice.. "

The man(Kevin) had a serious expression on his face from hearing John's words.

The man(Kevin)-"...sounds like someone i know…sounds like the man standing infront of me…"

John Farrece-" Heh..I'm too old…and besides…remember the stories we used to read when we were kids…about a man pulling out a sword, destined to be the hero of the world and fending off the evil…I wonder just how much of those stories come true.."

As John looks out the window, The man(Kevin) stands beside him, looking out the window as well...

John Farrece-"...I'm too old Kevin…"

The man(Kevin)-" Whatever you say old man…you're still the hero of humanity…even when it seemed everything had been lost you were the only one who didn't lose hope…to these people, you are nothing less than a hero"

John Farrece-" If that is the case..then it's time that a new hero rises no?...A hero so strong yet fragile at heart…a hero who can answer the hopes of the people…a hero whose accompaniments will make mine look miniscule…it's time..that a hero like that is born no?"

The man(Kevin)-" Sounds like a dream to me…there's no one who could live up to your stature hahaha!"

John Farrace-" Hm? What do you mean? There is one already here with us?"

The man(Kevin)-" Hahaha-...eh?..what do you mean?"

John Farrece-

"...That Hero..already exists.."

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V makes a run for it. The people follow his trail to ask him questions but V has already shaken them off.

V-"*Pant* *pant* man…I wish they'd give me a break…hm?...what's this place?"

V looks around and finds the sign saying "Historic Library", seeing that not many people are around his curiosity piques, and he goes inside the library. A big vast room with big shelves filled to the brim with books, noticing all the books and documents V stands in awe.

V-"...Well…that's something alright"

Librarian-" Shushh!...Please remain silent in the library… wouldn't want to disturb them.."

V looks around to find no one besides him and the librarian.

V-" But it's just me though?"

The librarian then puts a finger on V's lips, telling him to shut up.

Librarian-"...They still hear…the more they hear…the more they talk.."

Despite the bizarre nature of the librarian, V remained silent…he looked around and saw hundreds of books scattered around the floors, tables, and shelves…some old books, some new books…Despite feeling curious some part of V did feel a bit overwhelmed. A book then catches his eyes, 

It was a story about a fantasy novel. Where the hero got summoned from another world and was tasked to kill the demon lord to bring peace to the world.A chosen hero who would be worthy of pulling the sword of God out of the sacred stone, in which he would use it for the good of the people and slay the demon lord…It was a cliche story..but it was something that V had never heard of…well..the concept of stories was something V had never heard about..and yet he became quite curious about it.

V-" Hmm…'The return of The Hero's Wish'…That's a title I guess.."

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"I wonder what a 'Hero' is.."

_____________________________Chapter End________________________________

Sidenotes-

John Farrece, also known as the renowned Hero of humanity after saving and bringing some form of order to the chaos, is the commander of The Organization.

The chant "Undead stopwatch" gives the user the ability to completely stop time at its tracks, no one but the caster will be able to move and operate properly. While there is another variant to this technique, its uses have not been shown yet. The effect of the technique lasts up to 5 minutes max. Due to the time-related nature of this technique using it for extended periods can cause a temporary rift in the primordial timeline. Even though John can use it up to 5 minutes he's not aware of what the primordial timeline is so as a precaution he's dealt damage if the skill is used for too long.

Author-

I'd like to keep John Farrece's powers hidden for the time being, but I'll explain the things that have already been revealed in this chapter. (hope you're enjoying the series!)