Multiple doors lined either side of the ivory hallway, each marked with a portal's name and its corresponding grade, while benches scattered across the corridor.
I sat on one such bench, wearing a grim expression, having come to a disturbing realization. Since my Awakening, I had lost my ability to feel fear.
Fear... It felt foreign to me, like I had never known it at all. It was supposed to be terrifying, this discovery, but ironically, I couldn't bring myself to feel it. That was the most frustrating part.
Maybe the force behind this 'Mission System' had something to do with it. Regardless of the cause, this was a serious flaw.
I always believed fear was essential for survival, and without it, I was numb to danger. What if I started underestimating the risks?
"A perfect way to die young…" I thought.
I was the definition of an Awakening gone thousand ways wrong.
Shaking off these thoughts, I focused on something more immediate, like raiding a Portal.
Helix Academy housed hundreds of Evolution Portals, ranging from F Rank to D Rank, each isolated in its own reinforced room.
I was placed within the range of a Mid F Ranker, which meant I could challenge a Mid Tier Portal.
Evolution Portals weren't equal, though. Even within the same rank, the difficulty split into Low, Mid, and Peak Tiers.
A Peak F Rank monster could possess up to 50 points in a single stat, while Low Tier creatures barely exceeded 15. Challenging a Peak Tier Portal as a beginner was suicide.
The higher the Rank, the wider the disparity grew — from dozens to hundreds, even thousands of stat points.
Which is why party raids were the standard approach. Lone wolves were rare, unless, like me, you were a unique awakener with near-cheat-like abilities.
I adjusted my black backpack and stood up from the bench.
Soon, I stood before the room marked [Ape Mountain (Mid F)]. A mid-tier Portal filled with apes, each with an average of 30 stats. Where as my stats were did not reach that mark.
I justified this recklessness as a calculated move to see whether the 'Mission System' would offer higher rewards for higher risks.
And I had infinite Mana, and also a defense skill now. I hope it should be enough.
Just as I was about to enter, I noticed a familiar figure seated near the door's bench — her expression clouded in gloom.
…Evelyn?! What is she doing here?
I slowed my steps. Since when did she attend school here?
It baffled me — what was the great Evelyn Sungrave, my half-sister, doing here of all places? And more so, why did she look upset?
I quickly dismissed the thought. She was a stranger to me, and whatever troubles she had were none of my business.
Without sparing her another glance, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
I wouldn't come back. No matter what.
...Definitely not.
"Goddamn it!"
A muffled curse escaped me, just loud enough to reach Evelyn's ears.
Smiling, she tugged a crimson strand of hair behind her ear. 'He's not as stubborn as Father made him out to be,' she thought, watching me open the door again and approach her.
I didn't want to engage with her. But, of course, my cursed system had to fling a Mission at me! I strongly began to believe that the system's purpose was to make my life more miserable.
[Mission]: You are a man. Help your sister, you stubborn fool!
[Reward]: +5 All Attributes (Permanent)
[Penalty]: -5 All Attributes (Permanent)
This damn system was bullying me too much.
With a look that could only be described as the expression of someone who had suffered through a week of constipation, I finally spoke. "What are you doing here?"
Evelyn turned away with a huff, folding her arms tightly. "Hmph! I'm not talking to you!"
I just stared at her, wondering - she was asking me to buzz off, right?
Realizing that her dense brother wasn't reacting, she cried out, turning back toward me with teary eyes. "Waaah! You ignored me yesterday!" She wiped a fake tear away dramatically. "I came all the way just to meet you, and you completely brushed me off! Sniff, how can you be so heartless to your own little sister?!"
...!
Her words hit harder than I expected.
"Stop, stop... don't cry. I'm sorry."
Mom would kill me when I reach heaven if she saw me making a girl cry!
But Evelyn only puffed her cheeks, still glaring at me. "...Hmph! You're only saying that because you want me to stop crying!"
I fell quiet for a moment, scratching the back of my neck. I hadn't thought she'd take it this badly. I'd assumed she'd just be some spoiled little princess who wouldn't care that much either way.
With a sigh, I lowered my voice. "Alright... I really am sorry. What do I have to do to make it up to you?"
"Really? You'll do anything I ask?" Her eyes glowed like stars as she gazed at me.
"...Well, not anything."
"Waah! I knew it! Go away! I don't need your fake apology!"
Her cries rang through the hallway in dramatic waves. Fortunately, most students had already entered the Portals, so it didn't draw too much attention.
"Alright, alright! Fine — anything you want." I gave in, exhaling. I didn't want to be like my father and hurt her. Plus, how could I say no to that cute face?
Just like that, Evelyn's tears stopped. She sniffed once for good measure, then straightened.
"Then! I need Big Brother to help me clear a dungeon — right now! Nobody wants to party with me."
I arched a brow. "…Nobody?"
Her face scrunched pitifully. "Hmm! Hmm! They rejected me so coldly, Big Brother. They were so mean…"
My brow furrowed faintly. Something about this entire performance was setting off every last instinct in my body.
Not even an hour ago…
"Evelyn, you're a natural awakener, right? Shall we form a party?"
"Get lost, you big-toothed brat, before I break those teeth."
"Evelyn, do you want to—"
"Do you want to die?"
That... was the truth.
She looked at me with those puppy eyes, pleading again, "I really don't want to enter alone. Dad said monster inside can be scary!"
She was definitely duping me.
I sighed. "Alright... I'll accompany you. Just this once."
Evelyn's face lit up instantly. She nodded, practically beaming, as if she'd just gotten away with daylight robbery.
Haha~ You're too naive, Big Brother. Look how easily I'll break down your defenses and mold you into my ideal brother.
Laughing inwardly like a villainess from an ancient drama, she skipped alongside me, barely containing her mischief as we stepped into the looming mouth of [Ape Mountain].