This is it, huh..." he muttered.
Everything came crashing down—
BEEP.
The intercom cut in with a cold, mechanical voice.
"Approaching the last stop."
"This train has come to a stop."
He stepped off, dragging a dusty suitcase behind him. In his other hand, he held a photo his stepmother had given him. A bittersweet smile tugged at his lips as he scanned the unfamiliar platform.
"Ugh... I don't even know the old man's name. Jeez."
scratching his head, wondering when, where and who was coming to pick him up
SLAP!
a palm smacked the back of his head, sending him stumbling forward.
"Ooo-woo-hoo! There you are, Josie-boy!"
Ow, who there?, oh...It's Josen," he muttered, rubbing the back of his head, annoyed at how strong the slap was.
"So I'm guessing your my grandpa"
The old man grinned.
"Yes, yes. Josen. Come now, quickly."
With a casual flick of his wrist, the man used telekinesis to lift the bags and float them toward a rusty old car nearby.
Josen's eyes widened.
"Wha... whoa."
I thought he was a defector, but then how's he using special skills couldn't use special skills, he thought to himself, trailing behind the surprisingly fast old man.
"Hey—wait up!"
By the time he caught up and jumped into the front seat, his mood had changed entirely.
There was something new in the air. A strange, exciting feeling.
As they drove through the quiet streets, Josen leaned against the window, eyes wide.
The breeze hit his face as he stuck his head out slightly, tongue out like a carefree child.
It was the first time in a long while he felt... free.
I wonder how Grandpa felt when he was kicked out
"I was quite heartbroken,"
What's with this old man, can he read thoughts too??
He was suddenly taken back, the old man was laughing like he just heard the funniest thing ever.
"Listen carefully,"
"Over the next month, I'll teach you many things, about this world,about the gods, the government, the Systems… and how I became so strong as a defector ."
He blinked.
"What, I'm sure you've sensed it, I'm pretty strong"
One more smug statement from this old man would give him a migraine
"And once that strength becomes yours, you will be able to beat them"
"Wha—beat a system user? That's impossi—"
"No," he stated with a firm and absolute voice leaving no room for arguement, as the car pulled into the driveway.
He stared ahead, his thoughts spinning.
No way... there's a way to beat a system user as a Defective?
As he stepped inside the house, he instinctively slipped off his shoes.
"Go take a shower and change. Then come to the living room—we've got a lot to talk about,"
He nodded slowly.
A strange new fire had begun to light in his chest.
"This isn't over"
Josen rushed in, slamming into a heap of artillery stacked beside the door.
BANG!
Pain shot up his side, as he runs into a giant box
From behind him came a voice — low, firm, unmistakably commanding.
"Watch yourself, young man."
A chill ran down his spine.
"…Yes, sir."
Later, as hot water poured over his skin, the sting of the last few days refused to fade. Betrayal clung to him like dried blood. His so-called friends — the ones who used to cheer for him, ride his coattails — turned their backs the moment he was marked a Defector.
They never cared.
A voice sliced through the mist like a blade.
"Wasting water, boy."
Augustus.
"Right. Sorry,"
He stepped out, dried quickly, dressed. The house was quieter than it should've been. Wide halls. Paintings. Relics. Everything polished and placed with care.
"Banished, huh? Then how the hell did he pay for all this?"
He entered the living room.
The old sat there, arms crossed, waiting.
"There you are. Sit. Let's begin."
"I knew you would be a Defector."
Time froze.
"…What?"
He was on his feet in an instant, grabbing the old man's collar.
"You knew?"
"No." He didn't even blink. "A better phrasing would be… I hoped you would be."
His hands loosened. dropped back into his seat, the wind knocked from his chest.
"Being a Defector isn't a curse, It's a key. A door no one else dares to open."
Josen stared.
"You're not bound by the world. Not limited by the system. Your potential is immesurable."
He paused before continuing, voice heavy with meaning.
"Most Defectors give up. They think they're broken. And so they stay broken. But we… we can go further. Much further."
Josen's voice came out bitter.
"So I should thank them? Thank the people who laughed in my face? Who treated me like garbage?"
"You should thank yourself,"
"Because you're still here. Still breathing. And if you're willing… I'll teach you how to rise."
He leaned back, expression unreadable.
"There's a story. One you'll hear when you're ready. But know this: the systems? They were made to keep you small. Predictable. Entertaining."
He stood slowly, eyes steady and sharp.
"And you?"
Augustus met his gaze — calm, unshaken, resolute.
"I broke away. And now — it's your turn."
standing up, staring intently at Josen.
"I will teach you and train you,"
he said, pausing for a moment.
"Then you will never lose to a system user again."
He took a step forward.
"From today on, you will grow immeasurably stronger. I'll teach you my martial arts… and you'll find your divine weapon."
Josen blinked. "Divine weapon? What's that??
"Mhm." nodding, a rare glint of pride in his eyes.
"Come with me. Let's take a little tour of the basement,"
then stood and Together, they descended the narrow staircase, each step echoing as they moved deeper into the unknown.
When they reached the bottom, Josen's eyes widened in awe.
It was nothing like he expected.
Rows of polished weapons gleamed under low-hanging lights. Strange chemicals bubbled inside old lab flasks. Shelves of worn books lined the walls beside high-tech equipment. Training dummies, old armor, rare materials, mountains of cash—it was a secret world beneath the surface.
But what stood out most was the object pulsing in the center of the room—an ethereal structure with a soft, humming glow. It radiated power and intent. It looked like… a customizable magic dungeon.
"Woo-hoo," Augutus said with a proud grin. "Boy, that right there is my prized possession. Cost me more than I care to admit."
He leaned in and spat to the side.
"Hey, boy."
"Yes, sir?"
"List the rankings. Weapons. Hunters. All that stuff."
"Uh… well, um… there's F- rank, then E then D, C, B, A, S, and… SSS, I think?"
"You missed one"
"Oh yea,And SS "
"Good. Soon, you'll surpass all of them."
"Like I have, if I do say so my self", Augustus spat with a drastically cocky attitude that he normal self
"No way really??"
"Yes"
"Now, get to training"