When the crowd finally dispersed, the only things left on the street were a broken booth, overturned chairs, and the lingering tremble in people's voices. Ambulance sirens echoed from afar while the orphanage staff hurriedly gathered the children back inside.
Mark remained where he was.
On his knees.
Staring at his palms.
What had just happened replayed in his mind over and over again. Maddie's body being thrown aside, the moment the air itself seemed to grow heavy, the invisible force pulling her back toward him… It was all real. There was no denying it.
The system window was still open in his mind.
Quirk: Push / Pull
Status: Active
Level: 1
Then familiar footsteps approached.
"Mark?"
Maddie rushed over and crouched in front of him. She placed her hands on his shoulders, carefully examining his face.
"Are you okay? Are you dizzy?"
Mark slowly shook his head. He couldn't find the words to speak.
Maddie pulled him into a tight embrace. Her heartbeat was still fast, but her voice was calm.
"I was scared," she whispered. "But… you saved me."
She paused, then smiled.
"Your quirk must have awakened. Congratulations, Mark."
That word echoed in his mind.
Awakened.
That night, Mark couldn't sleep.
He lay on his back in bed when the system activated again. This time, the window was far more detailed.
[SYSTEM STATUS REPORT]
Total System Points: 12
Notice: Quirk awakening detected.
System Shop access unlocked.
Mark blinked. A new interface appeared.
SYSTEM SHOP
Quirk Abilities (Locked / Unlockable)
Power Push Sphere – Blue
A condensed sphere of repulsive force.
Cost: 5 System Points
Power Pull Sphere – Red
Forcefully drags the target toward the user.
Cost: 5 System Points
Annihilation Sphere – Purple
A destructive orb born from the collision of push and pull.
Warning: Extremely dangerous if uncontrolled.
Cost: 10 System Points
Full-Body Push–Pull Convergence (Infinity)
Creates an absolute field around the user.
Continuous balance of repulsion and attraction.
Status: Locked
Requirement: Quirk mastery – Insufficient
Physical Enhancement
Basic Physical Reinforcement
Increases muscle density and bone durability.
Cost: 8 System Points
Mark stared at the screen for a long time.
The abilities were powerful—but his instincts warned him. It was too early. Uncontrolled power only led to disaster.
He made his choice.
Purchased: Basic Physical Reinforcement
Remaining System Points: 4
Applying enhancement…
This time, the sensation was immediate.
Pressure formed deep within his body. His bones felt as if they were being compressed from the inside, then rewritten. A wave of heat traveled along his spine. Muscle fibers tightened, becoming denser. His breath caught for a moment.
It wasn't pain.
It was transformation.
[APPLICATION COMPLETE]
Bone durability: Increased
Muscle density: Increased
Physical structure: Stabilized
Mark clenched his fists. He could clearly feel the difference. His body had already been stronger than that of children his age—now it felt balanced, solid, refined.
Two days later, the orphanage took Mark for an official quirk evaluation.
He sat in a sterile white room. Across from him was an overweight doctor wearing glasses, holding a tablet and studying Mark from head to toe.
"Awakening at such a young age is rare," the doctor said. "But let's begin."
The tests proceeded one by one. Small objects were pushed away, then pulled back. Distances were measured. Reaction times recorded. Mark's eyes locked onto every target instantly.
The doctor frowned, then began typing rapidly.
"Quirk: Push / Pull," he said. "Field-based. Also… your visual perception is enhanced. Your spatial awareness is exceptional."
He closed the tablet.
"And your body—far more developed than expected for your age. With proper training… you could become dangerously strong."
Back at the orphanage, Mark stood by the window, looking out at the city. Everything looked the same. The people were the same.
But he wasn't.
In a world where everyone wanted to be a hero,
Mark had a different goal.
To learn what being a hero truly meant.
And with his past knowledge, the system, and this power—
to become the strongest.