It was already morning. The fresh air hit my face as I got ready to go out. Looking at myself in the mirror, I saw a handsome young man dressed in a long-sleeved shirt, black jeans, and a jacket that complemented his looks.


    Knock! Knock!


    My attention snapped to the door at the sudden sound. ''Is it Greth?''


    "Room service," a young girl’s voice called from behind the door, pulling me out of my thoughts.


    I opened the door to find the brown-haired girl I’d met on the streets two days ago.


    "Oh, mister, it’s you!" she said, clearly remembering me.


    I gave her a friendly smile and let her inside. "So, miss, do you work here?" I asked.


    She giggled. "I’m not a miss, mister. I’m Lucy."


    "My apologies, Lucy," I said, smiling. Her laughter was contagious.


    "I help my mother clean the inn," she declared proudly, puffing out her chest.


    I nodded. "Well, your mother must be very happy to have such a helping hand."


    "Yes, she says I’m the best assistant she’s ever had," Lucy said, her eyes sparkling with joy. She was about the same height as the tray she carried, with a sprinkle of freckles across her cheeks.


    She placed the tray with a breakfast spread on the small table by the window. The smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon filled the room, making my stomach growl.


    Looking at the food, I hesitated. With a sigh, I turned to Lucy, who had started cleaning the room. "Lucy, after you’re done cleaning, you can eat the food if you’d like. I’ll be going out now."


    Her eyes widened in surprise. "Are you sure, mister?"


    "Yes, I plan on eating out today," I said.


    "But I don’t know when you’ll be back," she replied, looking concerned.


    "Don’t worry. Just lock the room before you leave, alright?" I assured her.


    I wasn’t worried about her stealing anything; my most important belongings were safely stored in my bracelet. The room only held spare clothes and utensils.


    "Thank you, mister!" Lucy’s smile was as bright as the sun outside, warming me inside.


    I nodded and left the room.


    Walking outside, I soon reached the spot Albert and I had agreed upon. It was only a ten-minute walk from the inn.


    "Dammit, did that guy scam me?" I heard loud curses.


    My lips curled into a smile as I spotted Albert pacing in circles, biting his nails in frustration.


    His eyes met mine, a mix of anger and relief on his face. He hurried over, not giving me a chance to speak. "Why are you so late? You told me to come early, didn’t you?"


    "I was busy," I replied, trying to keep my amusement in check.


    He scoffed, clearly not believing me. His frustration was evident. "Busy? What could be more important than this?" He glanced around nervously, checking if anyone was listening.


    "Many things. Now, brief me on everything I need to know about the target," I said, walking to the bench and sitting comfortably.


    Albert looked at me in disbelief but continued. "It’s a man named Castor. He’s a body-type Awakener, a brute, to be honest. That’s all I know."


    ''A body type, like Gian and Sam,'' I thought. This could be a great opportunity.


    "How much does he owe?" I asked.


    "50,000 R," Albert said.


    I glared at him with a smile. Seeing my expression, his lips twitched before he corrected himself. "30,000 R."


    "That seems fair. So, the original amount must be 25,000 R, I presume," I said.


    His eyes widened. "H-how did you know?"


    "I guessed," I said with a grin. "Now, lead the way. Let’s go."


    Albert nodded nervously, and we started walking through the crowded streets. The cobblestone pathways echoed with the sound of our boots, and the smell of various foods wafted through the air, making my stomach grumble.


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    Despite my hunger, the excitement of the mission ahead took precedence.


    "He runs a bar?" I asked, looking at the sign outside the building.


    "Yes, that’s the one," Albert replied, his voice low and cautious.


    Cling!


    A bell chimed as I opened the door. The bar was empty, as expected this early in the morning. The chairs and tables were scattered in a circular pattern. ''Is this also a gambling den?'' I wondered.


    "How should we call him?" I asked, seeing no one inside.


    "Just wait here," Albert said nervously before disappearing into the back.


    I nodded, taking the opportunity to survey the place. The floor was sticky with spilled drinks, and the faint scent of tobacco lingered in the air. The bar looked sturdy, with a polished surface that had seen better days.


    Above it, bottles of various shapes and sizes stood in neat rows, waiting to be poured into eager glasses.


    After a few moments, a man emerged from the back door. Albert came running first, followed by a man with messy brown hair. His hands were covered in scars, a testament to his many fights.


    Hiding behind me, Albert whispered, "It’s him."


    "So, you’re the one who wants to talk to me," Castor said.


    ''Wait a minute. Did this guy just pin the debt collection on me?'' I realized instantly what Albert had done. To avoid getting beaten if I lost, he’d shifted all the blame onto me.


    My lips twitched in annoyance, but I kept my calm. "Yes, that would be me. I’ve come to collect your debt," I said.


    Castor’s eyes narrowed as he studied me, sizing me up as if I were a piece of meat he wasn’t sure was worth his time. "And what if I say no?" he asked with a taunting look.


    "Well," I began, my voice calm and composed, "I’m afraid that wouldn’t be a very wise decision."


    Albert, still hiding behind me, quickly ducked behind a table.


    "Hmm, just leave. I don’t want to waste my time on the likes of you," Castor sighed.


    His eyes widened as I suddenly vanished. He quickly raised his hands in a defensive stance.


    "Don’t worry, I won’t attack you," I said.


    Turning his head, he saw me sitting on a chair behind him, my hands folded over my chest, legs stretched leisurely.


    "What do you want?" Castor asked.


    "I have a deal for you. I promise it won’t harm you in any way," I said.


    Castor’s eyebrows furrowed, but he remained silent, his curiosity piqued.


    "Fight me. Hand-to-hand combat. You can use your ability if you wish; I won’t use mine," I said. Albert’s eyes widened as he listened.


    "If you win, your debt is paid, and I’ll never bother you again. But if I win, I’ll take the money and leave," I added before he could speak.


    Castor’s eyes narrowed, calculating the odds. He was a man who lived by his fists, and the offer of a fair fight was something he couldn’t resist—especially against someone who could vanish from sight.


    "Alright, you’ve got yourself a deal," Castor said, a smug smirk playing on his lips as he cracked his knuckles. "But if I win, you leave and never come back, got it?"


    "Alright," I agreed, standing up. I glanced at Albert, who quickly understood and began clearing the chairs and tables from our surroundings.


    It wasn’t that I’d suddenly become cocky after fighting stronger opponents. In fact, it was the opposite. From the moment I’d awakened until now, I’d only fought opponents either stronger or weaker than me. In this town, where no monsters existed, my only opponents would be humans like me.


    And I clearly lacked experience fighting them. Unlike monsters, humans were scheming and cunning, knowing when to run or fight.


    I’d been relying on instinct until now, but that needed to change.


    Facing each other, we took our stances. Castor raised his arms in a defensive position, guarding his face and neck, while I adopted a more relaxed stance—left hand forward in a curve, right arm guarding my face, legs apart at a comfortable distance.


    Albert hid behind the counter, his eyes darting between us. I could see the fear and hope in his eyes.


    Ignoring him, I took a deep breath and exhaled. Castor was the first to move, closing the distance between us in an instant. His movements were swift and decisive.


    He threw a straight punch toward my face. Raising my left arm, I caught it—but that was a mistake. My arm jerked back, hitting my own face.


    ''Pa!''


    A loud sound echoed as I staggered back, bleeding from my lip. ''How heavy was his punch? Is it an ability to augment himself?'' I wondered.


    But I wasn’t going to be defeated so easily. I’d promised not to use any ability on him, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t use one on myself.


    Activating ''Kairosflow'', the world slowed down, and my thoughts accelerated. This ability granted passive thought acceleration, but in its active state, my thoughts could be five times faster.


    Castor smirked, his confidence boosted by my novice mistake. I raised my guard and threw a punch toward his temple. He raised his right arm, blocking the impact with his elbow.


    Pa!


    But I wasn’t done yet. I struck again and again—aiming for his face, neck, and chest in a barrage of attacks.


    Pa! Pa!


    Castor wasn’t a novice either. He countered my strikes with equal force, canceling them out, and threw a left hook toward my face. But in my accelerated state, I saw it coming. Instead of catching it, I tapped it aside with my right palm and kicked his knee, making him stagger back.


    Pua!


    He looked surprised. ''He’s fast,''he thought. The novice fighter who’d taken a punch to the face was gone. He was learning fast—too fast, as if he could see all his attacks clearly now.


    Taking a step back, Castor studied me closely. He could see the determination in my eyes but couldn’t understand my motives. If I’d moved fast like earlier, I’d have won easily. But I hadn’t broken my promise yet.


    "Why are you doing this?" Castor asked, his voice gruff from the impact.


    "I need to learn," I answered, raising my left leg to kick his knee again.


    Castor saw it coming and bent his knees slightly to absorb the blow. But to his surprise, I changed the trajectory mid-air and aimed for his stomach instead.


    As he caught my leg before it could impact his stomach, I twisted my waist, bending my left leg painfully as I kicked his face with my right leg mid-air.


    Boom!


    A strong blow hit his head, sending him to the ground. ''It felt like I’d hit a metal pole,'' I thought.


    The fight was intense. Castor’s strength and speed were far beyond anyone I’d faced before. But he was still human, and that was his limit.


    Or so I thought. He rolled over and instantly stood up. Without wasting time, he threw a punch toward my body. I raised my arms to guard, but the impact was like being hit by a hammer.


    Pa! Pa!


    He continued to strike, and my arms began to go numb, leaving me no time to counter.


    I jumped back to create distance, my hands trembling from the pain. But I kept a straight face. ''I’ve become an Awakener, yet the reality of my physical strength is grim. If a body-type Awakener can do this, I don’t even want to imagine what a true Awakened can do.''


    Determined to end it, I sprinted toward him.