"Dad?" Carl exclaimed.
"What? Did you say dad? Is your dad back? Where is he?" Carl's mother, Helen shouted from the kitchen. She had overheard the four years old call out for his dad.
She hurried out of the kitchen, wiping her drenched hands over her apron. Her long brown hair fluttered to the wind that came through the open windows. Peering her emerald green eyes about, she looked around the living room. "Where?" A soft melodious voice escaped from her juicy red lips.
"On Tv." Carl pointed towards the TV screen, which was broadcasting live. Carl's dad, Iron Knight, was addressing a crowd of civilians.
"Woah! Isn't it awesome watching dad on TV, hon?" She asked. The warmth in her smile felt relaxing, Carl had never witnessed anything like this before. The bond between parents and their child was just too weird. He couldn't quite comprehend it, after all, he didn't know what his parents looked like back in his former life. He had never experienced that thing called parental love.
But that wasn't what's bothering his mind right now.
"Dad is Iron Knight? A Superhuman?" He asked timidly, but his communication skills weren't lacking. His hard work was finally paying off.
"Haha… you realized. I thought it was strange as well, kids your age were usually obsessed with all these kinds of things. Having loads of toys of their favorite superhero in their bedroom and playing with them all day. I was beginning to get worried, turns out you're a normal kid after all." Helen said. She carried him and hugged him into her warm embrace. Carl felt comfort.
But there was another thought in his head, and the poor mother had to watch her four year old son grinning sheepishly.
'At least now I know that I've got strong genes in me. So when am I awakening?' Carl thought. 'I can't wait to finally get my powers back. Haha…'
Helen stared at Carl, her expression a hint of relentless worry, she decided to brighten up the atmosphere in the living room. "Don't you want to grow up to become like your father someday? A Hero who protects this world from Villains and the Xenosapians? After you awaken your superpower, you get to go to the academy where they will train you to be a true Hero. A Symbol of Hope. Isn't it exciting?"
'Hell no! I am not planning to become any bullshit Symbol of Hope. Never. I am gonna live for myself. Why should I attend some dumb academy, eh? Why should a Demon even help humans? I got reincarnated, and I am gonna enjoy it while it lasts. Sit around, watch TV all day and have fun.'
The Hero Academy!
As its name implies, it is an institution established by the government to help raise superpowered teenagers into elegant Symbols that people could look up to. They undergo schooling for two years on how to become Pro Heroes.
These teenagers are put into vigorous training to develop their supernatural constitution. They are trained through extreme conditions, nurtured on how to control the crisis, rescue survivors, handle Villains and most especially… They are trained on how to battle the Xenosapians.
An evaluated training calendar is created for them on how to deepen and further control their Abilities and how to apply their Abilities in moments of crisis and combat. Students also receive training in hand-to-hand combat and weapon combat.
And at the end of the two year course, they graduate, obtaining a Pro Hero license and they get the opportunity to be employed by one of the many Hero Companies around the globe, and if especially talented, they get the chance to join one of the famous Hero Companies.
Carl wasn't interested in becoming a Symbol neither did he want to risk his life protecting people he didn't know about. He just wanted to live a peaceful life free from battles and bloodshed. Free from the cold teeth of steel biting on his smooth pale skin.
He had made his decision and there was no changing his mind.
***
At the scene of the Xenosapian incident!
"Hero Ichor, we have seen you and your team demonstrate great talents and outstanding might in battling the Xenosapians. Do you think that humanity has a chance in putting an end to the Xenosapian pandemic? Do we have a chance at surviving?"
"Because, recently, the Xenosapians' attacks have grown more frequent. Only last week, Saintess and three other heroes battled a Xenosapian that appeared at the Western Shelter City, and today we saw one in the Northern Shelter City. Do you think the Xenosapians are up to no good? Like they're plotting something? Maybe a mass attack or something?" One of the reporters quickly asked, trying to gain a spot at interviewing an important figure. The others let him speak, seeing that the questions he raised were of great importance.
Ichor, a middle aged man probably in his late 50s, with grey hair and grey beard. A well chiseled cheekbone, a spotting gold eyes and a sharp jawline, glared at the reporter with intense gazes. The reporter instinctively flinched backwards feeling the cold glare of a Hero, chills run down his spine as he swallowed dry saliva.
Ichor was a first generation Hero. One of the few individuals who fought against the Xenosapians even before awakening. He had seen countless wars and dark times, and had experienced the fall of many of his comrades and the crumbling of nations. The years of battle experience had shaped the man into a battle machine. His killing aura was strong enough to make an ordinary human faint. He was one of the gifted and most powerful Heroes in the world.
Ichor cleared his throat and spoke, his voice hoarse and unhurried, his cold aura seeping:
"Do you think we have a shot at defeating the Xenosapians? Well no I for one don't believe that we can ever take down the Xenosapians. They are just too powerful. And they are adapting. It took five of us to bring down a Xenosapian youngling. Usually, I could kill a youngling all by myself. So you tell me. Do you think we have a shot at defeating them? Baseless assumptions. You should have done your homework properly before coming to me with stupid questions."
The people who gathered to interview the heroes broke into murmurs, most of them in doubt about what the Hero had just said, while others panicked.
The tension within the masses was growing by the second, and Ichor wasn't good with public places, his murderous aura were already seeping out from within him, into the surrounding atmosphere.
However, a hand was quick to gently pat him on the shoulder, easing the Murder Machine's overwhelming emotions. And suppressing his murderous aura instantly.