Chapter 84: The Null

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: The Null

Brutus’s POV

My name is Brutus.

I am a vice leader of the Night Owl Guild. I am one of the strongest warriors in the city. I have trained for years. I have fought countless battles. I have earned my place.

But it wasn’t always like this.

Let me tell you a story. A story about a boy who had nothing. A boy who was laughed at. A boy who was called worthless.

A story about me.

---

I was sixteen when I first realized what I wanted to be.

A hunter.

Not just any hunter. A great hunter. The greatest hunter in the village. Maybe the greatest hunter in the kingdom.

I wanted to track beasts through the forest. I wanted to fight monsters with my bare hands. I wanted to protect my village from danger. I wanted to be strong. Powerful. Respected.

I wanted to be someone.

My father was a hunter. He was strong. He was skilled. He was respected. Everyone in the village knew his name. Everyone in the village looked up to him.

I wanted to be like him.

Every day, I would watch him train. I would watch him practice with his bow. I would watch him sharpen his knives. I would watch him study the tracks of animals. I would watch him plan his hunts.

He was amazing.

And I wanted to be just like him.

When I was sixteen, I started training. I would wake up early in the morning. Before the sun rose. Before the birds sang. I would run through the forest. I would climb trees. I would lift rocks. I would practice with sticks.

I trained every day. I trained for hours. I trained until my body ached. I trained until my muscles screamed. I trained until I couldn’t move.

But I didn’t stop.

Because I wanted to be strong.

I wanted to be a hunter.

I wanted to make my father proud.

---

When I was eighteen, the day came.

The Awakening.

It was the day when every young person in the village would discover their talent. Their gift. Their power.

The village elder would perform the ritual. He would call upon the spirits. He would ask for their blessing. And then, one by one, the young people would step forward.

Some would receive fire talents. They would be able to control flames. To burn their enemies. To light their path.

Some would receive water talents. They would be able to control rivers. To heal wounds. To purify poison.

Some would receive earth talents. They would be able to control stone. To build walls. To crush their foes.

Some would receive wind talents. They would be able to control air. To fly. To cut with invisible blades.

And some, the lucky ones, would receive rare talents. Lightning. Ice. Light. Darkness. Teleportation. Regeneration. Things that were powerful. Things that were feared. Things that were respected.

I stood in line with the other young people. My heart was pounding. My hands were sweaty. My breath was shallow.

I was nervous.

But I was also hopeful.

I had trained for years. I had worked so hard. I had done everything I could. Surely, the spirits would see my effort. Surely, they would reward me.

Surely, I would receive a talent.

A strong talent. A powerful talent. A talent that would make me a great hunter.

I stepped forward.

The village elder looked at me. His eyes were old. Wise. Kind.

"Brutus," he said. "Son of Gorn. Are you ready?"

I nodded. "I am ready."

He raised his hands. He closed his eyes. He chanted.

The spirits swirled around me. I could feel them. Their presence. Their power. Their judgment.

I closed my eyes. I waited. I prayed.

Please, I thought. Please give me a talent. Please make me strong. Please let me be a hunter.

The spirits touched me.

I felt... nothing.

I opened my eyes. The village elder was staring at me. His expression was strange. Confused. Sad.

"What?" I asked. "What is it?"

He shook his head. "You... you have no talent."

The world stopped.

"What?" I whispered.

"You are a null," he said. "You have no talent. No gift. No power."

I stared at him. My mouth was open. My heart was frozen.

"No," I said. "That’s not possible. I trained. I worked. I did everything."

"I’m sorry, Brutus. But it’s true."

I looked at the crowd. At my friends. At my neighbors. At the people I had known my whole life.

They were laughing.

They were pointing.

They were mocking.

"A null!"

"Useless!"

"Worthless!"

"What a disappointment!"

"His father must be so ashamed!"

I felt tears in my eyes. I felt my chest tighten. I felt my world crumble.

I ran.

---

I ran through the forest. I didn’t know where I was going. I didn’t care. I just ran.

Branches whipped my face. Rocks cut my feet. Thorns tore my clothes. I didn’t stop.

I ran until I couldn’t run anymore. I ran until my legs gave out. I ran until I collapsed.

I fell to my knees. I was in a clearing. Alone. Surrounded by trees. Surrounded by silence.

I looked up at the sky. At the clouds. At the sun.

"Why?" I screamed.

The forest didn’t answer.

"Why?" I screamed again. "Why me? Why am I a null? Why can’t I have a talent? Why can’t I be strong?"

I hit the ground. My fists pounded the dirt. Again. And again. And again.

"I trained!" I shouted. "I worked! I did everything! Why wasn’t it enough?"

Tears streamed down my face. My vision was blurry. My throat was raw.

"Why?" I whispered. "Why am I so useless?"

I stood up. I walked to a tree. A large oak. Its trunk was thick. Its bark was rough.

I stared at it. Then I punched it.

Pain exploded through my hand. My knuckles split. Blood dripped down my fingers.

I punched it again.

And again.

And again.

"Why?" I shouted with each punch. "Why? Why? Why?"

The tree didn’t answer. It just stood there. Silent. Unmoving.

I kept punching. I kept screaming. I kept crying.

My hands were bleeding. My knuckles were raw. My fingers were broken.

But I didn’t stop.

I couldn’t stop.

Because if I stopped, I would have to think. I would have to accept. I would have to face the truth.

I was a null.

I was nothing.

I was worthless.

---

I don’t know how long I was there. Minutes. Hours. Maybe longer.

I just sat there. On a rock. Crying. My hands were bloody. My face was wet. My body was exhausted.

I had given up.

I had no talent. No power. No future.

I was nothing.

I heard footsteps.

I didn’t look up. I didn’t care. I didn’t want to see anyone. I didn’t want anyone to see me.

The footsteps stopped. Someone sat down beside me.

I still didn’t look up.

Then I felt arms around me.

I looked up. It was my father. Gorn. The great hunter. The strong warrior. The respected man.

He was hugging me.

He didn’t speak. He didn’t say anything. He just held me.

I cried.

I cried into his chest. I cried like a child. I cried like I had never cried before.

He held me. He held me tight. He held me close.

And he didn’t let go.

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[Magic castle = 5 bonus Chapter’s]

[space craft = 15 bonus Chapter’s]

[golden gachapon = 20 bonus Chapter’s]