Evolving Infinitely From An E-Class Hero-Chapter 87: Ghost And Glory

Her face froze like I had just dropped a live grenade. Her eyes widened, staring at my figure and for a second, it looked like she wanted to say something in response.

Something big, some sort of explanation. But her lips locked shut, and the silence was so palpable I could hear both our breathing clearly.

I heaved a sigh of relief and pressed on, the words spilling out before I could stop them.

"Mom... What happened to him? Last I remember, one morning we ran out of milk. He said he was going to the convenience store to get a carton, and then... He never returned. I was five years old!". 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

I noticed her hands tremble slightly, and she clasped them tightly together, like she was trying to hold herself steady. I waited, my veins pumping seriously on anticipation, hoping for an answer... A reasonable one.

But, instead, she leaned forward, her voice soft but yet still firm as ever.

"Reno," she said, "thinking about someone from the past will only hinder the future. Your Dad... He’s gone. You need to focus on what’s ahesd. On who you are now."

I frowned at her response. Frustration bubbling inside of me. "But..."

"Come on... Trust me Blondie" she cut in, her tone was now gentle. She reached out her hand and grabbed mine.

"You’re doing amazingly well without him. Things I never could’ve dreamed of when you were skating on that board. Don’t let the past weigh you down son.".

Hmph!!!

I wanted to argue, I seriously wanted to. Because I needed closure as to why he disappeared without a trace and hasn’t returned ever since.

But the look in her eyes stopped me. There was pain there, buried deep and I did have the heart to push further.

Not now at least. I sighed and leaned back. "Yeah, okay."

She studied me for a short moment, then stood, brushing her hands on her jeans.

"To get your mind off things, how about I whip up some pork chop ribs for dinner? You’ll love it, I saw this amazing recipe on line..."

Amidst my disappointment, I managed a small smile, but my mind was already elsewhere. I was scrolling through the Forever Core’s system in search of anything paterning to the name: ARCHIE RENLY.

During that few seconds I came up with nothing leading to the name, the search kept directing me to the next popular thing with the name Renly attached to it.

Take a guess...

"Ummm... Thanks Mom, but I’ve got plans tonight. I’m meeting Jake Todd tonight. You know, celebrate the whole class rank thing..."

Her eyebrows arched, but she didn’t argue. "Jake huh? Did he get reassessed as well?"

"Uhmm yeah! He landed a hot deal with the ISA because of his affiliation to me and his results came out to be B-Class Rank 18."

"Woah! Congratulations to him, that’s a huge feat!"

"Yeah, we wanna go spar eachother to celebrate."

She pointed at me playfully. "Just don’t stay out too late, Mr Bionic. And no flying through the Sector after midnight. The ISA’s drones will have a field day."

I laughed, although she knew I was 100% percent going to disobey her and do whatever is one my mind she returned the gesture too.

She got up and headed towards the exit of the living room. Upon reaching the door, she turned and glanced back at me. "And Reno? I’m proud of you. Really."

*Kpim.

I don’t think I have heard those words from anyone in a long time, it made my chest warm and my throat tight. "Thanks, Mom." I replied.

As she disappeared into the kitchen, I stood up stretching my arms. The weight of the difficult conversation was still tugging on my limbs.

Jake was probably waiting for me at the abandoned warehouse.

I glanced at the TV, still frozen on my escape from Tower D.

The image caused a smirk to crack at the corner of my lips.

I stepped to the window and cracked it open. The muffled chatter of the crowd below were still prominent.

"Bionic, Bionic!!"

Then —

Brrrzzzztttt!

A school of drones drifted up, with the banner from earlier.

BIONIC #1: GO GO GO!

I climbed out of the window gently and onto the fire escape stairs.

"Initiate..." I said and the Forever Core hummed in my chest. Golden nanites spilled out, weaving over my body with that familiar metallic click.

The Forever Armor snapped into place, black and gold pulsing with energy. I flexed my gauntleted fingers, the energy thrubbed through them for every movement I made.

Boom!

The rocket boosters ignited, and I launched out the window, a streak of gold and black slicing through the evening sky.

The crowd’s shouts spiked, cameras flashing like a storm, but I was already gone, soaring over Sector D’s neon-lit sprawl.

Maglev trains glinted below, snaking through the city, and the distant wail of sirens mixed with the hum of life.

I banked left, dodging an ISA drone that blinked its sensors at me.

"Not tonight, buddy," I muttered.

The warehouse was a few kilometers out, tucked in the industrial zone where the Gravehowl’s damage was worst. Jake would be there, probably revving that new Boomerang Mobile of his.

As I flew, my Mom’s words echoed in my head.

Don’t let the past weigh you down.

Easier said than done.

Dad’s disappearance was a ghost I couldn’t shake, and her refusal to talk about it only made it worse.

But she was right about one thing: I had a future to focus on. Bionic, SSS-Class Rank 1, wasn’t just a title—it was a chance to be more.

The warehouse loomed ahead, its rusted roof catching the last rays of sunlight. I cut the boosters, dropping silently onto the cracked pavement outside.

The Forever Armor dissolved, nanites retreating into the Forever Core. I shoved my hands in my pockets, my messy blonde hair falling into my eyes.

Jake’s voice boomed from inside, followed by the vroooom of his twin-turbine monstrosity.

"Reno, you dramatic bastard! Get in here!"

I chuckled, pushing open the creaky door. "Hey, champ!", I replied.