I WAS The Rank–1 Hero-Chapter 157: Act 1: Powerless [1]

"Huff!"

I jolted upright, clenching my chest, gasping for air like I’d just drowned. Slick with sweat, my shirt clinging to me as if I’d been running in a fever.

My nostrils burned from the stench—a sour, musty smell of sweat mixed with rotten snacks.

I blinked my eyes open.

The room was dark, except for a flickering light-blue glow cast from a TV screen in front of me. A character was paused mid-jump on a rooftop in some old action game. I looked down, and the controller on my lap was still vibrating.

I looked around.

Piles of rolled-up papers lay crumpled across the floor, some stained with ketchup, others scrawled with notes that I couldn’t even read from here.

"Am I…"

I stumbled out of the mattress that was barely called a bed, stepping on a plastic wrapper as I made my way to the long mirror standing at the corner of the room.

I stood in front of it.

My reflection stared back at me—younger, thinner, with shabby and hollow cheeks. Long black hair, dull eyes clouded with hopeless shine.

This… this wasn’t the me I remembered.

I ran my finger over my face.

"What… happened to me?" My voice felt exhausted to hear.

I tried to search through my memories, but all I could feel was intense pain whenever I tried to do that.

"Ugh…!"

Ping—!

The sharp tone resonated in my ears, and a blue transparent screen flashed before my eyes.

— — —「Act #1 Initiated」— — —

Status: Powerless

Memory Access: Restricted.

Power Access: Severely Limited

Elemental Affinity: Ice

Fate’s Interface: Complete Synchronization

Primary Objective: Find the true self.

Bonus Objective: Uncover the Death

Warning: Death within this trial is permanent to this Version

— — — — — — — — — — — — —

"Hun?!"

"Powerless? Only ice?"

Reading through the information on the window, I tried my best to understand it.

"Only ice… ice?… Ah!"

I tried to resonate with the other Elements—Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth—but they gave nothing back.

Only the Ice Elemental responded.

Is this what being powerless means?

Now it clicks—this version of me never got entangled in that accident at the Frostvile Museum, the very incident that granted me the power to use all five elementals.

If that is the case, then—I never got the Authority!

Gulping a lump of saliva, I tried to activate Fate’s interface.

— — —「Apostle of Agroth」— — —

►Strength: 30

►Agility: 22

►Stamina: 49

►Intelligence: 52

►Essence Capacity: 60

►Authority: Death

►Stigma: Death Granter

→Skills

→Arts

— — — — — — — — — — — —

"...?!"

"What the hell?!"

No. No. No.

What is this? ƒreewebɳovel.com

"H—How?!"

Death?!

How did this body even get this Authority?!

My original body had two Authorities—Paradox and Death. And that too—I got it way later when I got killed.

But looking at Fate’s Interface now, nothing makes sense to me.

Does this body have the blessing of Agroth—the god of death?

And if so, then—

Thinking along the possibilities, I checked my skills.

— — —「Skills」— — —

►Frost Vein : <F> Rank

►Permafrost Field : <F> Rank

►Absolute Zero Pulse : <F> Rank

►Immortality : <Ex> Rank

►Death Domain : <S> Rank

►Appraiser : <E> Rank

←Back

— — — — — — — — —

"Wha—What the actual hell?!" I nearly fell on the floor.

I understand that this trial is meant for a version of me that has no powers, which is why it’s called "Powerless." However, after seeing the ridiculous skill list laid out in front of me, I’m starting to reconsider my position.

I mean, sure, all my skills were ranked E or F except for two. But, still…

"This doesn’t make any sense."

What type of messed-up life has this ’me’ lived for him to get the attention of the God of Death? And according to Sera, a person is granted Authority as an apostle only if they meet specific conditions set by their respective God to accept them as their apostle.

And what is this <Death Domain>?

Focusing on the particular skill, I read its description.

— — —「Death Domain」— — —

►Rank : <S> Rank

►Effect: Creates a zone where the natural laws of death are absolute. Healing and regeneration are completely disabled inside the domain. Also, those caught inside the domain were overwhelmed with a deep, primal fear of death, lowering their will to fight.

— — — — — — — — — — — — —

"Interesting, this one’s kind of similar to my Ruler skill…"

But it’s more powerful.

"Damn, this ’me’ got some badass skills, this makes me so jealous."

Heehee, are you seeing this, Sera? Apparently, this version of me got the status of ’Powerless’, while possessing an Ex and an S-ranked skill.

Laughing at the sight, I shared it with Sera.

And you called me an idiot. The person who named it ’Powerless’ was the true idiot here.

"..."

Sera?

"Umm… Oi, answer me."

"..."

No answer came.

Panic surged through my brain as I tried calling her multiple times.

"She’s… not here."

I have now noticed it. The moment I stepped foot inside the Door of Endless, I never really heard Sera’s taunt in my head.

"Are the souls not allowed inside the Door?"

Or…

Did she get exorcised?

"No. No." I waved at myself in the mirror, discarding this thought of mine.

Maybe only my consciousness got through the door, and her’s was just resting inside me.

Yeah, that seems like the case. Be positive, Zane.

Enough about that…

"How do I clear this trial?"

Turning my attention to the blue transparent window, I read through the information.

Primary Objective: Find the true self.

"True self, huh?"

Whose true self, mine or this body’s? This isn’t mentioned anywhere.

And just below it, another piece of objective.

Bonus Objective: Uncover the Death

"What the hell is even this?"

Seriously, whoever designed this information or this weird-ass blue window has a few screws loose in his or her head.

But even so…

"Uncovering death…"

I found it unsettling to think about the coincidence of having the God of Death’s blessing and a bonus objective titled ’Uncover the Death.’

"Maybe they are connected somehow…"

Thinking along those lines, I concluded.

"So, if I uncover this power of mine, which is <Immortality>, I can clear this bonus objective. And if so, I can also get to my true self."

Nodding multiple times, I once again looked into the mirror and saw my reflection.

Dead eyes, cracked lips, ruffled long hair.

"I look as ugly as a monkey."

Seriously, this version of me didn’t even take proper care of his body. On top of that, I can’t access his memories, which makes it hard for me to interact with the people he knew in this world. I can’t act like my usual self around them.

I need to find something about myself before I interact with anyone.

Drifting my eyes around the room, I found a tablet lying on the floor.

Picking it up, I searched through the contact and chat history.

[Elise Incoming 5 days ago]

[Elise Incoming 5 days ago]

[Elise Incoming 5 days ago]

[Elise Incoming 5 days ago]

There was only my sister’s name on the history, and that too 5 days ago, after that she didn’t call me once.

"Maybe she got angry after I didn’t pick up her call."

My typical sis.

She was the same in this version of my life. Some things just don’t change.

"Does she still go to Nova here too, and do I also…"

This might be possible, as I saw my Nova uniform hanging on the wall.

Knock. Knock.

A faint knocking sound on the door broke me out of my thoughts.

I froze.

My eyes darted towards the door on my left.

"Who might that be…?" I whispered, edging closer.

The knock came again—this time followed by a voice. A soft, gentle voice, trembling with sadness.

"Zane, dear… please come out. Eat something."

My breath caught in my throat.

That voice… it was familiar. Way too familiar.

Another voice followed. This time, the voice was male.

"Is he not opening? It’s been five days…"

Then, the woman again. "Dear… I’m worried."

"It’s fine. Let me talk to him."

"Zane, son… open the door."

My eyes widened.

"…Mom? Dad?"

A rush of anxiety hit me. Something felt off. Why are they acting like this?

Without thinking further, I rushed to the door and pulled it open.

"Hm?" My mom let out a soft gasp.

"A-Ah!" My dad stepped back from the door, blinking at the sight of me.

Their faces were pale, worn, and hollow, just like mine when I saw myself in the mirror. My mom looked like she hadn’t slept in days. Her eyes were puffy. And my dad had stubble and dark bags beneath his eyes.

"Hello, Mom… Dad… What happened?" I asked cautiously.

They didn’t answer. Instead, my mom’s lips trembled slightly. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

"Zane… my baby boy." She threw her arms around me, holding me tightly as if she believed I would disappear the moment she released her grip.

I stood still. Confused by this whole interaction. But I didn’t push her away.

What exactly is the situation here?

"How are you feeling, son?" my dad asked gently.

My mom let go of me, wiping her eyes. A faint smile tugged at her lips. It was weak, but still a smile.

"I’m feeling… great," I replied calmly. But inside, my thoughts churned.

Why did they both look so… broken?

"We thought that…" My mom tried to speak, but her voice failed her.

My father placed a hand on her shoulder and finished for her.

"We thought you locked yourself inside this room after…" He swallowed hard. "After Elise’s death."

"...Huh?"