Chapter 75
Karl woke up feeling like he’d been hit by a frosty iceberg, his body as stiff as a board from sleeping all night in a seated position outside the campervan. The sun just peeked out on the eastern horizon, splashing golden orange hues across the slowly brightening sky. The morning air carried the scent of dew and damp earth, bringing a bit of calm amid the chaos in his mind.
He rubbed his weary face, trying to gather his thoughts. Still felt like an endless nightmare. The power, the system constantly giving him missions that dig into his weaknesses, and the shadows of the Common Hero lurking - all piled up in his chest like an invisible burden.
Valencia emerged from the campervan, wearing a loose sweater and carrying two steaming cups of coffee. "You look like you haven’t slept in a week," she quipped, handing one cup to Karl.
"Because I really didn’t sleep," Karl replied, accepting the cup. The warm coffee steam immediately touched his skin, helping to chase away the cold.
Valencia sat next to him, sipping her coffee slowly. "Have you decided on your first step for revenge?"
Karl shook his head.
Layla appeared, showing her old phone screen, "Karl, Angeline has once again dragged your family into a video."
Karl stared at the phone screen, his jaw tensing. The video showed Ella, his little sister who had always been the only family member to support him, now seething with anger. But something seemed off.
"If you’re watching this, Karl, listen carefully!" Ella exclaimed sharply, her face flushed. "How long will you keep hiding?! Do you know what you’ve done to our family? Do you think by running away, you’re protecting us? No! You’re only making our lives more miserable!"
Ella pointed to the camera with a rough gesture, her eyes blazing with emotion. "You’re a coward, Karl! Do you want to keep dragging us into your mess?! If you have even a bit of respect for this family, you’ll come out of your hiding and surrender!"
The video ended with the sound of something hard being slammed, maybe Ella’s phone, before the screen went dark.