Into The Portal: Monster Invasion

Miles boarded the train and watched the scenery change. The train's technology was able to understand the viewers' absent-mindedness. Thus, no outside information had presented itself in Miles's mind. It was to prevent people from getting overloaded with information while doing something else such as reading or studying while facing outside or being distracted by a load of info.

Miles wasn't thinking over his future or making big decisions. His goal in life was always the same and simple. He wanted to walk everywhere he wanted without a care in the world and learn anything he wanted without anyone keeping it from him. And when he wants to be lazy, no one should be allowed to disturb him. He didn't want the power, but extras came with it. Since he wanted the rewards, he had to show the ticket for these rewards, which was power. For this purpose, he was training and fighting every day.

Cross Mansion, When Miles was 7 years old,

The little boy of old now looked taller and stronger.. One could still see the bitterness in his eyes, but it was covered with unyielding resoluteness.

After discovering his innate dormant ancient genes, he decided to get stronger through other means. He wouldn't let destiny draw his life for him. He was going to fight for it.

"Hello, Uncle Kenway." Miles saluted the man with the sword. Even since he was five, he started to practice sword fighting with Kenway. Although he wasn't talented with the sword, he at least learned how to hold and swing it with finesse. Although Master Zorro made it clear that 'the pointy end goes to the other guy,' there was no harm in learning more.

"Hello, Little Lord," Kenway said as he pulled out a practice sword from the rack. "Ready?"

"I still can't understand how your wooden practice sword can withstand my orb weapon." Miles shook his head in wonder.

"That is something you will discover when you are older." Kenway smiled with a glint in his eyes.

"Eww, how is sėx related to your wooden blade to be tougher?" Miles grossed out.

"Wha—? It has nothing to with sėx!" Kenway exclaimed in panic then got mad when he saw Miles's grin. "You tease me!" Kenway looked angrily and amused while he took the stance.

"Haha, got you this time!" Miles smiled triumphantly as he took his stance too.

From an amateur's eyes, the two stances looked exactly the same. But if it was an expert looking, he or she would realize how different their postures were.

Miles's was full of openings, while Kenway had no opening to speak of. Even a master swordsman would sweat profusely if they were to stand against Kenway while he was standing there casually.

Miles dashed with vigor and swung his sword from top of his head to Kenway's shoulder, only to be countered by a wooden sword. One would expect splinters to fly from wooden swords, but not even a dent could be seen on it.

Miles and Kenway practiced for hours before Miles collapsed. "You are getting better already. Even a month ago, your postures were so easy to exploit, but now the number is decreasing steadily." Kenway praised honestly.

"Thanks, Uncle Kenway." Miles smiled brightly.

"What do you know about Portal World?" Kenway asked after they sat, and started to eat ice cream. Even the ice creams in Cross Mansion weren't ordinary. They were made of monster cow milk and berries and fruits can be found in Portal World. They were high in nutrition.

"Portal World is separated into circles, starting from G, goes all the way to the D-Circle, as far as humanity went. We don't know how far it goes actually, but Mother AI thought it to be 7 parts, thus we named them as such.

Further, we go, stronger monsters get. The monsters in F-Circle have unique abilities even in the same species. Thus, fights there are unpredictable and dangerous." Miles narrated what he knew.

"Very good!" Kenway praised. "Do you know what those unique abilities are, and why are they different from each other?"

"Not really. Merlin said it is about luck and destiny, and mother said it is about a person." Miles pondered as he mumbled. The other day, when Merlin was bullying him, he said, as a cripple failed to awaken his superpower, he was unlucky and had a weak destiny. The unique power he would awaken even if he ever arrived at F-Circle would be as weak. When he was depressed, Evelyn appeased him by saying, it wasn't about luck or destiny, but about a person's will and character.

"Miss is right. The power is about who you are, not about some luck or destiny." Kenway smiled and pulled out the black sword from his back. "This is my unique power. I chose it, not luck nor destiny."

"Thank you, Uncle Kenway." Miles smiled.

"You are welcome, kiddo. Just work hard." Kenway said as he ruffled Miles's hair.

"Stop, I am 7 now!" Miles giggled.

"You are still a kiddo, though." Kenway laughed too. 'I hope you can reach there, Little Lord.'

"Miles follow me," Malcolm called Miles from afar. Miles looked at his father and bid farewell to Kenway before following Major General.

"Welcome back, Father," Miles said when he caught up.

"How was your training?" Malcolm asked.

"Uncle Kenway said I am progressing steadily. My posture is better too." Miles recounted with a proud smile.

"It is good. Although you failed to awaken, it doesn't mean you should give up. The world is full of wonders, and possibilities. One day, you may find yourself against a monster, so never give up. You can still be a hunter and hero like every Cross." Malcolm said tersely.

"Father, I-" Miles started but didn't know if he should say it or not.

"What is it?" Malcolm asked as he looked at the boy.

"I don't want to be a hero." Miles blurted out, then lowered his head in shame. He knew what that word meant to Cross Family. After the Cross Empire betrayed humanity, it was this little family that saved the world. Traitor and Hero… This family was referred to as both. Mercer, as the leader, took it upon himself to show humanity Cross Family is the hero of this world. People of Unity can rest back and watch them fight against any threat to this world.

But Miles wasn't feeling the same. His life was his own. Especially after he failed to awaken and he met with Coin. He wanted to be free. Not bound by rules or words of others. He wanted to walk everywhere without asking permission, he wanted to know everything without worrying what others might do. Hero, traitor, duty, honor, all of these meant nothing to him. He just wanted to get stronger, so no one could prevent him from the things he wanted to do.

Power was just a tool for him, a key. The key opens his dream world, nothing else.