“In five days’ time, I want you to kill people for me.” These were the Author’s words to him when they parted from the rooftop on that fateful night.

He was indebted for life to him after all that happened. The power dormantly sleeping in his flesh and bones tells him that he has now achieved a new perspective with regard to his Special Ability.

It was miraculous. He has been using it wrong the whole time!!

Even with this much power, Pedro is still left wanting more. When he learned he has to assassinate people, Pedro imagined that he can’t do it.

He didn’t tell it to Author though for the greed in his heart is inciting him to just do it. The more Pedro thinks about it, the more resolved he became.

Author, that’s what the mysterious existence declared himself as… Pedro doesn’t know if he wants a part of what the Author is up to. Still, as someone who was personally selected, Pedro has no choice but to comply— he said this to himself, comforting his mind that he has no choice.

And that’s the truth. The Author won’t hesitate to cut him apart and rightfully take back what was given. Zia Zaratul told him this, explaining to him in the dark corner about what she saw 2 seconds ahead of the future.

Pedro doesn’t know yet the exact structure, vision, and mission of what the Author is building. Through Zia’s hints, he was able to gather that it will be a secret organization with no particular affiliation, be it for a hero or villain.

It isn’t like Pedro hasn’t heard anything like that. Still, neutral organizations are quite rare in this world. To name a few, there’s the Ruling Prison made for all kinds of characters regardless of whether they be heroes or villains. There is also the Extolled Police, which works on enforcing the judiciary system established by the late Praised Peasant.

Pedro can’t imagine a neutral force going covert, as it was impossible. One way or another, their dependents will question the organization’s neutrality. Even terrorists who claim neutrality isn’t neutral at all.

Rethinking the Author’s intentions, Pedro found himself unable to sleep that night.

The next day, he arrived at the classroom as usual. Alfir, the so-called Author remained chummy with him as if what happened yesterday didn’t involve him or anything.

When the classes finished, Pedro found himself on the training grounds out of habit. Students fill the training grounds everywhere. In there, he used to train his swordsmanship with his fellow first years against the automated dummies.

Pedro wanted to see his new and improved Special Ability and test it on the training grounds, but he recalled of the Author’s instructions. “You can’t show your powers to the others yet. Wait for the big exams, and then you can use them all you want. Oh, you can use it for your mission though.”

In the end, Pedro chose to leave. But he was stopped. In front of him is a well-built 6-foot classmate, it was Hitch, one of Rodney’s lackeys. Pedro looked around to see if the other two were around.

“Who were you looking for, your new boyfriend? Too bad Alfie was sucking up another guy’s dick. You should see him wagging his tail to Deron, hahaha…”

Pedro felt insulted. This is the Author Hitch was talking about.

“His name is Alfir.” Pedro said to the big bully. Pedro’s eyes stared daggers at Hitch causing the latter to flinch.

“Fuck, you want a fight with me?”

“…”

Pedro just walked away. Hitch followed.

“Hey, where are you going!?” Hitch irritably said. Pedro was grabbed by his shoulder quite tightly and painfully. Hitch’s hands to arms transformed into a beastly sight, thick and strong like a gorilla’s.

“You are dead now,” Hitch viciously said. “It’s your fault you have to just come into this secluded part of the academy.” However, despite all the pain, Pedro just ignored the big bully. It is only now that he noticed that Pedro wasn’t hurting.

“You know, I was in the mood to let you live another day. But you just ruined it.” Pedro grimly said.

Hitch can't see Pedro's face because Pedro is facing away from him. Hitch felt his hand feeling a tad warm. Hitch eventually noticed the warning signs, but it was already too late.

Pedro’s flesh, blood, and bones turned into light, of pure energy. It phased through Hitch harmlessly. Still, the blinding light caused Hitch’s eyes to tear and blank.

Pedro's blazing and changing form was the last thing Hitch saw.

The clothing Hitch was holding onto Pedro's shoulder was the last thing he felt.

It happened too fast.

Pedro used his newly found mutation to turn his shoulder partially to energy form, thus negating Hitch’s shoulder-breaking-grab. After that, Pedro immediately turned to light and phased through Hitch like a ghost.

This is Pedro’s rediscovered Special Ability or as the Author likes to call it, a mutation.

“AaaaAAaaHH!!” Hitch screamed in pain as he rub his eyes. The unnerving heat that phased through him made his judgment slower.

Because of transforming into light particles, Pedro is now naked, but it didn’t bother him. He snapped Hitch’s neck with one move. No blood was spilled, and the screaming was quickly stopped.

Pedro wore his uniform back in a hurry. He immediately left the crime scene, leaving the unmoving corpse in the back alley near the training grounds.

Will he be caught? He doesn’t know, but as the Author has commanded, he dutifully performed what was asked of him.

When he was about to return to his dorm, he chanced upon Cain. This Cain is a genius. With a seemingly useless ability, he managed to rise among his peers. He didn't stop just at that. With his genius, he broke common sense.

This Cain also shared Pedro's predicament. Useless abilities, type of ability, and as such being weak. That was before though. Because Cain is a powerful monster in his own right, Pedro felt no shame in comparing himself with Cain.

Pedro mustered his courage to ask for a bit of advice. He wanted to ask this great figure, but every time he tries, he finds himself troubled. Now, that his fear was gotten rid of by the Author, Pedro can now ask Cain.

“A-hem! Mr. Cain. Going back to the dorm?”

“Yes, how are you doing? Still, struggling on finding a use for your Special Ability? Don’t give up!” Cain looked favorably at him with sympathy mixed in it. Pedro knows why as he and Cain almost share similar predicaments regarding their Special Abilities.

The only difference was Cain has it better… Wa~aay much better…

“Mr. Cain, how did you become so strong?”

“That’s straightforward, but I like it… Hmmm… How did I become so strong? That’s because I had motivation, I guess. For me, it was revenge…”

Pedro was shocked. ‘Revenge, so he is like me…’

“Me too…” Pedro whispered, and this didn’t escape Cain’s ears. The two smiled at each other and parted ways.

When Pedro reached his dorm, he perused the file that Zia gave her. It was his kill list. In it is Hitch Hofferman. Pedro crossed out Hitch’s name with a red marker. Below Hitch’s name is another name… then another… and another… about a dozen.

Pedro doesn’t know why the Author wants them dead. He doesn’t need to know, Pedro believes that firmly for he was but an executioner only following his superior’s orders.

Good? Bad? It doesn’t matter anymore to Pedro as his fear of doing either has long ceased to exist. He doesn’t need to do good deeds anymore as he doesn’t need anyone’s validation. He won’t be scared by the bad anymore, for his fear of punishment has left him.

What’s only left is Pedro’s greed for power and desire for revenge.

He is an executioner.