"Chen Guang, are you okay? You've been acting off all day."
Mimi tugged lightly at his sleeve.
"It's nothing… just thinking."
He forced a smile.
His eyes kept drifting back to the system screen.
"Let's go grab something to eat. I'm kinda hungry."
His whole body was tight.
He picked up his pace without realizing it.
"Is there anything you want to eat?"
He suddenly stopped and turned around, Mimi was still trotting after him.
Thud—
She bumped straight into his back.
"Sorry. Are you okay?"
"Ah'm fih—fihn…"
Rubbing her nose, Mimi made a muffled, goofy sound that made Chen Guang chuckle.
"My treat. How about a hamburger?"
"A hamburger? Like the one they always show on TV?"
Mimi's eyes lit up like she just found treasure.
She's never had one before?
"Yeah. There's a place nearby, over there—"
"Mimi!!"
A voice suddenly cut them off.
"Huh? Mei Mei? What are you doing here?"
Standing before Chen Guang was a girl with shoulder-length short hair, about his height, dressed in black, ears full of piercings.
She glanced at Chen Guang briefly before turning back to Mimi.
"I just signed up for the basic Vanguard course. Finished the registration."
Mei Mei held up her student card.
"That's great! Then we're in the same class. Chen Guang, this is—"
"What did you just call him?"
"Chen Guang. That's his name."
Mei Mei looked at him like trash—the real shitty trash you don't ever want to touch.
"Oh. So it's you."
"The F-rank Vanguard everyone's been talking about."
She stepped closer, voice dripping with mockery.
"Mei Mei, what are you saying?! He—"
"I'm warning you. Stay away from Mimi."
"Mei Mei, stop—"
"I'm a D-rank Vanguard. You and I—we're not on the same level."
She pointed a finger straight at his face, her tone threatening.
"THAT'S ENOUGH, RUAN MEI!!!"
Mimi shouted, her voice echoing through the hall. That bright voice from earlier, now it was full of anger.
"It's fine. I'm used to it."
A faint smile flickered across Chen Guang's lips.
His hand hung at his side, fingers slack.
His gaze swept past the girl in front of him, calm to the point of coldness.
"I'll go buy you one. Just stay and talk with your friend."
He turned away, without looking back, and walked off.
Gone in seconds, swallowed by the crowd crossing the street.
"Chen Guang, wait—"
"What are you doing? Why are you clinging to him like that? Did he brainwash you or something?"
Mimi spun around, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, but burning with anger.
"He's the one who saved me from that Portal!!!"
Her small hands clenched. Her face burned red as she shouted.
"He tricked you. That Portal was all over the news recently, right? It was B-rank."
Mei Mei shoved her phone in front of Mimi.
[TWO VANGUARDS SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED FROM A B-RANK PORTAL]
[According to the Vanguard Management Bureau, more than ten B-rank Vanguards participated in the operation, successfully rescuing those trapped inside the Portal and pulling them back from the brink of death—]
"That article's wrong. I clearly remember he carried me…"
"Is that your feeling, or your memory? Didn't you say you don't remember anything?"
"I was unconscious, but I clearly remember someone carrying me."
"Oh, you idiot. With over ten B-rank Vanguards there, it could've been anyone."
"But… but…"
"But what? He's just using you to boost his reputation."
"As if he even has a reputation."
Mei Mei let out a laugh.
That can't be… I know what I felt.
"Stop overthinking it. Come on, I'll treat you to something to celebrate your discharge. What do you want to eat?"
"You go ahead. I want a hamburger."
Mimi plopped down onto a nearby bench.
"What? That greasy, disgusting thing?"
"You've even tried it before?"
"Well… no. But that's food for commoners. How could it compare to the high-end stuff we usually eat?"
Mei Mei leaned back, looking around like everything disgusted her.
"Anyway, eat whatever you want. I'll just wait here for the hamburger."
Mimi put on her headphones and pulled her bunny-eared hoodie over her head.
"Tch. Seriously."
Mei Mei clenched the armrest, then stood up and stormed off into the crowd.
*****
"Is it good?"
"Mmmph—so good!!"
"At least swallow first before talking."
Chen Guang chuckled, glancing at Mimi.
Her cheeks puffed out, stuffed with more food than her small mouth could handle.
Gulp.
"It's really good! This is my first time eating a hamburger… though it's bigger than I thought."
Mimi held it up, turning it over as she muttered.
"There's beef, lettuce, tomato and… oh, also cheese."
"Sorry. This is all I can treat you to."
Chen Guang crumpled the wrapper and tossed it into the nearby trash can.
"Mmmf nah… ish relly gud…"
"You're doing it again."
He smiled, a little helpless.
"We should get ready for class. By the way, where's your friend?"
"Mei Mei? She probably went ahead already."
Mimi stopped eating.
She looked at him with wide eyeslike a puppy that had just been abandoned.
"About earlier… I'm sorry."
"What are you apologizing for? It's not your fault. And I'm used to it."
Chen Guang placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"But… she shouldn't have said those things."
Mimi threw away the wrapper and quietly followed behind him.
"It's fine. You'll understand eventually. Strength is everything in this world."
He turned back to look at her, as if she were a little sister.
But inside his pocket, his hand was clenched tightly.
"Enough about that. Let's go, we'll be late."
"Okay…"
Mimi managed a small smile.
A hint of frustration still lingered in her eyes as she trotted beside him.
*****
"Hey, isn't that the 'bug guy' from the rumors?"
"Yeah, that's him. He's taking this course?"
"I heard he's been a Vanguard for years. Why's he in a beginner class now?"
"Who knows. Just stay away from him."
Whispers broke out as Chen Guang pushed the door open.
I can hear every word, you know.
He ignored them and took a seat near the front, where no one else wanted to sit.
"Mimi, come here. I need your help with something."
Mei Mei's voice rang out.
"Chen Guang…"
"Go ahead. She probably really needs your help."
He smiled, reassuring her.
Mimi hesitated.
She took a step forward, then stopped.
"Everyone, settle down. Take your seats immediately."
A voice suddenly echoed through the room.
Mimi flinched.
She hurried to the nearest seat, next to Mei Mei.
"I am Liu Zhang, a former Vanguard. I'll be personally instructing this course. If you have questions, ask now. I won't answer anything once time's up."
The man on the podium looked to be in his sixties.
His face was covered in scars.
His suit only made his broad frame stand out more.
He walked with a limp, likely the result of a severe injury.
Chen Guang gave Liu Zhang a quick once-over.
"Sir, what rank were you before you retired?"
A hand shot up, followed by a curious voice.
"A-rank. Next question."
The room erupted into whispers, mostly along the lines of "We're being taught by an A-rank Vanguard? That's amazing."
"Sir, why don't you continue? A-rank Vanguards are national assets."
"I retired. Next question."
The entire room fell silent.
Liu Zhang swept his gaze across the class. Then stepped to the center of the podium.
"No more detours. We'll begin the lesson."
He reached into his suit pocket and took out a device that looked like a pen.
"As you all know, ten years ago, an incident occurred on a global scale. A massive gate opened in the sky."
A beam of light projected from the pen.
"Is that a Portal? Why does it look so terrifying?"
"It looks like the end of the world…"
The room filled with whispers as the image of a massive, fiery red circle, surrounded by crackling lightning, appeared.
"That event is well known. It was later named Annihilation."
A series of images flashed by—a world in ruins.
"In the face of danger, opportunity emerged. Humanity was affected as well, latent potential awakened within the body. Many gained powers, supernatural abilities, and more…"
Images of the earliest Vanguards flashed by, one after another.
The entire class watched in silence.
"Sir, then why are we called 'Vanguards'?"
Chen Guang raised his hand.
"Good question. At the time, the most urgent need was to protect the world. Those who awakened chose to gather together and fight off the creatures destroying everything."
Liu Zhang didn't even blink as he replied.
"And why 'Vanguard'? Because we are the ones who stand at the front—eliminating monsters, protecting civilians. The world's frontline force."
So that's where the name comes from. Surprisingly simple.
Chen Guang fell into thought, though he continued listening.
"With enough sacrifice, humanity eventually drove the final monster back into the sky."
Liu Zhang continued, an image of a massive creature appeared, its entire body glowing blood-red, surrounded by other monsters.
That… looks familiar.
A sharp pain stabbed through Chen Guang's chest.
He clutched at it, his heart hammering against his ribs.
"The monsters were pushed back. But the gates, now called Portals, did not disappear. They continue to appear, one after another."
One glowing gate after another appeared, each with its own label.
E-rank — pale blue.
D-rank — dark purple.
"So C-rank is golden… first time I actually knew that."
Chen Guang muttered.
B-rank — fiery orange, glowing like fire.
A-rank — deep crimson, flames raging intensely.
Exactly the same color as that locked crystal.
Sweat formed on his forehead.
"Corresponding to Portal levels, we also classify Vanguards into ranks, if anyone has a question, stand up and ask."
A trembling hand rose.
"S-Sir… what does an S-rank Portal look like? It's not shown here."
Good question, Mimi. I'm curious too.
Chen Guang let out a faint smile, almost amused.
"We have no data on S-rank Portals."
"Then… do they even exist?"
"It's only a rumor, that S-rank Portals resemble a rainbow, with seven colors shifting continuously."
Liu Zhang watched as Mimi sat down, then continued.
"Vanguards are also ranked—from E at the lowest, to S at the highest."
"Sir, I think that's wrong. Shouldn't F be the lowest?"
Several disdainful gazes turned toward Chen Guang.
"F-rank was only recently proposed by the Bureau. It's used for abilities that have awakened, but whose potential cannot yet be determined."
Liu Zhang spoke without moving his gaze.
"Even if that ability is useless, sir?"
"There is no such thing as a useless ability. Only a useless user."
"Then, what about the ability to communicate with insects, sir?"
Laughter erupted throughout the classroom, loud and unrestrained.
Liu Zhang's expression didn't change.
"If used correctly, I believe it could control all insects."
The entire class went silent.
"Of course, from a biological standpoint, insects tend to follow a single 'queen'. Since we're a different species, the idea remains purely theoretical."
"Heh. Useless is still useless."
The whispers returned, all aimed at Chen Guang.
"Silence."
Liu Zhang glanced at him, as if assessing something, then turned back to the front.
"I will now continue with crystal stones, the very thing Vanguards risk their lives for."
He took out a dark purple crystal and placed it in his palm.
"Sir… aside from looking pretty, what does it actually do?"
The entire class burst into laughter.
Oh, this girl.
Chen Guang let out a wry smile.
"In today's world, what do you think is the most important thing?"
"Money."
"Food."
"For me, it's the internet. I can't last a day without it."
"Heh, for me it's hot girls."
Voices overlapped across the room.
"Alright, I respect your answers. Anyone else?"
"Energy."
"Correct."
Liu Zhang nodded toward Chen Guang, clearly satisfied.
"Resources like coal and oil are nearly depleted."
"No nation is willing to build nuclear power plants anymore. After all, no one can predict when or where a Portal might appear."
His voice turned serious as he scanned the room.
"Fortunately, the crystals dropped by monsters inside Portals can provide an astonishing amount of energy."
Holding the purple crystal between two fingers, he held it up for everyone to see.
"This single crystal can power a small-scale facility continuously for five days."
"What?!"
"Five days? From that tiny thing?!"
"That's insane, no wonder my dad never has to pay electricity bills."
Voices of shock echoed throughout the classroom.
"That's enough for today. We'll continue tomorrow. Class dismissed."
"Yes, sir!"
With a slight nod, Liu Zhang left the room, his movements swift and efficient.
Maybe I should train a bit before heading home…
Chen Guang's thoughts were cut short when someone slapped him hard on the shoulder.
"Hey, bug boy. Come outside with us."
A rough-looking guy stood in front of him, two bulky figures glaring from behind.
"Do you need something from me?"
"No. I just don't like your face."
"I see. Then excuse me, I have somewhere to be."
Chen Guang brushed past him and started walking.
[SIDE QUEST: DEAL WITH THE TROUBLEMAKERS]
[REWARD: 10 E-RANK CRYSTALS]
[ACCEPT?]
Just beating them up is worth six million.
"Bastard, you dare—"
"Yeah. Let's go."
"Heh, knew you'd behave."
Chen Guang followed the three of them.
A faint smile curved at the corner of his lips.
But he hadn't finished reading the quest yet.
The final line was still appearing—quietly.
[BONUS REWARD]
[ELIMINATE THE TARGET]
[REWARD: D-RANK CRYSTAL]