I WAS The Rank–1 Hero-Chapter 75: Wheel of Fate [2]

"Big brother, I want an apple!"

’!?’

Who?

My hand tightened around hers instinctively.

What—?

I stood frozen in my place.

"Big brother?" She called me again, her small fingers squeezing my hand, her bright red eyes staring up at me with worry.

My lips moved on their own.

"Lucy."

What?

Did I just—?

That name…

"Yes, big brother?" She smiled, tilting her head slowly.

Lucy.

That was her name.

But how did I know that?

That face, those red eyes, her soft silver hair—they didn’t feel unfamiliar to me.

It felt as if I had known the name Lucy forever.

A part of me wanted to question it, to deny the impossibility of it all. But another part of me… didn’t want to.

Such a small face.

Such a bright smile.

A strange overwhelming feeling surged in my chest, it was a need—no, it was a duty of mine to protect her. I didn’t know why, but I knew, deep in my soul, that I would do anything to keep that smile safe.

It was the same feeling I get whenever I see Elise.

"You just ate an apple, Lucy. No more apples for you."

Again, my mouth moved without my will.

I could feel everything—her tiny hand wrapped around mine, the sweet scent of cherries in the air, the crisp cold wind brushing against my skin. It was real. Too real.

So it wasn’t a dream.

"Hmph! Stingy brother!" Lucy pouted, puffing her cheeks as she turned her head away from me dramatically.

A chuckle slipped past my lips.

"Hehe."

It was so natural. So familiar.

"Hey, Rex!"

A voice called out from behind.

I turned my head toward the sound.

My eyes saw a boy with chestnut-colored hair, he was waving both of his hands wildly in my direction, grinning from ear to ear.

’Who is he?’

I questioned myself.

And more importantly—

’Who is this Rex?’

"Hey, Icarus."

Again, my mouth moved on its own. My hand raised, making a waving gesture back at the boy.

Icarus?

That must be that boy’s name.

Then that means—

Rex… must be me.

I was inside someone else’s body.

And with each passing second, I felt like I was losing my mind.

I am gonna go insane at this rate.

’Why am I in his body?’

Did Nathalia do something?

The possibilities are slim, she wanted my trust, so it’s highly likely not her’s doing.

I woke up to this place after I heard that stupid prophecy of mine.

Sera wasn’t with me either. I tried calling her—but I got nothing. No response. No presence of her or anything. It was like she never existed here.

"Wait for me!"

Icarus ran up to us, his robe slightly different from mine. Strange mechanical hinges were attached to his knees and joints, clicking softly with each step he took.

A laugh jolted out of my mouth.

"Hahahaha!"

I spoke—no, Rex spoke.

"Another one of your father’s experiments?"

Icarus let out a nervous groan. "Yeah..."

"Must be tough."

"He now wants to create an instrument that will make all of us fly…" Icarus sneered, frustration loomed on his face.

"Hello, big brother Icarus," Lucy greeted him, her voice as sweet as ever.

Icarus grinned and crouched slightly. "Oh, my little Lucy, how are you doing?"

"I’m hungry. Big brother Icarus, buy me an apple, please."

She made the most innocent puppy face I had ever seen—something no human in history could refuse.

"Agh!" Icarus clutched his chest in a dramatic manner. "Of course, my dear Lucy! Your every wish is my command!"

"Don’t spoil her, idiot." Rex glared at them.

"Bleh!" Lucy stuck her tongue out at me.

And for some reason, that really annoyed me.

I could feel every single one of Rex’s emotions. The slight irritation. The deep, lingering fondness towards Lucy. The warmth. Every single one of them.

Just as we started moving toward the marketplace, a loud, angry voice stopped us in our tracks.

"Hey! You there!!"

I turned toward the voice.

A large man with dark skin, a brown beard, and curly hair marched toward us, his expression was of pure rage and hatred.

In one of his hands, he held a long silver spear. In the other, a platinum shield, reflecting the surrounding marketplace like a distorted blurry mirror.

The moment my eyes landed on him, every ounce of calmness I once had vanished.

Fear gripped me.

A deep, gut-wrenching fear overtook me.

’What is happening?!’

"Shit!" Rex cursed under his breath. He gripped Lucy’s hand tightly and bolted away.

"Rex?!" Icarus called from behind, he was confused.

We ran.

Through the crowd of people. We passed fruit stalls and merchants, scattering some of them by my impact.

The sound of heavy metal armored footsteps echoed behind us. The man was still chasing us.

’What did Rex do?’

Why was he after us?

I couldn’t do anything. I was just… here. Watching the scenes. Trapped inside Rex’s consciousness.

’Is this what Sera felt all the time?’

"Brother…" Lucy whimpered.

She didn’t seem confused. Not even surprised. It’s as if she knew.

She knew who this man was.

She knew why he was after us.

"Lucy, just hold my hand tightly! Don’t let go! I won’t let them take you away," Rex assured her, his voice laced with fear.

Lucy’s small hand tightened around his.

"Haah!"

Two men suddenly stepped into our path, blocking our way forward. They wore the same outfit as the man chasing us.

Rex skidded to a stop, he held Lucy protectively.

"We told you once," he growled, his voice sharp and commanding. "Lucy ain’t going anywhere."

One of the men stepped forward, disgusted. "It’s the king’s order, brat. Now be a good little shit and hand over the girl."

’The king?’

Why would the king want Lucy?

Before I could even process it, I noticed something.

We were surrounded.

One behind us. Two in front.

There’s no way for us to run.

Rex’s eyes darted around, desperately searching for an escape.

I wanted to help.

I wanted to fight.

But I was just… here.

Helpless.

SMACK!

"Ugh!"

A crushing blow slammed into our stomach.

Pain surged through our body.

It hurts.

’It hurts like hell.’

I gasped. Rex gasped too. We both felt it. His pain. Our pain.

Rex let out a small, strained cry as he staggered back, holding his stomach.

I could do nothing but endure it with him.

"Brother!"

Lucy’s scream.

The dark-skinned man held her by the hair, lifting her off the ground like she weighed nothing. Tears gathered in her blood-red eyes, her small hands desperately clawing at his wrist. Scratching him.

It pained me.

So much that I wanted to tear their bones out of their joints.

Rex struggled to move.

I tried too.

I tried with everything I had.

Hoping—praying—that somehow, I could help him.

I tried activating my skills, resonating my mind to the Elementals, but nothing happened. It’s as if the concept of Elemental doesn’t even exist here.

Thud!

A massive foot slammed into Rex’s back. He collapsed, his face smacking against the cold, hard ground in between the marketplace.

The people around us didn’t even bother to bat an eye at us.

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It was frustrating.

Bunch of cowards…

I tried my best to control Rex’s body.

’MOVE, DAMMIT!!’

I screamed inside his consciousness, but my voice meant nothing.

Smack! Smack!

Kick after kick rained down on Rex—on us.

Our bone crunching.

’Please stop!’

Pain. So much pain.

I felt insignificant.

Powerless.

As if I went back to the time, when I held no power.

The relentless assault continued for what felt like an eternity, it went on for five whole minutes.

By the time they stopped, I—We couldn’t even feel anything anymore.

A weak, broken whisper left Rex’s lips.

"Uu...ghh…"

Slowly, with whatever strength remained, he forced one eye open.

The world was blurred.

The first thing I saw was the pool of red blood beneath us.

Rex’s blood.

My blood.

Small fragments of teeth and strands of dark hair floated in the crimson puddle.

"Fucking brat—Spat!"

Warm saliva dripped down my cheek.

The men finally moved away.

One of them shoved Lucy into a box.

Her small frame disappeared behind the wooden lid.

Her face was blurry in my vision—I didn’t get to see her last expression.

Silence consumed me.

Slowly, I turned my head, staring at the reflection in the red pool beneath me.

My face—Rex’s face—was a mess.

Bruises. Swollen flesh.

Barely recognizable.

Yet the silver eyes of his stood out.

And the dark black hair.

It was the same as mine.

Even through all the blood and wounds… I could tell.

It was as if I was looking at my own reflection.

End of Chapter.

[A/N]: This chapter might seem confusing to some of you or it might not. But please wait for the next chapters, everything will make sense. Thanks for reading, and I promised a mass release, and I will do it soon.