Hero Live Aftermath: Eyes on Top Beast Survival

The quiet hospital room echoed only with short, sharp beeps from the monitors. Were they holding their silence because of the man lying there? The three women at his bedside stared solely at him, not saying a word for a long while.

"The doctor said it's a coma."

A voice cut through the stillness. Lee Hye-ri spoke calmly, her face expressionless. It stood in stark contrast to Seo Min-jeong, the police captain whose features were twisted in grief, and Lee Yoo-ri, whose face contorted like a vengeful demon.

"They've treated the brain hemorrhage as an emergency, but it could burst again anytime. And the spinal damage is severe—even if he wakes up, he won't be able to use his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lower body."

A single tear traced down her cheek, as if her soul had fled her body.

"Where's the perp... where the hell is that bastard right now?!"

Yoo-ri screamed at Captain Seo Min-jeong.

"The suspect in this case has been admitted to a hospital in another district. He was injured during the apprehension..."

Captain Seo paused to catch her breath, then continued in a firm tone.

"But we'll take responsibility and make sure he gets the punishment he deserves. I promise."

Hye-ri reached out to stop Yoo-ri, who looked ready to say more. Without turning her head from gazing down at Min-ho, she said,

"We'll trust you, since you're the one who saved Min-ho during his fight with that guy."

"...Thank you."

Captain Seo bowed her head and left the room. Yoo-ri grabbed her sister's shoulder—the one who'd just stopped her.

"Unnie! Let's sue that psycho lawyer's ass! Make sure he never breathes free air again..."

"Of course we will. No matter how much it costs."

Yoo-ri could sense it instinctively. The blazing fury in Hye-ri's eyes as she looked back at her. She was just holding it in, waiting for the right moment to unleash the flames.

"Villain... was it?"

Hye-ri murmured the word from the news report on the incident. A faint green glow lingered briefly on her clenched fist before fading away.

The trip ended, and I immediately patted myself down to check for any issues. The dizzying sensation of my strength draining away was gone; I was back in peak condition, just like before I left.

"Phew... good thing."

I'd instinctively leaped to save Hye-ri, but I'd been worried something might go wrong. Still, I'd gained something from it. Unlike Yoo-ri, Hye-ri's emotional connection to me had only been pity before—this incident would make her strongly aware of me. Next time we met, we'd get close much faster, no doubt.

The amenity had done its job perfectly this trip. The appearance change helped me win people over easily, and Safety Ejection let me save Hye-ri too. Sure, travel was sealed for 30 days ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as a penalty, but if I didn't want to wait, I could just spend some of the mileage I'd raked in.

First things first: I headed to the souvenir menu to make the [Hyper-Sensory Perception - High-Speed Thought] I'd earned usable in the real world.

I naturally chose [YES]. Unlike when I got superpowers in the Namhira world, there was no headache or fever, but I instinctively knew I'd gained the ability.

"And stats."

Time to distribute the most urgent—my stats. I'd thought the Namhira world was low difficulty because the novel portrayed it lightly. Wrong. Showbiz? Fine if you never actually face heroes or villains in person, just watch on TV. But as this incident showed, without power, someone else decides your fate. I'd have croaked like a frog hit by a rock without it.

Now that I had this power, I wasn't handing my choices to anyone else. I'd actively get stronger.

I opened my status window.

Each stat point cost 100 more mileage than the last. 'Wish the cost was fixed, but compared to exponential scaling, this is fairy-level generosity. Think positive.'

I spent a total of 3900 mileage to raise all stats to 5.

"Grrrrraaah..."

Unlike the superpower, this change hit hard. Maybe because I'd boosted so many at once—the agony was intense. Muscles twisting, fever rising, mind blanking; I rolled on the floor, unable to even scream. Luckily, it didn't last long.

"Fuck... never dumping double stats at once again."

I came to, stood up, and checked myself. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Explosive power surged through me, totally different from before.

This put me beyond normal humans, on par with or surpassing trained athletes or bodybuilders. I lifted my shirt—defined abs greeted me. First time since discharge. I stripped, struck poses in the mirror, admiring my gains. Snapped a few pics too.

"Huh? No tattoo in the photo?"

The bracelet-shaped tattoo on my wrist didn't show up. Clean ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as if it never existed. Guess it was invisible to others.

"Now, remaining mileage..."

1300 left.

"Hold off on that for now."

In 30 days, I'd hit another world—not Namhira. I'd pick one for fast power gains. With high-speed thought and physical boosts, I could handle scrub villains now. Even counter rock monster types. But that was peak human limits. Needed more.

After picking a travel spot, I'd use the 1300 on stats or shop buys.

"No more agonizing!"

Maybe from being away so long, my body itched for action. I grabbed my smartphone—untouched for days—and hit the net. Time hadn't passed here, so nothing new.

Then a fun idea hit. I posted on a major domestic community site.

Fitness community, so reactions were solid. Old me would've gotten flamed. I chuckled at the rapid comments until they slowed, then deleted the post and scrolled hot threads.

Found one.

Hot topic—tons of likes. I dug for details. Easy to find, heavy promo or real hype. Show: Top Beast Survival. 20 civilians and YouTubers compete physically. One winner. Deadline tomorrow, filming next week.

Pure gut feel: This'd be a blast.

I grinned. "Time to give my Earth pals a taste of superpowers?"