It's been a few days since I recovered from the simulation accident. My body still aches now and then, but the medical tech in Hero City is nothing short of a miracle. Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, I couldn't help but think about where I stood in this world—literally and figuratively.
Hero City isn't just any city. It's a living map of strength, split into seven districts that represent how powerful its residents are. The stronger you are—or claim to be—the closer you live to the Hero Association headquarters in the city center.
The Seventh District, where we first arrived, is home to enhanced humans—people whose abilities are comparable to super soldiers from those old comic books. It's the most populated district, and the starting line for most aspiring heroes.
Then there's the Sixth District, where people have enough power to destroy a building in one strike. Things get serious there. You don't want to accidentally bump into someone on the street.
I live in the Fifth District for now. Residents here are strong enough to level an entire town with a single blow. It's not where I aim to stay, but until my power is properly evaluated—and until I can control it—it's the furthest my brother's connections could get me.
The Fourth District is for those who can destroy cities, and the Third District belongs to powerhouses capable of wiping out entire countries. Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl.
Above that is the Second District, where people strong enough to obliterate continents reside. That's the official power level of my brother, Daniel—known publicly as Power Punch. But rumor has it even that's downplayed.
And then there's the First District, the most elite zone in Hero City. Only those capable of planetary destruction live there. I don't know if anyone's ever seen the true extent of those residents' powers, but one thing's for sure—if I want to stand among legends, that's the peak.
But getting there isn't just about raw strength.
Every person in Hero City is evaluated in three ways:
1. How much power they use in public.
2. How much power they choose to register.
3. How strong they truly are.
It's the second one—registered strength—that determines where you live. That's why some people hide their real power. It's a tactical decision. You register just enough to live where you want, but never reveal your hand.
In my case, I've only shown enough to place me in the Fifth District. Not bad, considering I was weaker than Raditz just weeks ago. But I'm not here to stay in the Fifth.
I have a long way to go—and the higher I climb, the more dangerous things will get.
But I already died once. I won't live small this time.