The cold glow of the television flickered across Zeki's face as he lay on his bed, casting fleeting shadows around his room. His eyes were fixed on the screen, where a stern-looking reporter narrated the chaos unfolding at the walls of Fortaleza. That day, which had begun with its usual monotony, was about to etch itself into his memory as something deeply unsettling.
"Today, a section of the wall was inexplicably destroyed by a Tiger-level monster," the reporter's voice was tense. "It is an alarming event, considering these barriers were designed to withstand attacks from even the fearsome Dragon-level monsters."
Her co-anchor took over, his tone laced with indignation. "Local residents had been warning about cracks for weeks. It seems those warnings were tragically ignored by the authorities. A lamentable negligence. Fortunately, five Class A heroes were nearby and managed to neutralize the threat before greater losses occurred."
A chill ran down Zeki's spine. The walls were dangerously close to his house. "Good thing we're moving," he murmured to himself, a fragile sense of relief in his voice.
From the kitchen, the comforting aroma of egg noodles spread through the house. It was his mother, Claudia, calling him. "Zeki, lunch is on the table! Come before it gets cold."
"I'm coming, Mom," he replied, turning off the TV and dragging himself to the kitchen.
Seated at the table, habit took over. Zeki grabbed his phone, ready to dive into another video while eating. His father, Cleiton, immediately shot him a disapproving look.
"Zeki, how many times do I have to say it? No phones at the table," Cleiton's voice was sharp.
"Come on, Dad, what's the problem?" Zeki replied without taking his eyes off the screen.
"The problem is you're glued to that thing! And you don't even eat like a proper Brazilian, with rice and beans. I don't even know how you're still standing."
Claudia stepped in, trying to ease the tension. "Let him be, Cleiton. I never got him used to rice and beans when he was little."
Her response only fueled Cleiton's frustration. "You spoil this boy too much. That's why he doesn't eat anything substantial. If I didn't work so much, he'd eat everything. The only reason he's not a skeleton is because of those powers of his."
The tension snapped in the air. "If you complain so much about how he's raised," Claudia shot back, her voice sharp, "why aren't you around more to do things your way, dear?"
"Don't play dumb."
Overwhelmed by the argument, Zeki stood up, plate in hand, and headed to the living room. Before his father could fire another remark, a dull metallic thud echoed outside. The moving truck had arrived, knocking against the gate.
"Zeki, go open the gate for them, quickly!" Claudia shouted, urgency cutting through the argument.
"I'm going!"
Zeki opened the gate, and the driver—a sturdy man with a tired face—approached him. "Hello, nice to meet you. House number 96?"
Zeki simply nodded. Before the man could continue, Claudia's voice echoed from the yard. "SORRY FOR THE DELAY! You can come in."
"Alright, ma'am. Let's get started, everyone," the driver said to his crew.
As the men began the heavy work, Claudia, ever hospitable, offered, "Would you like something to drink? I can make some juice."
"Thank you, but no need," the driver replied. "We still have other houses to clear out today. A lot of people are leaving because of the walls."
Suddenly, a deafening explosion shook the neighborhood, coming from the direction of the wall. The ground trembled. Panicked screams echoed through the street as people rushed out of their homes, fear written across their faces.
"It's okay, sweetheart, it's over," a young mother whispered to her baby, placing a pacifier back in its mouth.
A neighbor, an elderly woman named Sousa, clutched her chest. "I almost had a heart attack! My moving truck comes tomorrow. Even if they paid me, I wouldn't stay another night here."
"This is the seventh time this month!" another neighbor shouted. "The government needs to do something! What are heroes even for?"
Cleiton, watching the scene with crossed arms, muttered, "Seems like we can't rely on them either."
Then, another explosion—stronger, closer. A massive rock, the size of a tree, was launched through the air, tracing a deadly arc toward a nearby house. People threw themselves to the ground, a collective scream caught in their throats.
But Zeki didn't move. His eyes locked onto the rock. In an instant, a faint bluish aura enveloped it. It stopped midair, just meters away from crushing the roof. With a gentle motion of his hand, Zeki redirected it, placing it softly in an empty lot.
A collective sigh of relief swept through the street.
"Well done, son!" Cleiton exclaimed, a rare glint of pride in his eyes. "That's how it's done! Show those little heroes how it's really handled!"
Zeki turned to his father, his expression unreadable. "It was nothing. It wasn't even going to hit the house."
Mrs. Sousa, still pale, declared, "I'm too old for this. I'm calling the movers. I want out tonight."
As the family finally prepared to leave, Cleiton looked back. "Claudia, let's go! We don't have all day."
"Calm down, I was fixing my hair," she replied, finally appearing at the door.
They got into the truck, leaving behind the chaos, the fear, and the cracked walls of Fortaleza, heading toward the promise of safety in São Paulo
Far from the suburban chaos, in the heart of Fortaleza, the smoked glass walls of the Wolf Guild reflected a city that barely knew how close it had come to disaster. Inside the director's office, the air was heavy. Roberto, a man whose stern expression seemed permanent, stared at his subordinate across an imposing mahogany desk.
"Repeat that," Roberto's voice was a low, contained growl. "How, in the name of everything sacred, did an A-rank monster even scratch our defenses?"
The employee, a young woman named Lúcia, swallowed hard. Her fingers trembled slightly over the tablet on her lap. "Sir, preliminary reports indicate the monster... it was striking the same point on the wall repeatedly. For days."
Roberto leaned forward, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Days? You're telling me the wall was being hammered for days and none of our on-duty hunters noticed the 'noise'?" The irony in his voice was razor-sharp.
"They... were notified, sir," Lúcia admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But the records show they claimed to be 'busy' or on 'more important missions.'"
The silence that followed was more terrifying than any shout. Roberto leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking. He rubbed his temples, a vein pulsing on his forehead. "Unacceptable," he hissed. "We're talking about the safety of millions. The reputation of this guild. These... glorified mercenaries need to understand that their 'priorities' are defined by me. Repairs will cost a fortune."
"I agree, sir," Lúcia said, finding a bit of resolve. "We need to review our response protocols. I'll issue a statement to the press to calm the population."
"Do it," Roberto ordered. "And schedule a meeting with all available S-class hunters. Now. They need to be reminded of the importance of vigilance. I want them here as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir. I'll arrange it immediately."
"And the repairs?"
"I'm already in contact with suppliers. We can begin today, but we'll need additional resources."
"Get them," Roberto said, finality in his tone. "We cannot fail again. I want hourly updates."
"Understood, sir."
"Dismissed."
As Lúcia left, closing the door softly behind her, Roberto turned his chair toward the panoramic window. The city stretched beneath him, a sea of lights and lives he had sworn to protect. But his mind wasn't on the view. It was on the boy. The report mentioned a civilian who, with psychic powers, had stopped a chunk of the wall midair. Unregistered. A wildcard. In a day full of incompetence, that boy was the only interesting anomaly. And anomalies, Roberto knew, could be either a blessing or a curse.
Inside the truck cabin, the world blurred past in shades of green and gray. Zeki was oblivious, his face lit by his phone.
"Zeki, dear, look at the scenery," Claudia said gently. "It's so beautiful. Put that thing down for a bit."
"Later, Mom. I'm watching the news," he replied without looking away.
Cleiton sighed from the front seat. "Son, I know you like staying informed, but this is becoming a bit of an addiction, don't you think?"
"If you say so, Dad." His short reply was his shield.
"Will there ever be a day when you two can talk without arguing?" Claudia sighed.
"Don't exaggerate, dear," Cleiton replied.
On Zeki's screen, a man with flawless hair and a smug smile dominated the interview. It was Paulo Corta, an S-class hunter from São Paulo, surrounded by fans and reporters. He had just defeated five A-rank monsters alone.
"Oh, it was easy!" Paulo's voice was arrogant and playful. "Five little monsters? I can handle that before breakfast. And I didn't even break a sweat!"
"Paulo, what's the secret to maintaining such confidence and strength?" a reporter asked.
Paulo laughed, a laugh that seemed made for the cameras. "Well, besides being naturally incredible, I train. But deep down, it's pure talent. I was born for this!"
Zeki frowned. "This guy... he seems like an idiot," he muttered, "but he's strong."
Cleiton, having heard him, commented, "Paulo Corta? He's famous for that. Arrogant to the bone, but no one can deny he gets results."
"Let's change the subject," Claudia cut in. "Zeki, when we arrive, we can go out for a bit before you register at the guild. What do you think?"
"Sounds good, Mom," he said, finally locking his phone.
Cleiton glanced at him through the rearview mirror, a hint of a smirk on his lips. "Who knows, maybe one day you'll become a Paulo Corta too?"
The remark hit its mark. Zeki looked at his father, his calm expression cracking for a moment. "Don't belittle me like that, Dad."
The conversation died there, but the seed had been planted. Between the anticipation of a new life and old family dynamics, the family continued their journey to São Paulo.
While the Silva family traveled, life pulsed differently in a São Paulo favela. On a dirt field, two teenagers chased a soccer ball with a ferocity that contrasted with their surroundings.
"Come on, Gustavo! Stop being afraid to play seriously just because I'm a girl!" Bia shouted, sweat running down her face as she kicked the ball hard.
"It's not that, Bia! I just don't want to hurt you!" Gustavo replied, out of breath.
Bia laughed, a defiant sound. "Oh, stop being such a wimp! I'm not made of glass! If you're not going all out, there's no point!"
Gustavo stopped, took a deep breath, and a new spark lit in his eyes. "Alright then. You asked for it. But don't complain later."
"Bring it on! I can handle it!"
The game changed. Gustavo unleashed his speed and strength, turning the match into an intense duel of dribbles and tackles. Bia, despite the physical disadvantage, didn't back down. She fought for every ball, her indomitable spirit shining brighter than the setting sun.
"See? This is way more fun!" Gustavo said after an impressive dribble.
Bia, breathless but smiling victoriously, replied, "That's what I'm talking about! Now this feels like a real game!"
The sun dipped into shades of orange and purple as the moving truck finally stopped in front of a tall, modern building in São Paulo. The Silva family stepped out, stretching their sore limbs.
"We finally made it! This place looks amazing!" Claudia exclaimed, her eyes shining.
"Let's go up. I want to see the apartment," Cleiton said, already grabbing the bags.
Zeki slipped his phone into his pocket—a rare concession. "Alright."
On the 10th floor, the door opened to a spacious apartment with white walls and a floor-to-ceiling window revealing the glittering city.
"Look at this! It even has a balcony with an incredible view!" Claudia was enchanted.
"We made a good choice," Cleiton agreed. "Zeki, go pick your room."
Zeki walked down the hallway and chose the room with the best view. He dropped his bag on the floor and returned to the living room.
"Did you like your room, son?"
"Yeah, it's nice. The view is great," he replied, his expression as neutral as ever.
"Let's rest a bit and then go out to explore," Cleiton said. "And tomorrow, Zeki, your guild registration."
"Okay."
Cleiton gave a tired smile. "I can feel your excitement from here, son. Try to enjoy it."
Zeki simply nodded and walked to the large window in the living room. His eyes searched the horizon, finding the distant, imposing line of São Paulo's walls. They looked intact. Solid. A sense of safety—something he hadn't felt in weeks—began to settle in.
"Yeah," he thought, watching the city lights come alive. "Coming here was the right choice."
A new life was just beginning.