I am a female swordsman.

The fact that it can be described as a miracle gives you an idea of ​​how magnificent the Hero Association headquarters is.

The building, entirely encased in a black, glass-like material, has sharp, angular lines that gleam with a cold, high-tech aura under the sunlight. Majestic and imposing, it stands like a sharp sword pointing straight to the heavens!

This is the association's headquarters!

Even having witnessed countless wonders of nature's artistry, Huang Quan had to admit that this magnificent human-made structure evoked a completely different feeling in her. The spirit of building brick by brick with our own hands, step by step, is truly admirable; there's nothing we can't do.

Sitting on the bus, Huang Quan and Sephiroth could see the association headquarters in the distance.

"fortress."

When Sephiroth saw the general outline of the Hero Association headquarters building, a hint of surprise appeared on his handsome, cold face. This building, almost disappearing into the clouds, was clearly a fortress!

"That's right. When the association headquarters was built, the possibility of being attacked was taken into account. Therefore, the headquarters was built to the specifications of a fortress."

Mado Yomi, standing to the side, offered a smiling explanation.

Thanks to a certain senator, Yomi Mado holds a fairly high position in the Hero Association. She even has access to some of the association's internal documents. With enemies being monsters, illegal organizations, and criminals, Yomi wouldn't be surprised if the headquarters wasn't built to be incredibly sturdy, or if it were ever blown to smithereens.

And so, after a pleasant twenty-minute bus ride...

Yomi Mado, accompanied by a silver-haired boy who aspired to be a hero, walked through the gates of the Hero Association. This scene was captured by a reporter filming near the entrance, and this precious photograph was later considered by scholars studying planetary calendars to mark a great beginning.

"To become a hero recognized by the association, you need to undergo an evaluation."

He casually grabbed a guide essence from a nearby shelf and handed it to Sephiroth. Because it was currently a period of explosive growth for professional heroes, the association headquarters was exceptionally bustling. Fortunately, the headquarters had a huge space; otherwise, the influx of so many people would have likely paralyzed the association.

"Take a look at the precautions in the manual first, and after you've memorized them all, I'll take you to the evaluation."

Because of the huge flow of people, it is impossible for everyone who comes to the Hero event to have a guide. Therefore, guidance manuals, electronic signs and other methods have been set up at the association headquarters.

"I've finished reading it."

"Forehead……"

Just as Mado Yomi lowered her head to operate her personal terminal, she suddenly heard Sephiroth say something like that. The thin booklet contained no unnecessary words, and Sephiroth's mental processing speed allowed him to easily flip through it, almost as if he were just casually flipping through it.

"Come with me."

Slightly speechless and choked with emotion, Huang Quan pushed up his glasses, glanced at the innocent Sephiroth, and gestured for him to follow him.

………………

The Hero Association evaluates heroes based on two aspects.

One is a cultural assessment, and the other is a physical assessment.

Although the Hero Association's principle is that anyone who isn't a criminal can become a hero, there still needs to be a record of the mental state and moral values ​​of prospective heroes. You never know, someone might be a prospective hero one second and a monster or criminal the next.

"Did you bring that child, Mado?"

"Ah."

"Ah, truly excellent." An evaluator dressed in a blue and white uniform spoke to Huang Quan to the side, his electronic eyes working at high speed to keep up with Sephiroth's movements as he underwent physical testing in the arena.

The silver-haired youth in the leather trench coat moved with such ease that, to onlookers, it seemed he completely disregarded the Hero Association's testing machine. The lifelike combat robot, modeled after a monster, didn't even have the power to force Sephiroth to take it seriously.

Excellent? That's monstrous.

The electronic eye watched Sephiroth's effortless and composed movements, feeling both admiration and excitement. The salaries and benefits of these association members were tied to the heroes they served. The stronger the hero, the more outstanding the team supporting them.

Although Yomi Mado is not good-looking, her work ability is really strong.

Not only are they on good terms with Silver Fang and Atomic Samurai, but now they've somehow managed to bring in a young monster. With this silver-haired boy's potential, possessing both good looks and strength, he's bound to become another super-popular hero.

Thinking about it this way, Yomi Mado's position in the Hero Association has been further solidified.

The electronic eye looked at Huang Quan with a hint of admiration inadvertently. It really wanted to ask her how she managed to build such good relationships with so many outstanding professional heroes. If it could give them the secret, it would surely make their lives much easier.

As for whether it will infringe on Mado Yomi's interests, Electronic Eye has no worries at all.

Almost everyone in the association knew that Mado Yomi was merely a figurehead within the association; she was actually paid by the councilor. During the time when the electronic eyes were engaged in a flurry of mental activity, Sephiroth effortlessly knocked down the androids one by one with a single strike, gracefully exiting the arena amidst the envious and jealous gazes of his fellow test subjects.

"Oh, the physical test is over. These results...tsk, Mado, you probably brought an A-level." Having received the test results ahead of time, the electronic eye couldn't help but compliment Yomi.

"There's also a written test." This result wasn't surprising, and Huang Quan remained calm and unperturbed.

"Haha, with Mado's help, the written test will definitely be no problem. How about it, if you're planning to take this guy out to celebrate later, I have quite a few good places to recommend."

"That child doesn't really like socializing."

"Hmm... so you're going for the talent route? That's a real waste of such good potential." Electronic Eyes shook his head regretfully.

After a workout, his fair face flushed slightly, the exceptionally handsome silver-haired youth exuded charm, captivating everyone in the audience. Such a chosen hero deserves to be publicized daily; giving him an A-rank might be too shabby. Who knows, the association might gain another member to its already scarce S-rank positions!

Chapter 53 His Appearance

The Hero Association currently rates disasters as follows:

Based on their level of threat, monsters are categorized from low to high as: Wolf, Tiger, Demon, Dragon, and God. These categories are sometimes also used to indicate the strength of the monsters. Wolf level represents a certain level of danger, Tiger level indicates the potential for casualties, Demon level signifies the destruction of cities, and Dragon level represents a crisis affecting multiple cities or even the entire country.

As for god-level.

It would be a catastrophe that all of humanity would find difficult to resist.

It's worth mentioning that, based on Yomi's limited combat record, some more radical members of the Hero Association speculate that if she were to lose control, her disaster level would be somewhere between that of a dragon and a god.

As for Genesis, the "Ash Messenger" who once blasted mountains into the atmosphere...

The Hero Association selectively ignores this.

"The written test took longer than I expected." Outside another testing room, an electronic eye holding two cups of coffee handed one of the steaming cups of sweet coffee to Huang Quan.

Out of confidentiality and respect, the test data of some outstanding hero reserves are classified as secret by the Hero Association. This has won the favor of many hero reserves, who feel that the Hero Association's actions truly treat heroes as heroes.

Instead of treating special groups as thugs, bodyguards, or even expendable resources, as the government has done in the past.

"Thank you."

Huang Quan took the coffee, adjusted his black-rimmed glasses, and moved the steaming coffee slightly away from his face. Otherwise, the steam would fog up his glasses, making it difficult to see clearly.

"You're welcome... Have you thought of a hero's title for him? I have a few good options, such as [Chosen Warrior], [Silver Demon], [Quick Blade Boy]..." As he spoke, the electronic eye chuckled under Mado Yomi's disdainful gaze.

Well, I have to admit his naming skills aren't very good.

Not all professional heroes are well-educated, so the Hero Association takes care of naming them. The concept behind hero names is similar to that of stage names for entertainers. These names should closely reflect the hero's strengths or characteristics, making them easier for the public to recognize.

Otherwise, if it's like the military, cold and impersonal, with numbers like XXX and sequence numbers, who would want to remember that?

"[Winged Angel]."

"cool!!"

A one-winged angel represents imperfect holiness, while Sephiroth gives the impression of being perfect and powerful. Using this imperfect angel as the hero's name also serves as a warning.

………………

"Sephiroth, Shinra Company employee... Can you tell us... why do you want to become a Pro Hero? Is Shinra Company aware of your actions?"

In the spacious, dark room, Sephiroth sat upright as he faced questions from the Hero Association interviewers.

He sat there as if he weren't the one being interviewed, but rather the indistinct faces of the people opposite him. In the dim light, Sephiroth's deep blue-green pupils gleamed with an eerie light.

"What does this have to do with me becoming a hero?"

Faced with the questioning, Sephiroth didn't lose his momentum; instead, he countered with a direct question. Many people had already asked him why he wanted to be a hero, and he was impatient with this pointless, time-wasting question-and-answer game. He just needed an answer!

The interviewers looked at each other in bewilderment.

Shinra and the Hero Association are currently in a honeymoon period of cooperation. Shinra warriors are responsible for maintaining order in remote areas that the Hero Association cannot reach. Furthermore, Shinra's limited sharing and development of Mako Reactor technology has greatly alleviated some of the conflicts of interest.

Thinking about it this way...

It seems that Shinra warriors becoming professional heroes is also a way to deepen their relationship.

After exchanging glances, they understood. Anyway, one spot for a professional hero wouldn't matter much. The higher-ups probably hadn't anticipated this situation either; they'd just have to wait and see.

"It's related. To become a hero, you need the awareness to stand in front of ordinary people at critical moments! This isn't something you can do easily. Do you have the courage to treat fear as something you can't control?!"

Grand and impressive words.

But aren't heroes simply those who speak beautiful words and then turn those words into reality? If even beautiful words are no longer uttered, then who would dare to believe in heroes?

“Fear?” Sephiroth subconsciously recalled the instinctive, heartfelt tremor he felt when facing the Underworld. “Absolutely impossible. Fear is something only I can instill in others.”

Even that woman!

Perhaps it was that arrogant voice from the bottom of his heart that stirred the evil thoughts hidden deep within his soul, for for a moment Sephiroth's blue-green pupils lost focus. His eyes, as calm as the starry sky, were as pure as if he had just arrived in this world. It was this excessive purity, indiscriminate in its distinction between good and evil, that made the interviewers feel as if they were facing not a human being, but a living god walking among mortals!

He briefly replaced Sephiroth, his gaze unfocused as he stared at the ceiling.

No, it should be said that it gazed at the sky. That ancient and vast starry sky was its homeland, and with its gaze upwards, the entire world seemed to shrink into a mere speck of dust. It seemed to remember something and began to ponder. As it pondered, an image slowly unfolded, projected through water vapor and light, revealing an extremely sharp sword light hurtling towards it! Even presented as a visual image, it still gave the viewer a terrifying, immersive experience, as if they themselves would be brutally slain by that overwhelming, piercing blade in the next instant!

At the same time.

Huang Quan, who was sitting outside, suddenly trembled as he held his coffee and looked toward the interview room in disbelief.

'How could that be? I clearly prolonged His death.'

The change was extremely brief, lasting only a moment. Everyone in the interview room seemed to have lost their memories of Him, as if all their memories of Him had been erased. Even Sephiroth himself didn't feel that anything had just changed.

However, a lingering sense of unease seemed to remain in the air.

Ding!

The red stamp was directly affixed to Sephiroth's authentication form.

………………

In the first year of the Hero Calendar, the Hero Association welcomed seven S-class heroes, one hundred and thirty-two A-class heroes, and several B-class and C-class heroes.

Heroes may have many flaws that could have negative consequences.

But as the tycoon Agni said at the founding ceremony of the Hero Association: "If even heroes fail to stand up when people are in despair, who will protect us? The fact that heroes of this era can stand up means that the goodness of humanity has not been extinguished by the terrible times! And this spirit will be passed down from generation to generation! This is what heroes are!!"

Chapter Fifty-Four: Gifts

Disaster Level: Tiger

"I am a garbage monster born from garbage! It's all because of the arrogance of you stupid humans that I, the great one, was born! Ahahahaha!!"

The enormous, rotting body emitted a toxic stench, and the multicolored liquid seeping from it formed a protective layer for the garbage monster.

Faced with such a troublesome monster, even the several B-class heroes dispatched were unable to find a way to defeat him.