Dual Destiny: I Am The Special One

Argh!

Kyoji groaned as awareness returned, every inch of his body screaming in agony. A cacophony of cries and panicked chatter filled the air, and the metallic tang of blood filled his nostrils.

'Am I still at the temple?' he thought, struggling to open his eyes against the blinding glare.

His vision gradually adjusted, revealing a scene of chaotic activity. He was in a hospital, the emergency ward by the looks of it, surrounded by the injured. The beast horde, it had to be. Somehow, he'd survived and ended up here alongside countless others.

Nurses and doctors, their white coats and gloves stained crimson, rushed from patient to patient. Kyoji tried to sit up, but a sharp restriction stopped him cold. Why couldn't he feel his arms or legs?

His gaze fell to the source of the restraint – thick straps pinning him to the bed. But it wasn't the straps that held his attention. It was the bandaged stumps where his legs should have been. A sideways glance revealed the same grim sight on his arms. They'd taken his limbs. Without anesthetic, judging by the agonizing throb that suddenly intensified tenfold.

"Fuck!" he roared, the pain consuming him.

He thrashed against the restraints, ignoring the pain that flared with each movement. His powers, now fully awakened, made him five times stronger than any ordinary man. The straps held, for now, but the metal bed frame screeched against the floor with each violent jerk.

The commotion drew the attention of a nearby nurse. She was instantly at his side, pinning him down with surprising strength.

"Sir, please stay calm. You're in recovery," she urged.

Staying calm wasn't really an option, not with the fire in his veins. But her grip was like iron, sapping his newfound strength with an almost casual ease. It didn't surprise him. Most medical staff were Chosen too, their awakened talents geared toward healing. This was their battlefield.

"Get me a damn healer! I need my limbs fixed!" Kyoji rasped, ignoring her pleas.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we're currently short-staffed. Besides, there are forms you need to sign…"

"How the hell am I supposed to do that? I don't have any goddamn hands!" he spat, cutting her off.

He knew she was lying, stalling for time. Healing talents were incredibly rare. Out of a thousand Chosen, maybe twenty, at most, possessed the gift, and even fewer operated at the A, S, or SS tier. Those were the only ones capable of restoring what he'd lost, of rebuilding limbs and mending shattered bones.

Such healers were prized, revered… and their services came at an exorbitant price. The nurse's concern wasn't his well-being, it was his ability to pay. The paperwork was a formality, a cruel charade to buy time and protect the hospital from another charity case.

"Sir, please try to calm down," the nurse pleaded. Kyoji could tell from her tone that she was already fed up with him, but he couldn't bring himself to care. The searing pain radiating from his amputated limbs overwhelmed any concern for someone else's feelings.

"Don't tell me to calm down! Who the hell amputates someone without anesthetic first?" Kyoji roared.

The nurse's hand flew to her hair, scratching awkwardly...

"Well, about that... there were just so many patients, and we... we ran out of anesthetic," she stammered, lowering her head to avoid his gaze.

"But don't worry," she added quickly, cutting off whatever Kyoji was about to spit back...

"Your guardian has been contacted and will be here soon." Before Kyoji could utter another word, he saw a puff of green smoke escape from the nurse's hand, drifting towards his nostrils. The world faded to black as he plunged into a deep sleep.

_____

When Kyoji finally woke, it was to the sensation of someone touching him. He opened his eyes to see a middle-aged woman with glasses peering at him. A folder rested in her left hand, and she scribbled something down with the pen in her right. Two nurses stood on the other side of the bed, the source of the touch that had roused him.

Ignoring them, Kyoji tried to move, expecting the worst. To his surprise, his limbs responded. They were healed! A wave of relief and joy washed over him, bringing a smile to his face.

The woman with the glasses noticed he was awake...

"Oh, you're finally with us," she said, a smile on her face.

"Hmm," Kyoji replied with a nod.

"How are you feeling? Any pain or numbness anywhere?" she asked, her pleasant smile unwavering.

Kyoji shifted his body, testing his limbs, but everything felt normal. He shook his head.

"Excellent," she said, turning to look at the other side of the bed...

"As you can see, your son is perfectly fine. My work here is done," she announced to someone behind Kyoji.

Kyoji's mind went blank.

Son? What in the world…?

He whipped his head around. Sitting behind the nurses was an elderly man in his late seventies or early eighties. He had impeccably styled gray hair, and despite the wrinkles etched on his face, the remnants of his youthful handsomeness were still apparent.

Butler James!

The name flashed in Kyoji's mind. The old man's lips curved upwards in what looked like a creepy smile, but Kyoji knew it was just how his face naturally rested.

As their eyes met, Butler James, who was wearing dark sunglasses, gave a slight nod before turning back to the woman.

"Thank you, Doctor Ava."

"Oh, it was my pleasure. I was happy to do my part, especially during these difficult times. Consider it my contribution to humanity," Doctor Ava replied modestly.

Kyoji gritted his teeth.

Contribution to humanity? What a joke.

Kyoji had no idea how much Butler James had paid her, but he knew it must have been a small fortune. And here she was, acting like some kind of saint. If anyone was the hero, it was him! He had sacrificed his own limbs to save others, but he kept that thought to himself, letting the anger simmer within him.

"What a nice young lady we have here," Butler James said with a smile, turning back to Kyoji...

"It's rare to find such talent and modesty in young ones these days, don't you think, son?"

Kyoji glared at Butler James before turning away.

Doctor Ava and Butler James exchanged a few more pleasantries before she finally departed with the nurses.

As soon as they were gone, Kyoji rounded on Butler James, his brow furrowed.

"Son? Seriously?"