Me and My Overpowered Abilities

"How did you meet my daughter?" Connor asked, his eyes fixed on the shot glass in front of him. The last time he drank was years ago, after his wife's death. Since then, he had buried himself in work, but he eventually discovered he had run out of alcohol—Blessing had finished it all.

"...At this bar," Adam replied lightly, causing Connor to pause for a moment before a weak smile tugged at his lips. That sounded just like his daughter.

Connor leaned back and sighed, letting himself reminisce. He began talking, mostly sharing old stories and random thoughts, while Adam gave minimal responses—short, clipped answers, speaking only when necessary. Despite the one-sided conversation, time passed quickly, and soon Connor stretched and prepared to leave.

"Before I go, I have a question..." Connor paused, his tone shifting, more serious this time. "You're strong—anyone can see that. But why don't you push yourself to become even stronger?"

"I'm growing stronger every day... goodbye." Seeing his chance to leave, Adam wasted no time, stepping out of the bar without looking back.

The moment he stepped outside, he felt a few lingering gazes sizing him up. He ignored them. It wasn't anything new—people were always curious when they saw someone like him. His physique had changed drastically, no longer the overweight loner most people used to mock. But he had long stopped worrying about appearances. Strength was what mattered, and he had more than enough of it.

Of course, controlling that strength was another matter entirely. Right now, the gravity acting on his body was hundreds of thousands of times greater than normal, suppressing his true power. It was the only way he could live a normal life, ensuring that something as simple as a handshake—or a pat on Chou's head—wouldn't end in disaster. Of course, this gravity only affected him and not the outside world.

Just then, a sleek black car pulled up to the curb. The door swung open, and a blur of white fur shot out.

"Woof!"

Chou bounded toward him, tail wagging furiously, before leaping into his arms. Adam caught him mid-air. A small smile tugged at his lips as he ruffled the husky's fur.

"Let's go home," Adam said, stepping into the car, just as the car pulled away, taking him home.

As he left, Adam found himself thinking back to his conversation with Connor. It was... oddly nice. He wasn't much of a talker, and after a few minutes, he felt like he was running out of battery. But still, it wasn't as unbearable as he had expected.

Returning home, Adam set Chou down before heading to the garden. Before he could return to his usual routine, he took a moment to water the plants Blessing had planted.

In the past, there had been no greenery around the Hanging Tower of Babylon. It was all lifeless. But Blessing had insisted on planting trees, flowers, and vines to make the place feel less cold. Adam had been against it at first, but, like with most things, he eventually gave in. Now, as he moved through the garden, watering each plant she had so carefully nurtured, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of peace.

But the world outside his sanctuary was far from peaceful.

The number of dungeons appearing was increasing at an alarming rate. Eventually, it became law—anyone with the ability to clear dungeons had to contribute. There was no more choice in the matter.

But three months later, something major happened—the arrival of the first C-grade dungeons.

These portals were massive, more than twice the size of the D-grade dungeons, and a total of ten had appeared worldwide. Those who entered quickly realized just how overwhelming they were. Each dungeon was the size of a large city, and estimates suggested that over a million monsters resided within. Skills used to gather intel confirmed these numbers, sending waves of unease through the world.

C-grade dungeons had a three-month countdown before a dungeon outbreak would occur. Inside, time moved twice as fast as the outside world—two days within the dungeon equaled just one day outside. This gave hunters more time to clear them, but it also meant they had to push themselves harder than ever.

The U.S. government wasted no time issuing an order for Adam to participate in clearing the dungeon. Adam, however, ignored it completely. If they wanted his help, they'd have to pay for it.

C-grade dungeon bosses weren't overwhelmingly strong, but they still had the power to destroy an entire town. Their levels typically hovered around level 37, making them far deadlier than anything humanity had faced before.

By the way, each level had a baseline of strength tied to it:

Levels 1 to 10 – Superhuman level (Equivalent to F-rank)

Levels 11 to 20 – Building level (Equivalent to E-rank)

Levels 21 to 30 – City block level (Equivalent to D-rank)

Levels 31 to 35 – Multi-city block level (Equivalent to C-rank)

Levels 36 to 40 – Varied strength, ranging from town level to the baseline required to destroy an entire city. At this stage, those at this level were essentially walking nuclear bombs.

With only three months to prepare before the inevitable dungeon outbreaks, the world scrambled to strengthen itself. Despite their best efforts, they had little understanding of the true power the dungeon bosses possessed. Although many were successfully clearing these dungeons one by one, the three-month window simply wasn't enough, especially as new C-grade dungeons continued appearing at an alarming rate every day.

Fortunately for humanity, new individuals with incredibly powerful job classes were emerging—so powerful that they were given special treatment, their abilities deemed crucial in the battle against the growing dungeon threat.

In the U.S., Jacob and Michael stood out as the strongest. Their unique Job Classes and sheer power allowed them to level up rapidly, to the point where they could even solo a C-grade dungeon—though doing so took several days.

In China, a man known as the Sword Immortal was recognized worldwide for possessing the most powerful sword-type Job Class. Alongside him stood another powerhouse, the Golden Dragon, whose strength made him one of China's top awakeners.

In India, a figure known as The Destroyer dominated the dungeons. His Job Class granted him the ability to channel the power of destruction, making him incredibly overpowered. Alongside him was someone who hid in the shadows but was globally recognized for possessing the most formidable Taming Job Class.

And they were just a few of the many rising legends. While countless others perished before they could reach their full potential, humanity refused to be overwhelmed. They stood together, fighting for survival. Although millions died each month, the speed at which dungeons were being cleared was increasing exponentially. With each passing day, mankind grew stronger, proving that they would not go down without a fight.

Even so, many couldn't help but look at Adam with growing resentment. In the past, he had done the world a great service by clearing lower-grade dungeons, allowing others to focus on the newer, more dangerous ones. But now? Adam hadn't stepped foot outside the Hanging Tower of Babylon in months.

Among those most frustrated by his inaction, one man in particular could no longer hold back his anger. He needed to see Adam in person.

Michael soared through the air, his sharp eyes locking onto the towering structure in the distance. Currently, he was at level 35, but with his overpowered Job Class and the sheer number of skills he had acquired, his strength far exceeded that of an ordinary person. By most estimates, he was already on par with a level 39 fighter.

Without hesitation, Michael shifted course, angling himself downward. In an instant, he rocketed toward the roundabout where Adam's collection of luxury cars sat parked.

Michael landed with a thunderous impact, but he remained motionless as the delayed sonic boom ripped through the surroundings. The force sent trees, grass, and flowers flying, yet—to his shock, the ground beneath him didn't even crack. The only visible damage was to the landscaping; the pavement, stonework, and structures remained completely untouched.

His eyes narrowed as he scanned the area. How? With the force he had just exerted, there should have been some structural damage.

Pushing the thought aside, Michael refocused his attention and raised his voice.

"Adam!"

His sharp gaze locked onto a nearby gym, where he sensed Adam's presence. Within moments, the door swung open, and out stepped Adam—his physique nothing short of godlike. Every muscle on his body was sculpted to perfection, his skin glistening with sweat that immediately evaporated into steam from the sheer heat radiating off him. Veins pulsed visibly beneath his skin, a testament to the grueling intensity of the workout he had just finished.

Adam stood at 6'4", towering over Michael, yet it wasn't just his height that made Michael feel small. It was his presence. A suffocating weight settled over him, making him feel like he was barely three feet tall in comparison. Adam's cold, unyielding gaze bore into him, devoid of warmth or concern.

For a moment, Michael struggled to hold his ground, his instincts screaming at him to step back. But then, his mental fortitude kicked in—his skills rendering him immune to intimidation. The invisible weight lifted, and he straightened his posture, meeting Adam's gaze head-on, no longer shaken.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Michael demanded, his voice laced with frustration. "The world needs you, but you turn a blind eye to their suffering? You have the power to help—you don't even have to do it yourself! You can just send your damn clones!"

His fists clenched at his sides. Why was Adam so indifferent? Why did he refuse to act when he had the power to tip the scales?

"So that's why you destroyed my garden?" Adam asked flatly, his tone devoid of emotion.

Michael didn't flinch. "I don't fear you. If not for Blessing, I would've beaten your ass a long time ago." His sharp gaze locked onto Adam's indifferent stare, unwavering. "I'm here today to give you an order. Do your part, or die."

Silence hung between them, heavy and suffocating.

Adam tilted his head slightly as if considering the words. "Are you done?"

Before Michael could respond, Adam's eyes went hollow—an abyss of emptiness swallowing all light. Then, his mouth opened unnaturally wide, stretching beyond human limits.

A crow burst forth from his throat. Another crawled from the dark void of his eyes, followed by another. Michael's breath hitched as Adam's entire form disintegrated, his body crumbling apart into a swirling mass of crows. The black cloud erupted around him, filling the air with an eerie cacophony of caws, enveloping him in a storm of feathers and shadows.

"I warned you. I told you what would happen... and this time, Blessing isn't here to save you."

Michael's pupils shrank in sheer terror as he looked down at the small but razor-sharp blade now resting in his trembling hands. His breath came in short, panicked gasps.

"You thought simply killing her was pain? That was mercy. What you're about to experience is true pain."

The cold, detached voice of Adam echoed through the illusion, void of emotion yet dripping with malice.

Michael's heart pounded violently as his gaze shifted forward—his little sister stood before him, helpless, her wide eyes filled with fear.

"Humans disgust me..." Adam's voice continued a whisper that crawled beneath Michael's skin like ice. "And now, you're about to relive every vile, inhumane method of torture ever conceived. We'll start simple, stabbing. Then, we'll explore the depths of human depravity—rat torture, the Pear of Anguish, the Blood Eagle... so many creative ways your kind has devised to inflict suffering."

Michael's entire body shuddered, his throat tightening. He tried to breathe, to scream, but his voice was stolen by fear.

"I have no empathy for you," Adam's voice whispered against his ear, soft yet suffocating. "And now, you'll see just how little I care as you beg for this hell to end."

A paralyzing dread gripped Michael's soul. This wasn't an illusion he could break free from. This was something far worse.