The Void Player's Ascension

After a month of preparation and planning, the Philippine Players' Association (PPA) was officially established, and I reluctantly become the first president.

In the Waiting Room

"Haa... It's so tiring standing and giving speeches," Adrien groaned, slumping into a chair. "I'm glad I don't have to smile behind the mask," he added, laughing softly.

"Khent, I don't wanna move. Help me stand up!" Adrien whined.

Khent, his loyal manager, chuckled. After spending so much time with Adrien, he'd come to see that the hero people revered was, at times, hilariously childish. But it was this very humanness that made Adrien so charismatic.

"By the way," Adrien suddenly asked, "is your mom okay? I heard she's already out of the hospital."

Khent smiled warmly. "Yes, Mr. Black. She's much better now. Actually, she asked me to bring you something."

Khent pulled a neatly packed container from his bag, the savory aroma wafting through the air.

"That's right! She made this for you as thanks," Khent said, opening the container to reveal a dish of adobo.

Adrien leaned forward, his mouth watering behind the mask. "This adobo looks amazing!"

With a bow of gratitude, Khent said, "Thank you again for saving her, Mr. Black."

Adrien, already stuffing his mouth with the food, waved him off, flustered. "Stop bowing, Khent! I'm eating here!"

Watching Adrien devour the food, Khent made a silent oath to himself: "I'll follow this man not just as his manager, but as a companion, a friend he can rely on."

A Sudden Intrusion

Suddenly, the door burst open, and a man in a butler-like suit strode in confidently.

"Sir, you can't be here!" protested a staff member.

"Subarashi!" the man declared extravagantly, ignoring the protests. "It's a pleasure to meet the famous 'Black.' My name is Diether Hidalgo, Vice Leader of the Noble Guild."

Adrien glanced at the man and thought, "This guy gives me the creeps."

Khent leaned in, whispering to Adrien, "That's Diether. He's the vice leader of Noble, one of the top guilds in the country. People call him 'The Spider' because he uses a black thread as a weapon and he's extremely strong."

Adrien narrowed his eyes. "I can tell," he replied coldly. Activating Void Insight, Adrien analyzed him:

Name: Diether Hidalgo

Level: 25

Main Skill: Black Thread of Annihilation (S)

Potential: S Grade

Adrien's mind raced. "An S-grade potential? This is the first time I've seen someone with this level of talent."

Diether smirked, clearly enjoying the attention. "Don't look at me with that cold gaze of yours, Mr. Black," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "It's making me feel... alive."

Adrien's expression shifted into one of pure disgust. "What's with this guy?"

Straightening up, I spoke firmly, "Why are you here?"

Diether's face turned slightly dumbfounded. "I just wanted to meet you," he replied nonchalantly.

My patience snapped. Releasing a wave of Void Aura, I stood up, my voice cold and sharp. "You barge in here, interrupt my rest, and think it's okay to waste my time?"

The pressure in the room intensified. The staff struggled to breathe under the weight of my aura. Yet Diether, unfazed, seemed to relish the sensation.

"Subarashi," he gasped, almost euphoric.

"Sir, I think it's time for you to leave," Khent interjected quickly, guiding Diether out before Adrien's aura overwhelmed everyone in the room.

As Khent escorted Diether away, his thoughts lingered on what had just happened. "When Adrien released his aura, it felt like facing a monster itself. How can someone become this powerful?"

Returning to the waiting room, Khent found Adrien happily munching on adobo, with his half mask on.

"Num... num... num," Adrien hummed, clearly enjoying himself.

Khent's worries faded, replaced with a warm smile. Watching Adrien eat, he thought, "It's like watching a son being fed by his mother... except that son is also the most powerful player in the country."

Time flies

***

Several days later, Adrien found himself in a smithy.

The sound of hammering filled the air as sparks flew. Adrien stood by the forge, deeply concentrated, his movements precise and deliberate as he shaped the heated metal.

Each strike of the hammer was a testament to his growing focus and resolve.

"Almost there," he muttered under his breath. A tool made by my hands… one step closer to mastering everything