Axel's eyes slowly fluttered open, the brightness of the morning sun flooding the room. His mind groggily registered the sunlight streaming through the wide-open windows. **Bright morning sun?** He furrowed his brows in confusion. **I didn't leave the windows open.** His gaze drifted to the empty space beside him in bed. Trisha was already up.
With a long, tired yawn, Axel stretched his arms, still half-draped in the warm blankets. He glanced over at the digital clock on the nightstand, its numbers glaring back at him. Just as he was about to settle back into the comfort of his bed, a familiar *ping* echoed in his mind. A system notification popped up before his eyes.
**[You have received a new mission.]**
Axel squinted at the message. **A new mission?** He rubbed the back of his neck, already feeling the tension knotting in his muscles.
**[You have been challenged to a battle.]**
**[Time limit before expiration: 6 hours 30 minutes.]**
**[Penalty: severe.]**
He sighed. **A challenger notification.** Over the past few months, these had become routine. However, challengers had appeared less frequently as Axel's reputation grew. Only a fool would dare challenge him now. Still, this one caught him off guard. It had been weeks since his last battle.
Axel stroked his chin thoughtfully. He recalled his conversation with the system when he had asked a bold question not long ago.
**"Why have the challengers stopped coming?"**
The system had responded: **[You have become a figure of great reverence. Only the unwise will challenge you to a duel.]**
**"So, who's this fool?"** Axel mused, his mind already running through the possibilities. Whoever this person was, they either didn't know who they were dealing with, or they were strong enough to believe they stood a chance.
He exhaled deeply, dragging his feet toward the bathroom. **"You'll have to wait,"** he muttered to himself, **"My food comes first."**
***
#### Months Ago...
Annie knelt in the dimly lit corner of the small, cluttered room, her hands trembling. It was silent. Unnaturally silent. The weight of their mother's death suffocated the air between them. But worse than that—far worse—was the stabbing. Their mother had stabbed Axel before she took her own life.
The thought alone made Annie sick with grief and confusion.
Axel collapsed to his knees, the weight of her accusations crushing him. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All he could do was reach out and pull Annie into a tight embrace. **"I'm sorry,"** he whispered through his tears. **"I'm so sorry... I'm an idiot. Please forgive me."**
Annie's sobs wracked her body as she clung to him. **"Please, Axel... don't go after Williams. I don't want you to commit murder. We're all we have left now. Just me and you. Don't leave me alone again."**
Axel nodded silently, his chest heavy with guilt and sorrow. There were no more words left to say.
***
"Luxiam! Stop playing with your food!" Trisha's voice echoed through the dining room as she tried, unsuccessfully, to restrain the small two-year-old boy wriggling in his high chair.
Luxiam's red hair gleamed in the morning light, just like his mother's. The boy was a spitting image of her, except for his father's striking blue eyes that glowed with mischief.
**"You're so stubborn, Luxiam,"** Trisha muttered with a shake of her head, trying to prevent him from tossing more food onto the floor.
Annie, seated at the table, laughed at the adorable sight. **"Aunt Trisha, just let him be. He won't listen to anyone anyway."**
Luxiam turned his big, pleading eyes toward Annie. **"Mummy, this grandma won't let me play!"**
Trisha's cheeks reddened, her embarrassment clear as she flustered. **"Who are you calling grandma, you little rascal? I'm not past twenty-five!"**
The struggle between the S-rank hunter and the cheeky toddler continued as Annie laughed at the scene. Axel stepped into the room, fresh from the shower, his eyes softening at the sight of his family.
**"Hey Dad!"** Luxiam called out, a grin spreading across his small face. **"This old lady won't let go of my hands! She's being mean!"**
Axel couldn't help but chuckle. Luxiam, barely two years old, was already fluent in English—another effect of the Cell evolution. His words were sharp and often cheeky.
**"Stop calling me old!"** Trisha huffed, playfully swatting at the boy's hands. **"I'm not past twenty-five!"**
As they continued their lighthearted bickering, Axel watched them with a smile, feeling a rare warmth bloom in his chest. **The family I have left,** he thought, his heart heavy yet grateful for this fleeting moment of peace.
---
Thanks for the support. Wanted to write a family Chapter so I did so. Thanks.