Chapter 1: Rising Thief

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Rain poured endlessly over the neon-lit city, turning every street into a reflection of cold blue light. Skyscrapers flickered with holographic ads, glitching like a broken promise.

Far from the noise, past the crowded districts and silent suburbs…

A cemetery stood still.

A man stood before a tombstone.

He didn’t move.

Didn’t flinch.

Didn’t pray.

“…Heh.”

A quiet chuckle slipped out of him.

“Guess this is it, huh.”

Rain soaked through his clothes, but he didn’t care.

“You always said I’d end up useless.”

Silence.

“And now look at you.”

His eyes stayed locked on the name carved in stone.

“…Cancer got you in the end.”

A pause.

“I hate you.”

The words came out calm—but heavy.

“I hate how you never believed in me.”

“I hate how you called my dreams stupid.”

“I hate how you chose fear over trying.”
His jaw tightened.

“But what I hate the most…”

A breath.

“…is that I still care.”

The rain grew heavier.

“…You weren’t a good father.”

Another pause.

“…But you were still my father.”

His expression softened, just slightly.

“I guess that’s enough.”

He crouched down, pulling a bottle from his bag.

Cold.

Cheap.

Bitter.

Just like him.

He placed it beside the grave.

“Here. Your last drink.”

“Go find Mom… or whoever’s up there.”

A faint smirk.

“Maybe even Goddess Lily, yeah?”

He stood up slowly.

“For now…”

“…Goodbye, Dad.”

And just like that— He turned his back…
…and walked away.

[..........................................................................................]

Thirty minutes later.

BZZZZTTT—!!

Sparks flew across a dark workshop.

Steel. Wires. Screens.

A hidden world beneath the city.

“Hey, Teeth.”

The man leaned forward, adjusting a glowing joint inside a mechanical frame.

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