Hero Hack: Reversing Heroes and Raising Harem-Chapter 53: Zelia’s Awakening

Zain leaned over Savra, his fingers slid along her thigh.

She grinned.

He kissed the corner of her mouth.

Before they could do it, a sharp voice echoed through the apartment.

"ZAIN!!"

He froze. His head snapped toward the door.

Savra blinked. "Was that—"

Zain was already gone, bolting into the hallway.

He kicked open Zelia’s door.

She was sitting up, soaked in sweat, her arms trembling, chest heaving.

Zain rushed in. "Zelia!"

She looked at him, wide-eyed, confused.

He dropped to his knees and grabbed her. "I’m here."

She gripped his arms hard. "Is it... is it really you?"

Zain didn’t hesitate. "It’s me. You’re safe."

She looked around the room like she wasn’t sure if any of it was real.

Her fingers curled tighter into his sleeves.

"...I came back."

Zain nodded. "You did."

Savra stepped into the doorway, pulling a robe around herself.

"What the hell happened?"

Zelia didn’t answer at first.

She blinked, lips slightly parted.

Then she looked at Savra.

"I think... I awakened something. Some ability."

Savra stepped forward. "You awakened?"

Zelia gave a short nod.

"I don’t know how. But I was pulled into some battlefield. It felt real. I kept dying. Over and over. Fighting. Killing."

Zain’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Savra tilted her head. "Some kind of mental simulation?"

"I think so. It wasn’t something I activated on purpose."

"I didn’t even know it was happening until it was too late."

Savra crossed her arms. "And now?"

"It’s gone," Zelia said.

"I don’t feel anything. It’s like whatever triggered it is over. Just one time."

Savra let out a slow breath. "One-time awakenings are rare. But they happen."

Zelia pulled the blanket closer around her shoulders.

Her voice dropped.

"I was stuck in there for so long. I stopped counting how many times I died."

Zain touched her arm. "You don’t have to count anymore. You’re back."

Zelia didn’t speak.

She lowered her head and leaned into him.

Zain held her. "Sleep. You’ve done enough."

She didn’t argue. Her eyes were already closing.

Zain eased her back against the pillow and stood.

Savra watched her a moment longer, then turned to Zain as they stepped out.

---

They sat together in the living room quietly after everything that had happened.

Savra crossed one leg over the other, leaned back, and gave Zain a long look.

"Don’t stress too much."

"Temporary or not, I’m sure she’ll awaken something again. You heard what she survived."

Zain didn’t reply.

He just stared at the floor for a moment.

Savra leaned forward, her voice softening.

"What she went through... most trained heroes wouldn’t last a week in that."

"She went through a full war simulation and came back with her sanity."

Zain shifted slightly.

His fingers flexed, knuckles pressing against his knee.

"She’s not your weakness anymore. You don’t need to protect her like glass."

He glanced at her but still didn’t say anything.

Savra smirked.

"You’re not used to that, huh?"

"Seeing someone you swore to protect actually become strong enough to fight beside you."

Zain looked away.

It wasn’t what happened to Zelia that weighed on him.

He was the one who sent her there.

He didn’t say it aloud.His mind echoed with what the system had done.

How he’d hacked her, wrapped her in that virtual battlefield.

No one knew. Not even her.

For abilities, he could hack her and give her any ability he wanted.

He didn’t need to wait for her to awaken naturally.

But he didn’t.

He clenched his jaw.

That hesitation... that guilt... wasn’t from his past life.

It was this body.

These emotions.

This damn human heart.

Savra bumped her shoulder into his.

"What’s with that face, Demon? You look like you lost a bet."

Zain finally gave a small grin.

"Heavenly Demon also needs to care for family."

Savra blinked, then smiled. "Well, well. Look at you."

She rested her chin on her hand.

"So the demon does have a soft spot."

Zain leaned back and closed his eyes for a second.

"Just one."

Savra let the silence hang a beat.

"You did well, you know. Whatever you did to help her. She came back better."

Zain opened his eyes, looking up at the ceiling.

"Yeah... she did."

He didn’t mention the hack.

He didn’t need to.

Savra only smirked.

"She’ll be stronger than most. Maybe even stronger than you one day."

Zain smirked. "Then I’ll just have to keep getting stronger."

---

Savra glanced back over her shoulder before walking toward the door.

"Come on. You said you wanted that rank-up, right?"

Zain blinked. "Now?"

She rolled her eyes.

"It’s almost eleven. I’ve got work after this. We do it now, or you wait a week."

He stood. "Alright. Let’s go."

They headed out, Savra leading the way in confident strides.

Zain followed behind, slipping his hands into his pockets.

For a while, they walked in silence.

But Zain’s mind wasn’t quiet.

Something tugged at him.

Savra had always been mysterious and powerful.

But after last night, and the way she’d brushed off everything this morning like it was routine—

It didn’t sit right.

She didn’t feel like ordinary staff.

Zain narrowed his eyes as they turned a corner.

"System," he thought. "Scan her."

---

[Name: Savra]

[Rank: AA]

[Stats:]

[Str: AA]

[Vit: AA]

[Agi: AA]

[Int: AA]

[Low-Tier Abilities:]

[Grace Form: passively maintains a lean, toned physique—enhances posture, flexibility, and physical efficiency with minimal effort.]

[Mid-Tier Abilities:]

[Flame Body: coats the user in living fire—melee strikes burn on contact, and radiated heat weakens nearby enemies.]

[Fire Control: manipulates existing flames—stretches, shapes, and hurls fire without creating it.]

[Rapid Healing: speeds up natural recovery—minor injuries heal fast, and major wounds recover without medical aid.]

[Keen Senses: amplifies all five senses—improves detection, tracking, and reaction speed in combat.]

---

Zain’s steps slowed slightly.

"...What the hell."

Four mid-tier abilities. Four.

Even Scavratt only had one.

AA-rank in all four stats.

No gaps. No weaknesses.

And not a single moment of hesitation in how she moved.

Zain looked at her back again.

She’s not just a supporter.

She’s hiding something.

He kept walking, adjusting his pace to match hers, but his mind was spinning.

Why is someone like her still marked as support only?

And why is she so interested in me?

Savra glanced back and grinned, catching the slight change in his expression.

"Getting cold feet?"

Zain smirked back, hiding the weight in his thoughts.

"Just wondering how someone like you still plays in the background."

Savra raised an eyebrow. "Me? Background?"

She laughed. "Darling, I’m not in the background. I just choose when to burn bright."

Zain didn’t reply.

He just kept walking, eyes forward, mind sharp.

Who the hell are you really, Savra?