Solo Cultivating in Superhero Academy
Chapter 106: Happy Family

Chapter 106: Happy Family

The next morning arrived far too quickly for Elius.

He descended the stairs, yawning faintly and rubbing the sleep from his eyes, his heart heavy even though the early sunlight slanted warmly through the windows.

The house smelled of breakfast—something sweet and buttery—and for a moment, he dared to hope it would be a normal morning.

But as he reached the bottom step, the sight before him made him freeze.

Colt—Radiant Man himself—and Shannon, his mother, were dancing in the living room.

There was music playing from an old radio, a bright, jazzy tune that seemed almost out of place in this modern world.

Shannon was laughing, truly laughing, her cheeks flushed, her hair bouncing lightly with each twirl Colt guided her through.

Colt, for his part, looked as relaxed and casual as any husband on a Sunday morning, his usual overwhelming aura tucked neatly away.

Elius’s stomach twisted.

Disgusting.

The thought rose in his heart unbidden, cold and bitter. His hands clenched at his sides.

He despised the sight of Colt so close to his mother.

Despised seeing that man touch her.

Despised knowing what lay beneath that smiling mask.

But—

He swallowed down the bile rising in his throat.

He loved his mother.

He loved her more than anything in this cursed life.

And seeing her this happy... seeing her radiant like the sun...

He couldn’t ruin it.

He couldn’t bring himself to shatter her fleeting happiness, even if every fiber of his being screamed to tear Colt apart.

So, instead, he pasted a neutral expression on his face and trudged forward.

The music eventually faded, and Shannon, breathless and laughing, turned to spot Elius.

"Good morning, sweetheart!" she said, beaming. Her smile alone almost cracked the armor Elius was wearing around his heart.

Colt gave a friendly nod from where he stood, still holding Shannon’s hand lightly.

Shannon approached him, her eyes bright with genuine curiosity and excitement.

"So, how did you enjoy yesterday?" she asked, almost bouncing on her toes. "Did you and your father have fun? Was it good?"

Elius felt like swallowing a mouthful of nails.

Lie, he ordered himself.

He forced a faint smile, nodding slightly.

"It was good," Elius said, his voice even. "Dad was great company."

Each word felt like poison dripping off his tongue.

He hated saying it.

Despised it.

Felt like scrubbing his mouth clean afterward.

But Shannon’s eyes only grew brighter. She clasped her hands together over her heart, her whole body practically glowing with relief and happiness.

"I’m so glad!" she said, laughing lightly. "I was worried, you know? I thought maybe... well, you know. It would be awkward or something. But look at you two!"

Elius gave another small nod, feeling dead inside.

He quickly made his way to the dining table, sitting down and fixing his gaze on the television hanging on the far wall. Some morning news was playing—something about a dimensional rift stabilizing downtown—but Elius barely heard it.

He focused on it with everything he had.

Anything to avoid looking back at the dancing, laughing scene behind him.

Anything to keep the disgust and hatred from showing on his face.

Shannon smiled warmly, watching him, thinking to herself that her son was finally beginning to heal.

That he was moving past the gloom, the loneliness, the shadows that had always clung to him.

That maybe, just maybe, the presence of his father was mending the broken pieces inside him.

If she knew the truth—

If she knew that Elius’s mind was filled with nothing but dread, terror, and loathing—

She would have frozen in place, horror-struck.

But she didn’t know.

She couldn’t know.

And so, the atmosphere in the kitchen and living room was... priceless.

A normal, precious, fragile illusion of family life.

Elius kept eating mechanically, nodding once in a while, pretending he was listening, pretending he was normal.

Then, after a while, Shannon clapped her hands together lightly and leaned over the table.

"So, Elius!" she said brightly. "What are you going to do now at Academy High? You’re already amazing, but what’s next for you?"

Elius opened his mouth, intending to say something vague, something harmless.

But Colt beat him to it.

"Allow me," Colt said, stepping forward, his voice booming with pride.

He placed his hands behind his back and lifted his chin in that haughty, heroic posture he always adopted when he was about to brag.

"My son," Colt declared, as if announcing it to the world, "is moving up to the second semester already."

Shannon gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.

"He will be entering as an F-ranked second-semester hero!" Colt continued proudly. "An achievement unheard of, especially at his age and experience. Advancing this fast, growing this strong... he’s just like his father."

He smiled, and there was no doubt he was speaking of himself.

Shannon squealed with joy, jumping up and down like a teenager.

"Oh my god, Elius! That’s amazing!" she cried, rushing over and pulling him into a hug. "I’m so proud of you! You’re incredible! I always knew you had it in you!"

Elius let her hug him, his body stiff but accepting.

Inside, though, the ice in his gut deepened.

Because he caught the subtle glance Colt gave him over Shannon’s shoulder.

That knowing, calculating look.

He’s already started pulling strings, Elius thought grimly. The missions. The dangers. The Academy. Everything will be harder now. Tailored traps dressed as tests.

Colt wasn’t going to let him grow at his own pace.

He would forge him in fire and death and suffering.

Elius let out a slow, measured breath.

Fine.

He accepted it.

In fact, he welcomed it.

If that was the game Colt wanted to play, then Elius would play it.

He would grow stronger.

He would endure.

He would survive.

I have my Heavenly Slam cultivation, he reminded himself.

With it, I can defeat anyone in the Qi Condensation or F ranked levels.

After a long moment of silence, Shannon pulled away, smiling so warmly it almost hurt.

Colt watched him carefully, his golden eyes gleaming.

Elius pushed back his chair, standing up slowly.

He looked at Colt for a long, heavy moment.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"I’m leaving," he said simply.

There was no anger in his voice. No emotion.

Just a cold, unshakable certainty.

He turned around without waiting for permission, his coat fluttering lightly behind him.

He knew the road ahead would be brutal.

He knew the missions would be twisted into something monstrous.

He knew the traps would be waiting.

But it didn’t matter.

Because getting stronger was his priority.

Because survival was non-negotiable.

Elius didn’t linger after his words.

He slung his small, military-style backpack over his shoulder, gave Shannon a final wave — and Colt a silent glare hidden behind neutral eyes — and walked out the door.

The phasing base was already waiting by the curb, its sleek black design humming quietly, blending into the world like a hidden blade.

The academy had sent it at Colt’s request. Of course. Nothing happened without that man’s fingers pulling strings.

Elius boarded, and with a quiet vmmmmm, the phasing base phased out of the ordinary world, reappearing inside the outer layers of Academy High.

He was back.

The driver greeted him.

"Sword Immortal. Come on!"

The scenery blurred in a rush of distorted space-time as they transitioned through controlled dimensional folds, arriving within moments.

The familiar towering cityscape of Section F came into view, a chaotic mixture of broken skyscrapers, bizarre modern designs, and training facilities disguised as a metropolitan wasteland.

Elius stepped out.

The air smelled faintly of burnt ozone and construction dust — exactly as he remembered.

His feet moved automatically, his body heavy but determined.

He made his way across the cracked pavement, past the hero cadets jogging in groups, sparring in training zones, or flying above in awkward, shaky first-year flights.

Soon, he stood before the huge, half-ruined marble structure labeled:

Hero Invitation Hall.

Its grandiose facade, cracked and marked with battle scars, loomed over him.

Still, the inside was lively, cadets laughing, negotiating alliances, brokering deals for invitations.

Elius pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside.

It smelled of dust, ink, and old ambition.

And there, at the corner behind the long counter—

The old woman in a superhero uniform sat behind the glass, sipping from a gaudy pink thermos with a cartoon fox on it.

She noticed him immediately and waved him over with a casual flick of her fingers.

Elius approached.

He stopped just before the counter and forced his voice into calm neutrality.

"How’s the invitation?"