Misfit.


    That was the lowest rank anyone could receive in today''s society—just below that of a convict. And that title had followed Elliot for as long as he could remember.


    It was the name given to a person who had failed their Awakening, and the injection had granted them a certain level of strength, which could never be increased further.


    Although that strength would place them above ordinary humans, it wasn''t extraordinary.


    Society rejected such a group of people, calling them outcasts. Although they were stronger than the average human, they were too weak to fight beasts, so what purpose did they serve?


    They couldn''t even cast spells, and some were even left contaminated by the injection.


    So, if you had been carrying that title since the age of fourteen, how could you feel anything but despair?


    Even more so when you were the weakest among them all.


    ___


    "Elliot, be careful on your way home. Do you hear? If you run into a dog, remember to run or shout for help. Try to keep yourself safe."


    Elliot turned to look at his boss—an ordinary-looking man with nothing to distinguish him. He was about 40 years old, slightly taller, muscular, and had a smirk on his face that carried a hint of mockery.


    Elliot nodded but remained expressionless. He didn''t need to say anything.


    ''Damn old man''.


    If only he could express himself, he would have long ago vented his anger by planting a powerful punch to the old man''s nose. Being mocked for something that had happened in the past and was beyond his control had always bothered him, but the scenario in his head was off the table, knowing that he would be the one who would end up dead if he swung his fist.


    His boss''s words set off a round of laughter from his coworkers.


    "Hahaha! Boss, don''t be mean. Is it okay for one of us to go with him? If he faces a dog, he might not even be able to run away."


    "True, boss. We must look out for our colleagues. If a pit bull came out… I''m afraid it will be the last day of our most outstanding worker."


    "Now, now. We can''t worry about minor issues; get back to work." After laughing for a moment, the boss calmed them down. "I must do something, so don''t wait for me."


    With that, he turned and walked away.


    Elliot went another way as the taunts kept ringing in his ears. But he turned a deaf ear to them.


    ''It''s not like I can ask the system for a fight against these bastards. I don''t even have the system.'' Once again, he was forced to let out a helpless sigh.


    In the last 48 hours, he had loaded more than 200 boxes, each weighing 75 kg, without anyone''s help. It was pretty complicated for him, but he had debts to pay, and hard work was his only way to do it.


    That''s why he felt it wasn''t worth paying attention to his stupid colleagues.


    Even though his colleagues raised their voices, hoping to make him feel uncomfortable, he didn''t feel awkward. In fact, at that moment, a small smile crept onto his face.


    Looking up, he noticed the sun was already descending the horizon.


    The golden rays bathed the city in an exotic amber glow, painting the sky with fire-colored hues. The roofs of the tall modern buildings and the large windows shimmered in spectacular shades of yellow and orange.


    Loen City was a beautiful modern city, ideal for admiring sunsets thanks to its strategic position. The sunset was gorgeous this time, but that wasn''t what made him smile.


    He smiled because today was September 3rd—his 18th birthday.


    It was not that there was a reason to celebrate or that he could finally say he was of legal age; none of that was useful. Vain milestones didn''t make him happy.


    But on his 18th birthday, it would be his third and final attempt to Awaken.


    That''s right. Unlike his companions, who had failed to awaken, he had not failed yet.


    In other words, he was not a Misfit; he simply had to live like that because it was the only thing he could do to earn money.


    That''s because the previous two times he tried to Awaken, he couldn''t. In the end, many thought he was a misfit, and thanks to his mortal enemies, who spread the rumor, he had been seen that way for years.


    But today, on his 18th birthday, despite all the odds against him, despite the ridicule, the desire for power inside him didn''t allow him to be pessimistic; the desire had grown so strong that despite the setbacks, he still smiled and held himself upright.


    ''Even though everyone calls me the outcast among the outcasts, today I will prove to you that I am different from all of you.''


    As he walked, his determined steps did not seem like those of a misfit, much less those of a person with little chance of awakening. His mind was only filled with a message to himself:


    "Today, my destiny will change."


    And he was right.


    If he managed to awaken, it would undoubtedly change everything for him.


    If he couldn''t do it, he would probably die or become a true Misfit.


    If the second happened, he would leave the city behind and carve out his own destiny.


    Whether it was dying at the hands of an evil beast or stumbling upon a fortuitous encounter, whatever his destiny, he would seek it out and find it at all costs.


    Lost in his thoughts, Elliot walked through the bustling streets, past the indifferent glances of strangers. Cars roared on the streets, weaving through the traffic recklessly, but he paid them no mind.


    Before long, he arrived in front of a slightly run-down apartment building.


    A faded sign hung above that said: Misfits'' Room.


    It was meant to mock, but it described the place perfectly.


    This building was a small complex of rooms in poor condition, likely built by someone who hated misfits, given its poor construction.


    All the rooms were the same size: 3 square meters, barely livable, and rented for $75 a month.


    As soon as he found his room, Elliot got inside.


    There wasn''t much on the other side of the door, but everything was meticulously organized.


    A small bag hung on the wall. In one corner, a single bed sat next to a small living room table and a one-burner electric cooker. It had everything he needed to live, although if he wanted to use the bathroom, he would have to use the establishment''s public facilities.


    Upon entering and ensuring everything was in place, he walked over to the bed and picked up a small box.


    Inside was a syringe filled with a deep red liquid, thick and rich like blood.


    "A year''s worth of all my savings, two months in debt, and without eating properly for three months—just to be able to buy you." His grip tightened. "I hope you hear my wish and finally answer my call. I fully trust that you will awaken me… from this nightmare."


    After taking off his shirt, revealing his well-developed yet somewhat undernourished body. His arms were quite muscular for his age, but they certainly didn''t look like those of someone who could lift 15 tons in 48 hours.


    Even so, he didn''t care much about that.


    He had been working hard for this moment, so he was a little nervous. His heart pounded, but not from fear—just anticipation. But he didn''t feel impatient.


    He then sterilized the area where he was going to inject himself and took a deep breath.


    ''The Awakening Injection… It''s not the first time I''ll have it in my body, but this will be the first time I''ll inject it myself. This will be dangerous.''


    He stared at the syringe and his arm, trying to trace the vein carefully.


    If he missed the vein, he would surely die, as his body wouldn''t be able to withstand the red liquid. That is why it was always advised to have a specialized person administer the serum. However, the problem was that hiring a professional was out of his budget; they are just too expensive these days.


    Taking another deep breath, he relaxed and steadied his hand.


    His hand held the syringe firmly, and then, without any other shred of hesitation, full of determination and desire, he drove the needle into his vein and injected the serum into his vein.


    ''Today will be different.'' Determination shone in his eyes.


    At the same time, his desire for power reached its peak, and he longed to reach the peak of his life.


    Since childhood, he has craved power.


    When his father disappeared on his 14th birthday, he wished for the power to find him.


    Then came his 16th birthday, and he wished for the power to save his mother and sister, who were murdered in front of him.


    Unfortunately, fate wouldn''t always be in your favor, and he had to learn to live with that.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Maybe his luck was shit, or perhaps he really had no talent.


    Whatever the reason, he had to learn to live with that weight—the feeling of uselessness gnawing at him. But his desire for power always burned deep inside him, and today, it burned brighter than ever.


    The red liquid that looked like blood soon merged with his bloodstream, signifying that he had hit the right spot. That increased his hope.


    Then, a voice of supplication rose in his heart that, at least for once, he wanted fortune to smile at him.


    But all of a sudden, the effects of the injection disappeared in his body. It seemed as if it had searched every corner of his body but didn''t find what it was after.


    Anxiety filled his heart, but so did hope. The voice in his head seemed to urge him to have a little more faith that his hopes shouldn''t stop just there.


    Maybe he was going crazy, but he trusted that voice.


    So, even though his mind screamed that he wouldn''t awaken, his heart still held firm on that dim flicker of hope.


    One was rational; the other was sentimental. But both longed for power.


    After three or four endless minutes, a strange sound seemed to have spoken into his mind.


    Ding~


    [The Global Awakening System has found an Awakened One.]


    [Welcome to the Global Awakening System, Newbie Player Elliot Clark. Congratulations on your awakening.]


    [Your intense desire for power has shaken the foundations of the world.]


    [The world has answered your call and agreed to fulfill your wish, oh man.]


    [You have awakened a Unique Class.]


    Pt.2


    A sudden wave of joy and ecstasy surged through his body. The flickering messages from the Awakened System before his vision sent ripples of emotions crashing through his mind.


    From happiness and nostalgia to sadness and euphoria—an overwhelming flood of feelings rose to his throat, but he forced them down with a hard swallow. He pinched himself, wondering if what he saw was real and not a dream.


    When he finally verified that it was real, the last system messages left him in utter shock.


    "Did I awaken a Class?"


    It didn''t matter what kind of Class he had awakened—awakening one alone was an extraordinary feat. Only one in a million people could awaken a class, and some believed that the odds of getting it were even lower.


    During the process of awakening, you have the chance to obtain a Skill, Trait, Talent, Power, or, in the rarest cases, a Class. Among all these, the one with the lowest probability of appearing was the Class, with less than a 1% chance of getting one.


    Why? Because a Class could come with a combination of Skills and Traits (for example) that would make its bearer much more powerful than their peers.


    Now, there are different Class ranks: Common, Rare, Epic, Mythic, and Legendary, which are the main ones. However, there are rumors of an even greater rank—the Divine Rank. But among all these ranks, one stood out as truly peculiar: the Unique Rank.


    It is said that a Unique Rank Class could be anything—from Common Rank or Legendary Rank; the only peculiarity it needs to have is that it is unique and unparalleled.


    Although that system of Unique Classes was a bit random, Elliot didn''t care about its ranks.


    He had awakened!


    More importantly, he had obtained a Class.


    It was a cause for celebration, even if he had no idea of its rank or power.


    He quickly tapped on the system''s flashing messages and opened its interface without hesitation.


    His stats appeared before him, but he barely glanced at them since he was more interested and impatient to learn about the class he had obtained.


    He frantically continued to scroll through the system, looking for the skills window, until he finally found it.


    *****


    [Class Monarch of Energy: He who rules energy, his three Talents and two Manifestations]


    Rank: Unique.


    *****


    "Three Talents?" Elliot''s eyes widened, a spark of excitement flaring within them. His heart suddenly raced like a startled cat.


    He had never heard of a Class that could grant three Talents to its bearer; it was absurd.


    Talents were among the most sought-after types of skills by the Awakened because they usually provided an immense advantage to the holder in accumulating the precious stat points. The word ''Talent'' sounded exciting to any Awakened, regardless of whether they were weak or strong.


    ''Does something this powerful really exist?'' He couldn''t help but wonder.


    But as he read further, his expression shifted.


    ''What''s a manifestation?'' He mused.


    Naturally, no one was there to answer him. What he was sure of, though, was that he had never heard of a type of ability called "Manifestation." And yet, his class granted him two of them…


    He immediately started reading the next section.


    *****


    [First Manifestation]


    Lord of Energy: You can manipulate the Energy of Attributes within your body to create invocations of attributes. These invocations are formed with pure energy, and their properties will vary depending on the type of energy used.


    When creating an invocation, you can control the amount of energy used to enhance your invocations. The more energy invested, the more power they will have.


    Conversion: 1 Statistic Point = 5 Invocation Points.


    Example: Using 1 Physical Attribute Energy point when creating an invocation will have 5 Statistic Points in Strength.


    *****


    ''I can create energy-based invocations? Am I… some kind of special invoker?''


    Astonishment was evident on his face; for a moment, he even lost the ability to react.


    Being an emotional person, his body and mind roared with uncontrollable joy and excitement, realizing that his class looked amazing at first glance. But his mind managed to calm down quickly.


    He had a lot to think about.


    Leaving aside the fact that his class had told him he would get Three Talents, he was witnessing something entirely new—the birth of a very different kind of summoner than any he had ever heard of.


    Despite his unassuming appearance and lack of formal study, he wasn''t ignorant about many things about the Awakened world. Some things were common sense and others he had learned from his father or from the books he used to read as a child.


    This was also why he knew that this ''Manifestation,'' the meaning of which he couldn''t decipher correctly, wasn''t as simple as a regular invocation.


    As a general rule, an invoker cannot strengthen their invocations, let alone imbibe them with power. This was because each invocation already came with a specific pre-established power that, to a large extent, depended on the invoker themself.


    But right now, he was witnessing a skill that defied that very rule—one that allowed him to strengthen his invocations since he does not ''invoke'' them, instead ''creating'' them. There was a huge difference between the two terms, and he believed that this difference was the basis of his Manifestation, enabling him to enhance his invocations in ways that ordinary invokers never could.


    Now, if he turned out to be a ''Summoner Wizard,'' he already had a clear idea as to where his class was heading.


    ''Will I be a part of the Variant group? If I remember correctly, Summoner Wizards fall under the ''Varied Wizards'' category within the Variants.''


    He was slightly intrigued to find this out.


    Variators were the most common type of wizard, but even within that group, different subclasses emerged depending on their primary stats. In general, there were four major types, and the last of them was the ''Varied Wizard,'' and those who belonged to this category were distinct from the other three.


    Generally, there were two most well-known—Control Wizards and Summoner Wizards. There were still more, but the truth is that they were a type of mage that was much sought after by the guilds, making them very important people in the world.


    That was why he didn''t dwell on the drawbacks of his manifestation. He knew that if he were to strengthen his invocations, it would leave him temporarily weakened since it required investing his stat points. But instead of focusing on the downside, he lowered his gaze to continue reading.


    *****


    | First Talent.


    *****


    When he read those two words, his mind was 100% focused. His Manifestation was already impressive enough to leave him deep in thought. But how good was his Talent?


    *****


    | The Harvester: You can harvest the surrounding Attribute Energy. Stay close to the places where it is generated to benefit more.


    | Additional Talent Bonus - 1: When killing a beast, human, or any other race, you can collect an additional 50% of the energy if you sacrifice 50% of the victim''s body.


    | Additional Talent Bonus - 2: If you find a BEAST that you did not personally kill, you can absorb around 50% of the energy it had before dying in exchange for destroying 100% of the body.


    (Bonus 2 Note: Only works on beasts.)


    | Additional Talent Bonus – 3: You are a reaper of what you once sowed; therefore, Attribute Energy is created faster for you.


    *****


    "!"


    His body suddenly trembled, a shiver running down his spine as every hair on his body stood on end.


    "Is it really that good?!"


    The shock was so overwhelming that he couldn''t help but exclaim, which, fortunately, no one was around to hear.


    His manifestation was already absurd enough that he would be happy even if it had nothing more than that. But now? Now, he was granted a Talent that could make him exponentially stronger with every step he took!


    ''This doesn''t make sense…'' he thought, struggling to understand his talent fully.


    We must know that in this world, there is something that enjoys absolute exclusivity: Attribute Energy.


    Since the world''s Awakening 500 years ago, beasts, dungeons, and portals have reshaped the Earth.


    Even new territories emerged from antiquity, as is the case of Atlantis, the famous mythological island that, at some point 500 years ago, became a reality in the distant Ancient Lands, also known as the Northern Continent.


    Or the world-famous Great Continent of Pangea, which had since broken into the Eastern and Western Continents. Its modern name is now ''High Land'' because of its towering mountains and breathtaking wonders, such as the beautiful Floating Islands of Calithea.


    Yet, despite all this territorial or environmental exclusivity, they were merely beautiful places, far removed from this forgotten and abandoned Southern Continent.


    The same applied to the new races—elves, dragons, and many more.


    Among so many fascinating things, there were two things that had changed humanity''s destiny: the System and Attribute Energy.


    Even among the two, the System had formulated the rules of reality. It established the Laws of the Game, which brought the Age of Awakening to the Earth.


    These new laws prohibit many once-common things like wars. In its place, it transformed the world into a battleground of absolute competitiveness—where kingdoms and powerful organizations no longer ruled. Instead, Guilds became the new sovereigns, operating under the pure mechanics of video games.


    The guilds fought for supremacy, hiring Awakened to compete in the Competitions prepared by the System, which offered all kinds of prizes.


    Lands, titles, classes, abilities… even Divinity.


    Although the world was now a better place, competitiveness was rampant than ever, and everyone longed to become a Champion even more than they desired to reach the ultimate power—though the two go hand in hand.


    Even in this distant Loen City, which belongs to the territory of the Arce Guild, this remains true. Elliot, like many others, longed to achieve Glory.


    But not even the Laws of the Game or the System itself enjoyed the exclusivity of Attribute Energy.


    It is difficult to explain yet crucial to understand because humans continue to exist because of it and the way the System harnesses its power.


    To become stronger, one needs Attribute Energy, which is the lifeblood of all the Awakened Ones. And although it always exists, to become strong, you must do something to ''create'' it because one cannot absorb the energy in the environment nor take the energy that someone else has created.


    You must create it yourself.


    The depth of this truth runs much greater, but in simple terms: You need to create the energy to strengthen yourself, and the energy you create cannot be absorbed by someone else unless they manage to kill you and take it.


    This is the reason why the Energy of Attributes holds a higher status than the System itself. However, other reasons also exist, such as the intricate Magical Systems erected by the Global Awakening System.


    In any case, this was why the Talent in front of his eyes made no sense.


    Wasn''t it violating a universal law? Since it allowed him to absorb the energy that others had created.


    Then, a revelation struck him.


    It made him think that there was something he didn''t know about Energy.


    He couldn''t help but reread what the Talent said once more to ensure that he was seeing it correctly.


    And as he did so, he frowned even more.


    And again. Then, a third time.


    He then skimmed through the details about Manifestation, reading them several times.


    His body trembled again.


    ''It doesn''t say…'' he thought, with an astonished yet excited expression.


    "No… it doesn''t say. I''m sure it doesn''t."


    This time, his body trembled, not from fear or cold as it had been in previous years. This was something else—a form of indescribable emotion that he couldn''t quite name—that flooded through him.


    There was something missing, something that his skills should have said because all the skills granted by the System do say it. But that ''thing'' that should have flashed before his eyes was nowhere to be seen. No matter which system window he opened, there wasn''t a single clue, reference, or trace of it.


    And that was something he couldn''t ignore...


    *KNOCK*


    *KNOCK*


    When he was at the peak of excitement, a sharp knock at the door snapped him back to reality.


    ''Who''s bothering me now?'' he thought, annoyed. Just when his mind was on the verge of thinking of something great, someone had to interrupt him.


    ''Well, it has always happened to me. Let''s relax better.'' He sighed, thinking of going to see who it was.


    But suddenly, he remembered that it was night and he was already off work.


    ''Strange…''


    He had never had visitors before. Who would come to visit him in the middle of the night?


    Cautiously, he approached the door and peered through a small crack.


    ''The Boss?''


    Elliot''s mind raced.


    ''He shouldn''t know where I live.''


    ''Has he come to the wrong door, or…?''


    He didn''t want to take any chances, so he turned around and took a small, low-grade knife from his backpack.


    ''In this world, the Awakened are the most dangerous. But even a strong Misfit is dangerous enough for me, so I have to be careful.''


    Although the new rules protected civilians, he was no longer one. The rules of the system to protect civilians no longer apply to him. If someone wanted to come and kill him, they could do so without much trouble.


    Of course, no one knew that he had Awakened, but it was better to be safe than sorry.


    ''The system has loopholes in its rules, and many people tend to take advantage of them to do terrible things, so it''s better to be cautious,'' he thought and tucked the knife into his clothes for ''safety.''


    Then he took a deep breath and opened the door.