《Deranged Hero》 Glosary Ranking Systems Note that this would be updated as the story progresses. Low Tiers << E Class >> If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Tier 5> Bronze_ Silver _Gold << D Class >> Tier 4> Bronze_ Silver _Gold Mid Tiers << C Class>> Tier 3> Bronze_ Silver _Gold << B Class >> Tier 2> Bronze_ Silver _Gold High Tiers << A Class >> Tier 1> Bronze_ Silver _Gold ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Disaster Rankers << S Class >> Tier //>Gold_ Platinum _Diamond NB: Glossary will continue to be updated as the story progresses. 1: The Great Calamity "We live in a world where everyone is a slave to their emotions. Our irrationality is always a piled-up agony let loose by our deranged minds. Our sacrifices are an outburst of extreme love disengaged by our hearts. I did not choose my actions so far, it''s just that am tired of always being the victim. It takes a bigger monster to take out a monster. Sometimes, you will have to scupper a single wolf to protect dozens of sheep." " So are you saying your actions so far are justified so long as it was for a greater good." " That''s a nice way to put it but I prefer taking out the trash." "Kortez I am sorry that as a child you should have had better protection and support. Nonetheless, all that you have put in your mind is just an excuse to justify your wrong doings. Having the ability to control electricity also takes a toll on your brain. It fries your sanity and influences your actions. To how many volts have you been able to channel." " Nope, no, don''t you dare start with that. If there''s anything, I''ll be thanking this power of mine. It''s the only thing that''s kept me sane. However, if you truly want to know just disable this ability restrictor on my neck and I will gladly show you how much volts I can trigger." "Hmm, sadly I think the restrictor will remain enabled. Though I get why you say your ability kept you sane. Having the power to protect yourself after being bullied for so long must have felt good. In fact, am certain you felt an overwhelming thrill as you gave them a taste of their own medicine. But Kortez was violence the only way you could handle that situation." "You call that violence. I call it self-defense. I was just protecting my frail little body from being squashed by three older rankers. Two of them were Mid-Tier rankers (they were actually only Tier 3 bronze) and the last guy though he was a low Tier. He had that Chuck Norris- like kind of face and body, how the hell does a 19-year-old look that old. I wasn''t letting that kind of person get close to me, he looked like he could break a bone of mine with one tiny snap." "For a seventeen-year-old boy. You kind of have a way with words. It would have been self-defense if they had attacked you first, however you seemed to have approached them this time. Were you that confident in that power of yours." " Hahaha, true I approached them this time. They were getting all high and mighty flaunting their power and wealth to the ladies. After all those humiliations they gave me. It just didn''t sit right with me that they could be happy. Someone had to humble the fuck out of them." "Kortez, do you just know to what extent your grant of humility did to their bodies. And besides those three weren''t just anybody do you know what families they belong to. Evans had two broken ribs. Chris is in a wheelchair having one of his legs fractured. And as for Dylan what the hell did you do to him to send him into that state. You are lucky he didn''t die. He just woke up from coma and his been having psychiatric help ever since." "Whoa, this is the best news I have heard so far, after been locked up here for here for a whole month. It can''t get any better. Or can it. Haha." "Kortez¡­ Your mom died when you were 10 rights. Imagine how she would feel to see you in this state. How she will feel to hear these words you are spouting. Her frail heart will be shattered. And do you know how your sister would react if she knew you were here." "Don''t speak about my mom like that. Don''t bring my mom into this. And don''t you dare get any close to my sister." "Then review your past actions, correct your present behavior and try your best to see how to become a better person. You will be leaving here very soon. But even after you leave, the ability restriction device on your neck won''t be removed. You may be a Mid-Tier, nevertheless you are still below the power level that can be restricted. We can''t have you going on a rampage at least not now. Maybe if you are lucky and the government no longer finds you a threat to your mates then you might have your ability back. This session is closed. I''ll be here same time next week." "Wait you can''t expect me to survive out there without my power! Hey, wait, where are you going. Listen to me!" *** {Some few months ago} Have you ever wondered why some people seem to be stuck in a cycle of poverty, weakness, or failure, no matter how hard they try to break free? Why do the rich keep getting richer, while the poor struggle to make ends meet? Is it all predetermined by fate, or maybe there''s a natural order of things that can''t be challenged. Well the truth is¡­. I have no idea either. I''ve spent most of my life at the bottom of the heap, so I know what it feels like to be overlooked and ignored. But something happened that changed everything, something that no one could have predicted. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The first time in human history that the natural other of things changed. And to clarify something, I wasn''t actually there when it happened, I had yet to be born. But according to school and the people around me. The sky turned red, and clouds became pitch black. The moon also had an unusual color that day, as if it was bleeding. Its azure color reflected grimly as it hovered around the planet. (That''s how the sky got its red color, I think). Anyways, nobody thought it was a big deal. All they felt was neither terror nor fear; they were amazed by the spectacle before them. Some took pictures of it, and others streamed it on their Newtube.(an online platform where people share content. It allows users to upload, share, and view videos on a wide range of topics). The only people that had a bad feeling about it were the government and a few mad scientists who began to research it. It was 2025, and the world had already undergone a pandemic that had killed a lot of people. What else was happening right before them? This continued for a week, and still, nothing had happened. The government still didn''t know what was going on. It was something beyond science, beyond what the past scientists like Newton and Archimedes had documented in our college textbooks. The strangest thing about all of that was the fact that every single country was seeing the same bloody moon, even though they were on different hemispheres. How was that possible? If every country was seeing the same bloody moon, the only logical explanation was that there were two moons. But how is there another moon rotating the earth, and how is it coordinating so well with the other moon that no country was able to see two moons at a given time? They hadn''t found their answers when something else happened. A fortnight after the two moons appeared, the world had gone into a state of economic decline due to the unavailability of sunlight, when it was hard to find food to eat, and when electricity was barely stable. When no one thought it could get any worse. Monsters spawned from the cores of the earth. Monsters of different kinds, something you might only see in a Web novel and marvel about but seeing it in real life wasn''t worth an astonishment. Even the weebs of that world tucked themselves away, hiding from what seemed to be a massacre, a total annihilation of humankind. (TN: I said "that world" because the world still has weebs, just entirely new ones with new fantasies.) They manifested something out of the ordinary, something one would only see in books and movies¡­ MAGIC . Yeah, they had freaking magic. Orcs, Centaurs, Golems, Cyclopes, basically any mythical creature you could think about in an average fantasy book became reality. They surfaced from deep under the ground from what came to be known as Caverns, Underworld Caverns in full. guns, bazookas, grenades and nuclear weapons all those were useless. Nothing worked on these strange creatures except for old fashion hand to hand weapons. Okay now it couldn''t have gotten any worse I mean Orcs, Goblins, Minotaur''s there was actually nothing else. Nothing else except ... DEMONS!! Demons, yes, you heard me right. These humanoid creatures were beings of utmost intelligence comparable to mankind, and they commanded all creatures under them like kings. Their ability to harness mana was like no other. Agility, Strength, Skill, Intelligence they had it all. It was as though a mysterious entity grants them these buffs. The world was doomed. The Great Calamity as it was come to be known had destroyed everything. Everybody seemed to have lost hope. How could they stand against something immune to bullets and nuclear weapons. Beings that could flip tanks and could pull down a skyscraper. Entities that controlled an army of monsters. However, something unexpected happened. People stood up to these monsters. With a power that rivaled that of the demons. Telekinesis, Pyrokinesis, Shadow magic, Cryomancy and Geomancy. The first ever powers to emerge from the first ever S Class Rankers. Yes, they called themselves ''Rankers'' so clich¨¦, it seems the world couldn''t throw away the previous fantasies they had. They had to just imbue it into this new world. Well back to the tale, this 5 people of which somewhere from poor backgrounds and some who were already wealthy before the whole disaster happen were flawless. The Great Five, that''s what the people called them. They Passed down their abilities to their families creating a hierarchy where they controlled everything. Well, it wasn''t before that when other people started awakening. Different abilities emerged most that were incomparable to that of The Great Five. Others were worth noting. These rankers used their abilities to fight these calamities and pushed the demons and their armies back into the Caverns. You know demons and their big egos. It just didn''t sit right with them, that we could now protect ourselves so even after they left. They''ve been occasionally sending their armies little by little creating new Caverns and waves and trying to invade us. but we had fought ever since, A never ending War between the Human race and the Demon race. Let''s begin with an introduction. My name is King Kortez, a sixteen-year-old nobody from the slums of the new world. If you are wandering what kind of ability I possess, then am sorry to disappoint you but I haven''t got any. Among all the cool powers that emerged, I don''t even have the ability to warm my water. Or even a torch that shoots from my eyeballs would be cool too. But this world had to bring me into a family that got nada. Well, I wouldn''t be living on the slums if I had awakened. Awakens were very important in Century 11. (TN: Century11 is the new collective name of all the countries that used to be in the old world. The Great Five gave it a common name and divided it in-terms of Precincts. To initiate a new world order.) They had privileges beyond your wildest dreams even an E class ranker would be sent to live in a high Precinct like Precinct 12. You see I stay in precinct 5, a low Precinct where neither of us have abilities. We usually have Caverns opening here and there but the Rankers take care of them usually not too early at the cost of a few lives being loss. From Precinct 11 upwards are where the top dons lived. Those that had awakened and call themselves rankers. We over here strive to stay alive and not mess with anyone beyond us that might get us killed. It was long school day and I had just finished brewing my tea. I had a bunch of movie genres in mind, but I felt like going a bit old school. And shoving in some Kdrama in. I have always wondered why it was called Kdrama but I could never figure it out. The old world was so complicated. I stumbled upon a Disc amidst a pile of rubbish on my way back from school, however, my initial excitement was dampened by the cringe-worthy title: ''My Heart That Fell from a Star.'' Despite my reservations, I decided to give it a chance and plugged it in. To my surprise, the movie was quite enjoyable, and I savored it while sipping on bitter coffee like a boss. Sigh, soft life. I can''t get enough of¡­ ~BOOM ~Crash The whole place was blank. For some time, I could see nothing but darkness. Pain surged through every inch of fiber in my body. What is this, I have never felt something like this before. Slowly my vision was returning. But my ears still kept on ranging. Like a siren a never-ending melody. I couldn''t see much clearly but I could deduce the situation. A ranker is fighting some kind of monster and might have smashed into my room. This wasn''t a first. Situations like this often happened in this Precinct. It could have happened to anyone. Well, there were hundreds of houses aside mine on this Precinct. And yet it had to be me. Am I dying. But am still a virgin. Arghh, I just wanted to watch a romance I know I would never have. What''s with all this action. 2: My Awakening Precinct Five - the place where the action never stops, and drama is always in the air. It''s like living in a never-ending episode of a dystopian TV show. The only problem is that it''s not TV - it''s real life, and you can''t hit the pause button or change the channel. The thing that sets Precinct Five apart from other regions is the constant threat of cavern openings. You''d think that with all the technological advancements we''ve made as a society, we''d have figured out how to predict and prevent these things from happening and causing mass destruction. But nope, not in Precinct Five. Here, you''re more likely to win the lottery than to accurately predict when the next cavern will open. Even after the authorities and rankers came up with the wave detector - a device that uses radar and other fancy technologies to predict when a cavern is about to open up. It still couldn¡¯t predict a cavern opening. The wave detector seems to have a mind of its own in Precinct Five. It either gives false readings, or it predicts collapses that never happen. It''s like having a weatherman who''s always wrong - except instead of getting wet, you might get crushed by a giant orc or have your butt shot at by a mischievous goblin. Despite the danger, people still flock to Precinct Five - mostly because it almost cost nothing living there. And free food is sometimes exported from the authorities and the five great families down to us. Well, those were the little good perks of living here if you are someone who actually prefers a mouthful and getting eaten by a monster or starving in a roofless corner of any other Precinct. But let me tell you, living in Precinct Five is not all doom and gloom. There''s a certain charm to the place - like how you never know when your house is going to collapse, or when a monster is going to pop out of nowhere and chase you down the street. It keeps life exciting; you know? And let''s talk about the mortality rate. Thirty percent of the global total? That''s not a statistic you want to be proud of. But hey, at least we''re number one in something, right? ~ Beep¡­Beep..Beep As I lay in bed, trying to ignore the fact that any moment could be my last, I was rudely awakened by a loud beeping sound. "What now?" I groaned, hoping it wasn''t another false alarm. I reached out to turn off the alarm, but instead, my hand landed on a strange platform. "What the heck is this?" I muttered, trying to figure out what I was touching. Suddenly, something buzzed through my skin, and the platform went silent. "Um, okay then," I said, feeling slightly creeped out. I realized there were strings attached to my hand, and I quickly removed them all. As I stumbled out of bed, I felt like I''d been hit by a truck. "Why do I feel like I ran a marathon in my sleep?" I grumbled. "I wasn''t fully myself and had forgotten most of what had happened previously. I decided to strip off the long and weird, but surprisingly comfortable, garment I was wearing, hoping to take a short bath to clear my senses and restore my vision. Despite being half-blind, I knew exactly where my bathroom was. You see, I had prepared for situations like this by familiarizing myself with the location of every object in my room in case I ever went blind. After taking a few steps from my bed and making a sharp right turn, I expected to find myself in my bathroom. However, to my surprise, I collided with a giant wall right in front of me. I was confused. How could I have hit a wall when I knew exactly where my bathroom was? But then, I realized that this little unlucky event had turned out to be a stroke of good luck in disguise. The collision knocked my vision right back into focus, and I could finally see my surroundings. That''s when I noticed that I wasn''t in my room anymore. Instead, I was in a hospital room surrounded by sterile white walls and a narrow bed with crisp bed sheets. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The pale blue hospital gown I had taken off was lying on the ground, and I couldn''t help but wonder how I had ended up here. And then it all hit me. I was one unlucky guy who had been at the wrong place at the wrong time. My poor old house had been blasted by a wave of mana, which I assumed came from a ranker. Suddenly, a voice resonated through the room, "It seems you are finally awake. I couldn''t help but enjoy the little show you put up here today." I was shaken, wondering who had spoken. I looked back and forth, left and right, but nothing was there. Was I hallucinating or was it a ghost that spoke to me? Then, the voice spoke again, "I''m down here, you idiot." I looked down and saw a very short, stout old man wearing an oversized lab coat. He had a large white mustache, and his belly looked like he had swallowed a tank full of water. I tried to speak, but my throat was dry, and my words came out in a hoarse whisper. "How did I get here sir?" The doctor let out a booming laugh, causing his belly to jiggle like a bowl of jelly. "The ranker that did this to you dropped you here.¡± Wait a ranker went out of his way to bring me into the hospital. This is the first time am hearing of something like this. This where the kind of things I wouldn¡¯t still have believed if I saw it with my own two eyes. A ranker went out of their way to bring me to the hospital, and this is the first time I''ve ever experienced something like this. I couldn''t believe it, even if I had seen it with my own two eyes. After clearing my dry throat, I asked the person next to me, "Did the ranker who brought me here lose a bet or something?" "I understand your surprise," the person replied, "But not all rankers are the same. The ranker who brought you here is named Eleanor Eisenhower. You must have heard of her." Did this person just say that Eleanor carried me here? She was the young prodigy ranked number 1 in the Eisenhower family, one of the Great Five families that can control ice through Cryomancy. She was also considered one of the most beautiful young rankers in the world, if not the most beautiful. I felt both lucky and unlucky at the same time. It was the first time someone other than my sister and late mom held me, but I had to be knocked out for it to happen. "Jeez," I muttered. Despite Eleanor''s saintly reputation, I couldn''t help but imagine her carrying me like the reverse case of a bride and groom, with my body pressing against her enormous front side. The doctor must have noticed my thoughts because he hummed at me and spoke. "I''m not really sure what you''re thinking, but your heart is beating irregularly. If you''re imagining that Eleanor carried you, then you must be dreaming. ¡°She dragged your ass down here." I knelt down in front of him, held his jiggling belly, and looked straight into his eyes. "Are you saying we had no contact with each other whatsoever? She didn''t even touch my hands." He grinned at my disappointment. "That''s right, her skin didn''t even touch yours." I don''t know why, but the way he said it and the look on his face made me tear up a little. I thought I finally had something to brag about to my colleagues. Nonetheless, I couldn''t help but ask him how he read my pulse without touching me. "Sir, if you don''t mind me asking, how did you read my pulse without touching me? Are you perhaps a¡­" Before I could finish my sentence, he nodded his head and finished the word for me. "Ranker, yeah, I am a ranker." Wait, if he was an awakened doctor, how come he was working in this crappy precinct? Awakened doctors were highly valued in the higher precinct, especially those with abilities like X-ray vision and body re-modification. "By the flow of your pulses, I presume you''re quite surprised," he said. "You may be wondering why I''m working in a place like this instead of a better environment. Let me ask you, if every skilled person left here, who would heal the diseases of the citizens?" Despite his small and annoying appearance, his heart was quite big. As I stood there, I couldn''t help but feel amazed by everything that was happening. In the midst of my awe, I had forgotten why I was actually there. "If I survived being blasted by a wave of cold mana, how is that possible? ¡°The human body cannot handle that amount of energy and live to tell the tale. ¡°Aside from the stiffness I feel in my body, which I suppose was caused by Eleanor''s cryomancy, I feel perfectly fine." I thought he didn''t hear me since he was rummaging through a large drawer for some time. However, he replied in a tone barely audible over the shuffling of papers. "Pardon me," I said, hoping to get him to repeat what he said. He dropped whatever he was doing and turned to face me. "I said you have awakened, you idiot. Who did you think did that?" He pointed to the broken object that was smoking beside the bed. "Wait, what did you say? I have awakened. But that''s impossible. Only those from families with abilities can awaken." Despite my doubts, I couldn''t help but believe him when I saw the smoking object. I remembered hearing something ringing and stretched out my hand to turn it off. However, I didn''t realize that I had actually damaged it. Seeing my confusion, he decided to explain further. "An awakened is someone who can sense, feel, and channel mana from within a core of the body called the mana core, which creates a vein-like tissue that attaches to your muscles. ¡°Typically, one awakens through inheritance or from the Great Five. ¡°However, sometimes the human body can survive an encounter with a large influx of mana and adapt to it, resulting in a forceful creation of a mana core. ¡°How did you think there were so many people who awakened during the Great Calamity?¡± All of what he said made total sense. However, I felt nothing different in my body. I looked around the room and saw a small square mirror on the left side of the wall. I approached it to see if there was anything different about my appearance, assuming that I had gained a transformation ability. However, I saw no noticeable difference in my facial features, and my handsome chiseled face was perfectly intact, and my amber eyes gleamed with life. As I dropped my head down, ready to leave the mirror area, I realized that my hair had drastically changed color. When did it become this pale? I was quite confident that it was black. Not that the white color was bad, in fact, it looked better than my previous hair color. I turned to the doctor, who had gone back to his drawer. "Does awakening change your hair color?" He paused when he heard my question and hopped down from the little chair he was standing on. "Do you mean this is not your natural hair color?" I nodded in agreement and added, "It''s normally black." He stroked his chin as he walked haphazardly back and forth. He froze at some point and approached me once again, this time with a light grin on his face. "Close your eyes and dive into your system. You will feel a tingling sensation down the center of your body. Circulate that feeling through every part of your body." I followed his instructions and felt something circulating my body. Suddenly, something formed in front of me like a bluish translucent screen. [--Loading user info¡­] I panicked and stepped back, but it followed me as I backed away. It was like it was embedded in the pupils of my eyes. I put my fear aside and scrutinized the information before me. The words on the screen flickered as if coming to life, and a surge of electricity crackled in the air around me. My eyes widened in awe as I watched the data materialize before me, glowing with an otherworldly blue light. [--Loading user info...COMPLETE] I felt a rush of power surge through me as the screen disappeared, replaced with a holographic display that floated in mid-air. The information was displayed in a sleek, futuristic font, accompanied by pulsing lines of energy that seemed to dance and writhe. [--Initializing user profile--] << Profile >> Name: King Kortez Sex: Male Level: 1 Experience: 0/100 Ability: Electrokinetic Description: The user has the ability to generate and manipulate electrical energy. Passive Ability: Electric Resistance - The user''s body is naturally resistant to some amount of electric shock. Active Ability: Shock - The user can channel current and direct it towards a target. Volts: 60 Skills: None Special: Peek -Allows user to see ability of other people who isn''t beyond his power level scope Rank: Tier 5 > Bronze Mana: 187/200 Strength: 20 Speed: 28 Defense: 24 Accuracy: 39 Intelligence: 70 Charm 76 Equipment: None Side effects: Electric Induced Psychosis- Cannot affect the user at this level. Ability power too weak. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I blinked a few times to clear my vision, and the translucent screen disappeared with the third flicker. "So, this is what it means to be awakened? How come I never knew every ranker had something as dope as this?" I asked, still in disbelief. A small smile played on the doctor''s lips, and I couldn''t help but feel like he was more excited about my ability than I was. "Not every ranker has this screen. It seems you''re quite special, boy," he said. "I am Dr. Smallberries, and I must say, you have a rare talent. ¡°How would you like to enroll in Awakened Academy? I think you''d thrive there. First I would like you to put on some shorts." 3: Testing Abilities Awakened Academy and Glory Academy are renowned institutions that specialize in training young awakens before they become full-fledged rankers. Even though they are located in separate precincts, the schools are tied in fierce rivalry. All young awakens who are under powerful families or have strong backing attend one of these two schools to hone their skills. Both institutions boast top-notch infrastructures that provide access to almost every piece of information, the best training mechanisms and centers, and some of the best instructors in all of Century 11. Enrolling in one of these prestigious schools is an automatic ticket to all the benefits of an E ranker, and to top it off, you even get paid if the school finds potential in your abilities. However, I am one of the few who is about to declined such an invitation. I have never been one to put my life on the line for worldly benefits or a cause as pointless as protecting mankind. What has mankind ever done for me that I should go out of my way to protect them by becoming a ranker? I am content with my Electrokinetic abilities, and I can only imagine all the cool things I could do with them. From never worrying about electricity bills for the rest of my life to zapping my electronic devices anytime they run low, my powers give me a sense of control and independence. Moreover, I can even protect myself from the ruthless thugs that roam the streets of Precinct 5. With my awakened abilities, no one would dare to mess with me, and I could even become one of the most popular guys in school. What else could I ask for? The idea of living in a world where power and dominance were determined through fierce competition with peers was something I never wanted. It wasn''t just because I didn''t have a chance of winning against those who had been training their abilities since they were infants. It was also because the idea of constantly fighting and battling didn''t appeal to me. As I looked down at Dr. Smallberries, I couldn''t help but feel wary of his sly grin. He seemed to know something about me that I didn''t. Despite his proposition being tempting, I knew I had to decline it for my own safety. "I appreciate the offer, Dr. Smallberries, but I don''t think it''s something I''m interested in. "And forgive me for asking, but who are you exactly? "How do you have the power to recruit someone to an institution like the Awakened Academy?" Although he appeared disappointed with my answer, Dr. Smallberries didn''t give up easily. He paced around the room, muttering so quickly that it was hard for me to keep up. "You don''t need to know who I am right now. "What''s important is that you understand just how special you are. "I don''t want your talents to go to waste." I shifted backwards uncomfortably. I wasn''t sure how to respond to his cryptic words. "First, tell me about what you saw after you circulated your mana," he said, leaning in closer. "I didn''t know why he wanted to know about the status screen," I thought to myself. "Wasn''t he supposed to have one as well since he was also an Awakened?" Despite my confusion, I decided to tell him everything I knew. "After I did what you taught, a bluish holographic screen appeared before me with information about my ability level. "It revealed all my stats, progress, and even my mana capacity..." As I spoke, the doctor scribbled down every detail in his notebook with lightning speed. It was clear that he was taking this seriously. "Okay, okay, I see," he muttered, nodding as he wrote. He looked up at me, and I could see the curiosity in his eyes. I couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride as I explained the status screen to him. It was like having a secret power that nobody else knew about. But as unfamiliar as it seemed to the doctor, I could tell that he already had some knowledge of it. Dr. Smallberries grumbled to himself as he flipped through his notes. "It all makes sense now, The Great Five''s unique hair color... it all makes sense now," he murmured, his expression shifting from confusion to excitement. I had no idea what he was talking about, but it seemed like he had made some kind of breakthrough. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. His odd behavior piqued my curiosity, and I couldn''t help but ask, "What is the problem, Doctor? What have you uncovered?" He stopped and looked at me with the same grin he had on his face when he tried to recruit me. "Are you sure you want to know? It''s quite also related to you, you know." I nodded my head in agreement to wanting to know more. "What''s in it for me? Hmm, let''s see. There is little you can do for me. How about accepting my recruitment first, and I will tell you all you need to know?" I could see through his ploy, and I felt dumb for falling into his trap. "I''ve already told you, Doctor, I have no interest in joining Awakened Academy right now. "Thanks for healing me, though. I''ll get going now." I quickly left the hospital room before he could make another attempt to recruit me. As I walked out, I couldn''t help but notice how large and impressive the hospital looked. You would have never believed it based in Precinct 5. It stood out from among the ugly poorly built buildings in the vicinity. Talking about buildings what the heck is happening to mine right now, the last I remember a massive hole through the walls. I rushed with lightning speed straight home. The distance between my house and the hospital was surprisingly not that far, saved me some change as I dint have to board a bullet vehicle. [TN; bullet vehicles are large transportation vehicles that takes people from one place to the other with an incredible speed. They hover just above the ground and move in specific railway designs.] I walked down the street right past my neighbor''s house. A cozy cute little newly painted house laid in the corner. "I''ve seen so many nice buildings today than I have ever seen my whole life." I said as I walked a few steps past the house then confusion hit me. "Wait a minute. Isn''t that where my house is supposed to be." I approached the building and on the door was a short note pinned to it. The handwriting looked pretty and sleek, whoever wrote this must have not been from around here since you wouldn''t find many literate people in this Precinct. I plucked the note and read it. --------------------------------------------- Sorry For any inconvenience I may have caused you. I made sure your house was fixed. and any damages repaired. From. Eleanor Eisenhower -------------------------------------------------- Eleanor must be a goddess sent from the heavens to bless me. Not only did she take me to the hospital, but she even went out of her way to fix my house and make it look better than it used to. As I entered the house, I could see a lot of changes had already been made. The walls had been repainted to a cool white with etched designs all over them. My rough, dirty bed that used to lay on the ground had been upgraded to a queen-sized, fluffy bed. The old curtains that had been hanging on the windows for ages had been replaced with beautiful new ones that matched the color of the walls. The living room had been rearranged, and the old, worn-out sofa had been replaced with a comfortable new one. Being crazy rich must feel nice. I could have never afforded such things, even if I sold my being as a whole on the black market. I sat on the sofa and tried to recall whatever had happened today. It all happened so fast, and it still felt like a dream: my awakening, Eleanor, and Dr. Smallberries. I wondered if the status screen would appear again or if it was a one-time event. I circulated my mana around me and imagined the status screen appearing before me. [--Initializing user profile--] The bluish holographic screen began forming before me again. << Profile >> Name: King Kortez Sex: Male Level: 1 Experience: 0/100 Ability: Electrokinetic Description: The user has the ability to generate and manipulate electrical energy. Passive Ability: Electric Resistance - The user''s body is naturally resistant to some amount of electric shock. Active Ability: Shock - The user can channel current and direct it towards a target. Volts: 60 Skills: None Special: Peek -Allows user to see ability of other people who isn''t beyond his power level scope Rank: Tier 5 > Bronze Mana: 200/200 Strength: 20 Speed: 28 Defense: 24 Accuracy: 39 Intelligence: 70 Charm 76 Equipment: None Side effects: Electric Induced Psychosis- Cannot affect the user at this level. Ability power too weak. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Although I couldn''t touch the status screen, I couldn''t help but stare at it in wonder. The font was like nothing I had ever seen before, almost otherworldly. It hovered right above me, teasing me with its unattainability. As I read through my stats, I couldn''t help but feel disappointed. I was so weak; it was almost laughable. All my stats were below forty, except for my charm. But that wasn''t surprising. I mean, just look at me. I could easily be mistaken for a model. My beauty was unmatched, with my piercing amber eyes and chiseled face. I had it all in the looks department. But as I looked back at the status screen, I realized that I needed to focus on more than just my looks if I wanted to survive in this world. I needed to work on building up my strength, speed, and intelligence. I couldn''t rely on my charm alone to get me through everything. I felt a sense of trepidation as I gazed at the mana reading on my profile. The power required to use my Shock ability was substantial and I wasn''t sure if my room could withstand the impact. The last thing I wanted was to cause irreparable damage and face the wrath of my sister. Suddenly, an idea occurred to me. I could test my ability on a flat board and observe its impact before attempting it on anything else. I searched through my storeroom until I found a white board tucked away in the corner and brought it to the center of my room. With a deep breath, I extended my hand towards the board and focused my thoughts on the Shock ability. However, when I yelled out "Shock!", nothing seemed to happen. Disappointed and frustrated, I opened my eyes to find the white board untouched. But then I remembered the training I received from Dr. Smallberries. Perhaps instead of trying to conjure up the ability, I should imagine the sensation of electricity coursing through my body. With that in mind, I closed my eyes and channeled the mana from my core, allowing it to flow through my limbs. Suddenly, a notification appeared before me on my status screen. [-- User is using shock --] [Volts: 5...15...30...45] The numbers continued to rise until they hit 60 volts, at which point I was unable to channel any more voltage. I could feel a massive amount of energy coursing through my arms, crackling and sparking around my palms. Without hesitation, I directed the electricity towards the white board, watching as the area of impact became darkened. It appeared that the board was barely affected otherwise, which was a relief. As I checked my profile again, I noticed that my mana had decreased significantly. < > Mana:140/200 As I experiment with my abilities, I noticed that channeling electricity consumes my mana, with one volt costing me one mana. However, my passive ability grants me some resistance to electric current. Eager to test my limits, I grabbed a voltmeter and set up a current regulator between the wire and power source, ensuring that I could control the flow of electricity. Although the idea of potentially facing death was slightly nerve-wracking, I pushed the thought aside and proceeded with caution. I started at a safe 10 volts, carefully adjusting the regulator until the meter displayed the desired voltage. Gingerly, I touched my finger to the wire and quickly drew my hand back. To my surprise, I felt nothing. My curiosity piqued, I decided to try holding onto the wire this time. The sensation I felt was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. It was a soothing and refreshing feeling that flowed through my body, and for a moment, I felt one with the current. As the electricity flowed through me, I noticed my mana gradually restored itself. [-- Current detected--] [--Transforming it into mana--] [--Mana restoration: ¡­145,150,155...] "Oh, it seems absorbing current also restores my mana" Let me move the regulator to 60 volts. I tweaked the regulator until the voltmeter read 60. [--User has reached maximum resistivity--] [--Transforming current into mana--] [--Mana restoration: ¡­160¡­190¡­200] [--Mana restoration complete--] [--User is advised to direct current elsewhere--] [--User is advised to direct current elsewhere--] [--User is advised to direct current elsewhere--] [--User is advised to direct current elsewhere--] As I lay on the ground, I realized I had reached my limit of resistivity. Desperate to ground myself, I placed my hand on the floor and imagined the electric current flowing out of my body and into the earth. [--Directing current flow to ground--] Surprisingly, it worked. I felt a surge of pride and relief wash over me. Exhausted, I decided to take a break and sat up, only to feel a sharp pain in my left buttock. Digging into my back pocket, I found a card with Dr. Smallberries'' contact information on it. How did he manage to slip it into my pocket without me noticing? I was impressed by his stealthiness and wondered why he felt the need to give me the card. Turning it over, I saw a message written in bold ink: "Never disclose your Status Screen to anybody no matter what." I trusted Dr. Smallberries and took his warning seriously. Putting the card back in my pocket, I pondered my next move. I had no skills yet, except for the Peek ability, which allowed me to gauge the abilities of people. I wondered if it would work on inanimate objects, like the whiteboard in front of me. Closing my eyes, I focused on the whiteboard and used Peek. [--User attempts to use Peek on an inanimate object--] [--User attempts to use Peek on an inanimate object--] [--System is adjusting user profile--] [--User profile adjusted--] [--Peek can now be used on inanimate objects--] << Peeked Object Profile >> Wooden Board Color: White Health: Slightly damaged Special: No unique attribute The Peek ability was truly amazing, I could gauge the abilities of anything or anyone within my range. I couldn''t help but feel excited about my newfound powers, and I spent several hours experimenting with them. Eventually, I decided it was time to call it a night and get some rest. But before I drifted off to sleep, I remembered the side effect I had read about earlier: Electric Induced Psychosis. Meh, I wasn''t too worried about it. My ability level was still weak, so it wouldn''t affect me anytime soon. Nevertheless, I made a mental note to look it up sometime in the future, just to be safe. With that thought, I dozed off into a peaceful slumber. 4: Tip Toe I fell to the ground with a thud, jolted awake from what was undoubtedly the most heavenly dream I had ever had. I rubbed my forehead, wincing at the new bruise that had formed there, but the refreshing feeling from my dream kept a silly grin on my face. In the dream, I had been in the lap of luxury, quite literally. Eleanor Eisenhower, with her soft palms and captivating purple eyes, had been stroking my hair while she spoke in a soothing voice. But her words fell on deaf ears as my gaze was fixated on her large bosom, jiggling with every word she muttered. I couldn''t help but stare, slack-jawed and wide-eyed. She caught me looking, and I fumbled for something to say about the refurbishment she had made to my house. But my voice failed me, as if it knew that anything I said would be inadequate to prove my innocence. She gazed at me with her bewildered yet enchanting eyes, as if sensing my struggle to speak. Her voice was as soothing and angelic as her beauty, as she spoke inquiringly, "Is my little King tired? Or does your throat ache? Perhaps a gentle kiss on your neck could ease the discomfort." She pushed back her violet hair and leaned towards me, with her bosom pressing against my face. I gasped. I actually didn''t know what had happened or why my head was resting on one of the most beautiful and sought-after ladies in the world, but I wasn''t one to complain. I was in paradise. When she leaned in to kiss my neck, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. As soon as her lips made contact with my neck, a tingling surge coursed through me, causing my entire body to shudder with pleasure. When she withdrew her face and met my gaze, a small smile graced her lips, and she asked in a gentle voice, "Did the kiss have a healing effect on you, my dear King?" I shook my head eagerly, unable to hide the infatuation that was consuming me. However, her expression soon shifted, and a look of concern replaced her earlier smile. "No, I fear it''s not sufficient. Allow me to fetch Dr. Smallberries to tend to you," she stated, gently lowering my head onto the plush couch before making her way towards the door. Panic gripped me, as I desperately tried to find a way to stop her. Anyone but Dr. Smallberries, I thought to myself. That old man would undoubtedly find a way to lure me into accepting his Awakened Academy recruitment offer again. Despite my efforts to rise, my feet seemed to be anchored to the couch, leaving me trapped and helpless. In desperation, I rolled as quickly as I could and landed on the floor with a thud, startling myself awake. As I sat up, nursing my bruise, I couldn''t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. How could I, a street urchin, have dreamt of being on the lap of someone as noble as a prodigy from one of the most important houses in the entire world? What a joke. I pulled myself up from the ground and checked the time, only to discover that I was already two hours late for class. I had set seven alarms, each louder than the last, but it seemed that even they couldn''t rouse me from my deep slumber. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Maybe I should just ditch class today; I was already late, and I wouldn''t be allowed in anyways. But no, I couldn''t risk being dismissed for truancy. I had already missed two days of school due to the little accident I went through, and a third absence might really anger the principal. Besides, being late for school was nothing new for me. I knew all the secret entrances and hidden holes that only a few people were aware of. In less than ten minutes, I transformed from a sleepy zombie into a fully clothed student ready to tackle the day ahead. I couldn''t help but pat myself on the back for my impressive speed, which I had aptly named "Under Ten Minute." It may sound silly, but I took pride in my ability to get things done quickly, especially when running late for school. Now, Fifth District Academy was no joke. It was practically in another dimension, located in the far reaches of precinct five and almost near the edge of Precinct six. I knew I had to take drastic measures to make sure I wasn''t anymore late else, it might get really bad if the clock strikes nine and Math class begins, so I grabbed my trusty skateboard and zoomed through the precinct, narrowly avoiding collisions with innocent bystanders. As I approached a fork in the road, my brain nearly exploded with indecision. On one hand, there was a longer route to school that was undoubtedly safer, but on the other hand, there was a super short route that could potentially shave off precious seconds from my commute. But wait, as the famous saying goes, "Short cuts often lead to long delays." It wasn''t just because I was an idiot or had nothing better to do than actually making a consideration to take the longer route. Why don''t I just dive into the short alleyway. No, this was the sketchiest, most dangerous path in the entire precinct, infested with thugs and gangsters. And here I was, just a normie who had barely survived up to this day maneuvering from the wrath of my sister.(translation: a person who hasn''t "awakened"). Nonetheless, a sudden realization struck me - I had awakened, how could I forget something this important. I had amps of electric current surging through every fiber of my being jolting and crackling as they rushed through my bloodstream. I couldn''t help but wonder what could go so wrong that I wouldn''t be able to handle. Despite having a skateboard, I decided against using it as the rough path would only waste my time. Instead, I picked it up and tucked it under my arm. As I made my way down the alleyway, I was surprised to find not a single soul in sight. No street thugs, no notorious criminals, not even a beggar and this was highly unusual, especially for Precinct Five where beggars were as common as pebbles. Walking down one dark side of the alleyway my anxiety heightened when I noticed green blood splattered on the wall of a building. I immediately realized it was not human blood, as two types of monsters possess green blood - goblins and orcs. Goblins are devious and usually move in groups, making them a dangerous foe. However, it was unlikely that the blood belonged to a goblin as goblins are smaller and weaker than orcs. The amount of blood on the wall indicated a larger creature had been injured, making it more likely that the blood belonged to an orc. Fortunately, orcs pride themselves on individual strength and often roam alone, making them a safer bet than goblins. With just a short distance left to exit the alleyway, I knew I couldn''t afford to turn back and retrace my steps. Clutching my skateboard firmly to my chest, I steeled myself and ran as fast as I could without looking left or right. Why did I even choose to take this shortcut in the first place? I scolded myself for my foolishness as I pushed my body to go faster. Was it my newfound strength that was allowing me to run faster than before or was I overwhelmed with fright? I didn''t have time to ponder on such things; my vision began to blur, and my breaths came in ragged gasps. My heart was pumping so much blood that my veins and arteries could barely keep up. Just when I thought I couldn''t push myself any further, I stumbled on something and hit my head on the ground. Groaning in pain, I rubbed my forehead and tried to clear my vision. That''s when I saw it: a massive orc''s head lying on the ground, blood dripping from its severed neck. The orc''s head was a gruesome sight to behold. Its skin was a sickly green color, and its features were twisted into a permanent scowl. Its large, pointed ears were adorned with bone piercings, and its hair was matted and unkempt. The orc''s eyes, which is usually full of malice and rage, were now lifeless and vacant. I let out a terrified squeak and stumbled back a few steps. I was relieved that the orc was dead, but who or what killed it? I scanned the area, looking for any signs of danger, but everything seemed eerily quiet. With no other choice, I got up and brushed the dust off my uniform and continued to run. As I ran towards the exit of the alleyway, my mind was already racing with the possibilities of what could happen next. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, and my breaths were coming out in short gasps. All I wanted was to escape this horrid place and never look back. But just as I was about to make my escape, I saw something that made me stop in my tracks. There on the ground lay a boy, helpless and being pummeled by two older boys who wore gruesome grins on their faces. Well, isn''t this just the cherry on top of my crappy day? Just when I thought things couldn''t get any worse, I find myself with a friend in need and two jerks on my tail. I swear, the universe must have a twisted sense of humor. I mean, what''s next? A piano falling on my head? Anyway, there''s my buddy Jeff getting pummeled like a pinata by two buffoons who probably think they''re auditioning for a Jackie Chan movie. And to top it all off, I''m stuck in this shady alleyway with them. I mean, what did I do to deserve this? Did I forget to return a library book or something? And why on earth did Jeff take such a risky route through the alley? He was fully aware of the dangers it posed. He could have easily taken a bullet vehicle to school, which was not an option for me, as I couldn''t even afford a decent meal. I smacked my forehead in frustration as I suddenly realized something. Jeff must have heard rumors about an orc lurking in that alley and wanted to see it for himself. He was that one friend in your group who''s the weakest physically, but fearless when it comes to danger. He had a thing for monsters, always researching them every chance he got. In fact, most of my knowledge on monsters came from him." Today had been a very bad day for me. Maybe if I try to avoid them and just pass behind them, minding my own business, they won''t come for me. I''m sure Jeff will understand, right? I said to myself while trying to tiptoe past them without being noticed. I wanted to help, I really did, but who am I to break our brotherly vow? We made a vow in sixth grade to run away when there is a chance for any of us. It was a rule we made to at least help one person escape from harm so they could return to help the other when there''s a chance. My discretion was perfect. I was able to almost make it past them without getting caught, but my initial decision changed when Jeff noticed me. I could feel the pain he was feeling through his eyes as he yearned for my help. Just then, my blood began to boil, and my rage was uncontrollable. I looked to my left and saw a half-filled trash can lying on the ground. I picked it up and aimed for the head of one of the boys. With all my strength, I threw it, and it hit the back of his head, making him turn around, annoyed, as he placed his hand behind his head. I screamed out loud my voice broken with rage. "I''m tired of you bastards picking on people weaker than you. How about you make it fair and fight us two on two? Though I will probably be the only one kicking your spoiled asses." 5: Fucked up A surge of vigor coursed through my veins, propelling me forward despite the confusion that clouded my mind. It wasn''t a sudden realization that Jeffrey needed my help, nor was it the first time I had witnessed him being bullied. Deep within my heart, I understood that the unfair rule in place only served to benefit me. Jeffrey''s larger size, which some unkindly labeled as obesity, made him an easy target. His round figure, akin to an apple, was accentuated by his curly hair that cascaded over his cracked spectacles, now lying on the ground. Seeing him subjected to such cruelty ignited a rage within me¡ªan anger I had never truly known before. But amidst the turmoil of my emotions, I couldn''t comprehend the intensity of this newfound feeling. It was as if I had tapped into an unfamiliar well of determination when suddenly, the blond boy, whom I had flung the trash can at, unleashed a growl of indignation. His voice cut through the air, cold and piercing. "Did you just throw the trash can at me?" His eyes bulged, seemingly on the verge of popping out of his face. In comparison, my own anger felt feeble, like an eagle confined within the den of a lion¡ªclarifying that I was not the lion in this scenario. I let out a shriek, my rage dissipating into thin air, leaving me perplexed. Veins around his eyes expanded, reddening as he advanced toward me. With each step, I involuntarily took one backward until my back collided with the wall. Towering over me, he peered down, his voice still chilling. "I asked you a question, you bastard." I muttered, barely audible, "Uhh, mhmmm." My mind raced, searching for words, wondering why I had provoked someone twice my size. Where had this sudden surge of bravery come from? His dark-haired companion lingered at the back, his fear mirroring mine. It was then that I realized I had made a grave mistake, but at least I was still standing. I needed to act swiftly before he pummeled me into oblivion. Assessing the situation, I concluded that the tougher of the two appeared to be the blond boy. If I could shock him twice, maybe I would gather enough strength, enough mana, to face his companion. [--User is channeling shock--] "Cat got your tongue. You were so talkative moments ago. Did you¡ª" Before he could finish his sentence, I unleashed a surge of volts, targeting him with the maximum intensity I could muster. He let out a silent shriek of pain, taking a step back in shock. Glancing briefly at his astonished friend, I sensed a mix of surprise and a warning in his eyes. There was no time to dwell on it; I needed to strike again, making him my next target. Closing in swiftly, I channeled the same potent volts through any point of contact my left hand could find. But suddenly, a searing pain shot through my wrist, causing me to scream in agony. Confusion engulfed me. "What just happened?" I questioned myself. Looking down, my heart sank as I beheld my crushed wrist, bones partially tearing through the skin, blood seeping out. A twisted smile adorned his face, a stark contrast to the anger he had previously shown. "I get it now," he uttered. "The reason you were so fearless throwing a trash can at a stranger twice your size is that you''re awakened." Releasing his grip on my arm, I collapsed to the ground, cradling my injured limb with my trembling right hand. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I whimpered, "What the heck, man? You crushed my hand." The pain was excruciating, transforming me from the would-be savior to one in desperate need of salvation. I glanced at Jeff, still lying on the ground, the dark-haired guy''s leg pressing against his face. He wore a look of remorse for my suffering, but he was helpless to intervene. "Even in your current state, you''re still concerned about your friend. Your loyalty is truly admirable. I''m almost envious," he remarked, his blood-soaked hand capturing my attention. The unnerving grin remained etched on his face. Fear gripped me. How could he possess such unfathomable strength to crush my wrist effortlessly? A mere human shouldn''t possess that level of power¡ªor so I believed. Perhaps I had underestimated the magnitude of my mistake. Uncertainty plagued my thoughts, compelling me to confirm my suspicions using my peek ability. [--User attempts to use Peek--] [--Peek is active--] What in the world! How did I find myself entangled with someone of such formidable strength? Who is he? << Peaked Profile >> Name: Dylan Hawking Sex: Male Tier: 4 Gold Ability: Rage Reckoning - Description: The user possesses an extraordinary ability to tap into their anger and channel it as a source of incredible strength. ...??? ...??? ...??? [--Peak level too low. User is unable to view the remaining stats--] <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "Ha, I see you''ve finally caught on. I was growing tired of being unable to unleash my power on Porky over there due to some asinine school rule. But thanks to you, the path is clear. As a token of appreciation, I''ll let you choose who I send to the hospital first," he declared, hopping back and forth, throwing rapid jabs as if preparing for an MMA fight. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "So, what''ll it be? Will you go first, or shall Porky here have the honor of taking the initial beating?" In a barely audible voice, I muttered, "...Asshole," unaware that my words carried further than anticipated, catching his ears. Abruptly halting his jabs, anger surged across his face once again as he screamed, "What the hell did you just call me?" My initial fear gradually subsided, replaced by a newfound resolve. "I called you an asshole, dipshit. It''s amusing to see you revel in fighting nobodies from the slums when you clearly hail from one of those prestigious awakened academies," I retorted, rising slowly from the ground, my wrist throbbing with pain. "Tell me, are you so low on the hierarchy over there that you resort to beating innocent kids to salvage your shattered ego? Drowning yourself in a sea of lies, pretending to be superior? How pitiful." My words struck him with a crushing force, shattering him further than my aching wrist ever could. I observed disbelief wash over his face, quickly transforming into a disturbing blend of anger and determination. His muscles tensed, his fist clenched tightly as he charged toward me, propelled by wounded pride. In the past, this sight would have terrified me, possibly leading to an involuntary loss of bodily control. But now, an unexpected sensation coursed through me¡ªthrill. No matter how much pain he could inflict upon me, it would never be enough to heal his bruised ego. To my astonishment, just as Dylan closed in on me, Klein emerged suddenly from the shadows. His hand struck my face with such force that it sent me sprawling to the ground. Struggling to regain my footing, I found Klein steadfastly standing between us, beads of sweat trickling down his face as he struggled to find his words. With a touch of stuttering, he spoke up, his voice carrying a mix of urgency and desperation. "There''s no point in wasting your time on this loser," Klein addressed Dylan, his voice trembling. "Our mission is accomplished. The orc is dead, and we shouldn''t invite any further trouble. Instructor Jin could return at any moment." In an instant, Dylan''s entire demeanor underwent a transformation. A false smile stretched across his face, concealing his true sentiments. "You''re right," he conceded, his tone dripping with insincerity. "I suppose it''s wise to stop here and avoid causing more complications." He began to walk away, but after a few steps, he abruptly halted. His voice turned bitter, laced with animosity. "You could have continued groveling, you know," Dylan sneered. "Perhaps you didn''t say it outright, but you called me a troublemaker. Well, I guess I''ll have to add you to my list of patients." Before I could fully process his words, a whirlwind of movement shattered the air. Klein was forcefully propelled through the wall behind me, the impact causing it to crumble and cave in. The world descended into chaos as dust engulfed the surroundings, impairing my vision. Coughing and disoriented, I frantically searched through the debris, desperate to catch a glimpse of Klein''s well-being. Fear and concern gripped my heart, overshadowing the lingering thrill from our recent clash. Gradually, the settling dust revealed the devastating scene before me. Klein lay motionless, partially buried beneath the wreckage of the collapsed wall. The sight sent a chilling realization through me, "If this asshole could do this to his friend, imagine what he could do to me." I knew I was next as his gaze shifted from his clenched fist to meet my eyes. Desperation surged within me, but the only ability I possessed had proven ineffective against him. Frantically scanning the chaotic surroundings, I searched for something, anything, that could aid my survival. Yet, all I could see were piles of debris. "This asshole killed a fucking orc. How will stones and debris salvage me from this situation?" Amid the chaos, my eyes met Jeff''s once again. This time, he wore a determined expression, mirroring my resolve to bring this dipshit to his knees. Jeff was cunning, far more intelligent than anyone I had ever known. He directed my attention to a thin rod lying amidst the wreckage, then winked, signaling me to prepare myself. Taking a large rock from beside him, he slowly approached Dylan, who was also closing in on me. Dylan taunted as he closed the distance, "All you had to do was mind your damn business. Now you''ll pay for your foolishness." With his fist clenched, he launched a punch at me. Before his punch could land, Jeff swung the rock, smashing it against the lower crown of Dylan''s head while screaming "Leave us alone." The blow sent Jeff flying as Dylan retaliated with an elbow strike, but the damage Jeff inflicted caused Dylan to stumble and briefly falter. I knew I had to seize this opportunity, to act swiftly before Dylan could fully recover. Rolling on the ground, I reached out and grabbed the thin rod that resembled a wire amidst the chaotic debris. As Dylan slowly regained his composure, I stabbed him with the rod. His skin proved as tough as rock, barely allowing the rod to break through, but it was enough to elicit a scream of pain from him. Desperate, he tried to reach for the rod, but I refused to let him. Charging up the maximum current I could channel, I knew it wouldn''t be enough to incapacitate a skilled Awakened like him. [--User attempts to channel shock--] [Volts: 5...15...30...45...60] [--User is unable to reach maximum voltage capabilities--] The system alerted me that I had reached my optimal capabilities, but my gut told me it wouldn''t be sufficient. Ignoring the incessant warning from the system, I continued to charge up more current when suddenly... [Maximum current has been adjusted] [--User now has an optimum channeling voltage of 80--] There was no time to celebrate or be surprised. I continued charging up the current beyond the 60-volt threshold until I finally reached 80. Gripping the rod tightly, I channeled the current through it and zapped Dylan through his skin. The air was filled with his piercing screams as he writhed in agonizing pain. As I unplugged the rod from his back, he crumpled to the ground, his collapse met with deafening silence. I was drenched in sweat, my breaths coming in short gasps. I felt a surge of relief, but it was quickly overshadowed by the urgency to escape the scene with Jeff. The uncertainty of when Dylan might awaken again loomed over us, adding to the sharp pain radiating from my broken wrist. "How the hell did I manage to restrain Dylan with this injured wrist?" I questioned myself, the realization sinking in. I was on the verge of collapsing when Jeff steadied me, supporting me with his shoulders. Together, we moved slowly, attempting to put distance between ourselves and the chaos we had just endured. However, I had underestimated the resilience and recovery speed of a well-trained Awakened. Dylan''s voice shattered the silence of the alleyway, piercing through the air. "That was impressive, I''ll give you that. But all you did was make me very mad," he declared, rising from the ground. The question of what kind of monster I had provoked and how he had recovered so swiftly plagued my mind. Jeff quickened his pace, urging me to keep up, but Dylan was already closing in on us with astonishing speed. Fear gripped us, causing a momentary misstep that sent us sprawling to the ground. "Forget about the hospital. I''m going to kill both of you right here, right now," Dylan threatened, his muscles bulging once again, ready to unleash his devastating strength. Just as he was about to strike, a sudden freeze paralyzed Dylan mid-air. His legs became trapped in the ground, rendering him immobile. A voice echoed through the alleyway, interrupting the tension. "As I said, we have done enough damage to them. Let them go," it commanded. It was Klein, showing signs of recovery from his injury. Dylan turned his gaze toward Klein, defiance etched on his face. "And if I don''t? Who''s going to stop me, you?" he challenged. Despite his limited strength, Klein nodded, determination shining in his eyes. "Yes, me. And what of it?" The situation took an unexpected turn as another deep, unfamiliar voice resonated in the air. "Enough, boys. You''ve had your fun. Now it''s time to face the consequences for your misbehaviors." Both Dylan and Klein began to float in the air, seemingly restrained by an unknown force. I couldn''t comprehend who this new figure was or the nature of their ability, but their intervention offered us a temporary respite from imminent danger. 6: Inheritors "You brats just had to go around causing trouble, when all I told you to do was severe the head of a single lone orc" The mysterious man drawled, his voice chilling and his location still unknown. Dylan and Klein, we¡¯re still afloat struggling to break free from what seemed to be the ability of the mysterious man. Unlike Jeff and myself, the voice carried familiarity for them as Klein, in a timid tone, pleaded," I had no part in this Sir, It was all Dylan". "Shut up moron, before I rip your tongue out," Dylan yelled. "How tough of you after being humiliated by a bunch of kids from the slums, Hoho an awakened being trained by one of the most prestigious schools in century 11. Defeated by a brick, a needle, and two country boys Hoho." the man spoke as he chuckled. Dylan hung his head in shame, concealing his embarrassment behind a curtain of disheveled hair." Jeff tapped me and I looked over my shoulder. He whispered into my ear presumably not to draw too much attention. "let¡¯s quietly leave here while they chat." He placed my arm over his shoulders and quietly picked me up from the ground. As we tried to make our escape. The voice spoke even in a more pitched tone. " Uh. And where do you kids think you are going." The man spoke. "Quietly leave here, funny. I could hear you panting even if I was a mile from you." I knew Jeff felt a little embarrassed and disappointed, nonetheless, he placed me down again and turned in the direction of the voice. "Please mister we were not trying to escape, it¡¯s just that my friend is severely hurt. He urgently needs a doctor. " The man replied, " Your friend you say, the kid that beat up my student huh? Hey, albino what is your name." To be frank I was a little offended by him calling me an albino however, there was something strange about the man that added to his mystery. He felt affable but at the same time, his voice was revering, warning you not to take his leniency for a weakness. I slowly squeezed up the little strength I had left and in a light tone, I answered him. "My name is King Sir, King Kortezz. Not to offend you but having a conversation with us while you stay hidden isn¡¯t very polite." Dylan who was hiding his face in shame and his rage in check due to this man¡¯s presence suddenly yelled. "Who the hell are you to talk to Instructor Jin as such? A piece of shit like you should be cowering on your knees. You should be happy a man like him even wasted a breath on you." Amid Dylan¡¯s unceasing squabbles instructor Jin cut him short. " Shut up boy. I don¡¯t recall allowing you to speak. King, what an interesting name." I knew my last sentence was unnecessary and could have put me in a whole new kind of trouble. However, his anonymity didn¡¯t sit right with me. It was driving me insane. What is with all this mystery? It is not like we are in a fictional movie where an author makes a grand entrance of an overpowered character. "My anonymity worries you, how strange because I¡¯ve been in plain sight all this while. All you had to do was look up." Strangely his last sentence felt clearer than his previous ones. It sounded loud as if he was truly very close to us. "You¡¯ve got to be kidding me," I murmured to myself. Both Jeff and I simultaneously looked up behind us on one of the walls near us. The few remaining ones of which had escaped Dylan¡¯s punches. Above us, a middle-aged man, presumably in his late thirties stood with an elegance so overwhelming that I was washed up with admiration. His long tuxedo was polished black; a perfect complement to his dark hair, kept glistering as if an invisible hand kept wiping every speck of dust that fell on it. As thick as his monocle was, I could still see his bright vermillion eyes looking down at mine. It was when he jumped off the wall and walked toward me that I noticed how ridiculously tall he was. His finesse was enviable with every movement he made and every step he took like the soft strings of an ethereal harp. " An electric-type user with golden eyes, this is a first. If I may ask, which family do you belong to?" He asked, looking straight into my face while he stroked his mustache. All this while I was dumbfounded as to how he was able to stand right above us without us noticing. What was even stranger was the position of his voice, and how it quickly changed when he decided to reveal himself. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more."Does he have a teleportation type of skill," I deeply wondered. Suddenly Instructor Jin¡¯s, voice became a little louder and colder jolting me up from my deep thoughts," I asked you a question lad." I swear, if he were a little louder I would¡¯ve pissed my pants. Trickles of sweat ran down my face as I was unable to recall what he had just said. If there was anyone who could salvage me from this awkward situation it would be my only best friend. I looked at Jeff only to notice him staring at Mr. Jin as though he had seen a diamond in a pile of garbage. His eyes were all stars and roses. He never gets this amazed. Usually, the few things that took his interest were monsters and some other thing that had slipped my mind. I tried to get his attention making every single gesture I could think of but was to no avail. " What family do you belong to dipshit. Do you have wax in your ears?" Dylan bawled. "Wow, you never know who your savior might be" I pondered. "It could even be someone who dislocated your wrist or even smashed you through a brick wall." Well, that one sentence he said knocked back my memory. " My lineage," I mulled. His curiosity was understandable. It¡¯s almost impossible to find an awakened on this side of the world. Usually, the ones that come here are criminals who are trying to find a hiding place. Or like Klein and Dylan awakened students who come here train their skills due to the monsters over here being weaker than HR. (TN; HR The abridged form of High Rise is the Precincts where the Awakened lives. Slums are the lower-level Precincts.) But how does my lineage rope into this? Confused I replied to him." I don¡¯t quite get your question. I told you my name and family name. If you are inquiring about my power sorry to disappoint you for not knowing much about it myself. I just awakened a few days ago" He briefly stared at me while still stroking his mustache then said. "Interesting, defeating my students a few days after awakening. You continue to surprise me. What do you say, I ditch these two and make you my student." Dylan and Klein both exclaimed, " But Instructor Jin¡­" With a wave of Mr. Jin¡¯s hand, both Dylan and Klein had their mouths forcefully shut. "Hush, am talking." He put on a ginormous smile while he stared at my face for an answer. What is with Awakeneds and creepy smiles? First Doctor Smallberies and now him. The funny thing is they all try to recruit me, me the most inept person to ever exist. " Sorry to decline but learning under a teacher whose students dislocated my wrist doesn¡¯t look thrilling." He looked at my dangling hand and bleeding wrist and said. " Oh my, I had forgotten all about that." Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my wrist. Mr. Jin used his ability to relocate my wrist. He tore a piece of clothing using his power that probably looked like telekinesis to rip a part of Dylan¡¯s cloth and tied it around my wrist. " Sorry if this is all I can do to fix your wrist. Tell me would you reconsider my proposal if I grant you justice." He shifted his gaze to the floating oblivious Dylan. Who I think could no longer hear our conversation from the dumb look on his already dumb-looking face. "He broke a wrist of yours so how about break both of¡­ " Without finishing his sentence he paused, backed off, and tapped his ear. It looked as though he had received an important call. Seeing as to how his playfully cold demeanor had quickly changed to a stiff angry look. After his brief call, he fixed his expression and approached me smiling. " It was nice meeting you, King, these little brats and I will be heading back to HR." He took a few steps, then looked back at me yelling. " I have a feeling this isn¡¯t the last I¡¯ll be seeing you. Ciao, albino" Like a flash he disappeared. " Terrifying," I murmured. I looked back at Jeff who still stood there dumbfounded and gave him a good smack on his head jolting him back to reality. "What the hell is wrong with you? You froze the moment Mr. Jin revealed himself." Jeff moved toward a pile of debris from which he took his broken spectacle and wiped it with his uniform. A whole lens was missing when he put it on and the other lens had a huge crack across it, at that stage just let it go, Jeff. He asked. " Do you know of the Inheritors?" I replied truthfully, " No, and who are those." He pushed the tip of his spectacles and said. " Descendants of the Great Five whose potential mimics theirs. Two people of whom was chosen from every one of the Five families. Ranker Jin you just spoke casually to also known as the Devine Maestro is an Inheritor. A pretty damn awesome one too."