《Everyone else is op but why am I not》 The Weakest of Them All Chapter 1: The Weakest of Them All Caseoh¡¯s breath came in ragged gasps as he pressed his back against the cold stone wall of the academy training grounds. His heart hammered in his chest, not from exertion ¡ª no, he was used to running ¡ª but from the overwhelming pressure that had filled the air the moment his opponent had drawn their weapon. ¡°Pathetic.¡± The word stung as much as the bruises on his body. A tall figure stood in front of him, sneering. Elric. He was one of the top students at the academy, blessed with divine-tier magic from birth. His sword crackled with energy, thin arcs of white lightning jumping across the surface. ¡°Come on, Caseoh,¡± Elric said with a cold smile. ¡°You can¡¯t possibly expect to survive the awakening ceremony like this. Why don¡¯t you just give up?¡± Caseoh gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet. His limbs ached, but the weight in his chest was heavier ¡ª the weight of knowing that Elric was right. The awakening ceremony was in less than a week. Every student in the academy would receive their divine blessing ¡ª a reflection of their inner strength and potential. But for Caseoh, there was nothing. It wasn¡¯t that he hadn¡¯t tried. He¡¯d studied harder than anyone, trained until his body screamed in protest, but when it came to drawing on his mana ¡ª nothing. He couldn¡¯t cast even the simplest of spells. The other students at least had some affinity, even if it was weak. But Caseoh? He was empty. A void. ¡°Leave him alone,¡± a voice cut through the tension. It was Renna, one of the few people who didn¡¯t look down on Caseoh. She stepped between him and Elric, her golden eyes flashing. ¡°You¡¯ve already beaten him.¡± Elric¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Tch. Always playing the hero, Renna. You¡¯re wasting your time. He¡¯ll never awaken.¡± Without waiting for a reply, Elric turned and strode off, his sword disappearing in a flash of white light. His entourage followed, leaving Caseoh and Renna alone in the quiet courtyard. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Renna knelt beside him. ¡°You okay?¡± Caseoh forced a weak smile. ¡°Sure. Just another day of proving how useless I am.¡± Renna frowned. ¡°You¡¯re not useless.¡± ¡°Easy for you to say. You can actually use magic.¡± He sighed, brushing dust from his uniform. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ tired. No matter how hard I try, nothing changes.¡± Renna hesitated, then leaned in closer. ¡°What if¡­ you¡¯re not meant to awaken like the others?¡± Caseoh¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Before Renna could answer, a wave of pressure crashed through the courtyard, sending dust and debris swirling into the air. The sky darkened unnaturally, and a deep rumbling sound echoed through the ground. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Caseoh shouted over the noise. Renna¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°It¡¯s¡ªit''s the gods!¡± A crack formed in the sky above them, splitting reality apart. Through it, a figure descended ¡ª impossibly large, yet somehow compressed into a humanoid shape. His presence distorted the air, bending the very fabric of existence. His eyes ¡ª infinite pools of black and gold ¡ª locked onto Caseoh. Caseoh¡¯s breath hitched. He recognized that presence instinctively. Absolute. Overwhelming. Xa?eoh. The figure¡¯s gaze sharpened, and his mouth curled into something resembling a smile. ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± Xa?eoh said. His voice reverberated through every corner of existence. ¡°Caseoh ¡ª the time for you to awaken has come.¡± A golden light erupted from Xa?eoh''s hand, and Caseoh¡¯s entire body seized with unbearable heat. His vision blurred as an overwhelming force tore through him ¡ª a flood of power and knowledge, endless and eternal. He screamed as the world itself seemed to split open beneath his feet. What¡­ is this?! Flashes of memory and impossible knowledge raced through his mind ¡ª infinite worlds collapsing, gods falling to their knees, boundless rivers flowing through existence itself. He saw the end of creation and the beginning of something far greater. And at the center of it all¡­ himself. The golden light receded. Caseoh collapsed to his knees, gasping. His hands trembled. He could feel it ¡ª the shift inside him. Xa?eoh¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Stand.¡± Caseoh lifted his gaze. His breathing slowed as a strange calm settled over him. He rose to his feet, golden light still swirling around his hands. ¡°What¡­ what did you do to me?¡± Xa?eoh smiled. ¡°I gave you what you always had ¡ª but could never reach.¡± Renna stumbled back. ¡°Caseoh¡­ your eyes¡­¡± Caseoh touched his face. His reflection stared back at him in a nearby pool of water. His eyes ¡ª once dull gray ¡ª were now swirling pools of gold and black, mirroring Xa?eoh¡¯s. Xa?eoh turned away. ¡°Your power was never missing, Caseoh. It was sealed. By the gods themselves.¡± Caseoh¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°Why?¡± Xa?eoh¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Because it was too dangerous. For them.¡± Before Caseoh could respond, Xa?eoh raised a hand and pointed toward the horizon, where a dark shape was beginning to rise. ¡°The true enemy approaches.¡± Xa?eoh¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°And now that you¡¯ve awakened, you¡¯re the only one who can stop it.¡± Caseoh swallowed hard. His hands tightened into fists as the golden light surged around his body. For the first time in his life¡­ He didn¡¯t feel weak. --- End of Chapter 1 --- Awaking the body ¡°CASEOH!¡± The sharp voice cut through the haze in his mind. Caseoh¡¯s eyes snapped open as he jolted upright. His hand shot to his chest, feeling his heart pounding beneath his ribs. He was seated at a desk ¡ª the familiar wooden frame of his classroom. His breathing slowed. His body¡­ felt different. ¡°Did you fall asleep in my class?¡± the teacher¡¯s voice snapped. Caseoh blinked. His vision was sharper ¡ª he could see the chalk dust floating in the air at the front of the room. The murmurs of his classmates registered at once. Whispers. Staring. He slowly turned his head. Everyone was looking at him ¡ª wide-eyed, shocked, confused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with everyone?¡± he muttered. ¡°Stand up,¡± the teacher said. Caseoh stood. And that¡¯s when he felt it. The shirt around his body slipped down his shoulder. The waist of his pants sagged dangerously low. His sleeves ¡ª which had always been tight around his arms ¡ª now hung loosely. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°What the hell?¡± He glanced down. His arms ¡ª toned. His chest ¡ª defined. He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the window ¡ª sharp jawline, lean muscle, piercing eyes. He was¡­ completely different. The classroom gasped. ¡°W-Wait¡­ who is that?¡± ¡°Is that Caseoh?¡± ¡°No way ¡ª he looks¡­¡± Caseoh¡¯s hand shot up, gripping his shirt before it slid off his shoulder. His other hand tugged his waistband back into place. I was fat yesterday. The murmurs grew louder. ¡°Since when did Caseoh look like¡­ that?¡± ¡°Did he use some kind of magic?¡± Caseoh¡¯s gaze hardened. His mind was clearer than ever ¡ª processing the information at an unnatural speed. He pulled his uniform into place, trying to steady his breathing. ¡°Elric,¡± someone whispered. Caseoh turned toward the back of the room. Elric was seated with his arms crossed, a thin smile playing on his lips. His eyes were sharp ¡ª calculating. ¡°Interesting,¡± Elric murmured. ¡°Caseoh!¡± the teacher¡¯s voice snapped him back to reality. ¡°Answer the question.¡± Caseoh¡¯s eyes flicked toward the board. A complex magical equation was scrawled across it ¡ª one he would¡¯ve struggled with before. But now¡­ ¡°Three-point-eight units of light mana, balanced through the third gate of the circulatory pathway,¡± Caseoh said calmly. Silence. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ correct,¡± the teacher said slowly. The class erupted into whispers. ¡°How did he know that?¡± ¡°Did he study?¡± Caseoh sat down, his mind racing. His body ¡ª his senses ¡ª his mind ¡ª everything was enhanced. And that power¡­ he could feel it thrumming beneath his skin like a coiled spring. What happened to me? ¡°Elric.¡± Caseoh turned. Elric was already standing. He walked toward Caseoh¡¯s desk, his smile thin. ¡°You¡¯ve changed,¡± Elric said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Caseoh replied coolly. ¡°Come on,¡± Elric¡¯s gaze swept over his frame. ¡°Yesterday you were struggling to breathe after walking up the stairs. Now you¡¯re spitting out high-level mana calculations?¡± Caseoh didn¡¯t answer. ¡°You¡¯re hiding something,¡± Elric said. He leaned down slightly, his smile fading. ¡°Training grounds. Tomorrow. Prove you¡¯re not bluffing.¡± Caseoh¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Don¡¯t back out.¡± Elric turned and walked toward the door as the bell rang. Caseoh¡¯s hand clenched into a fist. He glanced down at his palm. His strength ¡ª his power ¡ª he could feel it swirling beneath his skin, waiting to be unleashed. As the classroom emptied, Caseoh remained seated. His reflection in the window caught his eye. This isn¡¯t normal. Xa?eoh¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. "The power was always within you. I merely unlocked what you buried under weakness." Caseoh¡¯s gaze sharpened. His grip loosened. A slow breath left his lips. A battle of Pride Caseoh stood in the middle of the training grounds, the afternoon sun casting sharp golden rays across the polished stone floor. A low hum of magical energy from the surrounding barrier pulsed through the air, giving the scene an unnatural stillness. The crowd ¡ª dozens of students gathered around the ring ¡ª watched with hushed anticipation. Directly across from him stood Elric, his blond hair gleaming in the sunlight. His tailored academy uniform was spotless, and his expression was sharpened with condescension. His smirk was the same as always ¡ª that annoying curl of superiority that had haunted Caseoh for years. ¡°So, you actually showed up,¡± Elric sneered, crossing his arms. ¡°I thought you¡¯d find some excuse to back out.¡± Caseoh¡¯s gaze was steady. His body felt¡­ different. The memory of his awakening ¡ª Xa?eoh¡¯s presence washing over him ¡ª was still fresh in his mind. His body felt lighter, stronger, more refined than ever before. Every nerve buzzed with latent energy, restrained beneath his skin. I could end this instantly. But he wouldn¡¯t. He couldn¡¯t afford to reveal everything yet. Not in front of everyone. Not after everything that had happened. ¡°I¡¯m not running,¡± Caseoh said quietly. His tone was measured, steady. ¡°You asked for this.¡± Elric¡¯s eyes narrowed. His smirk deepened. ¡°Hmph. Big words for someone who used to get winded walking up the stairs.¡± Caseoh¡¯s jaw tightened. He wasn¡¯t the same person anymore. Elric didn¡¯t know that. The instructor stepped forward, his expression cold and impassive. His robes fluttered slightly as a wave of mana spread from his feet into the ground beneath them. A shimmering light formed a thin barrier around the ring. ¡°Standard magical duel,¡± the instructor¡¯s voice was clipped and professional. ¡°No lethal strikes. Victory is determined by incapacitation or submission.¡± Caseoh¡¯s hand flexed at his side. His instincts screamed at him to finish this quickly. But he needed to hold back. Too much strength, and questions would start to spread. The instructor¡¯s hand shot upward. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Begin!¡± Elric moved first. His right hand lit up with searing crimson mana ¡ª fire magic. A jagged burst of flame erupted from his palm, forming a spear of pure heat that hurtled toward Caseoh¡¯s chest. Fast. Caseoh¡¯s body moved before his mind processed it. He sidestepped, the spear grazing his shoulder as it passed ¡ª evaporating into sparks on the ground behind him. Gasps erupted from the crowd. ¡°Did he just dodge that?¡± ¡°No way¡­ that was a class-B flame spell!¡± Caseoh¡¯s expression remained calm. His gaze never left Elric. Elric¡¯s eyes narrowed. His hand glowed brighter, sparks licking the tips of his fingers. ¡°You got lucky.¡± Caseoh¡¯s foot slid forward. ¡°Try again.¡± Elric¡¯s jaw tightened. He raised both hands ¡ª the mana around him flaring violently. Three more spears of fire erupted from his palms ¡ª this time larger, faster, their tips rippling with unstable heat. Caseoh¡¯s eyes sharpened. His instincts screamed to retaliate ¡ª to crush this attack with a single counter ¡ª but he suppressed it. Not yet. He ducked low, the spears cutting through the air just above his head. He twisted his body, weaving through them with calculated precision. His feet barely made a sound as he landed back on the ground. ¡°Impossible¡­¡± Elric¡¯s tone darkened. His aura flared ¡ª crimson light twisting unnaturally around his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t look down on me!¡± He lunged forward, a blade of fire forming in his hand. Caseoh''s gaze sharpened. His hand shot out ¡ª meeting the edge of the flaming blade with his bare palm. Sparks exploded on impact. The crowd screamed. ¡°What¡ª?!¡± Caseoh¡¯s eyes remained steady. His palm remained pressed against the fire, completely unaffected. Elric¡¯s hand trembled. ¡°You¡­ what are you¡ª¡± Caseoh pushed forward. His strength sent Elric stumbling back across the ring. ¡°You left an opening,¡± Caseoh said coldly. Elric¡¯s face twisted in fury. His aura flared violently ¡ª black veins of energy forming along the edge of his blade. A sharp chill spread through the air. Caseoh¡¯s eyes narrowed. That mana¡­ Dark symbols began to pulse beneath Elric¡¯s feet ¡ª twisting and curling unnaturally across the ground. ¡°¡­No.¡± Caseoh¡¯s chest tightened. Elric¡¯s lips curled upward in a wicked smile. ¡°Took you long enough to notice.¡± Dark tendrils coiled around Elric¡¯s body ¡ª his aura spiking unnaturally high. His pupils narrowed into reptilian slits. He made a contract. ¡°Elric¡­¡± Caseoh¡¯s tone darkened. ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve done?¡± Elric¡¯s breath hitched. His mouth curled into a crooked smile. ¡°Does it matter?¡± He vanished. Caseoh¡¯s instincts flared. His hand shot upward just in time to block a strike from behind. Elric¡¯s fist ¡ª now coated in black energy ¡ª crashed into Caseoh¡¯s palm with enough force to shatter the stone beneath them. Caseoh¡¯s gaze sharpened. He twisted, throwing Elric backward. Elric landed on his feet ¡ª his black aura seething and unstable. The ground beneath him cracked under the pressure. ¡°You¡¯re holding back,¡± Elric hissed. Caseoh¡¯s gaze remained calm. Of course I am. ¡°If I use even a fraction of my true strength¡­ you¡¯ll die.¡± But he didn¡¯t say that out loud. Instead, he raised his hand. A thin line of mana formed along his fingers ¡ª bright white, steady and calm. Elric lunged again. Caseoh sidestepped. His hand shot forward ¡ª palm pressed lightly against Elric¡¯s chest. Elric¡¯s eyes widened. A burst of light sent Elric flying backward. His body slammed into the barrier with a loud crack. The barrier flickered from the force. The instructor¡¯s hand shot upward. ¡°Enough!¡± The barrier dissolved. The instructor¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°This duel is over.¡± Elric¡¯s chest heaved. His body trembled violently ¡ª the dark sigil on his hand still burning faintly. ¡°You¡­¡± Elric¡¯s voice was low and venomous. Caseoh¡¯s gaze remained cold. He could feel the power beneath Elric¡¯s aura ¡ª unstable, dangerous. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this,¡± Elric whispered. Caseoh¡¯s eyes narrowed. His heart was steady ¡ª his breathing calm. He turned, walking away from the ring. He knew exactly where this path was heading. And he knew it wasn¡¯t over. The Trial of Elric The aftermath of the duel was heavy in the air. The arena had been repaired almost instantly with magic, but the tension among the students and staff remained. Caseoh stood at the edge of the training grounds, his eyes calm despite the whirlwind of emotions stirring within the crowd. As Elric tries to walk away he lost his consciousness, Elric lay unconscious on the ground, dark energy still faintly radiating from his body. The corrupted aura was unmistakable ¡ª and dangerous. Caseoh could sense the twisted presence of dark magic coiling around Elric like invisible chains. A deep voice echoed through the training grounds. "Stop this madness at once!" The headmaster, Grand Mage Orthran, stepped onto the field, his staff glowing faintly with golden runes. His piercing gaze swept over Elric''s broken form before settling on Caseoh with narrowed eyes. Orthran knelt beside Elric, his hand hovering above the boy''s chest. A sudden burst of violet light erupted from Elric''s body ¡ª the unmistakable mark of a demon contract. "Dark magic¡­" Orthran''s expression hardened. He rose to his feet, his eyes filled with quiet fury. "This is unforgivable." If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Murmurs erupted among the students. A contract with a demon ¡ª an apostle of a god ¡ª was the ultimate taboo within the Magic Academy. It was a violation of the sacred magical code ¡ª a direct threat to the balance of the academy''s foundation. Two instructors stepped forward, their robes billowing as they summoned magic circles beneath their feet. "Restrain him," Orthran commanded. Elric''s unconscious body lifted off the ground, encased in glowing chains of light. His breathing was shallow, his expression twisted in unconscious pain. "Wait!" Caseoh stepped forward. Orthran''s gaze snapped toward him. "Do you have something to say, Caseoh?" Caseoh hesitated for a brief moment. He knew the truth. He had felt the dark presence stirring within Elric long before the duel had begun. The demon''s influence was clear ¡ª but something about the timing felt off. "It wasn''t completely his fault," Caseoh said calmly. Orthran''s expression darkened. "You think a contract with a demon happens by accident?" "No," Caseoh replied, his eyes sharpening. "But it¡¯s possible that Elric was manipulated." The murmurs among the students grew louder. "You would defend him?" Orthran¡¯s gaze was like a blade. "I''m not defending him," Caseoh said. "I''m stating the truth." Orthran studied him for a long moment before waving his hand. "That will be for the tribunal to decide." Elric''s unconscious form was lifted higher by the chains of light. "For now, Elric Greyridge will be expelled from the Magic Academy and placed under magical restriction. He will face trial before the High Council for conspiring with dark forces." A hush fell over the crowd as Elric''s body was carried away. His face was pale ¡ª the dark energy flickering faintly beneath his skin. Caseoh stood still as the students began to disperse. "Why did you speak for him?" a voice whispered behind him. Caseoh turned to see Lira ¡ª a classmate with long silver hair and piercing blue eyes ¡ª standing at his side. "Because¡­" Caseoh''s gaze darkened. "This isn''t over yet." He could feel it ¡ª the demon''s influence hadn¡¯t left Elric. If anything, it had just begun to spread. The Prince of Defiance Elric''s face twisted with rage as the announcement echoed through the grand hall of the academy. "For the use of forbidden dark magic and association with an apostle of a demon god, Elric Vandemore is hereby expelled from the Magic Academy, effective immediately." The headmaster¡¯s cold gaze swept across the hall. A tense silence filled the air, broken only by the sound of Elric¡¯s labored breath. "This¡­ This is ridiculous!" Elric¡¯s voice cracked as he stepped forward. His usually pristine blond hair was messy, and sweat rolled down his temple. "You have been judged accordingly," the headmaster said. "The decision is final." Elric¡¯s eyes burned with hatred as he turned toward Caseoh, standing at the edge of the hall. "You¡­" Elric''s voice dropped into a low growl. "This is your fault." Caseoh¡¯s gaze remained steady. "You made a contract with a demon, Elric. This is the consequence." Elric¡¯s face twisted further. He stepped forward, his fists shaking at his sides. "You think you¡¯ve won?" Elric spat. "You¡¯ll regret this. I swear on my name." He turned and stormed out of the hall, his boots slamming against the marble floor. The heavy wooden doors creaked and slammed shut behind him. Caseoh sighed. He could feel the eyes of the other students on him ¡ª a mixture of fear and awe. He ignored it and turned away. "This isn¡¯t over." ¡ª Later that night, Caseoh lay in bed, his body sinking into the mattress. Moonlight filtered through the small window, casting thin shadows across the room. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. His eyelids grew heavy. "Just need to rest¡­" Darkness closed in. ¡ª "Caseoh¡­" A soft voice. He opened his eyes. Dark fog rolled across the ground beneath his feet. He stood in the middle of an endless void. A single figure stood before him ¡ª her back turned. "Patricia?" His younger sister turned toward him. Her silver hair drifted unnaturally in the dark mist. Her violet eyes were soft, but there was an emptiness behind them. "Caseoh¡­" Her voice was distant. Hollow. Her figure flickered. "Wait ¡ª Patricia!" Caseoh took a step forward. Her body began to fade. Her arms, then her legs. "Don¡¯t ¡ª don¡¯t go!" Patricia smiled faintly. "I¡¯m sorry¡­" Her face vanished. Caseoh screamed. ¡ª His eyes shot open. Cold sweat rolled down his neck as he sat up. His chest rose and fell rapidly. His heart hammered against his ribs. "Patricia¡­" Without thinking, Caseoh threw off his blanket and rushed to the door. His bare feet hit the cold floor as he sprinted through the hallway. He needed to find her. He reached the academy''s front gates ¡ª two massive iron doors sealed with ancient magic. Two guards stood at the entrance, their eyes narrowing as Caseoh approached. "I need to leave," Caseoh said, his voice steady. "Students aren¡¯t allowed to leave without permission from the headmaster," one guard replied. Caseoh¡¯s fists tightened. "It¡¯s urgent." "No permission, no passage." Caseoh¡¯s gaze darkened. He took a step forward ¡ª the guards'' hands moved toward their weapons. "Are you going to try and fight your way out?" the second guard said with a smirk. "Of course not," Caseoh replied. "I know the rules." He stepped back, frustration boiling beneath his skin. "There is one way, though," the first guard said, his lips curling into a thin smile. "What is it?" "The squad battle," the second guard said. "Win it, and the headmaster might consider granting your request." "The squad battle¡­" Caseoh¡¯s eyes narrowed. It was a high-stakes contest between the academy¡¯s top dorms ¡ª a brutal test of magical ability and combat skill. Squad battles weren¡¯t just about winning ¡ª they were about dominance. "Fine," Caseoh said. "I¡¯ll enter." The guards chuckled. "You¡¯ve got guts, kid." Caseoh¡¯s eyes sharpened. His hand curled into a fist. "I don¡¯t have time to waste." ¡ª The next morning, the academy buzzed with whispers. "Caseoh¡¯s entering the squad battle?" "He¡¯s insane!" "Does he even have a squad?" Caseoh walked down the hall, ignoring the voices. "Hey!" Renna appeared at his side, her dark red hair tied back in a loose ponytail. Her green eyes were narrowed with suspicion. "What¡¯s this about the squad battle?" she asked. "I need permission to leave the academy," Caseoh replied flatly. Renna frowned. "Why?" "I just do." She stepped in front of him, forcing him to stop. "Caseoh." Her gaze sharpened. "What¡¯s going on?" His jaw tightened. "I had a dream. Patricia¡­ something¡¯s wrong." Renna¡¯s eyes softened. "I¡¯ll join your squad," she said without hesitation. Caseoh¡¯s eyes widened. "You¡ª" "You¡¯ll need more than one person," she said. "And I¡¯m not going to let you get yourself killed." Caseoh¡¯s mouth curled into a faint smile. "Thanks." Renna smiled back. "Don¡¯t thank me yet. We still need to win." She turned and started walking down the hall. Note: tell me something is wrong, my mind has been foggy lately, this is also my first time writing so i''ll be in your care (? ???¨Œ??? ?) But bro i think something is flowing very wrong on the story i wrote ??_??