FLASHBACK – Two Weeks Ago
The Grand Ascension Hall were filled with the academic students whose hearts were buzzed with anticipation. Rows of first-year students stood in uniform lines. Their eyes glowed with hope while they were very nervous.
It was the System Awakening Ceremony. It stood as the most important moment in a young combatant's life. It was a day that the Ascension Protocol would assign each student their system level and core path.
Everyone was called by name.
As each person was called, they stepped onto the scan podium. Their body were emits bright runes which showed they have awakened the system within them. And after that was decided, the crowd emerged moments later with cheers or stunned gasps as their levels and core types were announced.
"Level 2 – Wind Manipulator."
"Level 3 – Phantom Dancer."
"Level 1 – Reinforced Berserker."
Kai's heart raced slowly as he expected his name to be called. Then they called the last name on the list.
"Kai Draven."
When Kai heared his name, his heart hit hard against his chest. He felt a low heat through his body. Kai summoned courage.
Snickers rippled through the students. He walked forward anyway.
Kai wasn't from a noble family. His parents had been a low-ranking adventurer who was executed many years and the reason remained mysterious to everyone. The academy only accepted Kai because of an old favor and a barely remembered debt.
Kai finally reached the platform. All the students eyes were fixed on him while they expect his system level to be declared. Kai puffed out an heavy breath, and his body tensioned. Kai stood on the platform and the runes lit up.
Just like other students got their system levels, Kai was expecting to heart his. Until suddenly….
The runes dimmed and the scanning orb above him blinked red.
'What's happening? Why is this thing not reading my system level?' Kai's heart raced against his chest in fear. His eyes bulged while his body trembled.
"ERROR: No System Detected."
"Re-scan Attempt: Failed."
The students were shocked and each of them whispered to another which went round like wildfire.
"No system?"
"He's empty?"
"That's impossible. Only animals and slaves are systemless. There must be a problem somewhere?"
"This is new, I can't believe it either."
Kai stared at the instructor in front of him with a pale face, a tall man with gold-trimmed armor and cold blue eyes. His name is Instructor Mordas Rex.
Kai was in disbelief and he wouldn't accept it just like that. "Run it again," Kai said with a strained voice. He had thought another scan would bring another outcome.
Mordas sneered. "Kai, there's nothing to scan. You are not fit for the Ascension Protocol." He declared with a thick voice.
Kai looked to the side, pleading silently with anyone who might speak up.
But the students all turned away from him.
That afternoon, a punishment notice was delivered to his quarters.
"Violation: Interfering with system protocols by faking potential
Punishment: Participation in disciplinary combat trial, THE PIT
Opponent: Varyn Calderon (Ranked Duelist)"
Kai's eyes blinked with fear… 'A level five combatant?! This is wickedness.' Kai echoed within himself. He knew there was no way he was going to win against that fierce opponent.
.....
...
.....
THE PRESENT DAY.
After the Fight. The crowd stood still with disbelief in their eyes. As their eyes winked…
Then someone started clapping. One hand. Then two.
Within moments, applause echoed throughout the arena, although most of it was sarcastic, slow, and mocking.
"He got lucky."
"Fluke."
"No way a Level 0 just beat Varyn."
"Gosh! Can't believe I am cheering him up for a lucky victory."
"He definitely cheated his way in." Some of the students who had believed so much in Varyn murmured amongst themselves.
Kai could hear them but he chose to ignore them. His eyes were fixed on the red glowing panel that only he could see.
'Ding!!!
New Quest Unlocked, the Path of the Rejected
Objective: Prove legitimacy to Ironspire's Council
Bonus: Unlock access to Tier 2 skill trees
Time Limit: 7 Days.'
The system echoed in Kai's head. As he heard of his rewards, he could feel a power surging through is home marrows.
Everyone had stopped clapping when a slow clap echoed above them. All the students attention was called.
A man descended the stone stairs. He was flanked by armored guards and his presence hushed the crowd.
It was Councilor Vane, head of the academy's System Evaluation Division.
Councilor Vane looked into Kai's eyes. "I saw everything," he said with a calm voice but his face was unreadable. "It is true that a system awakened in you… but not one we authorized." He arched his eyebrows.
Kai narrowed his eyes with surprise. He had thought he would be praised and given rewards by the academy. But when the outcome was different, Kai frowned at it. "So now that I'm strong, you care?" Kai echoed with a tense voice.
"Don't get bright ideas into your head. You're not strong. Not yet. You're dangerous," Vane replied with a cold voice. "And I want to know what kind of protocol mimics a Level 1 so cleanly it fools the suppressor ring." Vane added as he glared into his eyes.
Kai didn't answer, because he was short of words. While he blinked, Vane turned to the guards. "Put him under 24-hour surveillance. He must have no contact with other students. If he's hiding something, we'll definitely find it." His voice seemred like an heat.
He walked away, but suddenly paused. It seems like he remembered something, "Oh, and raise his classification. He's no longer trash. He's a Risk-Class Variant." His voice echoed throughout the hall.
That night, Kai sat in isolation in a sealed dorm beneath the academy. There was no windows and only one meal port. Kai doesn't have a bed to lay his head. Only a stone was present.
The system protocol voice whispered to Kai again.
"Your presence has triggered dormant protocols. You are not the first. You will not be the last.
Would you like to begin Core Path Selection?"
Just as Kai thought to make a decision. The interface popped up and Kai stared at the interface floating before him.
Three paths appeared and it flickered like a wave.
'Select Your Core Path.
Number one, Tyrant King and it includes Domination, Fear, Leadership
Number two, Phantom Reaper and it includes Speed, Assassination, Illusions
Number three, Sentinel Forge and it includes Endurance, Protection, Counter-Strike.' The system voice echoed in Kai's head
Kai's jaw dropped as he glared at the sleek interface before him
He smiled faintly.
"Bring me the Tyrant King." Kai echoed in anticipation to be the leader. What he needed that moment was dominance.
The system replied him,
'CORE PATH SELECTED: Tyrant King
Tier 1 Skill Unlocked: Presence of Command
Passive Effect: Nearby enemies at equal or lower level suffer -5% combat efficiency
New Tree Available: Dominion Authority.'
The system worked seamlessly that it caught Kai's gaze. He stood up from the stone floor.
"I am not systemless anymore. I am actually evolving."