After a month of rest, I had come to understand my shoes better. I named them "Acceleration Shoes," with the ultimate technique "Instant Acceleration" - an extremely difficult skill to use but possessing terrifying power. During the Dark Society pursuit, I hadn't been provided with suitable weapons. The old dagger was too weak, causing minimal damage. Fortunately, the scientist Van Phong had crafted a new dagger for me made of carbon fiber. It was light and durable, but its weakness was insufficient sharpness, with poor critical damage capability due to imperfect sharpening. Nevertheless, it could still block attacks in dangerous situations.
After a month of training, I had become quite familiar with the Instant Acceleration function. I could use it to escape by accelerating extremely fast for very brief periods. If I knew how to use it continuously, surely no opponent could catch me. But I also understood clearly that these shoes were merely tools, not my true strength.
Tomorrow was the day to return to school. This was the longest holiday - a full month - for interrogation, repairs, planning, and burying those who had fallen in the battle against the Dark Society. At six in the morning, my alarm rang. I quickly prepared my school bag. Today there was only one theory class, but my mood was much better because the two girls I had saved had reduced the discrimination and contempt toward me.
My father drove me to school in his old car. I entered the classroom and went to the last desk - which had become my fixed position. But today, an exquisite and lovely white bag sat on my desk. I was stunned - no one sat near here. Unexpectedly, it belonged to Hao Yan Ling - the Water System girl I had saved during the Dark Society pursuit.
My mind raced with countless questions: "Why did she put her bag here? Does it mean something?" But instead of my usual weary, dark, and sullen expression, my face now looked stunned like an idiot. However, I quickly returned to my usual expression and began studying.
The first class was Energy Manipulation - a practical session for those using elemental magic. Essentially, having no elements, I just took out my phone, calculating how to use the Instant Acceleration technique to stay safest. I didn't want to repeat the dangerous situation from the pursuit mission.
Basically, I needed to grasp the precise timing to use the skill before an enemy's attack touched me. But opponents' attacks have too many variables: speed, technique, range, destructive power... These were other people's attacks, like finding a needle in the ocean. In reality, during training, I had nearly died twice.
Lost in thought, I didn't notice two pairs of eyes quickly looking at me then disappearing. One was the curious gaze of young miss Hao Yan Ling, wanting to know what I was thinking. The other was the hate-filled eyes of Sheng Guang Yi.
After the boring class for a powerless person like me, the school's student council selection began. I knew nothing about it, just followed along for attendance. Due to Sheng Guang Yi's outstanding achievement - killing a heavy-grade monster that even a High-Level Fire System user struggled against - he was elected as the school's Student Council President, with many privileges.
Immediately after, he transferred Hao Yan Ling to another class, with the reason that she was "holding him back." Although he loved Hao Yan Ling very much, his way of speaking made everyone unsure whether he loved or hated her. Hao Yan Ling argued vehemently, but was ultimately transferred to another class, replaced by a Fire System guy. I sighed.
I simply thought: this guy just thinks I have feelings for Hao Yan Ling, so he did this. So I calmly left early. But in his eyes, I was just a clown performing, a weak and worthless piece of trash...
I knew very well that my current strength only came from tools. Without the shoes and dagger, I was just a worthless person, a piece of scum that needed to be eliminated. But there was no animosity between him and me. In fact, I had attracted the humanoid monster's attention because I, a weak person, had wounded it, helping him deliver the decisive blow to destroy that bizarre winged humanoid monster with sharp iron claws.
But for some reason, it rained again today as I headed home. For me, rain is a friend, but today it was pouring heavily - like the rain that made everyone think I had Mid-Level Water System affinity. It left me drenched by the time I reached home.
I stood before the door, looking down at my soaked shoes. In my heart, a vast emptiness appeared. I had gained friends, had been partially recognized, but deep inside, I was still a powerless person. My success came only from Van Phong's tools, not from true strength. And the hateful gaze of Sheng Guang Yi when he looked at me - that was the seed of future tragedies. The rain like a Mid-Level Water System poured down, like a reminder of my powerlessness in this world.