Crescent moonlight bled on a vast crowded field.
Thousands of youths strolled around the field leisurely while a few engaged in sparring sessions at designated areas to gauge their physical and magical powers.
At a vacant corner of the field, a group of boys pummeled a frail-looking kid, delivering blows and kicks without remorse.
The frail kid, popularly known as Marlon within the preliminary training camp, curled up like a ball on the ground, absorbing the impact of the beating.
Strangely, instead of crying or flinching in pain, a reveling smile adorned his swollen face.
His black hair was stained with dirt mixed with his own blood, his blue eyeballs hidden behind his swollen lids.
"This masochist bastard is still smiling!" one of them gritted his teeth in annoyance as he rained even more punches.
"We are not beating him enough! Everyone aim for his chest, do not hold back," another responded.
"Shift. I'll kick his balls!" came another enraged bark as a swift kick landed on the family-producing region of the frail-looking kid.
"Are you sure his family jewels are still intact?"
"Who cares, he came asking for it!"
The boys pummeled even harder after the wave of complaints ended. However, the smile on Marlon's face did not disappear, not even once.
It grew to the point the boys became frustrated and tired of beating him. They spat on him and left in annoyance.
Marlon coughed out a mouthful of blood as he lifted his badly swollen body from the ground.
Even with the beating he had just received, he felt no hate for the beaters.
No, instead, he was grateful.
If one should judge the scenario from the beginning, they would think he was being bullied.
But the true story was not only hilarious but confusing.
And it began about three months ago, when the annual preliminary training camp for aspiring students of Hunter Academy kicked off.
On the first day, Marlon personally went against the biggest group of boys, cursing them and annoying them until they could not hold back anymore and beat him to a pulp.
The following day, the boys thought they were safe from the unprecedented madman, but he would curse them out again, even more intensely, resulting in another beating.
And every day it continued.
Day after day, he would meet a different group of boys, provoke them, and receive a beating.
He did this so often that he became popularly known throughout the preliminary training camp as Masochist Marlon (MM).
Why would someone subject himself to such anguish on a daily basis? One may wonder.
Well, it was all because of the strings of texts floating in front of his eyes.
[ Day 100 Compulsory Task: Get yourself beat up and humiliated for more than ten minutes — successfully completed ]
[ You've completed all the required tasks to awaken your innate power ]
[ Please enter a secluded area to begin your awakening ]
The texts read.
Marlon's eyes fluttered open with relief, joy, and anticipation.
The suffering he had been forced to endure for the past one hundred days had finally paid off.
"Ahh, if only I had a system like this on Earth… being a kid bullied every single day of my life, I would have been overpowered," he muttered.
As expected, he was not originally from this world.
He was your typical weakling high schooler from Earth who was picked on by popular kids for simply existing.
One day, while returning home from school, battered and regretting his life, he fell into a pit.
When he climbed out of the pit, he found himself in a new world called Arden.
It was similar to Earth but at the same time a hundred times more dangerous.
This world had undergone a catastrophic transformation fifty years ago.
On that chaotic day, rifts appeared in the sky, and from the rifts poured a supernatural energy called Aether.
With this energy…
Animals evolved into demonic beasts of darkness and steel, overpowered and bloodthirsty toward humans.
Plants reached new heights, gained demonic sentience, and feasted on humans for nutrition, as photosynthesis no longer satisfied their needs.
From the rifts also poured monsters, demons, and extraterrestrial beings, all wreaking havoc upon the earth.
Billions lost their lives to this unfortunate occurrence.
Fortunately, the plan of the universe was not to wipe out humanity, so it allowed certain humans to wield Aether and evolve into supernatural beings who struck back against the calamities destroying their kind.
They were called Pioneers.
For months, the Pioneers battled for humanity's survival, and after endless bloodshed, mankind finally adapted to the new world.
Aether, the same force that had nearly destroyed them, became their greatest weapon of survival.
It awakened in the form of systems that granted myriads of talents.
Those who awakened to wield it were trained to hunt, fight, and protect. They were given titles—Hunters, Guardians, Seekers—each sworn to defend humanity from the lurking dangers.
To prepare the younger generation, academies were established across Arden. These institutions trained youths to master Aether, survive the wilderness, and rise into the ranks of Hunters.
And it was within this system that Marlon found himself thrown into the preliminary training camp, where countless hopefuls gathered for their first step into the academy.
Unfortunately, unlike the other kids who had already awakened, Marlon had nothing—except a mysterious system that forced him through pain, suffering, and humiliation every single day.
"But now the suffering ends." He clenched his fist, even though it ached. His swollen eyes glimmered with determination.
"My path to supremacy begins now."
With those thoughts, he lifted his swollen, battered body from the ground and staggered toward his tent.
He passed many youths who spat on him in disgust and mocked him.
He lost count of how many times they called him Masochist Marlon.
After a journey filled with humiliation and spit, he finally staggered off the field and reached the encampment, where hundreds of tents stretched across the land.
Campfires flickered under the night sky, and crystal lanterns hung about, bathing the camp in steady light.
Dragging his battered frame, Marlon slipped into his tent, away from curious stares and whispered insults.
The moment he arrived, he collapsed onto his bed.
"System, begin the awakening."
DING!
[ Awakening process begins... ]
[ Awakening 1%... 3%... ]
As the process started, a flood of unbearable heat surged through his body. Pain followed—raw, suffocating, intensifying with every percent.
[ Awakening 97%... 99%... Complete. ]
[ EX-Rank Talent: Absolute Punch — Awakened. ]
[ Drain (D-rank, Passive) – All punches siphon 10% of the target's HP or mana. Each attack has a 10% chance of absorbing one of the target's skills and a 0.1% chance of stealing their talent or affinity. ]
[ Punch of Iron (C-rank, Active) – Damage dealt by this punch is amplified by 500%.
Cooldown: None ]
[ Punch of Judgment (A-rank, Active)] – Calls forth divine wrath. Deals ×100 damage against evil-aligned beings; especially effective against demons.
Cooldown: 10 seconds.
Requires: Aether ]
[ More skills will be awakened as you grow stronger. ]
[ Awakening trial complete. Trial System has been replaced by — Absolute Punch System. ]
[ You can now view your character panel ]
[ Congratulations. ]