Leventis walked down the busy academy hallway, mindlessly scrolling through his phone. Though he was physically present, his thoughts wandered far away — to a world of his own creation, distant from anything he had ever known.
But his escape didn't last long.
Another student, known as Chino, rammed his shoulder hard into Leventis's. The impact was deliberate, forceful enough to stagger him and send his phone clattering to the colorful tile floor. The screen shattered instantly, spiderwebbing into pieces.
Leventis straightened up, now facing Chino. His mind snapped back to reality. The two locked eyes — tension thick between them.
Leventis was sick of Chino's harassment. Four years of mockery, taunts, and petty fights — and yet, Chino never knew when to stop.
"Hey, look, everyone!" Chino shouted, his voice echoing through the hall. "It's Level-less! Trying to show off for all the ladies again?"
He raised his hand, shaping his fingers like a gun. A sphere of pure energy formed at the tip of his finger, humming with power. "You don't have a capacity," Chino sneered. "You'll always be level-less."
The insult didn't make Leventis angry — not anymore. He was simply tired of it. His body moved before his mind caught up: a sharp step forward, a reflexive grab, his fingers locking tight around Chino's wrist.
And then a swift hook — his fist crashed into Chino's cheek.
The blow sent Chino flying into the lockers.
The crowd that had gathered around them erupted in mockery, chanting, "Level-less… Level-less… Level-less…" Their laughter echoed through the hall.
Leventis bent to pick up his broken phone, glaring at Chino as he spoke through clenched teeth. "Leave me alone."
The commotion filled the hallway like thunder. Even after four years of bullying, Chino's expression was one of pure shock — he hadn't expected Leventis to hit back.
Then came a voice, sharp and commanding enough to silence the crowd.
"Go to class! All of you!"
A teacher — Ms. Sypher — stepped into the hall. She was short but striking, her presence almost radiant. Her posture was regal, her crimson attire flowing as she fixed her glare on Chino.
"Pick yourself up, Chino, and go to the nurse's office."
Leventis barely acknowledged her. Without a word, he slipped his shattered phone into his pocket and continued down the hallway.
As he walked, the details of his appearance came into focus: a jacket with an intricate design of an angel's halo hovering above a demon's face. Regular flat-bottom shoes, jeans, and a white T-shirt completed his simple outfit. His slightly curly black hair brushed just past his brows, swaying with each step.
A calm narration filled the air — his voice, reflective and weary.
"That's me…" he murmured. He drew a slow, heavy breath. "Still have a lot of questions, but let me bring you up to speed."
He rubbed his neck, his callused hand brushing against the rough skin.
"I'm from a small town called Estana. We were one of the few lucky places still standing after the war. Angels and demons used our planet as their battleground, scorching most of it to ash."
He paused, his tone steady but somber.
"The population suffered… but we're recovering — slowly. Ever since the war ended, people started gaining strange abilities that the New Government calls Capacities."
From above, the world of Estana came into view — cities reduced to rubble, towers crumbling into dust. Beyond the borders of the town, monstrous spirits roamed freely, haunting the scarred lands.
Back in the academy, Leventis stood among the bustling students, watching a line form ahead. It was time for Capacity testing — something every student was forced to undergo each year by government order.
The tests began with a physical exam, followed by specialized ability trials. A heavy bag measured physical strength. The Capacity Gauntlet measured the potency of one's ability.
For Leventis, it was always the same. He was skipped during the Gauntlet phase — the staff already knew he had no measurable ability. For three years, he had faced that truth. Still, he didn't mind the physical tests; martial arts had become his focus, his way of strengthening body and mind.
After passing the exam without surprise, he sat among rows of chairs, waiting for the others to finish.
"I can't wait to get away from this place," he muttered under his breath, the exhaustion in his voice clear. All he wanted was a peaceful, simple life.
Voices buzzed around him, but one familiar tone pierced through the noise.
Angelina.
Leventis's ex-girlfriend — the one who had left him the moment she learned he was powerless. She approached with a smirk, holding out a paper.
"Congrats on your new ability test results," she teased, handing it to him. "Super Strength! Guess you really are special now."
Her friends burst into laughter as they walked away, boasting about how she had switched his papers for the test.
Leventis stared after her, his jaw tightening. "Unbelievable…" he whispered, though he already knew this was just another one of her games.
A hand landed on his shoulder.
"Hey, what's going on?"
Adam — his closest friend. Smart, dependable.
"Wait… you have powers now?" Adam asked, wide-eyed as he caught sight of the paper.
Leventis sighed, irritation showing clearly on his face. "No. This is Angelina's doing. Now I'll be questioned by the New Government."
Before he could say more, a loud commotion echoed from down the hall. The annual testing day was always chaotic — filled with shouting, energy bursts, and inspectors from the New Government. Those who showed strong Capacities were immediately taken to serve in the defense forces, tasked with fighting monsters that roamed near human settlements.
But this time… something was different.
The noise suddenly died.
The ground trembled.
Then — the school wall cracked. A deafening explosion sent chunks of concrete flying as rubble tore through the room. Dust filled the air, and screams erupted everywhere.
When the dust settled, a monstrous skeletal hand tore through the wall.
"Everyone, take cover!" the staff yelled, though their voices were barely audible over the alarms and flashing red lights.
Leventis's reflexes kicked in. He threw himself over Adam, shielding his friend as debris cut into his arms and tore through his uniform.
"What the hell?!" he shouted, coughing through the dust.
As his vision cleared, he froze. Towering before them was a colossal skeleton — a Gashadokuro.
"Adam! We need to move!"
"I'm on it!" Adam replied, fear in his tone but courage in his movements.
The Gashadokuro — a cursed being born from the grief and agony of those who died in the Angel-Demon War — was said to be unkillable by normal means.
The monster slammed its bony hands into the ground, sealing Leventis, Adam, Angelina, and Chino off from the others.
Rubble collapsed again, crushing Chino's legs beneath it. His scream cut through the chaos, raw and piercing.
"Adam! Help him! I'll distract this thing!" Leventis yelled, turning toward the skeletal giant. Fear gripped him, but courage burned stronger.
Angelina had fallen to the floor, trembling. The Gashadokuro's hollow eyes fixed on her — an unspoken malice radiating from its empty sockets.
"Somebody help! Please!" she screamed.
Leventis stepped forward, planting himself between her and the beast.
"Hey!!! Come and get me, you overgrown trash!" he shouted, waving his arms to draw its attention.
The monster's crimson eyes turned toward him. Its hand rose again — the plan was working. The rubble trapping Chino began to shift loose.
Then, without warning, its arm came crashing down toward Leventis. He dove to the right, rolling to his feet near Angelina.
"God, get yourself together!" he snapped. "You're supposed to be the top student here!"
"What are you doing?! You can't fight that thing!" she screamed, stumbling to her feet, panic consuming her.
The Gashadokuro reached out — straight for her.
"Damn it!" Leventis growled, launching himself forward. Adrenaline flooded his veins. He tackled Angelina out of the way just as the skeletal hand seized him instead.
The massive fingers wrapped around his body, crushing him in an iron grip. Pain exploded through his ribs as the monster lifted him high into the air, its jaw unhinging — a pit of darkness opening beneath him.
Then — a burst of light.
An electromagnetic blast struck the Gashadokuro's face, tearing part of its skull apart. The creature shrieked, a sound that rattled the air itself.
From above, a squad of elite soldiers descended — the New Government's Capacity Unit, bearing the insignia of a ghost.
Among them… was Garrison.
Leventis's brother.
Seeing his brother trapped in the creature's grip, Garrison's eyes went wide. Rage flared. His weapons — a rifle and a sidearm — lifted into the air, merging into a single massive cannon charged with energy.
But before he could fire — the Gashadokuro hurled Leventis into its mouth.
The world went black.
Garrison pulled the trigger.
A beam of pure energy tore through the monster, toppling it to the ground. The capture specialists rushed forward, throwing electromagnetic mines across its skeletal frame, pinning it down as the creature writhed in anger.
But it was too late.
Leventis was gone.
Swallowed by the darkness.