[This might hurt a little.]
Before Ariz could ask what she meant, he felt it—a surge of energy unlike anything he'd ever experienced. It started in his chest, a warm, pulsating glow that quickly spread through his entire body. His muscles tightened, his veins burning as the energy coursed through him. It was overwhelming, almost too much to bear.
"Agh—!" Ariz gritted his teeth, his body trembling as the pain intensified. It felt like his very essence was being torn apart and rebuilt, piece by piece. His vision blurred, his senses overloaded by the sheer intensity of the energy flooding his system.
[Just hold on, baby. You're almost there.]
Ariz clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he fought to stay conscious. The pain was excruciating, but beneath it, he could feel something else—a growing strength, a power that had been dormant for far too long.
And then, just as suddenly as it began, the pain subsided. Ariz gasped for air, his body drenched in sweat. He felt… different. Stronger. Sharper. The world around him seemed clearer, more vibrant, as if he was seeing it for the first time.
[Awakening Complete!]
Rank: D-Class
New Abilities Unlocked:
Enhanced physical stats.
Devouring Abilities.
Improved sensory perception.
Ariz took a deep breath, feeling the power coursing through him. "This… this is amazing."
[You're just getting started, baby. But don't get too comfortable. The real challenges are ahead.]
Ariz nodded, his determination solidifying. He was ready to embrace his new life and grow stronger. But first, he had one more question.
"You… What's your name? If we're bound together, I should at least know what to call you."
There was a pause, and for a moment, Ariz thought she wouldn't answer. Then, softly, she spoke.
[You can call me… Ava.]
Ariz smiled faintly. "Ava. Got it."
Ariz glanced up at the night sky. Above him, the fractured sky pulsed faintly with an eerie glow—a lingering scar of Skyfall, a constant reminder of the day everything changed.
***
The sky was a shattered mosaic, its broken edges glowing faintly with an eerie blue light. Wisps of ethereal mist curled through the cracks, drifting like forgotten memories of a world that had once been whole. Beams of multicolored light cascaded down in the distance, illuminating the ruined cityscape with an otherworldly glow. It would have been breathtaking—if it weren't a constant reminder that everything had gone straight to hell.
Ariz let out a slow breath, hands buried in the pockets of his tattered hoodie. He had grown used to this sight over the past two years, though it never stopped feeling like the universe had left Earth on 'hard mode' just to mess with everyone.
Skyfall.
Two years ago, the world changed forever with the Skyfall Incident. Without warning, the sky itself fractured, split by immense, shimmering cracks and holes that defied all explanation. The public was told it was an unexplained cosmic phenomenon, and the true cause remains a closely guarded secret.
The cracks in the sky heralded a greater change: the arrival of a new energy that permeated our world. We call it Qi. This energy triggered what became known as the Great Awakening, granting ordinary people supernatural powers and physical strength far beyond mortal limits.
This Awakening was not equal for all. An individual's inherent potential and talent, ignited by the energy surge, determined their starting rank in the new hierarchy. These ranks, from E to A, define a person's power— E-Rank, D-Rank, C-Rank, B-Rank, A-Rank.
The highest rank recorded at the moment of initial Awakening was C. Any progress beyond that must be earned through relentless effort.
This transformation was not limited to humanity. Animals were also affected, but driven by instinct, most mutated into monstrous beings. These creatures, operating on a primal law of kill-or-be-killed, became a direct threat to our civilization. Their threat level is classified into tiers that mirror human ranks— Hazard-Class, Beast-Class, Demon-Class, Titan-Class, Death-Class.
There are rumors of monsters that surpass even the Death-Class, but these remain unconfirmed. This classification system also extends to the new, twisted landscapes of our world. The unstable energy created bizarre regions where natural laws are broken—sites we now call Anomalies. And many monsters like to take these anomalies as their homes.
The places that were taken over by the monsters were then designated as Forbidden Zones, categorized by the same class system as the monsters that inhabit them.
The old governments could not withstand the dual shock of monster waves and global upheaval. They fell, and in their place, new powers arose, forged by and for the Awakened. These powerful individuals consolidated their influence, forming new governing bodies dedicated to defending humanity's remnants. Guilds were formed, Our entire society was restructured around this new reality, with education now focused on training the Awakened to survive and fight.
It was also observed that the Awakening favored the young. The vast majority of those who first gained powers were between the ages of 16 and 25. To this day, no one younger than 16 has ever Awakened.
This is the state of the world now: a planet reshaped by unknown energy, defended by empowered humans, and threatened by monstrous beasts. Survival is a daily struggle, and power is the only true currency.
And then there was Ariz.
Unlike the fortunate, the gifted, the ones who got to look cool in trench coats while blasting energy beams, Ariz was… normal. No Awakening. No supernatural abilities. Just an average guy with an unhealthy appreciation for beautiful women and a life that had been consistently disappointing since birth.
It wasn't like he hadn't tried. Every year, he waited, hoping for his Awakening. And every year, he remained disappointingly normal. Some of his classmates, once his friends, left him behind, soaring to new heights while he remained grounded in mediocrity. He was sent to Basic Academy—the school for the weak, the rejects, the ones who had no hope of ever mattering—metaphorically.
He had stopped caring. Stopped trying to fit in. If the world wanted to label him useless, fine. He'd embrace it. He became eccentric, withdrawn, and, let's be honest, a little unhinged. He indulged in fantasy, dreaming of power, of dominance, of a world where he wasn't just another forgettable face in the crowd.
But dreams were just that—dreams.
Until today.
Until her.
Until something inside him finally woke up.
For the first time in years, he felt it—a shift, a spark of something vast and unknown unfurling within him. He didn't care if it was a fluke, a delusion, or some cruel cosmic joke. None of it mattered. Because as he stood under that fractured sky, for the first time in his life, Ariz felt like he had a chance.
And then—
"Ahem."
"You reek."
Ariz blinked, his dramatic moment thoroughly ruined. "What?"
"You heard me." The voice sighed. "You smell like a corpse that lost a bet with a Grave. Did you even notice the filth oozing out of you during your Awakening? Or were you too busy monologuing about your 'rise to power'?"
Ariz opened his mouth to protest, but then he caught a whiff of himself. His nose wrinkled in disgust. "Oh, hell no—what is that?!"
His clothes were stained with a dark, viscous residue, his skin clammy, and the smell—oh, the smell—was the olfactory equivalent of betrayal. Like something had crawled into a sewage pipe and given up on life.
"Is this… me?" he muttered, horrified.
"Yes, darling," the voice replied with an exaggerated sigh. "Congratulations! This delightful stench is your Awakening's 'cleansing' process. Think of it as all the weakness being purged from your body. And also, think of a shower. Immediately."
Ariz groaned, rubbing his temples. "Great. Just great. I finally got powers, and instead of looking badass, I look like a sewer exploded on me."
"Life's unfair," the voice said cheerfully. "Now stop whining and get moving before someone calls pest control."
With a grumble, Ariz turned toward home, muttering under his breath. The streets were mostly empty, the occasional flickering streetlamp casting long, eerie shadows. He kept his head down, partly to avoid attention and partly because, frankly, he was too embarrassed to make eye contact with civilization right now.
"This is humiliating," he muttered. "I finally got powers, and I look like I lost a fight with a dumpster."
"Oh, stop being dramatic," the voice teased. "Think of it as your origin story. Every great hero has one! Yours just happens to involve soap. Lots and lots of soap."
Ariz rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smirk tugging at his lips. For the first time in a long time, he felt something unfamiliar stirring in his chest.
Hope.
The days of his rise were nigh.
But first, a shower.