Rey stood still.
The area before him was in ruins.
Massive machines roared as they tore down what remained of the building—The very site of the recent incident.
They were trying to erase everything.
Soon, no one would even remember it happened.
"It reeks of high society,"Aiden's voice came from behind, nearly scaring Rey out of his skin.
"Could be one of the big families. Those kidnappings weren't random."
Rey clutched his chest."One day, you will give me a heart attack."
Aiden grinned."Don't worry. By the time we're done with your body, nothing will kill you."
Rey exhaled slowly.
"…What are you going to do about all this?"
"Nothing. I've got school today. I'll think about the rest later."
He turned and walked off.
A few minutes later, he was sprinting down the street—Late for school again.
Only ten minutes left before the gates closed.
He pushed harder.
But something felt off.His speed was stuck—until it wasn't.
WHOOSH!
In an instant, his body surged.
His speed spiked by over 50%.
Rey's eyes widened."The hell?!"
But his body couldn't keep up.
His stamina drained rapidly, and his limbs screamed in protest.
Just when he was about to collapse—
He saw the school gates.
His body slowed down…That overwhelming sensation faded.
His legs gave out.
Sweat soaked his shirt, and pain pulsed in his thighs.
Yet…He felt stronger.
"Aiden… what just happened to me?"
The familiar figure appeared."You never stop surprising me."
But before Aiden could explain, another voice cut in.
"How the hell did you manage this at Rank 0?"
Victor appeared beside them, disbelief on his face.
"Wait—what are you guys talking about?"
Rey glanced at his feet. "I didn't set the world on fire or anything…"
Aiden smirked.
"Check your screen."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Name: Rey Shadowthrone
Age: 17
Physique: Shadow Physique (Upgradable)
Title: Self-learner, The Psycho, The Killing Manic
Class: None
Subclass: None
Level: 01
Rank: 0th Rank
Core: Mane Core (Rank 0) {Not formed}
Talent: None
Trait: None
Law: DEATH {.00001}, SOUL {.0000001}, DARKNESS {.01306} [Will be explain in later Parts]
Intent: None
*************************************************************
{Stats}
Health Points (HP): F- [Dependent on Vitality]
Mana Points (MP): F- [Dependent on Intelligence]
Strength (STR): F- [55/100] --> [56/100]
Agility (AGI): F- [58/100] --> [59/100]
Stamina (STA): F- [48/100] --> [51/100]
Intelligence (INT): F- [49/100]
Vitality (VIT): F- [48/100]
Endurance (END): F- [44/100] --> [45/100]
Luck (LUK): F- [Dependent on core]
Free Stat Points: 0
*******************************************************
[SKILLS]: - None
[ABILITIES]: - None
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What the…"
Rey blinked.
"My stats… they jumped?!"
He scanned the screen again.
No traits.
No new abilities.
No skills.
Just raw stat increases.
"What is this?! This kind of leap isn't normal!"
Aiden folded his arms.
"We call it… Zenith Drive."
Rey froze.
A chill crept down his spine at the name alone.
"Only a handful ever awaken it naturally," Aiden continued.
"Most geniuses fail. Even fewer ever learn to control it."
"…Then why me?" Rey muttered.
He didn't feel like a genius.
He didn't have some golden core.
He wasn't the chosen one.
"Actually," Victor stepped forward.
"I know exactly why it happened."
Aiden turned. "Now you speak?"
"I was going to earlier. But someone kept glaring."
Aiden cupped his ear. "Speak louder, princess."
Victor sighed. "Fine."
He pointed at Rey.
"You and I share a bond. That connection let him… take something."
"…Take what?" Rey asked.
"My personal trait. The one buried in the depths of my soul.
"Victor's eyes narrowed.
"The one I only use when I'm on death's door."
Rey blinked.
"…I took your trait?"
"You didn't just take it. You merged with it."
"And now… you've awakened Zenith Drive."
Aiden's jaw tightened."You're the one from that old story… the last to master it."
"No. I was the fourth," Victor replied.
"You and our old master screwed me over before I could fully master it myself."
Aiden smirked."No regrets."
Rey looked between them."What did you do to him?"
"Nothing," Aiden shrugged.
"Let's just say he'll be more obedient now."
Victor paled.
Rey's expression twisted."…So what happens now?"
"Now?" Victor sighed.
"You've only got one out of ten."
"Once you gather all ten fragments of my trait… you'll awaken a skill I crafted from blood, pain, and sheer madness."
Rey's eyes lit up."…Seriously?"
Victor crossed his arms.
"Yeah. I nearly died making it. You're out here just collecting it like free candy."
He sulked.
'I swear this kid was switched at birth by the gods of fortune…'
Meanwhile—
Far, far away.
In a divine palace wreathed in starlight…
A woman sculpted from jade—eyes like galaxies—sat on her throne.
Suddenly, she shivered.
"…Who's meddling with fate again?"