CHAPTER 1 — THE DAY EVERYONE TURNED AGAINST ME
Rain hammered the academy courtyard like the sky itself was furious.
Students surrounded me in a circle, whispering like vultures. Their eyes weren't curious — they were hungry. Hungry to see me fall, to see me break, to see me disappear.
I stood in the center, drenched, trembling, staring at the teacher holding a report in her hand.
"Aiden Rael," she declared loudly, "you are hereby expelled from Thornvale Academy for sabotage, assault, and treason against your class."
The rain suddenly felt colder.
Treason? Assault? I hadn't done any of that.
But every student around me nodded eagerly, whispering:
"He finally got caught."
"I knew he was trouble."
"Good riddance."
It didn't matter whether it was true.
They just wanted someone to blame.
I opened my mouth. "I didn't do—"
"Shut up."
The class leader stepped forward, eyes burning with hatred.
"You think anyone will believe you now? You're done."
I could feel it — the hatred. Thick. Heavy. Pressing against my skin like a physical force.
My fists clenched.
Not from anger.
From something deeper.
Something waking up.
The class leader shoved me back. The crowd laughed. Someone threw a bag at my feet. Another shoved me from behind. The world blurred in motion and rain.
And then—
I fell.
Down the stairs.
Down into darkness.
Down into silence.
My body hit the ground hard.
Pain exploded.
The world dimmed.
For a moment, I thought that was it — the end of my pathetic existence.
But then—
A sound echoed inside my skull.
A cold, mechanical chime.
DING.
My vision went white.
Lines of glowing text floated before me like shards of light.
[SYSTEM BOOTING…]
My breath caught.
What… is this?
[HATE-FORGED SYSTEM ACTIVATED] "User has been acknowledged as the Perfect Vessel of Resentment."
My heart pounded.
More text appeared.
[Primary Skill Unlocked: Hatred Conversion]
Description: Converts the negative emotions directed at you into raw power.
Current Resentment Detected: 11,409 units
Stat Increase Granted: +114
My eyes widened.
Eleven thousand?
That many people hated me?
The text continued, relentless.
[Secondary Skill Unlocked: Aura of the Despised]
People will naturally dislike, fear, or resent you.
Their emotions will strengthen you indefinitely.
The rain suddenly felt warm.
No — it wasn't the rain.
It was my blood heating.
My muscles tightening.
My breath sharpening.
Strength surged through me like lightning.
I pushed myself up from the ground.
The students who had followed to watch me suffer froze when they saw me stand.
One girl whispered, "W-why is he still… moving?"
Hatred flowed from them like a river.
The System chimed again.
[+82 Hatred Points Acquired] [Stats Increased]
Their disgust was feeding me.
Their resentment was healing me.
Their hatred… belonged to me.
I straightened my back.
The rain stopped feeling cold.
The class leader took a step back.
"W-what are you smiling at?"
I hadn't even realized I was smiling.
Not a happy smile.
Not a sane one.
Just… awakened.
I looked him in the eyes — and felt his hatred slam into me like fire.
DING.
[+201 Hate Points]
My voice came out calm.
Too calm.
"You should've killed me when you had the chance."
The crowd shivered.
For the first time in my life…
I felt powerful.
Hatred wasn't my curse anymore.
It was my weapon.
My strength.
My future.
I stepped toward them, rain dripping off my chin like ink.
And every step I took made them tremble.
Someone whispered:
"He feels… wrong…"
"He's different…"
"What happened to him?"
I tilted my head slightly.
"Don't stop hating me," I said softly.
"It only makes me stronger."
The System chimed one more time.
[CHAPTER 1 — END]
Next Chapter: "The First Evolution — Fear Pressure"