The sun had barely begun to rise on the horizon, and inside a small, lifeless apartment—made up of only two rooms, one where the kitchen blended with the living room and another that served as a bedroom—there lay a black-haired man on the bed, shirtless. The soft morning light revealed well-defined muscles across his entire body. They were neither large nor exaggerated, but carried a singular definition—the kind of physique shaped naturally, molded more by time and effort than by excess.
"Ring… ring."
The electric alarm clock rang, marking 04:00—time to wake up. With a slow movement, the tired man stretched out his hand and turned off the device resting on the bedside table next to the bed. He didn't need to remove the blanket; during the night, his unconscious body had already done that for him. He sat up and opened his eyes. They were black like the night itself, almost lifeless. He brought a hand to his mouth—"haa…"—and yawned, small tears escaping from the corners of his eyes.
He let out a faint smile.
— "Today is my big day," he murmured.
Then he stood up, opened the wardrobe, and took out a simple black shirt. As he put it on, the fabric tightened slightly, precisely accentuating the definition of his muscles. After that, he put on a pair of training sweatpants, loose enough to—unlike the shirt—almost completely hide the shape of his body.
A few minutes later, already outside, he went down the building and looked around. The city was still asleep. Few cars crossed the silent streets, and the cold of dawn hit the man's face head-on.
He did some stretches—small jumps, stretching his legs—and after preparing himself, he started running.
'It's been a week since I arrived in the main city.'
Those thoughts crossed his mind as he ran through the streets, moving forward without a clear destination, simply letting his body advance.
'This city is beautiful. Tall buildings rose on all sides, their facades reflecting the soft lights of dawn. There were opportunities everywhere—unique jobs, promises of ascension, well-maintained parks cutting through the concrete with strips of green, quiet neighborhoods, and luxurious houses hidden behind elegant walls and gates.
'Life here is peaceful… or at least it should be.'
The illusion, however, faded quickly: 'yet in this city there is something that prevails above all—the social difference,' and the greatest symbol of it all was a colossal castle rising right at the center of the city, so immense it could be seen from practically any point. Its walls dominated the horizon, reminding everyone who truly held the power. 'That is where the royal family lives—absolute rulers of this city, sustained by a monarchy that no one dares to refute… much less confront.'
After a long run through the city, the man stopped at a small open park, where a few trees were spread over the green grass still damp from the morning. He entered the park and sat on one of the benches, bringing a bottle of water to his mouth and drinking in long, silent gulps.
Some people passed by from time to time—some running alone, others accompanied—each immersed in their own routine. Yuta glanced sideways and noticed a man cooling a bottle of water with nothing more than a breath. That would be an extraordinary feat for any ordinary person, but he didn't react. He simply looked away and continued as if it were perfectly normal. As soon as he finished drinking, he rested his hands on his knees and stood up.
He moved deeper into the park and began exercising, performing heavy, repetitive movements—deep push-ups, firm squats—making his body work until it was fully warmed up.
'But all of this has a reason… The demons… they were the ones who caused all of this. A long time ago, almost a hundred years back, humans lived in peace, organized into communities. They were free from prejudice and the divisions that today seemed natural. That lasted until the emergence of the demons, who began massacring entire cities without mercy. Humans tried to fight back, but it was useless. They were far too weak. The demons possessed overwhelming strength and unknown powers.' — thoughts flooded the man's mind as sweat streamed down his forehead.
'Until one day, humans also began to awaken. Gifts appeared—special, unique powers. All humans began awakening their own abilities… and the world was never the same again…
'Humans grew stronger and began a war against the demons, splitting the world in half and creating an insane battlefield. This was good for humans—until discrimination began. Some were born with special and unique powers far stronger than others, and they grew increasingly greedy, wielding immense power that no one could stop. They dominated the world.'
After finishing the intense sequence of exercises, Yuta let his body fall to the side, lying on the grass, his chest rising and falling irregularly. Air tore through his lungs as sweat ran down his forehead and mixed with the cold of the morning.
'However… all of this has always been unjust. They oppress everyone who can become stronger than them. That is how the system was built… And that is why, one day, a hero emerged. A man who dared to refute the established order, who confronted the powerful and opened a path where there had once only been walls. He created a great academy—a place where gifts could be understood, refined, strengthened. A symbol of hope for people like me.
'But hope was never meant for everyone. Only those with special talents were admitted. The truly chosen.'
Yuta stretched his hand toward the pale sky, his fingers trembling slightly, and fixed his gaze on the clouds slowly moving above him.
'And today… is the opening of the entrance exams. A unique opportunity.'
With a sudden movement, he turned over and slammed a punch into the ground, using the impact to push himself up in one motion. Pain shot through his arm, but he didn't care.
— 'That's why people from all over the world gather in this city,' he murmured. — 'Here stands the greatest and best of those universities… Unic Gift.'
A strange smile spread across Yuta's face. It wasn't joy. It was sharp, dangerous, filled with intent.
'And it's there… that I will complete my revenge.'
***
He returned home, entered the building, and climbed the stairs until he reached his apartment. As soon as he stepped inside, the first thing he did was check the time.
07:30 sharp.
"I still have time. The opening starts at 9 a.m."
Yuta headed to the bathroom and began to get ready. He took a quick shower, letting the water wash away the sweat and fatigue of the morning. When he finished, he carefully chose what to wear, thinking about what would be most appropriate. Something light, perhaps—after all, the entrance exam would certainly not be easy.
But then, his master's words echoed in his mind.
— 'It's always good to go out with elegance.'
A sharp shiver ran down his spine. Memories of the brutal training resurfaced—far too vivid, as if his body still remembered the pain.
— "Just thinking about that time makes my body tremble… I never want to go through anything like that again," he muttered.
He picked up a dark blue suit, and when he put it on, it fit his body perfectly, tailored as if it had been made just for him. The deep tone of the fabric conveyed seriousness and control, while the white shirt underneath created a clean, precise contrast—almost impeccable. The sleeves adjusted perfectly to his arms, following the line of his muscles without tightening, and the tie completed the outfit with discretion and class. It wasn't flashy clothing—it was clothing that commanded respect.
— "Now this… this is how I should be."
***
He then left the apartment carrying a peculiar case. It was almost one meter and forty centimeters long, yet extremely thin in width. He lifted it easily with one hand and started walking.
Toward the academy.
Upon arriving, Yuta could barely see the gates beyond the massive crowd gathered in front of them. People of every kind filled every inch of space: nobles dressed in expensive fabrics with arrogant postures, standing side by side with common folk from the countryside, wearing modest clothes and eyes full of hope. It was a unique situation.
Here, social differences mixed—not because they had disappeared, but because, in this place, they didn't matter. The academy didn't care about origin, wealth, or title. Everyone would face the same tests. Always. Without exception.
With steady steps and subtle movements, Yuta managed to push through the crowd, slipping past bodies and glances until he reached a position closer to the front.
And then… he saw it.
The gate was colossal. Golden bars rose before him, gleaming under the daylight, radiating a sense of absolute authority and prestige. They didn't look like they were meant to physically stop anyone—yet no one would dare cross that boundary without permission. That place was sacred.
Beyond the gate, the university revealed itself in all its grandeur. After a nearly perfect garden, meticulously maintained, stood an enormous modern building covered in dark glass. It partially blocked the view of the courtyard behind it, but it couldn't hide what came next.
Two other buildings rose in the distance—even larger, even more imposing—like giants watching over everything from above.
"Damn… just the first one must have around twenty floors… imagine the others."
The man tilted his head upward, his eyes tracing the absurd height of the structures, nearly forcing his neck to its limit.
Then, a deep sound echoed through the space, vibrating in the air like an ancient signal.
"— Drrr…"
The gates began to open slowly.
He clenched his fists, feeling his heart pound heavily in his chest—yet his posture remained calm.
— "It's time."