The sky cracked open like glass.
A thunderous scream echoed across the city as the first monster descended from the clouds — a grotesque thing with six wings, twisted horns, and eyes that glowed like molten metal.
And then…
⚡ [Global Announcement: The Awakening Has Begun]
⚠ [All eligible humans will now receive their system access]
The world changed in seconds.
A soft hum vibrated in the air as people around me lit up like stars.
Golden light exploded from their bodies — raw power, not guided, not controlled. Just instincts awakened.
🌀 [Level 1 – Wind Walker]
🔥 [Level 2 – Flame Controller]
🌕 [Level 3 – Moonblade Knight]
Students cheered. Some dropped to their knees in joy.
Even the school bullies looked stunned — not out of fear, but power drunk.
But me?
I stood there. Waiting.
Nothing.
No light.
No sound.
No power.
Just silence.
I looked around. Everyone else was glowing. Everyone… except me.
My breath caught in my throat.
> "Hey, why isn't he lighting up?"
"Is that a glitch?"
"No way. He's just... not compatible."
They stared at me like I was trash.
Even my best friend — no, ex-best friend — took a step back.
> "Don't come near us, Kairen."
"You'll drag us down."
My chest burned — not from fear, but something worse: humiliation.
> "He's a Zero."
"He doesn't even exist in the system."
---
Hours later, I stood alone outside the collapsed school gates.
The others had gone ahead — the military had called all Awakened to head to the first dungeon gate that appeared outside the city.
They didn't want a burden like me.
So I followed.
Not to prove anything. Not to be a hero.
I just wanted… to matter. To someone.
The forest near the gate was darker than I expected.
The trees were torn up. The dirt reeked of blood.
And then I saw them — my classmates.
Surrounded by monsters. Screaming.
I could've turned back.
I didn't.
I ran in — weaponless. Powerless.
I tackled a beast twice my size just to push someone out of the way.
The claws tore into my side. My vision blurred. I hit the ground and didn't move.
And as I lay there, body broken, watching them run — not for help, but away from me… like I was already dead. Like I wasn't even worth saving.
---
My body trembled in the dark.
My vision blurred. And as the cold crept in, so did the tears.
> "Hah… is this how it ends?"
"Is this what I was born for… to die like a bug?"
My hands clenched weakly against the blood-soaked floor.
My voice cracked — and I spoke to the void above me.
> "If there's a god out there… I just want to ask something…"
"Why? Why is life so unfair?"
"Why only me?"
I let the silence answer me.
No divine light. No miracle. Just pain.
> "Mom… Dad… I'm sorry."
"Your little boy wasn't strong enough..."
"And big brother… I couldn't be like you. I'm not worthy of being called your brother."
"I'm… sorry."
Rain fell.
Thunder roared.
The dungeon gate began to close.
I closed my eyes, accepting the end.
But that's when I heard it.
> 🔻 [ERROR: Unauthorized Soul Detected]
Initializing Forced Bind...
WARNING: This system is classified as TERMINATED
Welcome, Kairen. You have been chosen by the Last System.
My eyes flew open. The pain vanished.
A screen pulsed in front of me — blood red, sharp-edged, alien. No one else had seen this. Only me.
> [Dead Code System Bound]
Abilities: Unknown
Warning: This system evolves based on vengeance and survival instinct.
My eyes widened.
Something snapped inside my chest — not pain, not fear… something darker.
> "So… you waited until I broke completely... huh?"
"Fine."
I stood, barely, bones screaming.
I smiled.
Not because I was saved…
But because now I could finally start destroying the world that left me behind.
> "You gave them blessings..."
"You gave me a curse."
"Now watch what I do with it."