In the year 2030, a catastrophe struck the Earth.

An overflow of Mana corrupted every living being present on the planet — from humans, to minor animals, to the earth itself, and to even the plants.

Throwing the entire world into chaos, and human society fell to ruin.

Humans who could not withstand the effects of the overflow became corrupted, transforming into horrid monsters that without a second thought devoured other humans. Plants became fiends that hunted anything that moved, and in this new chaotic world, the human race faced the brink of extinction as a majority of the population perished in the very first year of the catastrophy.

However, by some grace, those who survived the corruption without mutating into horrendous fiends gained special abilities.

Abilities that allowed them to bend reality, nature, and the laws of physics to their own will... an ability they named Magic.

With Magic, humanity was able to stand its ground against the wretched Fiends and, soon enough, were able to create strongholds; citadels where the remnants of humanity could stay and pray that the defences did not fail.

However the strongest Mage of that time did not consider this as living.

He believed Humans weren’t meant to be holed up and cower in crushing fear all their life.

And acted up on it...

He had done what no one could have, and with his Magic created an impenetrable Barrier to separate the Remaining humans from the disastrous monsters.

Therefore becoming the First King of the new era and restoring temporal peace to humanity only for a small while.

However, it wasn’t the end of humanity’s predicament.

Shortly after the barrier and death of the First King, Different factions had formed by the time, many of them seeking control over what remained of humanity.

’Humans were greedy creatures, and power was what drove them.’

That greed led them into civil war.

And unlike the brutality of the beasts during the battle against the Corrupted, humans were far more treacherous, slaughtering one another as though killing mere animals. With little to no remorse. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

In the end, to avoid further bloodshed—

Humanity was divided into two major Kingdoms.

And both kingdoms have rivaled agaisnt each other ever since.

"..."

’Well, that was centuries ago... probably. Right now, that history matters only a little to me. All I can think about is how I am going to perform in this ceremony... After all, this is my last chance to change my pathetic existence.’

Finn tightened his grasp around his shirt, watching the crowd of youths around him.

Everyone present was either the same age as him or perhaps a year or two older.

He was fifteen, and his life up to this point had been utterly trash.

Well... he didn’t quite realize how pathetic and disgusting it was, not until he turned ten.

That was when he realized his father had left him and his mother since he was two...

The way others looked at him with disgust after hearing his father’s name.

And how he irritated others with his magic.

Finn tightened his grip around his collar even more this time.

’Vaywill...’

He repeated his father’s name several times in his mind and, as though to mock him, the universe sent him trouble.

From the crowd, a boy twice his size walked up to him and laughed the moment he got just a few meters away.

"Oh excuse me, my friend told me the Traitor’s spawn was participating in the Awakening too. I didn’t know."

Finn Vaywill only frowned, holding back his resentful glare from deepening further.

The boy, seeing his reaction, only chuckled more, rubbing the back of his head as he oozed mocking confidence.

"What was your magic ability again? I don’t quite remember."

He paused, rubbing his chin.

"It has to live up to your father’s hype, doesn’t it? So why don’t you tell me, just to prove the rumors are all lies?"

Finn clenched his teeth.

’I won’t fall for this cheap-ass rage bait.’

He shifted his gaze away from the boy, avoiding eye contact.

Maybe he’ll leave if I just ignore him.

Finn thought—

Well, he was wrong.

The boy only closed the distance, throwing a fist toward Finn’s face, missing him by barely an inch before his fist collided into the wall with dangerous strength.

To a normal human, that would’ve hurt.

However, thanks to whatever magic this crazy bulky idiot possessed, the wall quaked instead of his fist, a few cracks appearing along its surface in testimony to his strength.

Finn swallowed, staring at the fist right before his face.

Too close for comfort.

There was no avoiding this conflict.

He had just realized that.

Slowly, he lifted his eyes from the bully’s fist and stared directly into his.

The fierce black eyes staring back into his own.

Yes, this confrontation was unavoidable.

But thankfully, due to some unplanned factors, it ended as quickly as it had begun.

"Hello, young Mages, to the Brixton Awakening Ceremony!"

The loud and proud voice called out from a distance.

At the sound, the bully lowered his hand quickly and moved away from Finn, burying himself within the crowd as he hurried to get out of sight of whoever was announcing.

Knowing fully well that if he was caught harassing another student, he would be expelled from the ceremony.

Or worse...

"..."

Finn exhaled for dear life, his hands flying down to his knees as he hunched over.

Lingering there for a moment, he then turned to see his dear savior — the person who had saved him from getting his ass handed to him in front of this enormous crowd.

Past the mass of students stood a woman dressed in a completely black suit.

She looked professional, a digital list floating before her.

A black hat rested on her head, allowing her long, straight black hair to fall in waves over her shoulders.

Her attention remained solely on the students before her, her eyes not drifting even once toward Finn, who was currently alone by the wall.

’She saved a life without even knowing it.’ Finn was grateful.

The instructor cleared her throat shortly after, "Today is the day many of your lives will change , for better or more likely for the worse. As you will awaken the greatest power in our current world.

The power that paved Lord Gravemont’s path to becoming the most powerful human of all time and saving the human race.

The power our rivals, the Eldervane, have sought to claim for dozens of years."

She paused for a second, as though trying to catch her breath.

But really, she was simply giving them time for her words to sink in.

The two main Kingdoms from that time the Gravemont and Eldervane, have been strong rivals, to even now, Finn imagined. ’The reason why Gravemont still dominated Eldervane is because of this ceremony, if not, most of us will be in shackles digging coal mines.’

The woman sighed, "So I urge you, hold tightly to your faith, and do not disappoint your Kingdom."

A subtle silence followed as the students strengthened their resolves.

This was it.

For many of them, the opportunity to become stronger and better-seasoned warriors than they already were.

But for Finn—

He clenched his teeth at just how important this ceremony was to him.

"If I can just Awaken... everything in my life will change for the better."

This was his opportunity to no longer be called trash.

His last chance to change his forsaken torture of a life into something much better.

And by no means... would he lose this opportunity.