The Awakening
BAM—THUD!
Theon crashed to the training floor, his body sliding across the mat. The gym went silent for a moment before the whispers started—laughing, mocking comments they thought he couldn't hear.
The medical team rushed forward.
TING.
[Combat Test Failed]
The message flashed inside Theon's neural interface before darkness swallowed his vision.
From the bleachers, a girl snickered. "Isn't that the U-Class who crashed and burned at last year's Combat Trials too?"
"Weaklings like him shouldn't even be allowed to fight," Orin sneered from the front row. "If he took a real punch from me, he'd be in a body bag. Lucky it was just Mira from the lower tier."
Orin Saito. C-Class fighter. Son of a Drakonis Corporation manager and never let anyone forget it.
___________________
When Theon opened his eyes, harsh fluorescent lights buzzed overhead. The infirmary. Beside him stood the only people who mattered—his adoptive mother and two little sisters.
"Does it hurt a lot?" Luna asked, eyes filling with tears. "Don't get hurt... big brother."
"Tell me who hurt you, I'll kick his butt!" Nora jumped up, showing off her best fighting pose. Her tiny face looked more cute than threatening.
Theon managed a weak smile. He'd done everything to protect them since his adoptive father died.
His mother, Min-seo, doubled over with another coughing fit. "Theon, please," she wheezed. "This isn't worth it. My boss at the hub said he'd hire you tomorrow if you wanted."
Her voice was tired, her skin pale and worn. She was getting weaker every day.
All they could afford was some half-trained T-Class healer who barely knew what they were doing.
"No, Mom," Theon's voice hardened with resolve. "I can't let us scrape by forever. I'll pass. I have to." He clenched his fists. "We can't survive on those wages anymore."
___________________
Months passed. Theon pushed through his combat training while picking up cleaning jobs around the district to help with bills. It also meant fewer chances for Orin to corner him between classes.
The final year of high school brought military training. After weeks of prep, all schools sent their students to the central grounds in District 7.
Under the scorching sun, Theon stood at the back of formation, sweat soaking through his uniform. His body ached, his breathing shallow.
Just two more months. This is my last chance.
He'd been desperate enough to try one more awakening through the corporate "free program." The catch? Sign away your life if you pass.
He'd failed that too.
"Welcome to your final training," barked the officer. "For most of you, this is the closest you'll ever get to real combat. Let's hope it stays that way."
As students lined up for inspection, Theon froze at the sight of a man walking past the ranks.
A high-ranking officer. Dark skin catching sunlight, medals across his chest, each step commanding respect.
Theon's heart hammered.
I've seen him before.
A flash of memory—screams, blinding light, a younger version of that same face standing over chaos. Theon's real parents. That man. Images of Luminari.
Before he knew what he was doing, Theon stepped out of line.
"Han-Mercer! Where do you think you're going?" Mr. Daley snapped.
Theon blinked. "Bathroom. Sir."
The teacher's scowl could melt steel. "Make it quick. And don't even think about wandering."
___________________
At the edge of the field stood the restricted section of the base—tall walls, electrified fences, and whispered rumors.
Nearby, Felix Solari muttered under his breath. "How am I supposed to organize an expedition like that? I've never even been on one. Last year I managed to avoid it, but this time he's serious. If I actually go... I could die out there."
Grandson of Xavier Solari—one of the most powerful family leaders in the world. Felix carried the crushing weight of generations of tradition. Yet even he stood at the back of formation, shoulders tight with dread.
His muttering stopped when he noticed a student creeping toward the restricted zone.
Is that kid... sneaking in? He's seriously trying to see if the stories are true?
Everyone had heard the rumors. Secret research. Alien technology. Maybe even Luminari artifacts.
Theon wasn't sure what he was doing. His legs moved on their own. His mind raced with fragments of memory. That officer. That face. The past clawing at his skull.
I need to know the truth. I need to know who I am.
He followed the military jeep from a distance. With guards focused on the student formations, security had thinned.
At the checkpoint, he saw a delivery truck offloading supplies. Workers in uniforms similar to the academy students' bustled around, stacking containers.
Perfect.
Theon grabbed an empty container, held it in front of him like he belonged, and slipped past the checkpoint. The guards didn't even look twice.
___________________
Inside the restricted zone, everything changed. Training grounds gave way to bunker-like labs and scientists with grim faces.
He tossed the container aside and ducked behind a supply crate as voices approached.
"...the Luminari artifacts are unstable," one officer said.
"We don't have time. The General wants results before next week's meeting. The Beast Realm's crystals are drying up."
Something bigger is happening here.
Moving from shadow to shadow, Theon followed them to a massive building at the compound's edge.
Inside was beyond anything he'd imagined—screens floating in mid-air, technology he'd never seen, people in lab coats rushing around. But what grabbed his attention was the crystal in the center—pulsing, almost breathing.
That's nothing like the crystals they showed us in class.
Theon's heart pounded as he crouched lower.
You idiot. Run. NOW.
A sudden noise—he'd knocked over a metal pipe.
CLANG!
Shouts echoed. "Intruder! Section 3!"
Panicked, Theon bolted. Alarms blared throughout the facility.
WHOOP! WHOOP!
Red lights flashed down every corridor as he turned blindly through hallways until he found a sealed door, blue light seeping from beneath.
Pushing it open, he entered a chamber pulsing with energy. Walls shimmered with blue light. At the center stood an enormous crystal.
He took a step forward.
"Don't move."
The voice froze him in place.
The officer. The one from his past. Weapon raised, face unreadable.
"Well, well," the man growled, his aim steady. "Didn't expect to find a student poking around here. How the hell did—"
The crystal flared suddenly.
A surge of energy tore through the chamber.
KRZT!
The electric shriek of power filled the air.
The sound of a thousand screams filled Theon's ears as light consumed everything.
Then came the explosion.
WHOMP!
Pain erupted through every nerve in Theon's body—white-hot and searing, like being torn apart from the inside. His vision filled with blinding light as a scream tore from his throat.
The agony was unbearable, impossible—then merciful darkness swallowed him whole.
___________________
SPECTRUM Classification System
SPECTRUM categorizes enhanced abilities by both power level and expertise
S-CLASS (Sovereign): World-changing power, fewer than 30 individuals worldwide
P-CLASS (Paragon): Elite abilities, military/corporate leadership level
E-CLASS (Exemplar): Advanced abilities, specialized operatives
C-CLASS (Centurion): Solid combat/professional capabilities
T-CLASS (Tactical): Basic enhanced abilities, entry-level
R-CLASS (Resonant): Minimal enhancement, limited application
U-CLASS (Unawakened): No active abilities, baseline human
M-CLASS (Maverick): Unstable or unclassified abilities (typically illegal)