"What? You became C-class ability user in just a month?" Mr. Daley's eyes widened in disbelief, his coffee cup frozen halfway to his mouth. The morning sunlight caught the steam rising from it, but he seemed to have forgotten its existence entirely.
"Yes sir, I went through the ECLYSS Protocol and awakened as C-class," Theon replied, keeping his voice calm and respectful.
Mr. Daley's suspicious gaze bore into him, searching for any hint of deception. His lips pressed into a thin line as he studied Theon's face. "That's... unusual. But it's not like anyone can fake it." He tapped his desk with his pen, the rhythmic sound filling the tense silence. "Alright, let's register you for the final combat trial."
This time you won't pass either, you little pest. I know exactly what to do.
A small grin crept across Mr. Daley's face as he watched Theon. His fingers drummed against the desk with increasing excitement. "We'll pair you with a C-class student then."
"Here's your trial information. Come prepared this time," Mr. Daley said, sliding the paper across his desk. His tone was too cheerful, too eager – like a predator who'd just cornered its prey.
"Thank you, sir." Theon took the admission slip and left, his footsteps echoing down the empty hallway.
I have to be very careful in this fight.
Once home, Theon immediately dropped into meditation on his small bedroom floor. The worn carpet was familiar beneath him as he closed his eyes and focused inward. His energy flow was perfect now – no anomalies. But something was different. The power inside him felt like a storm, wild and untamed, too strong to control like before.
Day after day, he practiced in his cramped room. Sweat would drip down his face as he struggled with the new energy coursing through his veins. Each meditation brought small progress, but not enough. The power still raged within him, refusing to be fully tamed.
With money from the expedition tucked safely away, Theon could finally train full-time. His mother was healthy now, her cheeks regaining color as she worked again. She hummed while cooking, a sound that filled their small apartment with warmth. He still helped her with everything – carrying groceries, cleaning dishes, making sure she took her medicine – but his focus had shifted to the upcoming fight.
During his training sessions, he noticed his strength had grown beyond anything he'd ever felt before. The weights that once challenged him now felt like toys.
The combat trial day arrived with an electric atmosphere. The school gym buzzed with more excitement than usual, packed with students who normally skipped these events.
"Why is everyone here today? What's so special?" a girl asked another student, standing on her tiptoes to see over the crowd.
"Don't you know? Shane Blackwood is fighting today!" her friend practically squealed, clutching her chest dramatically.
"Oh really? Who's the unlucky opponent?" The first girl's eyes widened with curiosity.
"Whoever it is, they're doomed!" She waved a glittery banner with "SHANE" written in bold letters, nearly hitting someone behind her. "Shane's never lost a fight!"
Across town in her high-tech apartment, Koda lounged on her recliner, controlling multiple floating screens with just her thoughts through her NIP. Her attention focused on one particular feed showing the school gym.
"Why did you call me over?" Felix asked, stepping through her door. He wore casual clothes, looking relaxed despite the urgency in Koda's message.
"You need to see this!" Koda's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she gestured to the holographic screen.
"Wait, is that Theon's school gym? How did you—" Felix stopped mid-sentence, his jaw dropping.
"Easy hack job. Their security is a joke," Koda grinned, popping a chip into her mouth. "Now watch our boy fight!"
Felix settled onto the couch, leaning forward with interest. "Did you find anything about self-awakening?"
"Still nothing." Koda shook her head, frustration creeping into her voice. "It's like the information doesn't exist."
"Who's this Shane everyone's cheering for?" Felix squinted at the screen, watching the crowd's excitement.
"Shane Blackwood – the school's golden boy. Star athlete, honor student, comes from old money. Girls want him, guys want to be him." Koda pulled up Shane's profile on a side screen. "He's supposedly E-class but they're showing him as C-class today."
The gym display flashed in bold letters: NEXT COMBAT TRIAL: SHANE BLACKWOOD (C-CLASS) vs THEON HAN-MERCER (C-CLASS)
"Wait, Shane was E-class last I heard," a random boy muttered, scratching his head in confusion.
"Who's fighting Shane? Never seen that guy," another student asked, scanning the crowd.
"What the—" Orin's grin spread wide, his eyes lighting up with malicious glee. "How did that loser become C-class?"
"Doesn't matter. Shane's gonna destroy him," his friend laughed, high-fiving Orin.
"Yeah, whoever set this up wants that runt dead," Orin chuckled, rubbing his hands together.
Shane entered the arena like a rock star, his perfectly styled hair catching the light. He waved to his adoring fans with practiced charm, flashing his million-dollar smile. Students screamed his name while others whispered and pointed at Theon, who entered quietly from the opposite side.
"The popular kid versus our Theon..." Felix leaned forward, gripping the edge of the couch.
"His records show E-class. Something's not right." Koda used her NIP to pull up more data streams, scanning through them rapidly. "Someone's been tampering with the system."
"I feel bad for him. Theon's going to obliterate the poor guy," Felix said, a hint of worry in his voice.
"No, Theon won't show off. He'll finish it without drawing attention," Koda predicted, knowing their friend's cautious nature.
In the arena, Theon remained calm, his breathing steady as he ran through his strategy. His eyes tracked Shane's movements, noting how the other boy played to the crowd.
He's a powerful telekinetic. I need to move fast before he grabs me.
Across the ring, Shane checked his own system with a smug smile:
[***EVOLUTION MODULE PROGRESS***
Program: P-Class Advancement Protocol
User: Shane Blackwood
Current Level: 73
Current XP: 4,436,032 / 4,438,400
2,368 XP needed to level up]
Perfect. Beating this nobody will push me to the next level.
Shane's eyes narrowed as he remembered his conversation with Mr. Daley, who had helped lower his official rank for this fight.
Both fighters took their stances. The crowd's cheering dimmed to an anticipatory hush.
Why do my feet feel heavy? Is he already grabbing me?
Theon felt a subtle pull downward, like invisible hands tugging at his ankles.
You're not running from me today.
Shane had already activated his power before the signal, his fingers twitching slightly as he manipulated the invisible forces.
[START THE FIGHT]
Shane charged forward immediately, his face twisted with concentration as he channeled all his strength into one devastating punch. Theon's legs were locked to the floor, and Shane's power reached for his arms too, trying to immobilize him completely.
You can't escape me!
Shane's fist sailed toward Theon's face, the air whistling with its speed—
WHAM!
A thunderous impact echoed through the gym. Shane's telekinetic barrier shattered like glass as Theon's counter-punch connected with his gut, sending him flying across the arena.
The gym fell deathly silent. Students' mouths hung open, their cheers dying in their throats.
The school's strongest fighter lay crumpled on the floor, taken down with a single blow from the weakest student.
[YOU PASS THE COMBAT TRIAL]
Did I punch too hard? Breaking the telekinetic bond made me lose control...
Shane wasn't moving. Blood trickled from his mouth as the medical team rushed to him, their equipment beeping urgently.
"That was a bit harsh," Felix commented, wincing at the replay on Koda's screen.
"I don't think he meant to hit that hard," Koda replied, zooming in on Theon's surprised expression.
Theon walked straight to Mr. Daley's office, ignoring the stunned whispers following him through the hallway.
"Sir, I've completed all my tests. When can I get my certificate? I won't be able to attend the graduation ceremony." Theon stood before the desk, his posture straight but not aggressive.
"Ah... the certificate... right..." Mr. Daley stammered, his earlier confidence completely shattered. His hands trembled slightly as he shuffled papers on his desk.
One punch. How strong is he now?
Fear crept into Mr. Daley's thoughts, replacing his earlier smugness.
"Come by next week. I'll have everything ready," he managed, avoiding Theon's eyes.
"Thank you, Mr. Daley." Theon left the school, finally passing the combat trial after two failures. The weight that had pressed on his shoulders for years seemed to lift with each step.
"Okay, first part's done. Now for the Elysium Prime tournament," Felix said, standing up and stretching.
[⚠️ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION REMINDER: Have you accepted our scholarship offer from Elysium Prime University?]
Koda opened the formal message through her NIP. She'd planned to reject it, but now she had a reason to consider it differently.
After collecting his high school certificate – a simple piece of paper that represented years of struggle – Theon headed to Elysium Prime University to register for the tournament.
The massive campus sprawled before him like a city within a city. Gleaming towers of glass and steel reached toward the sky, their surfaces reflecting the afternoon sun. Holographic signs floated above well-manicured paths, directing students to various facilities. The air hummed with advanced technology and possibility.
"Excuse me, how do I join the fighting tournament?" Theon asked the receptionist, a young woman with perfectly styled hair and an efficient smile.
"Name and class level, please," she replied, ready to input the information through her NIP.
"I'm Theon Han-Mercer and C-Class ability user." His voice carried a new confidence he hadn't possessed before.
"Fill out this form and join that queue," she said, handing him a tablet without looking up.
As Theon waited in line, the girl in front turned around. She had the lean, muscular build of a fighter, with callused knuckles and alert eyes.
"I heard you're C-class. Is that true?" Her tone carried genuine concern rather than mockery.
"Yeah," Theon nodded, meeting her gaze steadily.
"None of my business, but you should reconsider. This tournament is brutal." She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "I've seen people carried out on stretchers... or worse."
A man ahead of them turned, his scarred face telling its own story of past battles. "What's going on?"
"I'm warning him about the tournament. He's still C-class," the girl explained, gesturing to Theon.
"Are you crazy? This isn't for beginners! The top fighters come here to enter Elysium Prime," the man said, his eyes widening. "Last year, three participants didn't make it out alive."
"People die in this tournament. This is my second time," the girl added, unconsciously rubbing an old scar on her arm. "I barely survived my first attempt."
"Thanks for the concern. I'll take my chances," Theon replied, his resolve unwavering.
The line moved forward, and soon Theon stood before the registration desk. The lady behind it had sharp eyes that seemed to see through pretense.
"You're C-class. Did you read our contract carefully?" She peered at him over her glasses.
"Yes, I did." Theon maintained eye contact, showing no hesitation.
"Good. Because you're C-class, you need a physical evaluation first. Your self-healing ability shouldn't be an issue." She scanned his documents, her eyebrows raising slightly at something she read. "With our new policy, you can use a stage name to hide your identity. Do you want one?"
Theon paused, considering the offer. His fingers drummed lightly on the counter as memories of hiding, of being overlooked and underestimated, flashed through his mind.
I can't hide anymore. I need to be strong and face the world.
"No. I'm joining as Theon." His voice carried a quiet determination that made the registration lady look up from her screen.
She nodded, a hint of respect in her eyes as she entered his information into the system. "Very well, Mr. Han-Mercer. Welcome to the Elysium Prime Fighting Tournament."
This is it. No more hiding, no more being the weakest link.
Theon took a deep breath, feeling the weight of this moment. He was stepping into a new chapter of his life.