2051
Arthur. Arthur Knight. Only god knows what my mum was thinking when she gave me that name. "Brave" and "ordinary"—that's what it means. And man, if there's anyone who's embraced the ordinary part, it's me.
The world around me is full of freakishly powerful awakened people—shooting fireballs, slicing through boulders, teleporting like anime protagonists. And me? Just plain old Arthur. No flashy powers. No secret bloodline. No ancient artifact passed down by a dying master. Just a regular teenager with a crap luck stat and a pessimistic outlook.
But before I start sounding too mopey, let's get the facts straight.
I'm Arthur. Sixteen years old. Level 2. And here's my secret—
I don't belong here.
I mean it. Not in the emo, existential way. Literally.
I'm not from this world.
I came from a place much like this, but... normal.
Like, soul-crushingly normal. No magic. No monsters. No fancy towers looming in the sky. Just jobs, bills, student loans, and the occasional ramen dinner to keep things exciting. The most supernatural thing we had was WiFi going out during a Zoom call.
Then one day, the so-called "gods" made their debut. People started awakening left and right, gaining powers, forming factions, fighting monsters. But not me. I didn't awaken. I wasn't chosen. Both gods and demons looked at me and collectively went: "Nah."
People like me were left behind—forgotten. We became workers, assistants, glorified NPCs in a world where power was everything. And then...
I died.
Don't ask me how. Hell if I know. One moment I was binge-reading web novels like the absolute degenerate I was, the next I woke up in this world, in a fourteen-year-old's body. No truck-kun. No dramatic betrayal. Just... sleep and boom—in a new world, in a new body, as a teenager with someone else's memories and a vague headache.
It was like something out of a fantasy story. The world had towers—giant, mysterious structures that pierced the sky. People awakened into classes and gained powers governed by a system. For a second, I thought, This is it. My cheat. My protagonist moment.
Yeah... no.
Turns out, everyone had a system. And my system? It was basically a glorified notepad. No special abilities. No unique skills. No mysterious mentor whispering secrets through dream visions. Just a screen with my stats and an ever-mocking Level 2.
And the kicker? I've been stuck at Level 2 for two whole years.
See, I was able to see my system the moment I got here. Unlike others, who awaken during events or training, I just had the screen show up the second I opened my eyes. Thought it meant something. Spoiler: it didn't. I tried everything to level up—training until I passed out, studying weird system theories, even talking to shrines I wasn't sure were shrines. Nothing.
No unique class. No innate talent. Nothing. I wasn't a Chosen One, I wasn't a genius, and I didn't even have plot armor. In fact, I was so painfully average, I made background characters look interesting.
Meanwhile, I was stuck in high school.
Yeah, they've got high school here too. Kids learning math, history, and how to incinerate enemies with the power of their mind. It was hell. I was surrounded by people awakening left and right. Some of my classmates had elemental affinities by age 14. Others summoned beasts. A few even got picked up by guild scouts while still in school.
Sure, there were still plenty of unawakened kids, but the divide was obvious. The awakened got better training, more opportunities, and straight-up sponsors. If your stats were good, or your background impressive, big guilds or rich families would line up to back you. Extra resources, personal trainers, rare items—all handed to them on a silver platter.
Me? I got a cafeteria discount and a nod from the janitor. Literally. Once, I was given a slightly larger bread roll for lunch. That was the peak of my school perks.
The school did its best to be fair, or at least act like it. But fairness only went so far. Their big event—the Awakening Ceremony—was coming up. It's a tradition across every academy. A final attempt to awaken any remaining unawakened students. It's not a guarantee, but for some, it's the moment their lives change.
I wasn't expecting much. My track record was solidly depressing. But even I couldn't help but feel a little hopeful. Maybe the system would finally give me a break. Maybe it had been waiting for a dramatic moment. Some theatrical spark that'd unlock a hidden potential. I had dreams, okay? Sue me.
Here's the joke though—I was technically already awakened. According to the system, I was Level 2. But my class was still listed as Unawakened. No matter how much I tried to understand it, it never made sense. I'd asked teachers, mentors, anyone who might know something. They all told me the same thing: That's impossible.
But it wasn't. It was my reality. I lived it. Every single day, watching other students reach new heights, while I stared at the same screen, mocking me with its static display.
Name: Arthur Knight
Age: 16
Level: 2
Class: Unawakened
Talents: None
Yeah. Unawakened. Despite being awakened. It made zero sense.
But hey, I was Level 2. And as far as I could tell, that happened the moment I transmigrated. Probably some passive EXP for dying in another world. I've tried everything to level up since then—training, meditation, mock battles, even praying to random tower statues. Nothing worked.
Still, graduation was coming. Two whole years of putting up with this crap, and now I was almost free. The school had one final ritual—an official awakening test. A ceremony where graduates had one last shot to gain a class, a talent, something.
I wasn't expecting anything. I'd long since let go of hope. But maybe... just maybe...
I wouldn't be ordinary forever.
Maybe... even the forgotten ones could rise.
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hah- the author rises again. 993 words lets go