Kyle lay sprawled across his bed, the clutter in his room a chaotic reflection of his current state of mind. Empty snack bags, discarded clothes, and random papers covered the floor, but none of it seemed to bother him.
He was too focused on the screen of his phone, aimlessly scrolling through social media posts, when a sudden blaring sound broke the silence.
Without even glancing at the caller's name, he answered.
"Why?" Kyle muttered into the phone.
"Don't tell me you forgot what day it is today?" A cold, impatient voice responded on the other end.
Blinking, Kyle tried to recall what he might have missed, but the answer evaded him.
"What?"
"Today's the awakening ceremony. Our professor reminded us about it yesterday. How could you forget?" The voice on the phone sounded both exasperated and annoyed.
"I forgot. I'll be there!" Without waiting for the other person to reply, Kyle hung up, his thoughts already shifting to other things.
Mark, the one who had called, rolled his eyes in disbelief. Typical Kyle—always forgetting the important stuff. But it didn't matter. Mark was used to it.
As he made his way toward the auditorium of Unixe High Academy, he could already hear the buzz of excitement filling the air.
This was a day everyone at the academy had been eagerly anticipating.
The academy, perched atop a hill surrounded by lush forests and gleaming towers, was the crown jewel of the nation.
It was known for producing the most skilled and powerful individuals in the world, and graduates from this esteemed institution were highly sought after, their talents revered worldwide.
Today, however, was not just another day at Unixe Height Academy.
Today was the awakening ceremony, a pivotal moment in the life of every student.
In this world, everyone was born with a latent power, but it remained dormant until the moment of awakening.
The ceremony, which occurred at the age of fifteen, was the moment when these powers would manifest.
For most, it was a time of joy and celebration, a rite of passage into adulthood. For others, it was a day of dread—what if their powers never awakened?
Kyle, however, wasn't concerned. He strolled through the corridor with the quiet confidence of someone who had never questioned the inevitable.
He knew he would awaken—everyone did. There was no such thing as a person without power. Everyone had the potential for greatness. He just had to wait for his turn.
Walking into the auditorium, Kyle made his way to the section where his classmates were already gathering.
The air was thick with anticipation. As the last students filed into their seats, the professors walked onto the stage.
Principle Agares, a tall and imposing figure, stood at the podium. His voice boomed across the auditorium as he addressed the students.
"Welcome, students, to your awakening ceremony. Today marks the beginning of your journey into the world of power. I hope that each of you will unlock the potential within you, and remember—great power comes with great responsibility. May you all achieve greatness."
The applause that followed was deafening, but Kyle was barely paying attention. His mind was already on what awaited him in the awakening room.
Professor Miki, the homeroom teacher of Class 1, stepped forward, gesturing for the students to follow him. "Please, follow me to the awakening room."
The awakening room was a large, sterile space, filled with rows of sleek machines designed to test the students' potential.
There were ten machines in total, each one connected to an orb that pulsed with faint energy.
The machines would assess the students' physical data—strength, agility, mana, intelligence—and then trigger the awakening process.
Each student would lie down on the machine, place their hand on the orb, and focus their mana, hoping to feel their power awaken.
Kyle's turn came soon enough.
As he lay down on the cool surface of the machine, the staff members quickly input his data.
The screen lit up, displaying his physical stats: Strength: 70/100, Agility: 75/100, Mana: 80/100, Intelligence: 95/100.
His potential data appeared next, a fluctuating number that ranged from 200 to 400—solidly in the medium range, but nothing extraordinary.
With a sense of casual confidence, Kyle placed his hand on the orb and infused it with his mana, expecting the familiar rush of energy that would signal the awakening of his power.
He waited. And waited.
Nothing.
His heart skipped a beat.
The orb remained still, its glow dim and lifeless.
The staff member overseeing the process frowned, tapping a few buttons on the machine.
"Try again," came the cold, mechanical voice from the machine's speaker.
Kyle, his pulse quickening, tried again, this time pouring more of his mana into the orb, focusing all his energy into it.
His breath quickened as he willed his power to awaken. Still, there was no response. The orb remained as silent as ever.
Frustration and panic gnawed at him.
He was certain there was something wrong now.
He had always believed that everyone in this world had power.
How could this be happening?
"Stop," the staff member finally said, his voice tinged with confusion. "This case requires further investigation. Your mana levels are high, but there's no dormant power within you. I'm afraid you may be the first person in history to fail the awakening process."
Kyle sat up, his mind reeling. The words felt like a punch to the gut. No power. No awakening.
Was he really the only one? The one person in the entire world without any power at all?
He looked around the room, his classmates eager to proceed with their own awakenings.
They were all brimming with excitement, but Kyle… Kyle felt like an outsider, a blank space in a world that was meant to be filled with power.
What now?