Misfit.
That was the lowest rank anyone could receive in today's society—just below that of a convict. And that title had followed Elliot for as long as he could remember.
It was the name given to a person who had failed their Awakening, and the injection had granted them a certain level of strength, which could never be increased further.
Although that strength would place them above ordinary humans, it wasn't extraordinary.
Society rejected such a group of people, calling them outcasts. Although they were stronger than the average human, they were too weak to fight beasts, so what purpose did they serve?
They couldn't even cast spells, and some were even left contaminated by the injection.
So, if you had been carrying that title since the age of fourteen, how could you feel anything but despair?
Even more so when you were the weakest among them all.
___
"Elliot, be careful on your way home. Do you hear? If you run into a dog, remember to run or shout for help. Try to keep yourself safe."
Elliot turned to look at his boss—an ordinary-looking man with nothing to distinguish him. He was about 40 years old, slightly taller, muscular, and had a smirk on his face that carried a hint of mockery.
Elliot nodded but remained expressionless. He didn't need to say anything.
'Damn old man'.
If only he could express himself, he would have long ago vented his anger by planting a powerful punch to the old man's nose. Being mocked for something that had happened in the past and was beyond his control had always bothered him, but the scenario in his head was off the table, knowing that he would be the one who would end up dead if he swung his fist.
His boss's words set off a round of laughter from his coworkers.
"Hahaha! Boss, don't be mean. Is it okay for one of us to go with him? If he faces a dog, he might not even be able to run away."
"True, boss. We must look out for our colleagues. If a pit bull came out… I'm afraid it will be the last day of our most outstanding worker."
"Now, now. We can't worry about minor issues; get back to work." After laughing for a moment, the boss calmed them down. "I must do something, so don't wait for me."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Elliot went another way as the taunts kept ringing in his ears. But he turned a deaf ear to them.
'It's not like I can ask the system for a fight against these bastards. I don't even have the system.' Once again, he was forced to let out a helpless sigh.
In the last 48 hours, he had loaded more than 200 boxes, each weighing 75 kg, without anyone's help. It was pretty complicated for him, but he had debts to pay, and hard work was his only way to do it.
That's why he felt it wasn't worth paying attention to his stupid colleagues.
Even though his colleagues raised their voices, hoping to make him feel uncomfortable, he didn't feel awkward. In fact, at that moment, a small smile crept onto his face.
Looking up, he noticed the sun was already descending the horizon.
The golden rays bathed the city in an exotic amber glow, painting the sky with fire-colored hues. The roofs of the tall modern buildings and the large windows shimmered in spectacular shades of yellow and orange.
Loen City was a beautiful modern city, ideal for admiring sunsets thanks to its strategic position. The sunset was gorgeous this time, but that wasn't what made him smile.
He smiled because today was September 3rd—his 18th birthday.
It was not that there was a reason to celebrate or that he could finally say he was of legal age; none of that was useful. Vain milestones didn't make him happy.
But on his 18th birthday, it would be his third and final attempt to Awaken.
That's right. Unlike his companions, who had failed to awaken, he had not failed yet.
In other words, he was not a Misfit; he simply had to live like that because it was the only thing he could do to earn money.
That's because the previous two times he tried to Awaken, he couldn't. In the end, many thought he was a misfit, and thanks to his mortal enemies, who spread the rumor, he had been seen that way for years.
But today, on his 18th birthday, despite all the odds against him, despite the ridicule, the desire for power inside him didn't allow him to be pessimistic; the desire had grown so strong that despite the setbacks, he still smiled and held himself upright.
'Even though everyone calls me the outcast among the outcasts, today I will prove to you that I am different from all of you.'
As he walked, his determined steps did not seem like those of a misfit, much less those of a person with little chance of awakening. His mind was only filled with a message to himself:
"Today, my destiny will change."
And he was right.
If he managed to awaken, it would undoubtedly change everything for him.
If he couldn't do it, he would probably die or become a true Misfit.
If the second happened, he would leave the city behind and carve out his own destiny.
Whether it was dying at the hands of an evil beast or stumbling upon a fortuitous encounter, whatever his destiny, he would seek it out and find it at all costs.
Lost in his thoughts, Elliot walked through the bustling streets, past the indifferent glances of strangers. Cars roared on the streets, weaving through the traffic recklessly, but he paid them no mind.
Before long, he arrived in front of a slightly run-down apartment building.
A faded sign hung above that said: Misfits' Room.
It was meant to mock, but it described the place perfectly.
This building was a small complex of rooms in poor condition, likely built by someone who hated misfits, given its poor construction.
All the rooms were the same size: 3 square meters, barely livable, and rented for $75 a month.
As soon as he found his room, Elliot got inside.
There wasn't much on the other side of the door, but everything was meticulously organized.
A small bag hung on the wall. In one corner, a single bed sat next to a small living room table and a one-burner electric cooker. It had everything he needed to live, although if he wanted to use the bathroom, he would have to use the establishment's public facilities.
Upon entering and ensuring everything was in place, he walked over to the bed and picked up a small box.
Inside was a syringe filled with a deep red liquid, thick and rich like blood.
"A year's worth of all my savings, two months in debt, and without eating properly for three months—just to be able to buy you." His grip tightened. "I hope you hear my wish and finally answer my call. I fully trust that you will awaken me… from this nightmare."
After taking off his shirt, revealing his well-developed yet somewhat undernourished body. His arms were quite muscular for his age, but they certainly didn't look like those of someone who could lift 15 tons in 48 hours.
Even so, he didn't care much about that.
He had been working hard for this moment, so he was a little nervous. His heart pounded, but not from fear—just anticipation. But he didn't feel impatient.
He then sterilized the area where he was going to inject himself and took a deep breath.
'The Awakening Injection… It's not the first time I'll have it in my body, but this will be the first time I'll inject it myself. This will be dangerous.'
He stared at the syringe and his arm, trying to trace the vein carefully.
If he missed the vein, he would surely die, as his body wouldn't be able to withstand the red liquid. That is why it was always advised to have a specialized person administer the serum. However, the problem was that hiring a professional was out of his budget; they are just too expensive these days.
Taking another deep breath, he relaxed and steadied his hand.
His hand held the syringe firmly, and then, without any other shred of hesitation, full of determination and desire, he drove the needle into his vein and injected the serum into his vein.
'Today will be different.' Determination shone in his eyes.
At the same time, his desire for power reached its peak, and he longed to reach the peak of his life.
Since childhood, he has craved power.
When his father disappeared on his 14th birthday, he wished for the power to find him.
Then came his 16th birthday, and he wished for the power to save his mother and sister, who were murdered in front of him.
Unfortunately, fate wouldn't always be in your favor, and he had to learn to live with that.
Maybe his luck was shit, or perhaps he really had no talent.
Whatever the reason, he had to learn to live with that weight—the feeling of uselessness gnawing at him. But his desire for power always burned deep inside him, and today, it burned brighter than ever.
The red liquid that looked like blood soon merged with his bloodstream, signifying that he had hit the right spot. That increased his hope.
Then, a voice of supplication rose in his heart that, at least for once, he wanted fortune to smile at him.
But all of a sudden, the effects of the injection disappeared in his body. It seemed as if it had searched every corner of his body but didn't find what it was after.
Anxiety filled his heart, but so did hope. The voice in his head seemed to urge him to have a little more faith that his hopes shouldn't stop just there.
Maybe he was going crazy, but he trusted that voice.
So, even though his mind screamed that he wouldn't awaken, his heart still held firm on that dim flicker of hope.
One was rational; the other was sentimental. But both longed for power.
After three or four endless minutes, a strange sound seemed to have spoken into his mind.
Ding~
[The Global Awakening System has found an Awakened One.]
[Welcome to the Global Awakening System, Newbie Player Elliot Clark. Congratulations on your awakening.]
[Your intense desire for power has shaken the foundations of the world.]
[The world has answered your call and agreed to fulfill your wish, oh man.]
[You have awakened a Unique Class.]