The shadow of Sanctis Central High School's tall buildings stretched across the street like giant walls. This was one of the biggest schools for Awakened in the city of Sanctis, where the future geniuses of the world were trained.
A young man leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets, and looked around at the students coming out of the campus.
"...How nostalgic, haha. Seems like, unlike schools on Earth, the ones in this world aren't that boring."
His mind drifted to memories that now felt like dreams—his life on Earth. Just an ordinary life, like everyone else.
Originally, he didn't belong to this world, but for some unknown reason, he had been reincarnated.
Unlike his previous world, this one was completely different. In this world, there were magic, awakening, and Awakened. Dungeons and terrifying monsters with powers no technology on Earth could stop.
In this world, teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18 could go through the awakening process. If they succeeded, they would receive a class.
At first, he thought maybe this was a second chance—maybe he could become a legendary warrior, shine in battles, and make his name known in history.
But when he finally awakened, the system's answer was clear:
[ No talent found in any category. ]
"Talentless."
He sighed. The only thing he had gained from reincarnation was a life full of humiliation and mockery.
Though not everyone saw him like that. Aside from his mother, the only person who truly cared about him was his younger sister, Alice, who was only sixteen but already considered one of the most talented new Awakened. Even top guilds in the country were fighting to recruit her.
But Daniel? No one even looked at him.
He looked up at the sky. Did their father feel the same?
Daniel didn't know much about him. Their mother said he was a very special man, but never gave more details.
He shook his head to push away the thoughts, but just then—
"Isn't that the talentless guy?"
He heard whispers from a group of students standing nearby.
"Yeah, but did you see his sister? I heard one of the top guilds wants to recruit her."
"Strange, how can two siblings be so different? One's a genius, the other's trash."
Daniel blinked.
Trash.
A word he had heard again and again. He could go up to them, yell in anger, maybe even punch them, but… what would be the point?
In the end, he just gave a cold smile and stood there without a word.
The school bell rang.
The academy's large doors opened, and students poured out.
And among them—
"Daniel!"
A familiar voice that always managed to make him feel better.
He turned toward the sound and saw his sister. A girl with long white hair and bright brown eyes.
Alice ran toward him with a warm smile and hugged him without hesitation.
"What happened? Why'd you come pick me up today?"
"Mom was a bit busy." Daniel gave a faint smile.
"What? You don't like it when your brother comes to pick you up?"
"Of course not! I love it!" Alice smiled brightly, and Daniel laughed a little.
They both got in the car and started driving.
The car moved down the quiet road while Alice excitedly talked about some news she heard today.
"Can you believe it? Fallen Sun offered me a spot on their team!"
Daniel raised his eyebrows. "Fallen Sun?"
"Yeah! One of the top five guilds in the country!"
Fallen Sun—an elite guild. It was said that their leader, "Caesar Valentine," was one of the few who had reached the eighth floor of the tower.
This guild was active not only in the country's dungeons but even in the Skylands, and only the best of the best could join it.
"So, you're gonna become a top-tier Awakened, huh?" Daniel shrugged and laughed.
Alice chuckled. "Well, not a top warrior yet, but..."
But her sentence was cut short.
The air changed.
Daniel frowned. Suddenly, everything went quiet.
The wind stopped.
The sky… turned red.
An invisible wave of energy rippled through the air. Any Awakened could feel it.
A crack opened in the sky.
And from it, monsters fell.
The sounds of brakes and terrified screams filled the street. Just moments ago it had been calm, but now… it looked like a nightmare.
From the red rift in the sky, Beasts of Corruption fell like cursed raindrops. Creatures with bodies covered in black wounds, glowing eyes in the dark, and mouths that seemed made only for tearing things apart.
Giant beings with bodies like massive bears, but with blackened, burnt skin, as if they had risen from flames. Their muscles were swollen, covered in red cracks that leaked burning lava.
Unlike their bodies, they had huge skulls with no eyes, and inside, hellish flames burned.
Every time they breathed, fire came out from their bone jaws.
Some of them even had two or three heads, each burning with different-colored flames.
"A dimensional breach! Damn it!" Daniel stared at the scene with wide eyes, his heart pounding like it would burst out of his chest.
He recognized these monsters! They were one of the corrupted beast species known as the Blightbearers.
He never expected to get caught up in a dimensional breach like this. Why was he always this unlucky?
Next to him, Alice raised her hand, and in the blink of an eye, a silver glowing sword appeared. She had already awakened her power—she was strong, but not strong enough to handle these creatures.
After all, she was still just a student and had only recently awakened her class.
"We have to help people!" Even though she tried to hide it, fear was clear in her voice.
Alice jumped out of the car without hesitation and ran toward the street.
"Damn it! Alice, where are you going?! Get back in the car!" Daniel jumped out right after her to stop her.
"This—" He was suddenly faced with horrifying scenes.
A middle-aged man trying to escape was torn apart by one of the monsters in an instant.
A woman, holding her small child, hid behind a car.
Daniel wanted to do something—anything—but his body froze.
He wasn't even an Awakened. In this world, he was nothing but a weak and ordinary human.
Just then, he heard Alice scream.
She was fighting with all her strength, and her sword strikes were accurate, but not enough to kill these monsters. She was still a beginner.
Blightbearers were at least D-rank monsters, and not something a rookie like Alice could defeat.
And then, suddenly… one of the largest monsters among them locked its gaze on Alice.
A three-meter-tall body, claws shining like deadly blades, and eyes full of rage and hunger.
Daniel saw the beast rushing toward Alice—faster than anything a normal human could react to.
"No!"
But before Alice could move, before the monster could reach her—
Daniel threw himself in front of the beast.
The monster's claw pierced his chest.
Unimaginable pain. Daniel's eyes widened, and blood spilled from his mouth.
"Brother!! Nooo!!" Alice screamed.
"No no no, you can't die, please!" Tears streamed down Alice's face.
Daniel fell to the ground.
The sounds of battle and screams around him no longer mattered.
All he felt was the coldness of death.
But then, something strange happened.
Instead of dying, his body began to absorb a strange energy.
His blood droplets didn't fall—they floated in the air, glowing like red jewels.
"W… what?"
And then, a voice echoed in his mind.
[ Mother System has accepted your will. ]
[ Conditions for reawakening met. ]
[ Beginning reawakening process... ]
Everything went Black