Chapter 3 – School Days
After over an hour of intense training, Zane finally came to a halt. His entire body dripped with sweat, muscles twitching from the exertion. Even though the morning sun had barely risen, Zane never held back during these sessions. This was his routine, his ritual—to push his body to the limit, again and again. Until it breaks and reconstructs once more, stronger and sturdier.
He was seventeen, just months away from turning eighteen. His body was still developing, and he intended to squeeze every ounce of growth out of it while he still could.
'My progress is so damn slow…' he thought grimly, staring down at his trembling hand. A familiar frustration settled in his chest. He clenched his fist, but the feeling didn't go away.
Despite years of training with unwavering dedication, Zane had seen barely any improvement in this period of time. His physique remained lean and wiry, and he was shorter than most of his peers. While others had shot past him in height and strength, he had stayed behind, seemingly forgotten by the same force that gifted them with easy growth.
He stood at a modest 170 centimeters—average at best. Meanwhile, many of his classmates had already crossed 180 or even 190. It was a stark difference that became more obvious with each passing day, especially during physical activities. And no matter how hard he pushed himself, he couldn't close the gap.
It was discouraging—no, infuriating—to watch others surpass him so effortlessly. They laughed, joked, lived carefree lives, while Zane toiled away, bleeding and sweating with little to show for it. Still, he refused to stop. Every morning and every evening, he trained. Rain or shine, school day or holiday—it didn't matter.
For Zane, this wasn't just about ambition anymore.
Becoming a Dimensional Knight had once been a childhood dream. But now, it was the only reason he kept going. The only thing keeping him from falling into the abyss.
He had to become one—had to. Failure wasn't an option. If that dream died, then so would he. Because there was nothing else left for him.
Nothing else is worth living for.
'What the hell am I even thinking?' Zane shook his head, wiping away the creeping darkness in his thoughts. 'Now's not the time to be pessimistic. The entrance tests are literally a week away.'
He left the training room and headed straight for the shower. The cold water hit his skin like knives, but he welcomed it. After cleaning up, he cobbled together a light breakfast with whatever scraps were left in his fridge. It wasn't much, but it was enough.
By the time he checked the clock, it was nearly 9:00 AM. Slinging his worn-out bag over one shoulder, he stepped outside.
The moment Zane walked out of the old apartment building, a gust of wind greeted him, carrying with it the scent of wet concrete. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, momentarily blinding him. He squinted, letting his eyes adjust.
His apartment sat at the top of a decaying building in the outskirts of the city—far from the polished towers and neon lights of the central districts. It was the only place cheap enough to rent to someone who wasn't even a legal adult yet. Zane didn't care about the cracked walls or the broken elevator. He just needed a roof over his head and a place close to the school he goes to.
As he descended the stairs and exited the building, he didn't run into a single person. Good. He wasn't in the mood to talk, let alone deal with the fake smiles and judgmental stares.
'If you're going to pretend to be polite, at least do a better job hiding the disgust on your face,' he thought bitterly.
It was always the same. One glance at the scar running across his cheek, and people immediately recoiled. Some tried to mask it with politeness. Others didn't even bother. A seventeen-year-old boy with a scar like that? It was unnatural—unnerving.
That scar had become his shield and his prison. It kept people away, especially those his age. Nobody wanted to talk to the "weird" kid, the "damaged" one. And honestly, Zane preferred it that way.
He liked the quiet and peace that came with it.
The streets were still wet from last night's rain. As he walked toward the main road, the city slowly came to life. He passed other students heading the same way, all dressed in the same navy-blue uniform. They moved in groups, laughing and joking like typical teenagers without a care in the world.
Zane cast them a brief glance. Their happiness used to feel familiar. Once, he'd been like that too—carefree, excited about the future, surrounded by people he called friends.
But those days were gone. Life had dealt him a losing hand. A cruel one.
Eventually, he reached the school gates. Students streamed past him, filling the courtyard with noise. Zane stood still for a moment, staring at the dull grey building that had been the backdrop to years of isolation.
'Just one more week…' he thought, inhaling deeply. 'Just one more week and I'll never have to look at this hellhole again.'
Either he'd become a Dimensional Knight, or he wouldn't. Either way, this place would be behind him, and he couldn't be happier that it was the case. The years he spent there were by far the worst of his life.
'High school life, they said... The peak of youth, they said.' He rolled his eyes.
He walked through the entrance, navigating the clusters of students clogging the hallway. As he passed, conversations quieted. Eyes flicked to him, then quickly away, as if his presence alone was offensive.
Zane said nothing. He didn't acknowledge anyone as he made his way to his classroom.
When he opened the door, the noise inside immediately died down. Dozens of eyes turned toward him. He met their gaze briefly, then walked to his seat in silence.
The whispers started almost instantly.
"He never gets any less ugly, does he?"
"My god… my day's ruined."
"Ew, is his hair that color because he doesn't wash it?"
"Probably."
The words stung. They always did, no matter how used to them he claimed to be. But Zane had grown skilled at pretending he didn't hear. At pretending it didn't matter.
He pulled out his notes and focused. Unlike these gossips, studying was something he could control. He couldn't change how others saw him. He couldn't force his body to grow faster. But this—this he could do. Learn, train, repeat. It was the only rhythm left in his life.
Eventually, the class lost interest in him and turned their attention elsewhere. That was when he could finally breathe again.
Time crawled by. Then the bell rang, signaling the start of class. Their homeroom teacher walked in a moment later—an older man with disheveled grey hair and bags under his eyes that spoke of many sleepless nights.
"Alright, everyone, sit down. I've got an announcement," he said, tapping the desk.
Excitement buzzed in the air.
"Here it comes…"
Zane looked up, curious despite himself.
"Your 'Injections' will officially begin tomorrow," the teacher announced. "You'll receive a ticket later today. Your number will determine your schedule—either tomorrow or the day after. The Delegation is arriving this afternoon, so be prepared."
The classroom exploded into chatter.
"Finally! Took them long enough!"
"I'm a little worried, not gonna lie."
"What are the odds of success again?"
"10.3%, I think…"
"Damn. Only ten percent? We're screwed."
Zane sat in silence, listening to the wave of emotions surge around him. Excitement, fear, anxiety—it was all there. And all of it was valid. The success rate of the Injections was brutally low. It was the first and most merciless filter for aspiring Dimensional Knights.
'Why would anyone expect better odds?' Zane thought, shaking his head. 'These aren't simple shots. They're preparing us to survive constant travel between dimensions and the extreme environments of every world. Those injections choose the most fitting to best suit taking the test.'
Still, there was a flicker of curiosity inside him. No one really knew how the Injections worked. The process was shrouded in secrecy, even from the media. Only those who underwent it truly understood.
'They really keep it all under wraps… But, I can finally see it with my own eyes.'
That moment, whether he will be accepted or not, will determine his path in life... Quite literally.