The streets outside Orion Awakener Academy were dimly lit by glowing mana lanterns, casting an eerie glow over the cobblestone roads. The night was cold, the air crisp with the faint scent of rain. Ethan moved through the narrow alleyways, his muscles aching from his brutal training sessions. His body screamed for rest, but he knew better.
Never Give Up.
His passive ability thrummed within him like an unyielding force, refusing to let him collapse. He had reached his limits a thousand times before—only to push past them each time. Every day, he grew stronger, inch by inch.
But tonight, something felt different.
As he rounded a corner, his sharp eyes caught sight of a lone figure—a young woman, surrounded by a group of five men. Their uniforms bore the emblem of the Black Fang Syndicate, a notorious underground faction known for their cruelty.
The girl stood her ground, her crimson eyes glaring at them with cold defiance. She had long, flowing silver hair, a sharp contrast against the darkness of the night. Her combat attire was torn in places, signs of an earlier struggle, but her stance was unwavering.
She wasn't afraid.
But she was injured.
One of the men sneered. "Tch, what a feisty little thing. Thought you could escape from us?"
She spat blood to the ground. "I'd rather die than go with you."
Ethan observed quietly, his instincts warning him. This girl isn't weak. Despite her wounds, she carried herself like a warrior. Her aura was strong—far stronger than most students at the academy. Yet, she was outnumbered.
A blade gleamed under the lantern light as one of the men lunged forward.
Ethan moved.
Faster than the thug could react, Ethan's fist crashed into his ribs, sending him flying backward. The others barely had time to turn before Ethan was upon them. He ducked under a swing, twisting his body as he delivered a powerful kick to another's knee, shattering it with a sickening crunch.
The girl's crimson eyes widened slightly. He's strong.
The remaining three men hesitated, unsure whether to fight or flee.
"You bast—" One tried to curse but was silenced by Ethan's hand gripping his throat. Without hesitation, he snapped his neck.
The final two turned to run.
Ethan's cold voice stopped them. "You tried to kill her."
They didn't get a chance to scream before he cut them down, using their own daggers against them.
Silence filled the alley.
The girl let out a slow breath, wiping the blood from her lips. "You're reckless."
Ethan turned to her, eyes unreadable. "You're welcome."
She smirked, wincing slightly as she straightened. "I didn't ask for your help."
Ethan shrugged. "Didn't need to."
There was a pause before she finally extended her hand. "Seraphina Nightshade."
He shook it. "Ethan Cross."
Her grip was firm, her hands rough with calluses—proof of a fighter.
A dangerous beauty.
A New Passive Ability
Ethan watched as Seraphina leaned against the alley wall, her breathing heavy. Despite her wounds, she was composed.
"You're bleeding," Ethan noted.
"I've had worse," she replied nonchalantly.
Ethan exhaled, rolling his shoulders. The fight had been short, but something felt different. A familiar tingling sensation spread through his body, and then—
Passive Ability Acquired!"Blood Resilience" - The more injuries you sustain, the more resistant your body becomes to pain and damage.
Ethan blinked, reading the description carefully. It wasn't flashy, but it was useful.
Seraphina narrowed her eyes at his reaction. "Something wrong?"
Ethan shook his head. "No. Just thinking."
The Rising Threat
Unbeknownst to them, high above the city, in a towering fortress of black stone, a shadowed figure sat on a throne, watching a floating screen displaying the recent events in the alley.
"Ethan Cross…" The voice was laced with amusement. "An F-Rank nobody who dares to defy fate."
The figure turned to an assassin kneeling before them. "Find out everything about him. If he gets in our way… eliminate him."
The Beginning of Something More
As Ethan and Seraphina left the alley together, she glanced at him curiously. "You're interesting."
Ethan gave her a sidelong look. "I'm just a guy who refuses to give up."
She chuckled. "Then maybe we'll get along just fine."
Ethan didn't know it yet, but this meeting was the first step toward something much bigger.
A war was coming. And he would be at its center.