Humanity had reached the stars and all was at peace with the world. That's what the human representative federation tells the masses these days, acting as though a large majority of their planet wasn't beyond recovery.
Humans had violently discovered they weren't the only things amongst the stars, bringing together in a long and devastating war, new cultures, new races, some more technologically inclined, some borderline sorcerous, possessing powers beyond measure and of course, monsters beyond any they could fathom.
A figure rolled on the floor, their body bruised and their body trembling in pain, his assailants giggling at them each time they jerked in pain, he was human, a regular powerless human being with nothing to them other than being alive.
"Come on Normie, stand up, I know you can do it". The urged them to stand, yet they remained unmoving save for their trembling body. Perhaps in a better world a human like him would be celebrated alas after the war anything that lacked psychic abilities weren't even living beings.
"Don't be boring man" a pale blue light shone from his hands creating mist that caressed their body causing their skin to sizzle, screaming they rolled to the side, panting heavily raising their head in an angry grimace. "Huh look at that you do have some fight in you"
Species lacking in such regards had other racial traits that could be considered abilities, humans of this era all had abilities, one form of them or the other, a talent something like magic, anything at all and yet exceptions existed, human with neither of such talents.
"Screw…you" The boys assailants chuckled and kicked him in the ribs and he let out a groan, his eyes filled with nothing but fury, he wished desperately that he could tear them apart, to make them scream as he did but such ideals were even more fantastical than the world he lived In.
One of them raised a hand when they sensed someone standing behind them, turning around they were met with a tall orange skinned fellow with curly dark brown hair, his clear green eyes were tainted with annoyance "What is the meaning of this?".
They flinched, his voice was calm but firm, they shifted uncomfortably before the one with mist hands spoke first "Nothing, we found him like this and just wanted to return the papers". They tossed a stack of documents to the floor and started to walk away.
The orange skinned boy looked at the papers and sighed "Are you okay Zed?". The wounded person pursed their lips and made a sound.
"Sure, I am, just look at these wonderful new bruises, maybe I should open a museum, what do you think?" the orange skinned boy sighed and lifted his hands, the boy's injuries started to heal until soon there was nothing left.
His tanned skin was clear like he had just received skincare, he groaned when his boned mended themselves before standing up to stretch, the burns of his uniform were still there but now he looked completely unharmed. "This can't go on". The boys healer said with worry.
"oh hush Now Ludwig, things Are fine as is". The fate of being a powerless human was not something that couldn't be rectified, many races had the technology and ability to bestow their brilliance on others, or so the federation claimed. "I don't trust the process"
The details weren't made clear to the public, but one could apply to have abilities administered to them, although what you ended up with was random, and you'd have essentially sold yourself to the government, not many were bothered.
" is it such a bad thing?". The boy name Zed shrugged, the federation would take all the help it could get to deal with what they all called abyss beasts, they appeared during the war and had continued to do so after.
"I'm fine man" Zed placed a hand on his friends shoulder and reassured him, the children may have been entitled but murder was still heavily frowned on by the federation, especially with the advent of the abominations.
The academy they attended was simply one of many, preparing brilliant minds and soldiers to assist in the eradication of the vile vermin. "You say that, but this isn't just an academy thing, you'll be seriously hurt at some point"
The boy simply shrugged and waved his friend off, who couldn't help but shake his head, there was nothing he could do to convince him to change his mind and thus prayed to any god who would hear it to one day give his friend a chance to defend himself.
All races had a psyche index, used to measure ones aptitude, sadly having a high index didn't necessitate developing any abilities, rather all it made him able to perceive the abilities being used and nothing more if he was lucky
That was why the situation he was currently in stood out even more, he was bleeding from his stomach, his arms had been crushed and mangled and he was barely breathing, the memories of ta conversation from so long ago he had barely registered flowing into his mind. 'I should have listened to beck'.
He had been caught up in a disagreement between two psychics on his way home, he didn't take them for thugs, but then again looks can be deceiving, at the end he didn't even know what was happening before he was branded someone to be disposed off, especially since he had no powers to speak off, it was easy to kill the weak after all.
Their thoroughness perhaps an act to cover it up with the excuse of contamination perhaps? His mind continued to think, accelerating despite his debilitating injuries 'I'm going to die, I'm going to die without even understanding why'.
His vision started to blur when he recognised a pair of boots landing in front of him "Target identified requesting permission" The man remained silent for a few seconds and cast a glance at the boy, his highly reflecting mask only portraying the boys mangled body "Specimen is severely damaged, it may not survive".
Another few seconds had passed before the man nodded and extended a hand towards the boy, his bodies exhaustion had caught up with him and he simply shut his eyes feeling that this would be the end of his life.
His eyes however opened yet again, more so than his unlikely survival he was concerned with why he had been bound to a table, there was a red skinned man with brown horns sticking out of his head looking at a projection. "Subject is awake, this was not accounted for, orders?".
Zed's body still felt weak, his vison still blurred and his hearing dull, his body ached and his mouth was dry, he felt feeble, just keeping his eyes open felt like an enormous strain in and of itself
The man turned his head to look at Zed, his yellow eyes gazed at him with tiredness and mild irritation before he closed them again "Procced". He heard a low humming sound and then came pain, blinding indescribable and powerful pain.