Professor Spark's voice crackled behind Max like static.
"If I were you… I'd run."
She gave a playful wink.
"And in class, make sure you call me Professor. If," her grin sharpened, "you're still enrolled after tonight."
Before Max could respond, she vanished in a blinding streak of lightning.
Darkness returned but not silence.
Shouts erupted across campus.
"Someone triggered the alarm!"
"Over by the library!"
"That was Professor Spark's magic!"
Voices multiplied. Footsteps pounded in every direction closing in.
Max tried standing, but his knees buckled, his legs still tingling from electrocution. He hit the ground again.
"…Day one and I'm already about to be expelled. Amazing."
***
Above — *The Library Roof*
A hooded figure watched the courtyard below, cloak fluttering in the night breeze.
"You went easy on him," the figure murmured. "You favor that boy."
Spark folded her arms, eyes still on the ground. "Favor? No. I'm… curious."
Lightning sparked across her knuckles.
"He has potential. Ancient potential. But potential burns just as easily as it shines."
The hooded man nodded once and vanished into a swirling portal.
Professor Spark remained, smile growing sharper.
"Show me what you do next, Max."
***
*Back on the Ground*
Max forced himself upright, every movement stiff and shaky.
He needed a plan. Suddenly, a soft tone echoed in his mind.
SCAN: Strong Threat Detected.
Upgrade available.
Evolve spell?
Max didn't hesitate.
Scan Tier D → Scan Tier C
New functions unlocked.
"Please tell me that was worth it," he muttered.
He staggered to the locked library door and activated Scan again silently, this time.
[High-grade magical lock]
Incorrect access triggers defensive enchantments.
Passcode: 2079
Try not to screw it up this time!
Max exhaled sharply then typed the code.
Beep.
The door slid open.
He slipped inside and collapsed just as it shut and sealed behind him.
He checked his updated stats.
[Name: Max]
[Level: 2]
[Title: Near-Death Human]
[Health: 1/5]
[Strength: 10]
[Speed: 8]
[Mana: 6/10]
Lightning Resistance: 3%
Magic Points: 1
Skill Points: 3
Max squinted at the title.
"…Near-Death Human? Really? We couldn't just go with 'survivor'?"
His wrist buzzed faintly.
Skill Points: You may strengthen body or attributes. Spend wisely.
Outside, voices echoed again angrier, closer.
"Check everywhere! Find out why Spark triggered the protocol!"
Max pressed himself against a bookshelf, heartbeat about to crash outside his chest.
Footsteps entered the library.
He held his breath.
Someone moved between tables, kicking aside chairs, searching.
Scan activated on reflex.
[General Education Instructor]
Magic Ability: None
Threat Level: Laughable
Weakness: Shoulder nerve cluster
Personal Note: Loves tiramisu
Max blinked.
"…What kind of Pocket monster card scan is this?"
Still weakness was weakness.
As the teacher leaned forward to look beneath a table, Max crept behind him as silent as he could manage.
One chance.
He jabbed both thumbs into the indicated pressure point.
The teacher let out a confused wheeze then collapsed face-first into a chair and slid to the floor unconscious.
Max stared.
"…That actually worked?"
Before he could celebrate, his bracelet pulsed and a hologram formed above his wrist.
At the same time, the unconscious teacher's wrist glowed red.
New text appeared.
Special ability detected.
New function unlocked.
Would you like to steal Magic Points from target?
Max froze.
Then slowly—dangerously—smiled.
"Well," he whispered, eyes gleaming, "don't mind If I do."