Cale dragged his broken body to the nearest hospital. The bright lights stung his eyes, but he didn't complain.
He was just glad the place wasn't far from the alley.
After he scared off the bullies, he ran—more like staggered—all the way here. It was a small government hospital near the edge of the district's inner sector.
The nurses had rushed to him the moment he stepped inside.
"You again?" one of them had said, catching his arm before he collapsed.
She was young. Her name tag read "Selene." There was genuine worry in her voice.
"What happened this time? Did you fall down a staircase or get hit by a building?"
Cale tried to smile. "Close enough."
"Come on. Let's get you patched up."
He was taken into a room, sat down on a padded bench, and handed a basic healing potion.
It stung going down, but within minutes, the sharpest pain faded.
"You'll be sore for a day or two," Selene said as she examined him, "but you'll recover. Sleep well tonight, and you'll be fine tomorrow."
He nodded slowly, rubbing the side of his ribs.
She didn't leave immediately. Instead, she knelt slightly so their eyes met.
"Cale… are you being bullied?" she asked in a softer tone.
Cale blinked.
So that's how it was.
He didn't have time to go through all memories, but this hospital stood out in the few memories he saw.
The original owner of this body must have come here before. Enough times for this nurse to notice something was wrong with his injuries.
The concern in her eyes wasn't fake. He could feel it.
That probably explained why the original Cale had kept coming to this hospital, even when it wasn't the closest one.
He sighed and gave her a half-hearted smile. "It's not serious."
Selene didn't look convinced.
In fact, she looked more annoyed by his answer.
"I'll visit your academy tomorrow. I'll speak to the principal directly."
Cale's smile faded.
He sat up straighter. "No, don't. Please."
She tilted her head. "You're clearly being hurt. If no one steps in—"
"I am fine," Cale interrupted gently.
The leader of the bullies… his father was a third-rank martial artist, and a well-known name in the city.
If the nurse Selene got involved, her job could be in danger.
Cale didn't want to drag anyone unrelated in his problem.
The room was quiet for a moment.
Selene sighed, stood up, and pulled out a digital scanner.
She tapped his ID card to check his government medical coverage.
Today was the 20th time he came to visit this month.
She frowned slightly. "You've used up your monthly healing visits."
Cale reached into his pocket and took out a slim black card. "I'll pay for it."
Before he could hand it to her, Selene flicked his forehead with a finger.
"Ow." He looked up at her, surprised.
"It's fine," she said, crossing her arms. "Your big sister will pay for you today. Don't refuse. I listened to you and I won't come to your academy. So let me do this in exchange."
Cale blinked, surprise.
They were acquaintances at best and she was willing to pay for him. Healing potions weren't cheap, even the low-tier ones.
"I… thank you," he said, bowing his head. "I don't have any financial leeway right now, but one day, I'll repay you."
Selene paused for a second, a little surprised by how serious he sounded.
She smiled and ruffled his hair.
"No need," she said. "Just take care of yourself. That's more than enough."
Cale nodded silently.
After a few more checks, Selene cleared him to leave.
Outside, the air was colder than before. The streets were quieter now, just the sound of distant hoverbikes and passing drones.
Cale walked slowly through the dim alleys and quiet streets until he reached his place.
It was a cheap apartment not far from the city border. The lights flickered, and the door creaked when he opened it.
Rent cost him $3,000 a month, out of the $5,000 he received from the government as basic support. That left just enough for food and emergencies.
He sat down on the bed, leaned back against the wall, and let out a long breath.
"I'm finally alone."
For the first time since he woke up in this body, he had a moment to think.
This world wasn't Earth.
It was far larger. The continents alone were several hundred times the size of what he knew. The population was immense, and the cities stretched endlessly.
It was a world of advanced technology and something else: martial arts and superpowers.
Hundreds of years ago, scientists here discovered how to unlock the hidden potential in the human body. They called it martial advancement, inspired by the ancient martial arts.
Martial artists became superhuman.
A Rank 1 could punch through concrete.
A Rank 2 could lift trucks.
A Rank 3 could dodge bullets.
There were higher ranks beyond that, but their details were kept confidential by the government.
Still, it was obvious they were powerful.
For a time, martial artists ruled the world.
Then came the catastrophe.
No one really knew what it was. Only that it killed millions, and nearly destroyed the world.
In the chaos, something new emerged.
People began awakening powers that weren't based on martial training. Powers that came from the awakening of their mind.
They were called Psychics.
Their powers varied wildly, but they were often stronger than martial artists of the same rank.
Thanks to them, humanity survived.
Today, Psychics were celebrities, elite assets of society. But only a small percentage of the population could awaken.
Cale's foster mother had been one of them. She was a high-ranking Psychic.
However, she suddenly disappeared one day.
All he'd been told was that she was stuck in a dangerous place, and it might take years before she was rescued—if she was rescued.
So, the original Cale trained until he bled. He would save his mother himself.
But he had no talent for martial arts.
Just when he was about to give up, he awakened as a Psychic.
"A powerful Rank 1 Psychic is as strong as a Rank 3 Martial Artist. But that's a 'powerful' Psychic.
"The original Cale was too weak to be called a Psychic, let alone be counted as powerful."
Cale raised his hand, snapped his fingers, and a tiny shadow formed on the floor beside him.
It took the shape of a humanoid doll, and was as large as his pinky.
It twitched when he moved his hand, responding to his thoughts.
But that was all.
It couldn't touch anything. It couldn't fight. He couldn't see through it or feel through it.
A worthless ability.
That's what the government university of District 18 had told him.
Typically, they accepted every Psychic into the government university.
It was policy.
As long as someone awakened, they were granted the right to attend. Most viewed it as a fair deal; awaken your ability, and society would give you a path forward.
But in practice, things weren't so generous.
The officials had looked at his awakening results. Then, they'd looked at him like he was some defective product pulled off the assembly line.
"You're too weak to be admitted into the Psychic course," the man had said.
The words had hit harder than any punch.
The original Cale had felt his world crumbling down.
Without the university's resources, there was no way to grow stronger.
And without strength, there was no way to even begin looking for his foster mother, let alone save her.
"Well… even if they told him he was too weak, he can still enter the university."
It wasn't impossible. There was still a way.
"If he placed within the top 1,000 applicants during the university entrance exam," he reminded himself, "they'd have to admit him."
The entrance exam was done to rank the students. Higher rank students would he given rewards and a preferential treatment in the university.
For failed Psychics like the original Cale, the entrance exam was a way to prove themselves, and enter the university.
"There is still one month left until the university exam. Cale had been training hard for it, but…."
It was impossible. The students participating in the exam were all Rank 1 Psychics at the minimum. Even if they were on the weaker side, they were still stronger than the original Cale.
"He might've been able to pass the test if he was a strong Martial Artist. While Martial Artist course is different, there is no rules saying Psychics can't train in Martial Arts.
"Unfortunately, his talent in Martial Arts was as bad as his Psychic ability."
Cale exhaled. The original owner of this body had lived a pitiful life.
He lost his parents at a young age, suffered bullying at orphanage. A kind lady adopted him, but now that lady—now his foster mother—life was in danger.
He was too weak to save her.
While Cale was busy in thoughts, a clear chime rang out inside his mind.
Ding!
Then came the voice.
[Congratulations, host, for unlocking.....]