A week before the academy entrance exam, Riyan sat alone in his small, dimly lit room. The letter from Vireon Academy lay on the table, the golden seal almost glowing under the moonlight.
He stood up slowly and stepped toward the dusty shelf where his grandfather's photo stood. Kairon Solas — his only family. A tired, gentle smile frozen in that picture.
> "No… I can't hesitate," Riyan whispered. "God gave me a second chance. I need to live it properly… for you, Grandpa."
---
Finally, he opened the letter completely. Inside was a small, silver device. When he pressed it, a gentle blue light projected a holographic image of a young woman.
"Hello, Riyan Solas," she said with a warm, confident voice. "Out of your district, you and 99 others have been selected to participate in the Vireon Academy entrance exam. Only a hundred per district… consider yourself fortunate."
She didn't say why he was chosen. Just that he was "lucky" — especially rare for someone without powers.
She introduced herself as Lira, a high-ranking administrator. Then, she explained the history of this new world: the rise of Nova, the collapse during the meteor apocalypse, and the founding of the Academy by the first Nova hunters and heroes.
> "Thirty percent of the global population… wiped out," Riyan thought, a chill crawling down his spine. "And I'm still alive… why?"
---
Lira spoke about why normal people were now essential. With so many lost, society desperately needed support staff to help New Age People manage documents, maintain equipment, coordinate missions, and rebuild infrastructure.
At the end, Lira's image paused and then smiled brightly.
"After completing the six-month course, if you pass, you will be assigned jobs supporting hunters, working as engineers, or in research. Together, we create a future for all."
The projection faded.
---
Riyan opened the thick job pamphlet that came with the letter. His jaw dropped.
> "One year of construction salary… in a month here?!"
Some jobs promised even higher pay — more than his entire three-year earnings.
> "I can clear my debt… and start over…"
But there was no exam info. Only a date: seven days from now.
He groaned and dropped his head on the table.
> "Aah! At least tell me earlier… what if I'm not ready?!"
---
The next day at work, he lifted heavy beams easily, lost in thought.
> "What's my talent…? All I have is this body… and my secret. If they find out, they'll lock me up and dissect me…"
---
That night, he flipped through the pamphlet again.
He paused on a page about engineering support for Nova.
> "Maybe… mechanical support, maintenance… I could do this."
Then he noticed a mysterious ad — a girl with strange eyes and elf-like ears, offering one-day assistant jobs paying five times the rest.
> "That's suspicious… probably human experiments or something," he muttered, shaking his head.
---
Determined, Riyan began training harder. He pushed his body further every day: 100, 200… finally 500 push-ups.
> "Weird… I'm not even tired. I feel stronger than ever."
After each workout, he examined his body in the mirror — more defined muscles, sharper shoulders, stronger arms.
> "Am I… evolving?"
He also studied — mechanical design books, maintenance manuals, everything he could find at the library. Each night, he fell asleep with notes scattered around his bed.
---
One night, on his way home from the library, he took a shortcut through a quiet, half-finished construction site. He wanted to get home early and cook dinner.
The road was dark, silent. Only a few dim streetlights flickered.
Suddenly, he heard muffled cries from a van parked nearby.
His eyes narrowed. Inside, he saw a girl, her mouth covered, eyes wide with terror.
Before he could react, she was dragged into the half-built building.
> "Something's wrong," Riyan thought, his pulse racing. Without hesitation, he followed.
---
Inside, four men surrounded her. One held a gun, another had a knife, the others carried chains and a baseball bat.
The boss — the man with the gun — leaned in close, smoke curling from his lips.
> "Tie her up. Make sure she can't scream."
The girl struggled desperately. They stuffed cloth into her mouth, slapped her across the face, and tied her to a pillar. Blood trickled from her forehead and cheek, her eyes wide with panic.
The boss knelt down, smirking.
> "Your brother owes me money. He ran away. So… you'll pay for him."
She shook her head violently, tears streaming down.
> "Please… no… let me go…!"
He chuckled darkly, dragging the gun barrel along her cheek.
> "You're beautiful. You'll fetch a fine price."
His gaze lowered slowly, stopping at her thighs. She instinctively pressed her legs together, trembling in terror.
> "Oh? Trying to hide now?" He licked his lips. "Girls like you… I've sold many. Sisters, daughters… you'll be worth enough to pay your brother's debt and more."
The girl's whole body shivered, her mind screaming in horror.
---
Riyan's fists clenched, veins bulging.
> "I promised to live quietly… but I can't just watch this."
He stepped forward, voice steady and sharp.
> "I already called the police. Leave now before it's too late."
The boss's eyes widened, then narrowed.
> "Kill him."
---
A thug lunged with the bat, but Riyan dodged with inhuman speed, kneeing him hard in the gut and sending him crashing into steel rods.
The knife wielder came next, swinging wildly. Riyan weaved around him, then slammed an elbow into his jaw — blood sprayed, teeth cracked.
The chain man rushed in, but Riyan yanked the chain, flinging him into a support beam.
The boss fired his gun — Riyan ducked and snatched the dropped bat, hurling it at the boss's ribs. The boss collapsed, gasping and losing the gun.
Riyan charged, landing a brutal punch that shattered the boss's teeth and sent him rolling unconscious across the dusty floor.
---
Breathing hard, Riyan turned to the girl. Her eyes widened, frozen in shock and tears.
> "Who… who is he? He broke those chains like they were nothing… he's not normal…!"
He knelt and tore the ropes off effortlessly. He draped his jacket around her shoulders, covering her torn clothes.
> "It's okay… you're safe now."
She looked up, her lips trembling.
> "T-Thank you… who… who are you…?"
---
Suddenly, the boss staggered back up, blood dripping from his shattered mouth, gun trembling in his one good hand.
> "You think this is over?! I'll kill you both!"
Riyan stepped in front of the girl instinctively.
> "It's over. The police are on their way."
The boss laughed weakly.
> "No signal here, fool. You really think I'd come here without blocking it?!"
The girl stepped forward shakily.
> "Please… don't hurt him. I'll go with you… just let him—"
The boss scoffed.
> "Your brother vanished. You're worthless now."
---
As they argued, Riyan saw the fallen bat. In one swift motion, he snatched it, dashed forward, and swung — the boss's arm cracked horribly, and the gun clattered to the ground.
Riyan smashed the weapon beyond repair and glared.
> "It's over."
---
But behind them, the knife man suddenly rose, blade gleaming.
Riyan's eyes widened. The girl froze.
Riyan pushed her aside, the knife plunging into his own side.
The thug snarled.
> "Die!"
Riyan turned, fury blazing in his eyes. One devastating punch sent the attacker flying into the wall, crashing unconscious.
---
The girl fell to her knees beside Riyan, shaking, tears streaming.
> "Why… why did you save me… you're bleeding so much… help… someone…!"
Riyan groaned, gripping the knife hilt. Blood gushed down his side. But as she watched, the wound slowly closed, new skin knitting over.
Her eyes went wide, her voice stuck in her throat.
> "His body… it's healing… what is he…?!"
Riyan pulled the knife out and stood up, wiping sweat from his forehead. He forced a gentle smile.
> "I'm okay… see?"
But in her mind, questions and fear spiraled.
> "Is he a monster? A hero? Or… something else entirely?"
---
Riyan looked at the broken thugs, then back at her trembling form.
> "Please… don't see me as a monster," he thought silently.
He extended a hand to her.
> "Let's get you home."