Chapter 1: Ashborn Zero
They called him Ashborn.
Not because it sounded cool—
but because everything he touched turned to ash.
Luck.
Hope.
People.
Kairo Ashborn sat at the back of the classroom, head lowered, fingers clenched around a cracked phone. The screen was filled with messages he didn't need to read anymore.
Dropout.
Useless.
Why are you even alive?
His classmates laughed quietly. The teacher pretended not to notice. Same day, same humiliation.
Kairo wasn't just weak.
He was ranked last.
In a world where power rankings appeared on everyone's phone at age sixteen, his name sat permanently at the bottom.
RANK: 9,999,999
STATUS: ZERO
No talent.
No affinity.
No future.
The bell rang. Students rushed out, discussing awakenings, clans, and sponsors.
Kairo stayed seated.
"Hey, Ash," a boy sneered, stopping in front of his desk. Leon Virex—Rank 312. A prodigy. A god compared to him.
Leon kicked Kairo's chair. "You still breathing? Impressive."
Kairo didn't answer.
Leon leaned down. "Do the world a favor and disappear."
The words landed heavier than the kick.
That night, Kairo walked home alone.
Rain soaked the streets. Neon lights blurred into streaks. His phone vibrated once.
Not a message.
A countdown.
01:00
He stopped walking.
"…What?"
The timer burned crimson. Beneath it, a line appeared.
SELECTION IN PROGRESS
Around him, people froze. Cars stalled mid-road. The rain stopped in the air like shattered glass.
Then everything went black.
Kairo woke up gasping.
Cold stone beneath him. A vast circular hall stretching into darkness. Thousands of people lay scattered across the floor.
Above them floated a symbol—
a broken crown dripping light.
A voice descended, calm and cruel.
WELCOME, CANDIDATES.
Screens ignited in the air.
THIS IS THE NEXUS TRIAL.
ONLY THOSE WHO DESERVE POWER MAY LIVE.
People screamed. Some prayed. Some laughed in disbelief.
Kairo sat up slowly, heart pounding.
This wasn't a dream.
TRIAL ONE: THE WEIGHT OF WORTH.
The floor trembled.
Stone pillars erupted upward, each marked with glowing names.
Leon Virex.
Rank 312.
Cheers erupted.
More names followed. Higher ranks stood taller, stronger, radiant.
Kairo searched.
Nothing.
Then—far at the edge of the hall, a cracked pillar rose weakly.
Kairo Ashborn
Rank: ZERO
Laughter exploded.
"Rank zero?!"
"Is that even allowed?"
"He's dead."
The voice continued.
RULES:
Stand on your pillar.
Endure the pressure.
Those who fall will be erased.
The pressure hit instantly.
It was like a mountain dropped on Kairo's shoulders.
People screamed as bodies slammed flat. Bones shattered. Blood sprayed the stone.
Kairo's knees buckled.
So this is it, he thought. I die here too.
"Too…?"
The word echoed in his mind.
Memories surfaced—
other trials.
other halls.
other deaths.
His vision blurred.
ERROR DETECTED.
The world froze.
Time stopped.
Only Kairo could move.
A screen—older, darker than the others—opened before him.
[OBSOLETE SYSTEM BOOTING]
Designation: ASHCORE
User: Kairo Ashborn
Status: Sealed (999 cycles)
Kairo's breath shook.
"Cycles…?"
The memories unlocked.
He had lived this.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Each time weak.
Each time erased before awakening.
This was his 999th death.
The system spoke, its voice fractured but loyal.
YOU WERE NEVER WEAK.
YOU WERE RESTRICTED.
Chains appeared around his pillar—black, ancient, absolute.
SEAL CONDITION MET: RANK ZERO.
UNLOCKING TRUE FOUNDATION.
The chains shattered.
Power didn't explode.
It condensed.
The pressure vanished from his body.
His pillar stopped cracking.
Across the hall, Leon collapsed, vomiting blood.
"What—?" Leon gasped. "Why is the pressure—?"
Kairo stood.
For the first time in his life—
His spine was straight.
[ASHCORE SYSTEM AWAKENED]
True Rank: UNDEFINED
Origin Name Unlocked:ASHBORN ZERO
Passive Authority:Rebirth Through Ruin
– The weaker your starting point, the greater your growth.
– Survival guarantees exponential evolution.
Active Skill (Locked):CROWN OF ASH
The trial resumed.
TIME REMAINING: 10 SECONDS.
One by one, pillars shattered.
Bodies erased into light.
Kairo remained.
At zero seconds, only thirteen pillars stood.
TRIAL ONE COMPLETE.
The voice paused.
For the first time—
It sounded uncertain.
…ANOMALY CONFIRMED.
Leon stared at Kairo, eyes wide with terror.
"You—what are you?"
Kairo looked down at his hands, ash-like light curling around his fingers.
He smiled.
"Someone who starts from zero," he said softly,
"and ends above everyone."
A final message appeared on his screen.
NEXT TRIAL:
"KILL THE FUTURE KING."
Leon's name glowed red.
Kairo lifted his gaze.
Weak to strong—
Had officially begun.
END OF CHAPTER 1
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