The history books always started with the same terrifying imagery: the sky bleeding crimson as the "Great Fissure" tore open five centuries ago. They called it the Day of Despair. Monsters—beings of pure malice that defied every law of biology—poured into the world. Bullets flattened against their hides; tank shells did little more than annoy them. Humanity was being erased, city by city, until the first Awakeners appeared.
These were humans touched by a mysterious "Divine Light," granting them the powers of gods. They formed the Divine Legion, the golden shield of mankind, and pushed the monsters back into the Gates. Since then, the world had rebuilt into a sprawling, high-tech society where a "Divine Spark" was the only currency that mattered.
For someone like Jin-soo, history wasn't a triumph. It was a reminder of the gap he could never bridge.
The morning sun hit the glass skyscrapers, reflecting off digital billboards showing the Legion's top heroes. For most, it was just Tuesday. For Jin-soo, it was the day he would find out if he was a protagonist in this world or just another side character.
"Jin-soo! Slow down! You're going to trip over your own feet if you keep charging ahead like that!"
Jin-soo pulled out of his thoughts and turned to see Yooha jogging to catch up. Her bright blue hair shifted like the ocean under the sunlight, and her deep blue eyes were wide with a mix of excitement and worry.
"I can't help it, Yooha," Jin-soo said, his chest tight with nerves. "I've been training for this entrance exam since I was ten. Every push-up, every late-night study session... it was for today. I'm finally going to become one of them."
'This is it,' Jin-soo thought, clutching the strap of his bag until his knuckles turned white. 'I'll get a high-tier Divine Class. I'll finally be able to protect my mom and stand beside the heroes. I won't be stuck watching from the sidelines anymore.'
They stopped by a convenience store to grab some quick energy drinks, but as they stepped out, three guys blocked the sidewalk. They wore leather jackets with the "Iron Fang" logo.
"Look at this," the leader sneered, eyeing the exam permit in Jin-soo's pocket. "Another brat thinking he's got the 'Divine Spark.' Why don't you just hand over your wallet and save yourself the embarrassment of failing?"
Jin-soo stepped forward, his jaw set. "Get out of the way. We're going to be late."
"Oh? We got a tough guy here," the thug laughed, raising a fist.
Yooha stepped up beside her friend, her blue eyes narrowing. "Touch him and I'll make sure the Divine Police hear about it before you can even blink. Move."
The thugs grumbled and stepped aside. "Whatever. You'll be crying on the news later anyway," the leader spat as they walked away.
The Divine Legion Academy was a cathedral of marble and high-tech sensors. Inside the main hall, hundreds of students stood in silent rows. At the front stood Professor Han, a veteran whose very presence felt like a physical weight.
"Silence!" the Professor commanded.
"Five centuries ago," he began, "humanity learned that we were prey. The monsters that evaded our world didn't just want our land; they wanted our extinction. We survived only because the Divine Light chose to dwell within us. Today, you touch the Origin Crystal. It will read your soul and awaken your latent Divine Class. If it stays dark, you are a civilian. If it glows, your journey begins."
He began calling names. The room was filled with the hum of success as student after student caused the crystal to flicker. Only a few unfortunate souls walked off the stage in silence.
"Yooha!" the Professor called.
Yooha squeezed Jin-soo's hand quickly. "See you on the other side," she whispered. As her palm touched the crystal, a brilliant, blinding sapphire light flooded the hall. The crystal hummed with deep, melodic power.
"Class: High-Tier Frost Valkyrie," the Professor announced.
The crowd erupted. Before the noise could die down, the next name was called.
"Kaelen!"
A tall, sharp-eyed boy stepped up. The crystal flashed a piercing, metallic silver.
"Class: High-Tier Saint-Blade Master," Han shouted.
"Min-hyuk!"
A broad-shouldered student took his place. The crystal glowed a heavy, golden amber.
"Class: High-Tier Aegis Shield," the Professor declared.
The hall was electric. Three high-tier talents in a row was unheard of. The students were cheering, believing they were witnessing the birth of a new golden generation.
"Next... Jin-soo," the Professor said.
The room went quiet. Jin-soo walked up the steps, his legs feeling like lead. He reached out, his hand trembling.
'Please,' Jin-soo thought. 'Just give me a chance. I don't need to be a legend. I just want to be enough to stay here.'
He pressed his palm against the cold surface of the crystal.
Silence.
The crystal remained dull, grey, and lifeless. Jin-soo pressed harder, his fingernails digging into the stone, searching for even a spark of warmth.
"Nothing?" someone whispered from the crowd. "Look at him," another laughed. "The high-tier streak ended pretty fast. What a joke."
The laughter rippled through the hall, cruel and sharp. "Hey, side character! Go home and get a desk job!"
Professor Han sighed, marking a red 'X' on the file. "Jin-soo. No Divine Spark detected. You are dismissed. Please exit through the rear door."
Jin-soo's world shrank to a single point of shame. He pulled his hand back, his fingers numb. He didn't look at Yooha, or the two new stars standing on the stage. He just turned and walked toward the back door.
'I'm nothing,' Jin-soo thought as the heavy door clicked shut, cutting off the light. 'I'm just a side character after all.'