Chapter 1: The Boy No One Believed In
Year 127 of Awakening.

The world had changed forever.

Dungeons ripped open across continents, spewing monsters into once-peaceful cities. Humanity teetered on the brink of extinction—until the gods interfered. To them, this chaos was nothing more than a grand game.

And humans? Their unwilling pieces.

That’s when the Awakening Platforms appeared. Divine relics that offered power through brutal trials of the mind and body. Every seventeen-year-old would be tested. Some awakened to greatness. Others broke.

And those who succeeded would enter the Hunter System—climbing provincial, national, and global leaderboards based on power and rank.

At the top waited fame, fortune, and godlike strength.

At the bottom… nothing but ridicule and death.

In the crumbling outskirts of Lowmist, within the Varin Province, lived a boy named Riven Cael.

Seventeen. Powerless. Poor.

Invisible.

He sat at the dinner table, arms crossed, staring at his parents.

“You’re not going,” his father said firmly.

“I have to.” Riven’s voice trembled, not with fear—but with resolve.

His mother placed a trembling hand on the table. “Riven, the Awakening Ceremony isn’t safe. People die… or worse. You’re not ready.”

“I’m done living like this,” he said, eyes burning. “They treat me like trash. Maybe I’ve been weak until now—but I won’t be forever.”

His father frowned. “This world isn’t fair. Even the strong suffer.”

“I know. But I have to try. For me. For you. For Lyra.”

There was silence.

Then his mother slowly stood. “Then I’ll pack your bag. Please… come back alive.”

The next morning, Blackthorn High buzzed with excitement.

Students crowded the hallway, whispering about one thing: the Awakening Ceremony.

Inside Riven’s classroom, everyone turned quiet as the teacher walked in.

Mr. Kael Arven, their Awakening Instructor, stood tall and confident.

“The date is set,” he announced. “The Global Awakening Ceremony will be held on March 28th at 9:00 a.m. Capital Standard Time.”

Gasps. Whispers.

“This is your one chance,” Kael continued. “The Platforms will activate worldwide. Your names will be submitted today. Those who awaken strong will rise in the leaderboards—province, nation, world.”

He looked over the room.

“Raise your hand if you’re participating.”

Hands flew up—nearly the entire class.

Then… slowly… one more hand rose.

Riven’s.

Silence.

Then laughter erupted.

“Seriously? Riven?” sneered Drevon Voss, son of a Guild Master.

“You’ll probably faint from the mental trial,” mocked Kyrel Tanor.

Malic Dray and Seno Vale smirked.

Then came Ren Varis, son of the War Minister—and the group’s leader.

“You should just watch from the sidelines, worm.”

But the worst jab came from a girl sitting near the window. Serena Vell. Silver-haired, soft-spoken, and adored by everyone.

Except Riven.

She used to pretend to be kind. She’d smile, talk to him sweetly—and then ruin him behind the scenes. She played tricks, spread rumors, used others to make his life hell… all while acting innocent.

She leaned forward and said softly, “Even if you don’t awaken, Riven, I’ll remember your courage.”

More laughter.

Riven clenched his jaw but said nothing.

Mr. Kael dropped a stack of forms on his desk.

“Enough. Everyone has the right to try. Fill these forms and return them by dismissal.”

Riven’s hands trembled slightly as he filled out his application.

Name: Riven Cael
Age: 17
City: Lowmist
Province: Varin
Status: First Awakening

I have to awaken. For Mom. For Dad. For Lyra. For me.

After class, Kael told Riven to meet him in his office. But in the hallway, Ren and the others blocked his path.

“You really think someone like you can awaken?” Ren whispered.

Kyrel shoved him into the wall. Drevon smacked his books to the floor. Malic and Seno laughed. Serena walked past without a word—but smiled cruelly.

No one helped.

Riven picked up his things quietly.

Back home, his mother silently prepared a small travel bag: a bit of food, a spare shirt, a healing potion she bought with borrowed credits.

She didn’t speak much, but her hands shook the whole time.

After dinner, Riven sat on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

If I awaken… maybe things will change. Maybe they’ll respect me. Maybe Lyra won’t pretend I don’t exist…

The door creaked open.

Lyra Cael, his younger sister, stepped in.

She had never called him “brother” at school. Never told her friends they were related. She avoided him in public, ashamed of his weakness.

But tonight… she came in quietly.

“You okay?” she asked.

He blinked. “What do you want?”

She hesitated. “Just… come back alive.”

He chuckled bitterly. “Don’t act like you care. You hide from me at school. You let them laugh.”

She said nothing.

Riven turned away. “You can leave.”

Lyra left.

He looked down at the form again, then out the window.

No matter what it takes… I will awaken. I will rise.

End of Chapter 1