Ace was a man that lived in a world full of magic. A magical world where he stood out, he was talentless and he didn't have any skills.
All he had was his far surpassing mana but no skills to use, he was useless in this world, not even the manual laborers would take him.
The life he had was full of regret and pain but then one day he came across a skill book. Skill Books were artificial ways people would get skills from dungeon bosses.
There were also special hunters that took care of these dungeons. Ace could only envy them as he was the weakest among the weakest.
If only he could have been like the others and naturally awakened a skill.
It was the 100th year after the breakout of the first dungeon break. Ace was walking home and he saw a shop selling skill books, they were expensive, even the lowest F ranked skill went for $20,000.
He couldn't afford it as he didn't even have half the money but as he continued to walk he spotted something shining on the floor in the trash.
He walked towards the trash and it was a black book, it was unusual, all skill books shined the element they were, but this one shined black.
The black energy was shrouding his vision but as he opened the book, his vision became clear and a notification appeared, it was something he never experienced.
[Black Shadow has been learned]
Black shadow? According to each and every hunter, there was no such skill, even the most unique skill was a fire skill. But shadow? This was unheard of.
Although he thought of these things, he couldn't contain his excitement and he jumped and screamed while he cried tears of joy.
He tried testing it and the results amazed him, his arms could extend in the darkness, he could blend in the shadows, he could also teleport as long as there was a clear path from shadow to shadow.
The useless Ace had no skills whatsoever and his first was a unique skill. What a joyous day it was for him, he sprinted home and when he got home he found his iPad.
"Open my status"
A hologram appeared in the middle of his trashy apartment he called home, everything could be seen, his stats, his skills, even his job occupation.
ACE BLAINE
+
[Strength: 20]
+
[Mana: 30]
+
[Vitality: 6]
+
[Skills: 1]
[Black Shadow: Level 1. SSS+ Rank]
+
[Occupation: Fast Food Employee]
Once again he couldn't believe it and he was jumping around in his apartment, he was so excited he woke up most of his building, they all screamed at him from below.
He quieted down and got into his small bed, he was so excited that it took hours for him to sleep.
When he fell asleep he dreamt of the possibilities of this unique skill, he could enter dungeons and he could get his hands on his own skill books, he could make money and he wouldn't have to live in this small run-down apartment.
In the morning he got up and did his usual routine, he put his sweat pants on, his black t-shirt and he slicked his hair back. He got out of the house and he could see the big massive building in the distance.
He thought to himself.
"In a few hours, I'm going to be entering there regularly"
He walked towards the big building and as he entered he got dirty looks, some from people he used to know, some from random people but simply, he was not welcome.
He walked up to the receptionist and he asked.
"I want to take my hunter test"
All the people froze and turned their heads towards him.
"He wants to take the test? A weakling like him?" Hunter A
They all started to laugh as the people knew him as being the weakest. Even the receptionist didn't take him seriously and she laughed with them.
Ace didn't care too much, he was used to this but still, it angered him that even the receptionist didn't take him seriously.
Suddenly at a moment's notice, the lights shining in on the building had disappeared and the light was barely visible, all the people panicked while although they could see, they couldn't use skills.
Then a man walked in, he was a mage, a semi-decent one at that. From his hand, there was a spell being generated and if he waited for a second longer, he would blow up this whole building.
[Black Shadow has been activated]
Ace teleported behind him and threw him onto the floor, he was knocked out from the impact and the lights had turned back on. The people that were cowering in fear looked at me and they were confused, they refused to accept the truth.
"The Guild Master must've done that. There's no way he did it" Hunter A
"I don't believe it as well, he is the weakest" Hunter B
As much as they wanted to refuse it they couldn't as the Guild Master came down a few minutes after.
He went up to the receptionist and he asked about the situation. She whispered in his ear and he was very surprised himself, the receptionist saw everything herself and she couldn't explain it as well.
She wasn't laughing anymore, then as he smiled the Guild Master looked at Ace and he spoke in a polite manner.
"You came here for your Hunter Examination correct?"
"Well yes but your workers all laughed at me when I asked"
He turned towards the receptionist and slapped her, then he made a bold statement to the rest of the hunters.
"If you all mess with this man then I will personally destroy you"
He said it in a very unconvincing way but they still became scared because they knew the Guild Master doesn't joke around.
He took Ace to a room and he pushed forward an Ipad and asked him to fill out his information.
He filled out my information and he became serious while he was also happy. He took Ace to another room and asked him to display his abilities. Ace had done everything he could do with the skill, and from the mirror, the Guild Master had a big smile on his face.
Ace walked out of the room and instantly the Guild Master sprinted towards him.
"Is this skill natural or from a skill book?"
He lied, just in case.
"It is natural"
From his eyes, he could see that there was lots of potential.
"Will you join my Guild?"
"I came for my Hunter ID and that is all I will get"
Ace was assertive as he spoke these words and the Guild Master had become disappointed. Then he asked Ace a very off-topic question.
"What is your biggest wish?"
Ace had taken time to think and he replied.
"My biggest wish is to become strong"
The Guild Master then pulled out the Ipad which showed a contract with his guild. It was an enticing deal to Ace as he stared at it for 2 minutes, he was astonished and tempted to take the contract but he didn't, instead, he wanted to negotiate.
"As good as this deal is, I can't accept it. But I will work with you as long as I'm not tied down to the guild"
"I don't accept that, you are either in the guild and have those things or you get nothing at all"
Ace lifted his eyebrow and changed the deal a little. He knew how special he was now and he continued to pressure the Guild Master.
"I will work with you in exchange for an E-ranked skill. But even so, I will not be a part of the Guild"
The Guild Master was interested in this deal. E-rank skills went for around $50,000 and even though it was lots of money to Ace, it was nothing to the Guild Master.
"Interesting. It's a deal, but on one condition, you cannot associate with my rival guild"
"Deal"
Ace was now officially an F-rank Hunter.