In the midst of a sea of blood, within an endless plain of corpses, all mutilated with the same graphic and gruesome rips and tears, a young man was on his knees, eyes devoid of hope. If anything, they seemed as if they simply wanted to die. Yes, Liam Smith, recognised as the weakest among the weak, was awaiting the end of his pitiful life.
"Just...kill me already"
Throughout his life, he was revered. In school, he was a brilliant fighter and an extremely smart pupil. His parents were kind and loving, showering him with affection. In fact, his father was a very well respected individual as one of the awakened. In all ways of term, his life was bliss. However, as all come to eventually find, the only place you can go after the peak of life...is downhill.
On his 15th birthday, his father, Graham Smith, met his demise within a rank C dungeon. After that, the blissful life he once enjoyed, turned into an utter hell. Four days after his father's tragic end, his mother had a heart attack from all the stress and grief. That was the day that Liam Smith lost his last parent. With only a speck of hope left for his life, he placed all his chips on awakening a C-Rank or higher ability.
On the examination day, the building was crowded with hopeful teens, all preying for a high rank ability. This was understandable of course as the high ranked awakened were revered by everyone within the city and given special privileges, not to mention the incredible pay. Standing amongst the crowd was Liam Smith, he too was holding a joyous expression with great expectation. Considering his father was blessed with a C-Rank ability, he was hoping to have the same luck.
Some time later, the boy who was just ahead of Liam bursted out the examination doors with a joyous face as if he was walking among the stars.
"I got a rank B!" the blonde haired teen yelled out, an applause following soon after. With this event, Liam felt even more exuberant when awaiting his turn.
'I can't wait to see mine. What if I'm an D-Rank-no maybe even C-Rank' Liam was both inwardly and outwardly ecstatic.
"Next" a woman shouted out from within the examination room, her voice monotone and unshakable. Sauntering in, Liam smiled happily as he walked through the door and into the examination room. In the room, there were many machines and an individual stationed at each to operate and check them. Though it was hard to figure out which one was which, it was a known fact that there was an: aura examination, ability check and a body structure check- the body structure test would allow them to determine if the ability improved their natural strength and endurance by comparing to the test they get on their 15th birthday.
"hmm" the woman looked at Liam with a mysterious look, yet it seemed to carry contempt, "F-Rank. As for your body structure, there is a slight but noticeable increase. Since you haven't figured your ability out, it's recommended you don't attempt to enter any gates. After all, it'd just be suicide" blunter than a dull blade, she silently mocked the boy before sending him off and calling in the next teen.
'An F-Grade?!' Liam's expression was painted in horror while his eyes widened to a great length. Shaking, it took him all he has just to prevent himself from falling on his knees into the pits of despair.
"Are you sure I'm a..."
"Yes. Now get out. There are plenty more people waiting outside" the woman hushed him out of the room.
Unable to refute, he strayed sadly out the room with an empty expression. Before that moment, he had never felt so alone. From that day, Liam gradually sank deeper and deeper into the bottomless pit of despair.
"Ugh, it's him"
"How are we supposed to do out jobs if we're always healing that weakling"
"I spent half of my mana just to heal that freak"
"Fuck! Why do we always get that useless brat in our group" Each time he took a mission, he was met with a barrage of insults and curses. However, he couldn't quit. His life had fallen to rock bottom and the only way he could afford his own survival was to participate in raids. Even against all the mental strain of the raids, in addition to the manifold of abuse, he always got back up again while inwardly stating 'the only way you can go from rock bottom is up'.
Now, trapped in a cave filled with an innumerable amount of corpses, not even that could save him now. Facing death, the only thing he wished for was a painless one. Yet, the wicked boss of the dungeon couldn't care for the ant's plea and mentally tortured the boy by letting him live.
'Why am I so weak? Why do I have to be cursed with this weak ability? If it weren't for this stupid ability I...No, I'm just making excuses. The reason I was weak is because of me' While he inwardly called out his regrets, recalling all the memories in his life and how he could have changed them, the titan before him merely smiled at the ant's despair. Sinister and evil, the gigantic being laughed at the inferior little human before his gaze, finally deciding to end it's pitiful, insignificant life.
'I gave up everything on that day, my life and everything that came with it' the titan's blade grew closer while it's thick armour reflected the boy's empty face carrying lifeless eyes as the boy called his final thought: 'If only I could go back in time. Only a few hours or even a few minutes, maybe I could have made a difference with this life' Splat! Like a firework of blood, the boy painted the dungeon a dark crimson as his body transformed into a barely living corpse.
'I guess this is the end' a single tear drew from the ant's eye, trickling down in a silent stream.
Ding.
[Requirements have been met. Activating system...]