"Damn it! I didn't catch anything! The cage is empty again!" Sonic barked in anger as he kicked his rabbit trap that failed to catch any meat for him.
He had been starving for days now, and his only source of survival had also failed him.
"Are all the rabbits on vacation?!" He screamed again and walked away, without bothering to set up his useless rabbit trap.
Meet Sixteen years old Sonic, the unluckiest being in a world where abilities and politics were everything.
Sonic has jet-black hair, which contrasts sharply against his fair complexion. His hair is usually tangled and unkempt, giving him a slightly rugged appearance. He stands at an average height, around 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a lean and athletic build.
While others struggle to control the Ora Energies around them with their abilities, Sonic doesn't even have one to begin with.
Thanks to Lady Josephine and the four cousins, Ora Energy was created, and with it, humans prevailed against the Dark Slayers.
After the battle, there were four kingdoms on Earth, each ruled by one of the four cousins. As time passed, the new kings from the lineage of the four cousins didn't get along, and so, the world was divided.
The royals, having the most Ora energy, decided to do whatever pleased them, even if it meant trampling upon their citizens.
Rumors had it that the Dark Slayers would return someday when they realized how divided the human race had become. That was why every nation was sending young citizens to military schools to build their abilities as they prepared for the return of the Dark Slayers.
As it stands, the world wasn't fighting against the Dark Slayers, but against themselves. Nations fought nations, trying to claim more lands and power.
Sonic had wandered Midgard Capital for years now and had many tough experiences over the years. He couldn't even get a job because to get one, he needed an ability.
Sonic didn't remember much from his past, only that he wasn't an original citizen of Midgard Kingdom, one of the four Nations formed by the four cousins. His mother, who came with him to Midgard, dropped him outside a gate and never came back for him. Growing up, Sonic realized that the gate his mother left him at was an orphanage. Perhaps his own mother had abandoned him, knowing how useless he was in society without any ability.
Even the orphanage he lived in until he was ten kicked him out after realizing that he was of no use to them, as he had no Ability.
At age sixteen plus, every young citizen in Midgard is required to take the Entrance Exam to get into the military school, a place where all ability users build their abilities to the fullest as they await the return of their greatest enemies.
Thousands of years ago, humans lived without fear of the unknown. Their fighters were called Magic Knights, and they did a decent job until those strange portals were opened.
Many said the gates of hell were broken, which could be true since what lay beyond those portals were stronger and more dangerous than any creatures humans had ever faced. These creatures were called 'The Dark Slayers,' bloodthirsty eight-pack predators that left nothing but death and destruction in their path.
They're the most formidable opponents the human race has ever faced, nearly bringing the world to an end. Many called them aliens. They're around eight feet tall with a body posture similar to humans. Their skin resembles that of dragon scales, and their faces are always hidden behind a digital mask. Legend has it that a single Dark Slayer can kill a grown deer with its bare hands.
Today, civilization has taken over due to the discovery of technology, resulting in many changes. The Magic Knights are now known as Magic Militants.
Growing up, Sonic had dreamed of becoming a Magic Militant after going through his training days in the military school. But that was just a dream now that he realized he possessed no ability or Ora Energy in his body.
Sonic just couldn't see himself fitting into the world any longer. He spent most of his days in the mountains, living like an outcast. Or maybe that's who he was after all.
As Sonic sat on the floor with an empty stomach, he rested his head against a tree to relax. But his stomach didn't stop grumbling, reminding him of his useless trap.
However, that wasn't the only thing weighing on Sonic's mind. The Military Entrance Match was tomorrow, and here he was doing nothing about it. They were only going to select strong ability users, so what was the use of him, who didn't even have an ability to show his face there, he thought, trying to nap.
But from a distance away, voices could be heard. It wasn't common for people to take this lonely route filled with bandits. Sonic almost thought the voices he heard belonged to bandits, but upon listening carefully, the voices were too young.
Curious, he decided to go check what was going on. As he approached the source of the voices, he discovered that they were not gangsters or bandits, but rather young travelers around his age. They were probably heading to the military school for the entrance match.
However, the boys were bullying another student who was taking the same route as them. They began by taking his bag and tossing his belongings to the floor. One of the boys rifled through the scattered items, searching for something of value, but failed to find anything.
"I can't see anything valuable among this loser's belongings but rags!" the boy shouted as he raised his head.
"You're going to take the entrance match with nothing?! Huh?!" another barked as he slapped the single traveler.
"What do you suggest we do with him?" the last bully asked the one who stood in the middle. Clearly, he was the leader.
"Losers like this only make the entrance match more competitive. So, I suggest we break one of his legs so he won't make it to the Military school," the leader stated coldly.
Upon hearing those words, Sonic acted before thinking.
He shouted from a distance to attract the boys. "You pieces of shit! Why don't you pick on someone your own size!" Sonic screamed.
He knew he couldn't prevail against three bullies who were likely strong ability users, but he knew he had to do something.
The boys turned to Sonic and realized he was alone. Unaware of Sonic possessing no Ability, they gave him attention.
"Let the boy go and let's settle things. Be warned, this is my territory, and I'm in charge here," Sonic spoke boldly, trying to instill fear in the hearts of the three bullies, and his plan worked.
The student who had been bullied quickly packed up his belongings and ran off like a coward, barely catching a glimpse of his savior, Sonic.
After the boy had run off, the bully who seemed to be the leader asked, "Who are you?"
Sonic, looking dirty and unkempt, appeared mature from where he stood.
"Let's just go our separate ways for the benefit of everyone," Sonic suggested as he tried to walk away.
But that wasn't the plan of the bully leader. He realized that Sonic wanted them to spar, and now he was leaving? This meant that Sonic wasn't as strong as they had expected.
"You will regret ever meeting me, you prick!" The leader shouted as he ordered the other two to attack.
"Get him!" The leader shouted as all three of them chased after Sonic.
Sonic immediately realized that his cover had been blown away. What to do? He couldn't stand and fight, so he ran just like the bullied boy did.
The sound of running footsteps could be heard from behind, and without looking back, Sonic ran for his life. Those bullies were going to break someone's leg who hadn't wronged them; what then would become of him? With this in mind, Sonic kept running.
Sonic had lived in these woods long enough to know where humans were not allowed to trespass. He quickly changed his route and headed straight for the mountains.
"Rony! He's heading towards the mountains, I think we should stop!" one of the bullies screamed while still running after Sonic.
"If you stop chasing, you're dead, Nash!" Rony, the leader, commanded harshly, and he wasn't joking.
"Nash! Just get him already!" the third bully screamed.
"It's too dangerous, guys! What if he dies?" Nash replied while running, but Rony's next words were too threatening.
"It's him or you!"
Nash decided to use his ability, although he hadn't fully mastered controlling his Ora energy around him.
Still on the chase, Nash spread out his fist, and soon it began to glow white. In that instant, weapons formed from the unknown and floated in front of Nash; they were mostly battle spears and swords. Behold, he was a weapon summoner.
"Strike him already, you fool!" Rony barked.
Fearing what Rony might do to him, Nash immediately sent the weapons flying in Sonic's direction.
Unable to aim properly and control his Ora energy, one of the spears pierced Sonic from his back, leaving a hole in his chest, and he fell to the ground, barely breathing. Soon, the boys caught up with the injured Sonic.
"I told you you were going to regret messing with me," Rony said coldly, despite Sonic's condition.
On the other hand, Nash, who had done this, felt deeply guilty about his actions. His hands were sweaty and shaking. This was his first time bringing someone to a near-death situation, and Sonic might even die from it.
"Sonic could barely breathe as he struggled to grasp for air. Even though he was in great pain, even though he was going to die, he felt a kind of relief as his miserable life was finally going to end.
He just wished that those fairy tales about being reincarnated were true; if so, he shouldn't be so unlucky in his next life.
"What now, Rony?" the last bully asked. "You know we can't leave his body exposed, right? What if someone sees him here and reports to the detectives?"
Rony sighed before speaking. "You fool, this is a restricted area; no one will come looking for him here. Let's just leave him to the wolves, and by tomorrow his body should be gone."
Immediately, Sonic's failing heart skipped a beat. 'How could he be so cruel?' Sonic thought, imagining his body being torn apart by the wolves. Now he wasn't excited to die anymore, but there was nothing his paralyzed body could do.
"Let's hurry up and leave before anyone sees us," Rony ordered, and they left.
On the other hand, Sonic cursed the day he was born, the day his mother abandoned him at the orphanage home. For some seconds, Sonic was regretting saving the boy that was being bullied.
'Isn't a broken leg better off being dead and waiting for the wolves to devour his dead body?' he thought, and was slowly giving up the ghost.
But as his eyes finally closed, he heard a very faint female A-I system voice that made him open his eyes one last time. And what he saw was a white glow of light around him.
To him, he was already dead and the light he just saw was perhaps the light they say flashes before your eyes as you pass through the fresh hole to death.
But that wasn't the case.
As Sonic was summiting to death, the faint A-I system voice kept growing louder by the second and soon, it became clear in Sonic's ears, but it was uncanny.
< A body compatible with Slayer System detected >
< Agree to pair for survival >
Said the female voice he was hearing.
"Huh?" Sonic mumbled, not knowing what was happening. But the word 'Survival' sounded sweet in his ears.
With closed mouth and eyes, Sonic agreed to pair for survival with his thoughts.
< Pairing completed. Slayer System will now grant you slayer energy >
< Changes has been made in your body system to be compatible with Slayer Energy >
< Memories are now paired with Slayer System >
< Congratulations, you're now a Plain Slayer >
< Your journey to become a Dark Slayer begins >
"Huh?"
And with that, Sonic fell completely unconscious.
The last words from the unknown A-I system voice sent shivers down Sonic's spine, even though he didn't know what had just happened. He knew that the mention of 'Dark Slayer' wasn't a good sign.