"Hey you, I have a question…yes, you—the person who chose to open this book, app, webpage, whatever. If given the power over all life in every universe across all time, and someone asked you to wipe everything clean or kill everyone close to you to save something else, what would you pick? Well, whatever your answer is, I'm here to tell you it's wrong… HAHAHA! The only correct answer is a good royal FUCK YOU, and then you kill them, duh. You were given the power over all life across time—fucking use it."
"That's what I told them, anyway. My name's Lucian, and my story is a bit... different. It's a tale of finding my place in a world that never wanted me...So, I guess it's the same as any other. I hope I can get you to stay around for the ride.
I was moving away. I had gotten into the car with my uncle after leaving the school, staring out the windows at the beautiful blue sky. I didn't have any friends since most of them moved away in kindergarten and the others weren't my friends, just annoying bastards who would occasionally mess with me when they had the opportunity to. Meaning I was their bitch.
School wasn't hard for me by any means, I was always smart—it was more or less my lack of physicality growing up. I was tall but also big, so I was always easily spotted in groups. I also had no idea what my "Gift" was, making it even easier for my "friends" to pick on me.
One kid's name was Rion. He was the closest to me in age but shorter than me. That's a given since I was already six foot. "The docs told me I was blessed with height." He was light-skinned with a narrow face, nice eyelashes for a boy, big dark brown eyes, and curly hair cut into a mohawk. He had weirdly long skinny arms and stood as if his hands were always wet. "If you mix a praying mantis with the head of Dory, I'm telling you it's almost close."
He was the main perpetrator and also the easiest to deal with. "Do y'all remember Ed from King of the Lions? That one dumb hyena…yeah, that's him. He was good with his 'Arts' but nothing else. He was very slow academically and didn't have any other redeeming qualities.
Then there were three other people whose names I can't remember fully. So for the plot, their names are now Anthony, Xavier, and Jason. They all looked relatively fucked up. Anthony's head was built like a box, and his body was shaped like Licky Licky, with a matching mental capacity since you'll always find him with something in his mouth. He would only come for me when I had any amount of food. Xavier was the quiet one, more of a bystander if anything—he's built like Monkey from that "Karate Panda" movie. He never messed with me, but he also never helped me either. "Honestly, I should've beat his ass just because."
Lastly, there was Jason, the leader of the Stooges. A little shorter than me, darker-skinned than the others, and more athletic. He played football when he was younger and since he awakened early, he's also one of the most sought-after by many big-named Academies. I'm sure if we fought without arts or our gifts, we would have a stalemate, though I would love to see how long he lasts compared to his friends. I fought them several times at the Academy and they posed very minor challenges. But he was different... These thoughts swirled in my mind as we drove.
They were major annoyances when I was attending Genesis Academy.
"Probably long exposition because I suck at explaining things go!"
G.A. is a metaphorical school. It's more of a training facility than anything, but it's where future "Tide Raiders" and "Wave Riders" are fostered. "Tide Raiders" and "Wave Riders" or T.R.s and W.R.s are people who use energy called Phantasmics—the art of harnessing the raw energy that flows through every living thing, every particle of the universe, and use it to combat in the form of "Arts" to fight "Phantasms," monsters believed to be born from the "Phantasmal Sea" itself, which is also the source of all life in the universe. They gather resources and unearth the truths of what's going on on the planets. T.R.s fight Phantasms, which are mutated creatures from the planet. All the flora and fauna have been altered or mutated due to the high amounts of Aether being condensed around an area. This can happen from several things but mainly high-powered Phantasms, humans, and depending on the material in the area, technology. This is also believed to be how humans were able to gain "Gifts"—passive abilities given at birth. These can range from having a whole body made of ice to shooting crimson ray beams out of your eyes. Think of it like the main ability of the being in question as well as a hidden trump card. There are also natural hot spots where elemental Aether is condensed, which alters the environment in the given area. "Think back to Clover Bull, Salamander's sister's volcano training area."
Wave Riders, on the other hand, are the more interdimensional fighters. They traverse what's called "Rifts," going into unknown lands and fighting nigh endless waves of monsters. Rifts are ranked from "Green" to "Black." Green is the lowest; most of these are resource rifts, so not much to be worried about. The monsters that emerge are weak and easily handled by novice Wave Riders and Tide Raiders. Yellow is a moderate threat. The monsters are stronger and more numerous, requiring coordinated efforts to contain and manage the rift. Orange is a high threat, challenging for experienced Wave Riders, and a significant threat to local areas. Red, a severe threat. Extremely dangerous, and requires immediate attention from elite forces. Monsters are highly aggressive and powerful, posing a serious threat to any who approach. Purple is also known as a critical threat, a near-cataclysm level impending disaster if not addressed. Monsters are nearly unstoppable, requiring urgent intervention by top-tier Wave Riders and Tide Raiders. Lastly, Black or cataclysm threat level: an extreme threat to entire regions. The most powerful and destructive monsters emerge, requiring all available forces to combat and purify the rift.
The last Black Rift we had was 80 years ago, named the "Center of the Sea." It was called this because when it appeared, for starters, it appeared over the ocean. Secondly, the monsters that came out were so fast and destructive that they blew countries away in mere hours of being active. It took the "8 Kings," people who made it through to the apex of their powers, the intervention of the 4 great spirits, and the current Dragon Queen and the High Elven Kingdom's army to purify the rift. We haven't had another one since.
"Now I know how it sounds right. First, I can't even control my ability, let alone know what it is. Second, I want to be a wave rider to go into rifts like that and risk death to study monsters and magic, which sounds completely stupid. I just need you all to know something… I get bored fast and if I'm not having fun, then what's the purpose of life? So yes, I love a little game of 'Roulette.' Plus, the higher the level of Phantasms, the cooler the magic and the cooler the creature. Creatures are better than humans anyways."
"But anyways back to the story," I didn't like moving at all. We were in the hot and musty car for so long sometimes, it was always cramped, and I truly hated it. Sometimes we'd bring the dog and that was good when she was not trying to use the bathroom or drooling over me and the seats, and the fur all over my clothes… She was annoying as hell. But she was a good dog. Her name was Ziva; she was a German shepherd, I think.
My uncle said we'd be moving to Vesperia, the capital of the world. I could hardly believe it—the city where towering skyscrapers glistened under the sun, ancient stone streets buzzed with cutting-edge tech, and vibrant districts thrummed with the pulse of countless cultures. The metropolis, known for its majestic Central Plaza and serene Luminary Gardens, was a place where the old world met the new, where dreams and reality intertwined in a dazzling dance. The thought of living in Vesperia, with its shimmering skyline and endless possibilities, filled me with a mix of awe and excitement. Maybe this move was my chance to start fresh.
I wasn't even that mad that I had to leave anymore since this place could be the start of everything for me. Before I could finish living in my fantasy, I saw where we were going. "Genesis Horizons Gifted Arts Program," is the birthplace of the first of my many problems. This is where Jason and the rest go after school as well.
"Uncle, why are we going there and not back to the house?" I questioned, looking very displeased. He said, "Don't worry about it. We're just going to fill out the papers to withdraw you," with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. I couldn't say much back, but all I knew was that this wasn't going to be a good last day.
We walked into the building. It looked like an old-school brick church house, with red and white paint peeling in places. The air smelled of old wood, paint, must, and moldy in some areas. They had a little gym area where we had our lunches, played, and did pretty much anything, to be honest. The basement was for the older kids, so most of the younger ones weren't allowed down there—except me and the rest of the older kids. It was just a small lounge-like area with bean bags, bookshelves, tables, and art supplies. I made my way to the corner seats where the bean bags are and the art kit. Then I heard a voice high-pitched and slightly nasal, reminiscent of a certain animated sloth from popular movies.
"Hey Lucian, what's up! I heard you're moving. Is that true?" A voice behind me shouted. I turned my head lightly, side-eyeing him. It was Rion. If I'm being honest, he either hates me or likes me because he is the most involved with my life. If I were to say any of them was my bully, it would be him.
"What do you want? Why are you talking to me like we're cool?" I looked at him, eyes glaring.
"Can't a guy just say hi to his friend? Don't be like that. Are you still mad about the school practice the other day?" Rion let out a sly smile.
"On the contrary, since I made up for it in Combat today, didn't I?" I smirked a little sadistically.
Rion narrowed his eyes but didn't respond, and I took the moment to reflect. At Genesis Academy or G.A., our schedules are designed to get us accustomed to our abilities, monsters, and the world in general. The day begins at 8 with a Morning Assembly, followed by Core Studies at 8:30. By 9:30, we split into Magic Studies or other specialized training—physical techniques for the fighters, and support techniques for healers. We get a break at 10:30 before diving into Elemental Studies at 11:00, and then lunch at 12:00. The afternoon is filled with Advanced Magic, Combat, or Healing Arts at 1:00, History of Phantasmics at 2:00, another break at 3:00, and finally Aether Manipulation, Weapons Mastery, and Strategic Planning at 3:30. The day wraps up with Reflection and Meditation until 5:00.
Rion and I had the same schedules, so avoiding him wasn't an option. Fortunately, the classes were heavily monitored, limiting his opportunities for mischief. Combat class, however, was a different story. He was very blunt with his declarations. I couldn't control my Phantasmics well, so I tried to refrain from using any abilities. Rion didn't have the same issue. In terms of raw strength without Aether, I had the upper hand. But once Aether and Phantasmics were involved, things got tricky. I could combat most Phantasmic attacks with my strength, but Rion was already at an Apprentice Rank Mage with three elements before even graduating from the Academy.
In this universe, everything is scaled on the level of a being's Aether and how far they've progressed through the "Unbinding Path."
A quick rundown: Aether is the life energy of everything, flowing from the Phantasmal Sea, connecting all things. Aether exists in everything from air to the minerals deep in the ground. Beings manipulate this energy through 'cores' formed in the brain via Aether Training. Once a core is formed, you're registered by 'The Celestial Codex' as a Novice Ranked being and given a level between 1 and 100. This grants access to the "Genesis Grid," a system-like interface logging a person's abilities and converting their progression into numeric stats: Strength, Willpower, Agility, Defense, Endurance, and Intelligence. Each class at G.A. helps train these attributes, allowing students to find their niches.
There are eight types of Phantasmics: Elemental, Sealing, Transmutation, Restorative, Conjuration, Divination, Illusionary, and Psionic. The highest rankers are typically in the Elemental type, as it's the most common form of magic. While there are other types, getting into all of them would take too much energy.
Rion leaned in closer, a smirk playing on his lips. "You think you're all that just because you won one fight?"
"It wasn't just one fight, Rion. I've beaten you before and you know it," I retorted, my eyes locked onto his.
"Oh really? You must have a selective memory, Lucian. I remember you on the ground, gasping for breath," Rion shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
I shrugged, unfazed. "Selective memory or not, the fact remains. You've never really beaten me when it counts."
The tension between us was palpable, drawing the attention of others in the room. Jason, noticing the confrontation, sauntered over with Anthony and Xavier in tow.
"What's going on here?" Jason asked, his voice commanding attention.
"Just the usual, Jason. Lucian here thinks he's better than us," Rion said, not taking his eyes off me.
Jason laughed, a deep, mocking sound. "Is that so? How about we settle this once and for all? One last rematch before you leave, Lucian. You versus Rion. And the winner gets to fight me."
I raised an eyebrow, meeting Jason's gaze. "You think you can beat me, Jason? After all this time, you still need your minions to feel powerful?"
Jason's eyes darkened. "You've got a big mouth for someone who's about to get his ass handed to him. Or are you too scared to face us?"
"Scared? Of you three stooges? Please," I scoffed. "Fine. One last match. But don't come crying to me when you're on the ground, begging for mercy."
Anthony and Xavier exchanged glances, smirking. "This is going to be fun," Anthony said, his voice barely containing his excitement.
"Alright then, let's take this outside. No need to wreck the place," Jason said, leading the way out of the building and into the open yard.
The other kids followed, forming a circle around the makeshift arena. Rion and I faced each other, the air thick with anticipation.
"Let's see what you've got," Rion taunted, summoning his Aether.
I took a deep breath, feeling the familiar surge of Aether within me. This was it. My chance to prove myself once and for all. I couldn't afford to hold back.
"Ready when you are," I replied, my voice steady.
With a signal from Jason, the fight began. Rion lunged at me, his fists crackling with lightning. I easily dodged his first attack, countering with a swift kick to his side. He staggered but quickly regained his footing, launching a barrage of punches and kicks, I blocked and parried, using my strength to deflect his blows. The crowd cheered, urging us on. With each exchange, I felt more confident, and more in control. Rion's attacks were powerful, but I could see the openings, the weaknesses in his form.
"Is this all you've got, Rion?" I taunted, landing a solid punch to his jaw. He stumbled back, his eyes blazing with anger. I dashed forward, jumping into a high knee jab, hitting him square in the chest and sending him tumbling across the ground.
"You're going to regret that," he growled, summoning a surge of lightning elemental energy.
The ground beneath us trembled as he unleashed a wave of electricity that shot up from the ground like a pillar. I braced myself, channeling my Aether to form a protective barrier. The energy clashed against it, creating a brilliant display of light and sound, as a dust cloud cloaked the arena.
As the dust began to settle, I saw my opportunity. I rushed forward, breaking through the dust in a surprise attack with a series of rapid strike combos of jabs and right hooks, high kicks, and a double pinwheel kick. Rion tried to counter, but it was too late. With a final, powerful punch, I sent him crashing to the ground.
"Now Rion, I know you had all that talk before but you seem to be a little outta touch. Your electricity felt soothing—up the voltage next time," I retorted, squatting down to pet him on the head, smiling.
The crowd erupted in cheers as I stood over him, victorious. Jason stepped forward, his expression unreadable.
"Impressive, Lucian. But don't think for a second that you're done. You've got one more fight," he said, his eyes locked onto mine.
I smirked, ready for the challenge. "Bring it on, Jason. Let's see what you've got. I do hope you can give me more excitement than them," I let out a sadistic smile.
The crowd's excitement reached a fever pitch as we prepared for the next match. This was it—the final test of dominance. I couldn't afford to back down now.
"Ready when you are," I said, my voice steady and confident.
Jason nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Let's do this."
As the fight began, I knew one thing for certain—I wasn't going to fold. Not now, not ever.
Jason cracked his knuckles, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of excitement and determination. The crowd fell silent, their anticipation palpable as we faced off. This was more than a fight—it was a battle for dominance.
Jason made the first move, lunging forward with a speed that took me by surprise. His fist, surrounded by a swirling vortex of lightning, aimed straight for my face. I barely managed to dodge, feeling the rush of air as his punch grazed past. The ground where his fist landed cracked, sending large rocks shooting outwards, showcasing his raw power.
I retaliated with a swift kick to his side, but Jason blocked it effortlessly, countering with an uppercut that I narrowly avoided. The force of his missed attack sent shockwaves through the air, causing the spectators to gasp.
"You've improved, Jason," I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me.
"Better than you think," he replied, a grin spreading across his face.
Jason charged again, this time with a flurry of rapid punches and kicks. I matched his pace, our movements a blur of strikes and blocks. He threw a punch straight for my face. I countered with an arm grab, flinging him over my back into the ground, my heart starting to race and I was getting hot. Jason recovered, staggering a little bit before coating his arm with a red aura.
"You piece of shit, that hurt! I don't know what's wrong with you, but maybe you just need to be put in your place again!" Jason shouted as he conjured a small baby fire dragon spirit that floated next to him over his shoulder.
"Remember my contract that I made in Magic Study Class? Everyone else summoned a Novice or Apprentice ranked spirit, but mine was Adept, which as you know is a class above those. An unranked Novice like you will have no chance," he charged up energy enhancing his physical abilities, and charged at me, the dragon spirit flew over him, shooting fireballs at me.
"WOW, still can't win on your own I see. Little old me hasn't even used any Arts or my Gift and you already resorted to jumping? Are you that weak?" I shot in a condescending tone.
"Listen, you bastard, I can beat you regardless. You can't even use any of your Arts or your Gift. So honestly, who's in danger here?" He jumped high and fast, landing behind me, kicking me in my side hard, sending me flying across the ground, colliding with the wall.
"GAH! Cough—cough," getting back up I spit out some blood, starting to get aggravated. My heart started to pound harder, I could feel my blood pressure rising. Everyone outside of Jason became blurred. It was like I tunnel-visioned on Jason. I couldn't even hear the crowd.
"Haa, Jason… clench your teeth," I stated.
"What did you just—" Before he could finish he was sent straight through the crowd into the brick wall.
"I told you before to clench your teeth," with water surrounding my fist I extended my hand as water coagulated in the air creating spears, I shot four of them in rapid succession.
A pillar of flames shot from the ground with small suns forming around, shooting out, countering the spears.
Each clash of our Aether-infused attacks sent shockwaves, illuminating the yard with bursts of light. The sheer intensity of our battle left the crowd in awe, their cheers blending into a cacophony of excitement.
Amid our exchange, Jason conjured a massive Aether construct—a spectral lion that roared with ferocity. It lunged at me, its claws poised to strike. I summoned my own Aether, forming a shield to block the attack. The impact reverberated through my body, but I stood firm.
"Nice trick, but not enough," I taunted, dispersing the lion with a burst of energy.
Jason's eyes narrowed, his determination unwavering. He unleashed a barrage of elemental attacks—fireballs, ice shards, and bolts of lightning. I dodged and deflected, the intensity of his assault was brutal. The ground beneath us scorched, froze, and shattered under the onslaught.
I saw an opening and seized it, closing the distance between us. With a powerful uppercut, I broke through his defenses, sending him staggering back. Not giving him a chance to recover, I followed up with a series of rapid strikes—each blow landing with precision and force.
Jason gritted his teeth, summoning his Aether to form a barrier around him. The barrier glowed with a brilliant light, repelling my attacks and singeing my hands. He pushed back with a surge of energy, forcing me to retreat.
"You're not bad, Lucian," he admitted, his breathing heavy. "But I'm just getting started."
He unleashed a wave of energy that expanded outward, forcing me to brace myself. The shockwave knocked several spectators off their feet with its sheer power. I steadied myself, my resolve unshaken.
"Bring it on, Jason," I challenged, summoning my Aether.
We clashed again, our phantasmics creating shockwaves that rippled through the air. The ground beneath us trembled, the intensity of our battle escalating with each passing second. Jason's attacks were relentless, but I matched him blow for blow, our skills and determination were perfectly balanced.
In a final, desperate move, Jason summoned a massive Aether construct—a towering dragon that roared with fury. The dragon's claws swiped at me, but I evaded, countering with a condensed blast of scalding pressurized water that shattered the construct into fragments of light.
With a roar, I launched myself at Jason, channeling all my remaining Aether into a powerful punch. He met my attack head-on, our fists colliding with a force that sent shockwaves through the yard. The impact created a blinding flash of light, momentarily obscuring everything around us.
As the light faded, we stood facing each other, both of us breathing heavily, our bodies battered and bruised. The crowd was silent, their eyes wide with awe.
"You're strong, Jason," I admitted, my voice strained.
Jason smiled, a hint of something in his eyes. "Lucian. But you've earned my respect."
The crowd's cheers grew louder, but the fight was far from over. My body was pushed to its limits, my Aether reserves running low, but I couldn't let up. Not now.
Jason moved first, his Aether-infused fists cutting through the air with precision and power. I dodged and countered, our movements a blur of speed and strength. The ground beneath us continued to crack and tremble under the force of our blows.
In the heat of the battle, something within me shifted. My vision began to blur, my heart pounding erratically in my chest. Overwhelming energy started to surge through me. My breathing became ragged, my senses heightened to an almost painful degree.
"What's happening?" Jason muttered, noticing the change in my demeanor.
I didn't have an answer. All I knew was that the Aether within me was becoming uncontrollable, a torrent of raw power that demanded release. My body moved on its own, driven by an instinct I couldn't control. But it felt good.
With a primal roar, I lunged at Jason, my fists cloaked in a rapid, swirling energy. He barely managed to block my attack, his eyes wide with shock. I could feel my strength increasing, each punch and kick landing with devastating force. I could see the damage Jason was taking. His arms looked almost broken, he kept getting knocked down but he countered with heavy explosions trying to knock me back.
"Lucian, snap out of it!" Jason shouted, his voice tinged with desperation.
But I couldn't hear him. My mind was consumed by a bloodlust, a need to dominate and destroy. My movements became more erratic, more violent, as the energy coursed through me. My ability activated, drawing in the ambient Aether from our surroundings and amplifying my power even further. I started to feel rejuvenated, my wounds were healing, and I could feel my aether reserves replenishing. Each hit on Jason started to look like he was getting sick.
"This feels amazing! What is this!" I shouted, filled with ecstasy Water pillars shot from the ground around me, all converging on me. I held my hands in a circle, focusing on the converging water.
Jason tried to fight back, but it was clear he was being overwhelmed. I could see the fear in his eyes, the realization that he was no longer facing the same opponent. I was becoming something else, something far more dangerous.
The crowd's cheers turned to gasps of horror as they watched the fight escalate. Some of them began to pass out, looking like they'd been sucked dry. I unleashed a barrage of attacks, each one fueled by the overwhelming energy that had taken hold of me. Jason's defenses crumbled, his body battered and bruised under the relentless onslaught.
"Lucian, stop!" Jason cried out, blood dripping from his mouth.
His plea barely registered in my mind. All I saw was an obstacle that needed to be destroyed. I prepared to deliver the final blow, a surge of dark Aether gathering around my fist.
Just as I was about to strike, a powerful force stopped me. A bright light enveloped Jason, forming a barrier between us. The energy clashed with my own, creating a blinding explosion that knocked us both back.
I landed hard on the ground, the dark energy dissipating from my body. My vision cleared, and I saw Jason lying a few feet away, struggling to get up. The barrier had saved him, but it was clear he was severely injured.
The crowd was silent, their faces filled with fear and uncertainty. I looked down at my hands, trembling as the realization of what I had done hit me. The bloodlust had taken over, turning me into something monstrous.
"Jason…" I muttered, my voice weak. As the medics rushed in to tend to Jason, I took a step back, my mind racing.
The energy that had surged through me was unlike anything I had ever felt. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. My thoughts were a jumble of confusion and fear. What had I become?
As I stood there, watching the medics work, a figure approached me. It was the headmaster of Genesis Academy, his expression a mix of concern and sternness.
"Lucian, we need to talk," he said, his voice calm but firm.
I nodded, still in shock from the fight. As we walked away from the crowd, my thoughts kept returning to the energy that had consumed me.