A modern world blend with technology and ancient mysticism that had been brought to evolve – a contemporary world but with significant magical and superpowered elements.
Humans were divided into two, non-Talented and Talented. Those who were blessed with Talent would be part of the 7-10% of the world population, leading a societal structure where Talented individuals are both revered and regulated.
With the global population of seven billion people, across the world have more or less 490 million individuals with Talent.
Talents are the nature of powers and abilities categorized by 5 different types of Talents. Each Talent had Ranks from Novice, Adept, Expert, Master, and Grandmaster. Their ranks define the limits of their Talents.
While the Rank defined the limits and quality of the Talent, it also showed the progress of an individual. The progress to the next Rank will be learned by Levels. These are Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Elite, Supreme, and Ultimate, which were level one to six respectively.
They contribute most to the economy, with at least 60% earnings that supports the governments. While government from different nations differ, there were still a significant role Talented plays. They play crucial roles in various sectors, from healthcare and construction to law enforcement and entertainment. Specialized industries have developed around the abilities of Talents, providing services and products tailored to their needs.
Schools and academies for Talented individuals offer specialized training to help them control and develop their abilities. These institutions range from local community schools to prestigious international academies.
However, those who had never gain a Talent when they reached adulthood, eighteen years old, will automatically fall to non-Talented.
Although as nations had different distribution of influence between non-Talented and Talented, there were still the unhidden fear of not having a Talent. As most privilege, Talented gains.
In Solaria, a democratic republic with representatives elected by both non-Talented and Talented citizens, emphasize on equality and cooperation between different individuals. Schools cater both non-Talented and Talented, promoting mutual respect and understanding.
Their main focus was on environmental sustainability, often utilizing Talents in innovative ways to protect the nature.
Living in a such country, Aiden Blackwood had no worries of having no opportunities of being powerless non-Talented. He had failed to awaken a Talent when he was 18 – the last chance to awaken, leaving him to live the regular life – or should how the world should work.
Aiden came from a poor family with mounting debt, left by their incredible bastard father who had died from excessive drinking of liquors. Due to this, his mother and younger sister lived in a small house with cluttered living space.
Because of their financial status, he was eager to enter Nexus despite being powerless. Only entering Nexus, he could earn the money to live a better life.
He had waited the moment, graduating the obligatory education of the government for non-Talented and Talented. When he finally was able to enter Nexus, he applied as a porter for hire. For almost six months, he endured the harsh nature of his job. Beating his body and earning measly amount for not carrying much resources.
In Nexus, any financial status of a family could be easily improved. It was vast, resource-rich, and perilous regions located at the convergence of the world's major nations.
It is a mystical land teeming with rare resources, undiscovered ancient relics, and formidable monsters.
This area is considered neutral territory, where no single nations holds sovereignty. Instead, it operates on a first-come, first-serve basis to travel with teleportation gates, all nations agreeing to respect its neutrality and share its bounties.
For almost six months, he only was able to pay off twenty-thousand Solarian peso from the three million total debt. To pay such debt, he would have to beat his body more and more to earn better and not worry of his sister inheriting the debt.
"It is now our turn," said Aric, the party stoic leader.
Aiden was hired just for this visit, promised to be paid 5,000 Solarian pesos, which was the amount he could earn in a week. Seeing no problem with it, he took the job.
This time's party consisted of four members: Aric, who had the Talent for Lightning Manipulation, Lyra, who had Shadow Manipulation, Thorne, who had Seismic Force Control, and Kael, who could create and manipulate fire.
Staying behind them, they didn't share any conversation. Just like with the other parties he had worked for, he remained a spectator, watching them fight Sylvian Sprites of the Whispering Woods.
They had entered dense foliage, uneven terrain with various species of wild grass. With each step, they hunted sprites that could be sold for at least 500 Solarian pesos, depending on the Rank and Level of the sprite.
Sylvian Sprites' Talents could include illusion creation, plant manipulation, and healing. The nth sprite they encountered exuded green shining dust, indicating it was a healing type.
Making no complaints, Aiden straightened his posture under the increasing weight of the porter's bag. The porter's bag was a huge one, bigger than Aiden's upper body.
He was allowed to gather while they weren't hunting, so he could earn extra.
The party continued their movements, finding more sprites with a variety of Talents. After an hour, they had killed 40 sprites: 23 Healing, 12 Plant Manipulation, and 5 Illusion Creation.
It was already a good hunt, but Kael, who wanted to fill up the bag, contested.
Having no part in the decision-making, Aiden watched as the party argued with each other. Aric didn't participate but observed how they concluded their decision.
"Let's fill it more," Lyra voted, defeating Thorne's wish to decline the idea.
Following the majority, they continued to hunt deeper until they didn't realize they had wandered into the dangerous zone of the Whispering Woods.
A subtle shift in the atmosphere drew the party's attention. The trees, once welcoming, now seemed to whisper softly, their leaves rustling rhythmically. Shadows shifted unnaturally, despite the still air.
Lyra's eyes narrowed. "Does anyone else feel that? The woods feel… alive."
An eerie hum filled the air, resonating from the ground. Kael's flames flickered erratically, his playful demeanor replaced by concern. Thorne's hand instinctively moved to his weapon and shield, sensing something off. "Stay sharp," he warned. "Something's not right."
Aric's gaze swept over the group. "Stick close and stay alert. We're still in the safe zone, but it's wise to be cautious. Aiden, keep close and be on high alert."
That's what they thought, but they had already left the safe zone ten minutes ago. They were now inside the real Whispering Woods.
As they cautiously moved back, roots underground swiped at their balance, immediately causing them to fall to the ground. Everyone was down except Aiden, who was too stunned to move.
Although he had built up his confidence before, the sight before him was too drastically different from the relaxing experience earlier. The Nexus indeed was a perilous stage for wealth or death.
Suddenly, a colossal monster, humanoid but resembling a tree, emerged from the shadows. Lyra, with the Talent to manipulate shadows, tried to restrain the monster even from her fallen position.
However, its wooden scales seemed to be made from an energy that rejected the darkness of her shadows' materialization.
Lyra was obviously shocked. She attempted more, but failed, until she was immediately killed by a stab to her heart. A sharp branch of the monster impaled her.
The creature charged with incredible speed. The rest of the party pushed themselves to stand but failed as the roots remained intact and strong.
These roots were different from the ones the Sylvian Sprites could manipulate. They were like concrete, and their attacks didn't work.
As the party became helpless, receiving stabbing attacks from the monster, Aiden cowered behind a rock, watching in horror. He wanted to help them, but the monster, victorious, turned its attention toward him.
The once vibrant team lay scattered, defeated, leaving Aiden as the sole survivor amidst the wreckage of their tragic end.
He closed his eyes, thinking he could be dead any second. But nothing happened to him. When he peeked, the monster wasn't there anymore. It was as if it had only picked those with Talent and ignored a powerless individual like him.
Frantic energy took control of his body, instinct calling him to run. But the sight of the rest of the party members stopped him. He hadn't even been able to do a thing to help them earlier. It was a harsh slap of reality to a non-Talented person like him.
'I should not have taken this job. Now, I won't be able to give my family the good life they deserve.'
Nothing was Aiden's fault. They would have died even without him, but the traumatic scene that unfolded before him made him realize just how powerless he truly was.
'I should not have gone to the Nexus.'
Afraid the monster might still be toying with him, he remained frozen in his position, like a rock statue, for a few minutes. Feeling helpless, he finally ran to Aric.
Aric, despite having the Talent to create and manipulate lightning, was powerless against the animated tree monster.
Aiden crouched down, pressing on the wound to Aric's liver. Aric coughed blood, his energy rapidly fading.
"I… couldn't do anything. I brought my party to their deaths." Aric coughed again, this time his words were barely audible. "C-call… for help… please… give us a proper… burial…"
Aiden could only close his eyes. He couldn't do anything in that moment; his hands trembled as he pressed on Aric's body until they weakened, and he accepted death's inevitable arrival.
[Talent: Elemental]
Name: Lightning Manipulation
Rank: Master
Steal this talent?
Yes | No
Aiden frantically reached for the radio device, pressing any button he could find. A static sound crackled for a few seconds before a human voice came through.
"Do you need rescuing?"
With someone answering the call, Aiden's tears fell uncontrollably.
"Yes."
[Stealing the Elemental Talent: Lightning Manipulation.]
[30 days cooldown applied.]
[Status Access Granted]
[Aiden Blackwood]
First Talent: Elemental
Name: Lightning Manipulation
Potential Rank: Master
Current Rank: ?
[Congratulations! You stole the Talent successfully.]
Aiden, who thought he had gone mad due to the events, shook his head in disbelief as a holographic text appeared, accompanied by a monotone voice ringing in his head.
Earlier, he hadn't paid attention to it, but now, as it lingered and more text hovered in front of his eyes, he couldn't ignore it.
"What the hell… Why now?"
Not knowing whether to feel happy or sorrowful, Aiden's body weakened under the mix of intense emotions. His body collapsed, unconscious. A few minutes later, the rescue arrived.