It's been ten years since the Earth changed. A decade since the asteroid fell, transforming ordinary people into beings of unimaginable power. Some gained the ability to control the elements, others became living legends, but me? I'm still just… me.
I look around at the people who've risen above, the ones who've become the new rulers of this world, and I can't help but wonder what it would have been like to live in the time before all of this happened. Back when being human was enough.
I work as a front desk assistant at an association, barely scraping by, doing whatever I can to support my studies. I have no family legacy to back me, no powerful aura that draws attention. But despite all that, I've managed to get into the university—the same one where only those with extraordinary power are usually accepted.
Curious?
It's simple. I may have no powers, but I'm not stupid.
I've always been smart, in ways that matter. While everyone else is busy training their abilities or flaunting their strength, I'm diving deep into subjects that don't require magic or strength—things that anyone can learn if they put in the effort.
I'm currently studying potions, herbs, monsters, dungeons, and the Tower. The things that the world relies on, the things that can change the tide for anyone, no matter their powers.
Sure, I don't have the strength to fight off a monster or the ability to control fire with a flick of my wrist, but I'm not useless. No, I've got my way of contributing to this world. I might be powerless, but that doesn't mean I can't be useful.
It's all about finding your place, even when the world has already decided who's important.
"It was another ordinary afternoon at the front desk when someone approached, breaking the monotony.
"Hey, I want to apply as a ranker." The man's voice was confident, his gaze sharp.
"Yes, sir. Good afternoon. Can you show me your citizen ID?" I replied, trying to sound professional.
He handed me his ID without hesitation. "Here, is this good?"
I took it, scanning his face briefly before looking down at the ID. He was well-built, wearing the kind of confidence you only see in those with power. I had to be thorough, though.
"Yes, can you wait a minute? I'll just scan this." I smiled and began to retrieve the scanning tool under the desk.
As the scanner beeped and began processing the ID, I couldn't help but think about how different my life would be if I had even a fraction of the strength he seemed to carry so effortlessly. But I pushed that thought aside—this wasn't the time for daydreaming.
I focused on the scanner's display, checking for legitimacy.
There was always the possibility of someone trying to slip through the cracks.
His record appeared clean, with no criminal offenses or red flags. Just a normal citizen, or at least as normal as one could be in this world of powers.
"Everything seems in order," I said, handing the ID back. "You're eligible to apply as a ranker. Would you like assistance with the application process?"
"Yeah, stop the formalities and just do it. I don't have time." He said, glancing at his watch with an impatient frown, clearly eager to move on.
I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. His tone was curt, and it seemed like he was used to being treated with a certain level of urgency.
"Understood, sir," I said, keeping my voice calm and professional, though I wasn't entirely sure if I should be irritated or just do my job.
I quickly grabbed the application form and began filling it out for him. The process didn't take long. He seemed to be the type who didn't tolerate delays, and I wasn't about to make it worse.
As I handed him the form to sign, I glanced at his aura—strong and clear, a sharp contrast to my own. He was someone who could handle ranker duties. The power was almost tangible around him.
"Here you go," I said, keeping my gaze neutral. "Once you complete the form and submit the required documents, you can take the test.
He barely looked at me, just snatched the form and signed it quickly, his impatience more obvious by the second.
I sighed, trying to keep my cool as I watched him hastily complete the paperwork. His impatience was almost palpable, and I had to remind myself to stay professional, no matter how rude he seemed.
"Don't let it get to you," my colleague said, noticing my frustration. She gave me a reassuring smile, her voice soft but steady. "It's not every day we encounter someone like him."
I nodded, grateful for the reminder. She was right. People like them often walked around with a certain arrogance, assuming that their strength gave them the right to rush everyone else. I had seen it plenty of times before, but it still didn't make it any easier to deal with.
"Yeah," I muttered under my breath, "but it doesn't make it any less annoying."
My colleague chuckled, clearly understanding. "Just keep your head down, and you'll get through it. You're good at this."
I smiled faintly, focusing on the task at hand. The man finished signing the form and handed it back to me without another word.
"All set, sir," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral despite the lingering annoyance. "Your application is officially in. You'll be contacted shortly for the next steps."
He barely glanced at me, gave a brief nod, and turned to leave without another word. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of life he led, where time seemed so disposable to someone like him.
As I did my job, I didn't notice how fast the time flew by. The sound of the clock ticking away in the background was barely audible amidst the bustle of the front desk. Before I knew it, my shift had ended. I glanced at the clock, surprised by how quickly the hours passed.
"Hey, Jin, are you going home now?" Yuna asked, her voice bringing me back to reality.
"Yeah, I need to finish a research for my class," I replied, grabbing my coat and shrugging it on.
"Oh, too bad," she said with a slight pout. "I was about to ask you to have dinner."
I paused, a bit taken aback. "Oh... my bad. How about next time? I'm kind of busy this month with school."
Yuna's face softened into a smile, though I could see the hint of disappointment in her eyes. "No problem. Next time then."
"Yeah, next time," I said, returning her smile, though it felt a little forced.
"Goodbye, Jin," Yuna said, waving as she headed out.
"Take care," I replied, watching her leave.
As I walked to the exit, I couldn't help but reflect on the brief interaction. Yuna had been one of the few people who was genuinely kind to me, but I couldn't help feeling awkward about her invitation. It wasn't that I didn't appreciate her friendship—it was just that I didn't see her in that way.
She was one of the few who made me feel like I wasn't invisible, but I couldn't afford to complicate things. Not with my studies and the way things were going in my life.
I sighed as I stepped outside, the evening air cool against my skin. It was just another reminder—no matter how much I tried to ignore it, things like this weren't for someone like me.
As I walked down the street, my fingers absentmindedly scrolled through my phone. The familiar glow of the screen illuminated my face in the fading evening light.
That's when I saw it—the pending bill for my school. My stomach twisted as I stared at the amount.
I sighed, shoving the phone back into my pocket. If only I was able to get the scholarship... Life could've been a little less tiring, a little easier.
But that wasn't the reality. I didn't have the kind of power that would get me a scholarship, the kind of aura that turned heads. Instead, I worked at the front desk, putting in long hours to make sure I could keep up with the costs of my education.
The thought lingered in my mind as I walked, the weight of responsibility pressing down on my shoulders. It wasn't fair, but it was the life I had. I couldn't let myself dwell on the "what-ifs."
No power. No easy path. Just me and the grind.
I was about to turn the corner when suddenly, someone bumped into me. The force of the collision pushed me off balance, and before I could react, I found myself stumbling into the street.
I reached out, desperate to steady myself, but it was no use. I fell hard onto the road, the cold asphalt scraping against my palms.
I glanced up, expecting an apology or at least some kind of help, but the guy who had bumped into me didn't even look back. He just kept running, like I was nothing more than an obstacle in his way.
Behind him, I noticed someone else—maybe a friend or an accomplice—chasing after him, as if they were trying to catch up.
But before I could fully process what was happening, I heard it.
The screeching sound of tires.
I froze.
It was too late.
The sound of the wheels grew louder, and before I could scramble to my feet, the vehicle hit me. The impact was jarring, a sharp pain shooting through my body as the world spun around me.
I tried to scream, but my body refused to cooperate. Everything hurt. The road, the tires, my entire body felt like it was being torn apart.
The pain was overwhelming, and everything around me started to blur. I could feel my consciousness slipping away, the world around me growing dimmer by the second.
Is this it? I thought weakly, barely able to form the question in my mind. After all my effort just to try to fit in this world, I'll just die with regrets. Why?
I had never been someone special. No powers, no legacy, just a person trying to carve out a place in a world that didn't seem to have room for people like me. I'd spent my whole life trying to be useful, to prove that even without power, I could matter. But now, as the pain dulled and my vision faded, all I could think about was how little I had really achieved.
I wanted more time. I wanted to do something that would make me feel like I was more than just a shadow passing through this world.
But now… it felt like all of it had been for nothing.
Just as the darkness began to swallow me whole, a voice broke through the silence.
Do you want to reset?
The words echoed in my mind, so clear and sudden that they almost didn't feel real. I could barely comprehend them, my fading consciousness struggling to latch onto the question.
Reset?
I wanted to respond, to understand what it meant, but the words barely formed in my mind. My body felt numb, disconnected from everything. Was this some sort of hallucination, a last attempt by my mind to hold on to life?
The voice rang out once more, more urgent this time.
If you want to live, say YES. You only have 10 seconds to decide.
My heart, or what was left of it, seemed to stutter as the pressure hit me. My thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind, racing through everything I had failed to do, everything I wished I could have achieved. Could I choose something like this in the blink of an eye? Could I even make the right choice?
But... live. The word lingered, pulling at me.
I wasn't ready to die. Not like this, not with all the things I still wanted to do, the people I still wanted to be. For once, I wanted to take control.
Without thinking, I forced out the word, my voice barely a whisper, yet clear in my mind:
YES.