In the distant, isolated realm of Vice-land, a young dreamer named Xavier York lived a life burdened by limits he desperately wished to transcend.

Born without spiritual energy and possessing no martial arts ability, Xavier's dreams of attending the prestigious Vice-Land Academy seemed as distant as the stars. Yet, despite the odds, his heart burned with ambition.

Waking abruptly in the dead of night,

Xavier rolled over, groggily checking his alarm clock. 3:00 AM. Too early, yet too late to find sleep again. He lay back on his cot, allowing his imagination to take over.

He pictured himself standing in the heart of the family trials, his jagged sword in hand. With every dodge and counter, he imagined his movements becoming more precise, his strikes faster. His opponents fell one by one until only the final challenger remained. In his vision, he raised his sword, channeling a heavenly infernal energy he had never felt before, and delivered a single decisive blow.

Victory!

The crowd erupted as Headmaster Dean stepped forward to declare:

"Young Master York is the new Vice City Champion!"

Lost in his fantasy, Xavier leaped from his bed and punched the air with excitement, exclaiming, "I did it!" His sudden celebration caused a loud commotion, shaking the fragile stillness of the early morning.

The creak of floorboards brought Xavier back to reality.

His adoptive mother, Amber, appeared in the doorway, her pale, wrinkled face betraying both fatigue and frustration. Gasping for breath, she pointed a trembling finger at him.

"Xavier! All this daydreaming—when will you accept your fate? You have no spiritual energy, no talent. Just live a normal life. Be a doctor, maybe. You're smart enough for that. But this… this foolish dreaming will only lead to heartbreak."

She sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. "Now, since you've got so much energy, start your chores before school."

Without waiting for a reply, Amber slammed the door behind her.

Xavier stood in the silence, her words echoing in his mind. Though her words stung, he couldn't bring himself to resent her. Amber had taken him in, fed and clothed him when he had no one. He owed her everything. But even as he respected her wishes, the burning question lingered: Who were my real parents, and why did they abandon me?

As he got dressed and grabbed the wooden crate of bottles, he muttered under his breath, "If only the gods could grant me even a fraction of their power, I could change my fate."

By sunrise, Xavier had finished milking the cows and loading the crates into the rusty carriage that appeared to be on its last leg. The sound of the rooster crowing signaled the start of the day.

Sprinting back to the house, Xavier changed into his school uniform and dashed outside just as the bus screeched to a halt.

Climbing aboard, he immediately lowered his head, avoiding eye contact with the other Highschool students that were already on the bus.

The taunts came as expected, led by Colby Reyes, Vice-land's most promising student and the son of the headmaster of Luminary Academy.

"Why even bother showing up, York?" Colby sneered. "You're seventeen, powerless, and stink like a barn. Just drop out already." Colby laughed in a mocking manner.

Xavier clenched his fists, his heart pounding. But this time, something in him snapped. Standing up, he met Colby's gaze. "One day, you'll regret looking down on me!"

Colby's laugh turned cold and sharp. "You? You couldn't survive ten seconds in a trial, let alone in a real fight. Know your place, peasant."

As the bus lurched to an unexpected stop.

Whispers filled the air as the doors opened, revealing a vision of beauty: an elegant young woman with an aura of power and confidence. Her presence silenced the bus. Both boys and girls stared in awe.

Without hesitation, she strode to where Xavier sat, ignoring Colby's attempts to catch her attention.

"Excuse me, boys," she said sweetly before turning to Xavier with a dazzling smile.

"Mind if I sit here, handsome?" she asked, her tone playful yet sincere.

The bus erupted into stunned murmurs.

Colby, furious at being ignored, sneered. "Surely you're mistaken. Him? He's nothing but trash!"

But the woman paid him no mind.

Instead, she leaned in close to Xavier, her voice as soft as a whisper. "My name is Jessica Vice. It's an honor to finally meet you."

Xavier's heart raced as she kissed his cheek. Before he could process what was happening, he felt a sharp prick in his back. A burning pain surged through him, consuming his entire body. His vision went white.

When Xavier opened his eyes, he was no longer on the bus. The world around him was bright and ethereal, the clouds beneath his feet shifting like waves. A divine aura pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe.

"Could it be?" a powerful voice echoed from nowhere and everywhere at once.

Xavier tried to locate its source, but the overwhelming pressure made it impossible.

"It is you," the voice continued, filled with reverence and authority. "You have many questions I'm sure, but my answers must wait. Your family's legacy shall be returned to you, but heed my warning: do not attempt to practice these techniques until your spiritual energy awakens tonight. Doing so would shatter your meridians. And until you reach the Mystic Realm, do not summon me unless your life depends on it. Do you understand, Young Master York?"

Before Xavier could reply, the voice thundered: "Awaken!"

Xavier jolted back to consciousness, his heart pounding. The bus was alive with commotion, Colby's voice cutting through the noise.

"Do you dare accept this challenge?" Colby demanded, his tone dripping with malice.

Confused, Xavier rubbed his temples. "Challenge? What challenge?"

Colby smirked. "A grudge match. Three days from now. You versus me. To the death."

Jessica stood before Xavier could respond. Her voice was steady and fierce. "He accepts. And I will train him. Be ready to explain to your family why you provoked my future husband."

Gasps filled the bus. Colby's grin faltered for a moment before returning. "Fine. Three days, then."

Xavier's head spun. His fate had shifted in the blink of an eye. But amidst the chaos, one thought anchored him: This is real. The voice, the legacy, the techniques—they were all real.

And for the first time in his life, Xavier felt hope. However with that new found hope also came with fear. Colby was a six ranked beginner and up until now Xavier had no hopes of gaining spiritual energy. If anything Xavier was a zero beginner rank.